BEAVER CREEK, Colo. – The men's alpine side of the University of Denver ski team kicked off its competition season this past week with two days of giant slalom and slalom races at the Nor-Am Cup at Beaver Creek Resort.
Sophomore
Cooper Cornelius won Tuesday giant slalom in 2:28.86, posting splits of 1:15.37 and 1:13.49. It was his first victory since winning GS at last December's Nor-Am Cup in Panorama, British Columbia.
Cornelius' performance came after a strong showing in the Nor-Am Cup men's super G at nearby Copper Mountain where he finished fourth and eighth in last Saturday's two races.
Freshman
Thomas Hoffman was among the top junior skiers this past week, including placing on the top step among under-20 athletes in Monday's GS. He finished 17th overall in the race by clocking in at 2:20.40.
Hoffman nearly cracked the top 10 in Thursday's slalom, finishing 11th overall (1:41.55) and just five-hundredths of second behind Magnus Berge Styren (1:41.50).
Alum
Tristan Lane took part in four races past week at the Nor-Ams. He joined Cornelius in the super G at Copper, finishing seventh and 11th in the two races. In the giant slalom, he placed 36th on Monday before coming in 19th on Tuesday.
The opening meet of the women's Nor-Am Cup finished last Friday at Copper Mountain with super G, and senior
Galena Wardle was the lone Pioneer to race. She came in 22nd and 24th in the two races that day.
Below are full Denver results from the past week.
Friday, Dec. 9
Women's Super G 1 at Copper Mountain (55 finishers)
22.
Galena Wardle, 1:19.67
Women's Super G 2 at Copper Mountain (58 finishers)
24.
Galena Wardle, 1:18.99
Saturday, Dec. 10
Men's Super G 1 at Copper Mountain (62 finishers)
4.
Cooper Cornelius, 1:07.94
Men's Super G 2 at Copper Mountain (87 finishers)
8.
Cooper Cornelius, 1:09.83
Monday, Dec. 12
Men's Giant Slalom (45 finishers)
17.
Thomas Hoffman, 2:20.40 (1:08.46/1:11.94)
40.
Cole Puckett, 2:25.53 (1:09.14/1:15.39)
DNF:
Jack Bowers (run 1),
Cooper Cornelius (run 1)
Tuesday, Dec. 13
Men's Giant Slalom (46 finishers)
1.
Cooper Cornelius, 2:28.86 (1:15.37/1:13.49)
26.
Jack Bowers, 2:34.39 (1:18.93/1:15.46)
29.
Cole Puckett, 2:35.67 (1:19.53/1:16.14)
30.
Thomas Hoffman, 2:35.68 (1:19.02/1:16.66)
Wednesday, Dec. 14
Men's Slalom (39 finishers)
DNF:
Cooper Cornelius (54.63/DNF run 2),
Jack Bowers (54.64/DNF run 2),
Cole Puckett (DNF run 1),
Thomas Hoffman (DNF run 1)
Thursday, Dec. 15
Men's Slalom (50 finishers)
11.
Thomas Hoffman, 1:41.55 (51.82/49.73)
T24.
Cole Puckett, 1:42.90 (51.59/51.31)
26.
Jack Bowers, 1:43.25 (51.69/51.56)
48.
Cooper Cornelius, 1:53.43 (51.90/1:01.33)
UP NEXT: Denver's alpine team now heads to Steamboat Springs for four days of slalom and GS races at the Holiday Classic. Giant slalom begins the event on Monday and Tuesday before the slalom races wrap up the competition on Wednesday and Thursday. Next up for the Nordic squad is the U.S. Cross Country National Championships and the start of the NCAA campaign with RMISA Nordic Qualifiers in Houghton, Michigan, on Jan. 2-7.
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