Sara Rask Repeats as Holiday Classic Champion
12/22/2024 12:37:00 PM | Skiing
DU skiing senior also won the individual women’s title in 2023; Pioneers combine for 19 top-10 finishes
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – Alpine senior Sara Rask of the Denver Pioneers ski team repeated as the women's individual champion at the annual Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic this week at Steamboat Resort and Howelsen Hill Ski Area.
Rask recorded three second-place finishes over the four days of racing at the 2024 meet. She won silver in both giant slalom events on Wednesday and Thursday and concluded the week with another runner-up placement in slalom on Saturday.
The Stockholm, Sweden, native also finished atop of the podium's customary saddle in December 2023 after registering three top-five results in those races. Rask is the first repeat champion since Colorado's Thea Grosvold in 2014 and 2015 and the first Pioneer to do it since Claire Abbe in 2007 and 2008.
DU skiing has now earned an individual title at the Holiday Classic in four straight years as Nora Brand did it in 2022 on the women's side and Simon Fournier won the men's event in 2021. Rask's 2024 victory was the ninth overall individual title by a Pioneer in Holiday Classic history (Sophie Ormond, 2001; Claire Abbe, 2007 & 2008; Jennifer Van Wagner, 2009; Monica Huebner, 2016; Simon Fournier, 2021; Nora Brand, 2022; Sara Rask 2023 & 2024).
The Denver alpine unit combined for six podiums, nine top-five finishes and 19 top-10 results across the four women's and men's races. DU had skiers place in the top 10 in each of the eight events and finished the week with back-to-back victories in women's slalom at Howelsen Hill. Junior Mia Hunt won the night race on Friday before sophomore Liv Moritz took the top saddle in Saturday's finale.
Junior Nicola Rountree-Williams, who transferred from nearby Colorado Mountain College, had a solid showing and displayed her knowledge of the Steamboat Resort course with a pair of top 10-finishes in the giant slalom.
Junior Christian Soevik led the Denver men in three of the four races and placed in the top 10 in each of them. He came in fourth and eighth, respectively, in the two giant slaloms at Steamboat Resort before placing eighth in the night slalom and on the podium in third in the day race on Saturday.
The men had five finishers in the top 10 in Wednesday's GS and four in Thursday's speed event. Senior Eirik Kveno and junior Adrian Minde Hunshammer placed in the top 10 in each GS race, and incoming freshman Pietro Motterlini was the top junior finisher in Wednesday's giant slalom opener.
The annual Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic is named in honor of the former Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club alpine skier that passed away unexpectedly at age 22 in 2016. The event features prize money for the top three overall and junior finishers of each race, as well as the overall men's and women's winner. Originally just a slalom meet, giant slalom races were added in 2022.
RMISA and EISA student-athletes were well-represented during the races, with skiers from CU, Utah, Colorado Mountain College, Montana State, Nevada, Westminster, Boston College, Middlebury, Plymouth State and St Lawrence joining the Pioneers on the slopes.
Below are full Denver results from the 2024 Holiday Classic.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Men's Giant Slalom
4. Christian Soevik, 1:44.40 (50.21/54.19)
5. Cooper Cornelius, 1:44.50 (49.70/54.80)
6. Pietro Motterlini, 1:44.65 (50.94/53.71)
7. Adrian Minde Hunshammer, 1:44.74 (50.58/54.16)
9. Eirik Kveno, 1:44.98 (50.17/54.81)
16. Thomas Hoffman, 1:45.85 (50.78/55.07)
DNF: Loic Chable (50.17/DNR run 2), *Jack Bowers (run 1)
Women's Giant Slalom
2. Sara Rask, 1:41.65 (51.16/50.49)
9. Nicola Rountree-Williams, 1:43.49 (52.37/51.12)
12. Stella Buchheister, 1:44.34 (52.62/51.72)
DNF: Josephine Trueblood (53.89/DNF run 2), Liv Moritz (run 1)
Thursday, Dec. 19
Men's Giant Slalom
5. Loic Chable, 1:44.12 (50.23/53.89)
8. Christian Soevik, 1:44.24 (50.50/53.74)
9. Erik Kveno, 1:44.28 (50.47/53.81)
