Utah’s Johs Herland competes in Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Joe Coles
By Joe Coles
Joe covers University of Utah sports for the Deseret News.

Utah is in second place after the opening day of the NCAA ski championships thanks to a big performance by Johs Braathen Herland.

Braathen Herland claimed first in the men’s giant slalom with runs of 57.54 seconds and 57.87 seconds, edging out Colorado’s Feb Allasina, who had runs of 58.37 seconds and 57.45 seconds.

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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne competes in Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland, awarded first place, carries his college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Colorado’s Feb Allasina, awarded second place, carries his college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland, awarded first place, carries his college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne, awarded first place, holds her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Sindre Myklebust, awarded sixth place, carries his college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland competes in Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top eight men’s finishers stand after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland reacts after seeing that he won first place in Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Melanie Dahlberg, awarded fifth place, carries her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland reacts after seeing that he won first place in Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Melanie Dahlberg, awarded fifth place, carries her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Colorado’s Louison Accambray, awarded second place, carries her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Denver’s Mia Hunt, awarded third place, carries her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne, awarded first place, holds her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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The top eight women’s finishers stand after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne, awarded first place, holds her college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Colorado’s Feb Allasina, awarded second place, carries his college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Middlebury’s Nick Unkovskoy, awarded third place, carries his college’s flag during the awards ceremony after competing in the Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland competes in Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland competes in Giant Slalom during the NCAA men’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Erica Laven skis at the Ute Invitational in Solider Hollow, Utah on Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25, 2026. | Evan Sosnowski/Utah Athletics
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Mons Melbye skis at the Ute Invitational in Solider Hollow, Utah on Saturday and Sunday, January 24-25, 2026. | Evan Sosnowski/Utah Athletics
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Johs Braathen Herland skis at the UU Invitational in Park City, UT on Sunday, February 22, 2026. | Jackson Bilawa/Utah Athletics
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The Utah ski team at the opening ceremony of the NCAA ski championships on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. | Jackson Bilawa/Utah Athletics
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Melanie Dahlberg skis at the UU Invitational in Park City, UT on Sunday, February 22, 2026. | Jackson Bilawa/Utah Athletics
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A sign during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne reacts after placing first in giant slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Nevada Reno’s David Morken competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Gates in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Johs Herland reacts after winning first in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Colby College’s Townsend Mikell reacts after crossing the finish line in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne reacts after placing first in giant slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Melanie Dahlberg, who placed fifth, smiles after competing in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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A gate in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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A sign during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne reacts after placing first in giant slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Denver’s Mia Hunt, awarded third place, competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Colorado’s Cathinka Lunder competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Utah’s Kaila Lafreniere competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Middlebury’s Kaite Fynn crashes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Denver’s Cecilia Pizzinato stops after finishing in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Middlebury’s Kaite Fynn crashes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Lights are projected from former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's al-Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, May 24, 2025, now the location of The American University of Iraq - Baghdad. | Hadi Mizban, Associated Press
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Middlebury’s Kaite Fynn competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Alaska Anchorage’s Ella Bromee competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Middlebury’s Nick Unkovskoy competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Dartmouth’s Calum Langmuir competes in giant slalom with one ski after the other fell off during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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St. Lawrence University’s Alec Nolan competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Dartmouth’s Zoe Zimmermann competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Skiers compete in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Westminster’s Benjamin Angerer competes in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne reacts after placing first in giant slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Denver’s Christian Soevik reacts after competing in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne reacts after placing first in giant slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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University of Colorado’s Louison Accambray, who placed second, smiles after competing in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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Montana State’s Justine Lamontagne reacts after placing first in giant slalom during the NCAA women’s ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
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A gate in giant slalom during the NCAA ski championships at Utah Olympic Park in Park City on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Two other Utes — Sindre Myklebust and Pierick Charest — finished in the top 15. Utah totaled 83 points to finish first in the event, which was held at Utah Olympic Park in Park City.

Utah didn’t fare as well in the women’s giant slalom, finishing in fourth place with 50 points. Melanie Dahlberg led the way for the Utes with runs of 1:04.32 and 1:01.80 to place fifth, while Kaila Lafreniere had runs of 1:05.66 and 1:01.19 to place 10th. No other Ute finished.

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With 133 total points, Utah is narrowly behind Colorado (137) as the competition shifts to Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway for the 7.5K classic on Thursday.

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