The University of Utah will host the 2026 NCAA skiing championships after a last-minute move from Montana due to poor conditions there. The Utes, fresh off a regional title win, aim to secure back-to-back national titles on familiar terrain. With key athletes in top form, the team sees a clear home advantage in the upcoming events.
The NCAA skiing championships, originally scheduled for Montana, were relocated to Utah three weeks ago because of insufficient snowfall and conditions, as announced by the NCAA. This gave the University of Utah just over three weeks to prepare, a stark contrast to the usual year-long lead time for host sites.
Utah director of skiing Fredrik Landstedt praised the efforts of university staff: “Really the people here at the U., Alan (Hansing) and Delaney (Reilly) and people at Athletics have done an amazing job to put it all together because there’s a lot of factors that have to come together just to do this.” The Alpine events will occur at the Spencer F. Eccles Olympic Mountain Center at Utah Olympic Park in Park City, while Nordic events take place at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway. Both venues offer free admission and parking.
The Utes enter with momentum after winning the RMISA regional championship, tallying 669 points to edge out Colorado's 651. They dominated the women's 7.5K freestyle and men's 20K freestyle at Soldier Hollow, and took first in the men's slalom in Montana. Despite challenges from injuries and illnesses throughout the season, Landstedt noted the team is peaking at the right time: “We finally came together really at the regional championship a week ago and managed to win that one. And we’re hoping that that’s going to carry over now to watch the championship next week.”
Nordic skier Erica Lavén highlighted the home snow edge: “I think for sure it’s an advantage. I feel like we’ve been training on this course for the whole year and doing a lot of intensity.” The Utes, who have claimed five of the last six NCAA titles, face competition from Colorado and Denver. Landstedt added that the pressure falls more on rivals: “I think the pressure is really more on Colorado and Denver than it is on us.”
Key performers include Johs Braathen Herland, RMISA men's MVP with six wins in 14 starts and four podiums, and Erica Lavén, RMISA MVP who has won all seven of her races this season.
The championships begin with giant slalom on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. MT at Utah Olympic Park, followed by 7.5K classic on Thursday at 9 a.m. at Soldier Hollow. Slalom is Friday at 9 a.m. back at Utah Olympic Park, and the decisive 20K freestyle closes on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Soldier Hollow. Landstedt encouraged fans to attend, noting the venues' accessibility and favorable weather.