10. Adrian Minde Hunshammer, 1:44.62 (49.99/54.63)
DNF: Thomas Hoffman (50.19/DNF run 2), Petro Motterlini (50.34/DNS run 2), Cooper Cornelius (50.36/DNF run 2), *Jack Bowers (51.45/DNF run 2)
Women's Giant Slalom
2. Sara Rask, 1:46.81 (54.78/52.03)
10. Nicola Rountree-Williams, 1:48.18 (55.31/52.87)
11. Liv Moritz, 1:48.69 (55.58/53.11)
14. Stella Buchheister, 1:49.12 (56.00/53.12)
17. Mia Hunt, 1:50.29 (56.27/54.02)
DNF: Josephine Trueblood (57.64/DNF run 2)
Friday, Dec. 20
Men's Slalom
8. Christian Soevik, 1:21.34 (41.93/39.41)
13. Loic Chable, 1:22.15 (41.71/40.44)
16. Eirik Kveno, 1:22.45 (41.90/40.55)
23. Cooper Cornelius, 1:23.56 (43.41/40.15)
DQ: Adrian Minde Hunshammer (run 1)
DNF: Thomas Hoffman (run 1), *Jack Bowers (run 1)
Women's Slalom
1. Mia Hunt, 1:24.55 (44.82/39.73)
17. Liv Moritz, 1:30.03 (49.68/40.35)
18. Josephine Trueblood, 1:30.27 (48.12/42.15)
19. Stella Buchheister, 1:30.29 (48.00/42.29)
DNF: Sara Rask (run 1), Nicola Rountree-Williams (run 1)
Saturday, Dec. 21
Men's Slalom
3. Christian Soevik, 1:16.16 (37.18/38.98)
10. Loic Chable, 1:17.46 (37.68/39.78)
17. Eirik Kveno, 1:18.03 (38.28/39.75)
27. Cooper Cornelius, 1:19.07 (38.87/40.20)
DNF: Adrian Minde Hunshammer (run 1), *Jack Bowers (run 1)
Women's Slalom
1. Liv Moritz, 1:24.98 (43.48/41.50)
2. Sara Rask, 1:24.99 (42.55/42.44)
17. Stella Buchheister, 1:28.19 (45.20/42.99)
18. Nicola Rountree-Williams, 1:28.58 (44.97/43.61)
24. Josephine Trueblood, 1:30.98 (46.15/44.83)
DNF: Mia Hunt (run 1)
*-denotes DU skiing alum
UP NEXT: The Pioneers now turn their attention to the start of the collegiate season in the coming weeks. The campaign begins for the Nordic squad on Jan. 2 in Alaska at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships and Seawolf Invitational and for the alpine group with the Denver Invitational on Jan. 6-8 at Loveland Ski Area and Copper Mountain Resort.
DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
Rask recorded three second-place finishes over the four days of racing at the 2024 meet. She won silver in both giant slalom events on Wednesday and Thursday and concluded the week with another runner-up placement in slalom on Saturday.
The Stockholm, Sweden, native also finished atop of the podium's customary saddle in December 2023 after registering three top-five results in those races. Rask is the first repeat champion since Colorado's Thea Grosvold in 2014 and 2015 and the first Pioneer to do it since Claire Abbe in 2007 and 2008.
DU skiing has now earned an individual title at the Holiday Classic in four straight years as Nora Brand did it in 2022 on the women's side and Simon Fournier won the men's event in 2021. Rask's 2024 victory was the ninth overall individual title by a Pioneer in Holiday Classic history (Sophie Ormond, 2001; Claire Abbe, 2007 & 2008; Jennifer Van Wagner, 2009; Monica Huebner, 2016; Simon Fournier, 2021; Nora Brand, 2022; Sara Rask 2023 & 2024).
The Denver alpine unit combined for six podiums, nine top-five finishes and 19 top-10 results across the four women's and men's races. DU had skiers place in the top 10 in each of the eight events and finished the week with back-to-back victories in women's slalom at Howelsen Hill. Junior Mia Hunt won the night race on Friday before sophomore Liv Moritz took the top saddle in Saturday's finale.
Junior Nicola Rountree-Williams, who transferred from nearby Colorado Mountain College, had a solid showing and displayed her knowledge of the Steamboat Resort course with a pair of top 10-finishes in the giant slalom.
Junior Christian Soevik led the Denver men in three of the four races and placed in the top 10 in each of them. He came in fourth and eighth, respectively, in the two giant slaloms at Steamboat Resort before placing eighth in the night slalom and on the podium in third in the day race on Saturday.
The men had five finishers in the top 10 in Wednesday's GS and four in Thursday's speed event. Senior Eirik Kveno and junior Adrian Minde Hunshammer placed in the top 10 in each GS race, and incoming freshman Pietro Motterlini was the top junior finisher in Wednesday's giant slalom opener.
The annual Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic is named in honor of the former Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club alpine skier that passed away unexpectedly at age 22 in 2016. The event features prize money for the top three overall and junior finishers of each race, as well as the overall men's and women's winner. Originally just a slalom meet, giant slalom races were added in 2022.
RMISA and EISA student-athletes were well-represented during the races, with skiers from CU, Utah, Colorado Mountain College, Montana State, Nevada, Westminster, Boston College, Middlebury, Plymouth State and St Lawrence joining the Pioneers on the slopes.
Below are full Denver results from the 2024 Holiday Classic.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Men's Giant Slalom
4. Christian Soevik, 1:44.40 (50.21/54.19)
5. Cooper Cornelius, 1:44.50 (49.70/54.80)
6. Pietro Motterlini, 1:44.65 (50.94/53.71)
7. Adrian Minde Hunshammer, 1:44.74 (50.58/54.16)
9. Eirik Kveno, 1:44.98 (50.17/54.81)
16. Thomas Hoffman, 1:45.85 (50.78/55.07)
DNF: Loic Chable (50.17/DNR run 2), *Jack Bowers (run 1)
Women's Giant Slalom
2. Sara Rask, 1:41.65 (51.16/50.49)
9. Nicola Rountree-Williams, 1:43.49 (52.37/51.12)
12. Stella Buchheister, 1:44.34 (52.62/51.72)
DNF: Josephine Trueblood (53.89/DNF run 2), Liv Moritz (run 1)
Thursday, Dec. 19
Men's Giant Slalom
5. Loic Chable, 1:44.12 (50.23/53.89)
8. Christian Soevik, 1:44.24 (50.50/53.74)
9. Erik Kveno, 1:44.28 (50.47/53.81)
10. Adrian Minde Hunshammer, 1:44.62 (49.99/54.63)
DNF: Thomas Hoffman (50.19/DNF run 2), Petro Motterlini (50.34/DNS run 2), Cooper Cornelius (50.36/DNF run 2), *Jack Bowers (51.45/DNF run 2)
Women's Giant Slalom
2. Sara Rask, 1:46.81 (54.78/52.03)
10. Nicola Rountree-Williams, 1:48.18 (55.31/52.87)
11. Liv Moritz, 1:48.69 (55.58/53.11)
14. Stella Buchheister, 1:49.12 (56.00/53.12)
17. Mia Hunt, 1:50.29 (56.27/54.02)
DNF: Josephine Trueblood (57.64/DNF run 2)
Friday, Dec. 20
Men's Slalom
8. Christian Soevik, 1:21.34 (41.93/39.41)
13. Loic Chable, 1:22.15 (41.71/40.44)
16. Eirik Kveno, 1:22.45 (41.90/40.55)
23. Cooper Cornelius, 1:23.56 (43.41/40.15)
DQ: Adrian Minde Hunshammer (run 1)
DNF: Thomas Hoffman (run 1), *Jack Bowers (run 1)
Women's Slalom
1. Mia Hunt, 1:24.55 (44.82/39.73)
17. Liv Moritz, 1:30.03 (49.68/40.35)
18. Josephine Trueblood, 1:30.27 (48.12/42.15)
19. Stella Buchheister, 1:30.29 (48.00/42.29)
DNF: Sara Rask (run 1), Nicola Rountree-Williams (run 1)
Saturday, Dec. 21
Men's Slalom
3. Christian Soevik, 1:16.16 (37.18/38.98)
10. Loic Chable, 1:17.46 (37.68/39.78)
17. Eirik Kveno, 1:18.03 (38.28/39.75)
27. Cooper Cornelius, 1:19.07 (38.87/40.20)
DNF: Adrian Minde Hunshammer (run 1), *Jack Bowers (run 1)
Women's Slalom
1. Liv Moritz, 1:24.98 (43.48/41.50)
2. Sara Rask, 1:24.99 (42.55/42.44)
17. Stella Buchheister, 1:28.19 (45.20/42.99)
18. Nicola Rountree-Williams, 1:28.58 (44.97/43.61)
24. Josephine Trueblood, 1:30.98 (46.15/44.83)
DNF: Mia Hunt (run 1)
*-denotes DU skiing alum
UP NEXT: The Pioneers now turn their attention to the start of the collegiate season in the coming weeks. The campaign begins for the Nordic squad on Jan. 2 in Alaska at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships and Seawolf Invitational and for the alpine group with the Denver Invitational on Jan. 6-8 at Loveland Ski Area and Copper Mountain Resort.
DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
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Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Skiing on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Skiing on Twitter
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Skiing on Instagram
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