Boehm Captures Giant Slalom Title

Gianluca Boehm

1/19/2024 10:25:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing

Boehm, a native of Samedan, Switzerland had the fastest opening run in 1:05.08. His two-run total of 2:10.59 was one second better than Alaska-Anchorage’s Leon Nikic.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State sophomore Gianluca Boehm reached the top of the podium winning the giant slalom title on the final day of the Westminster Invitational, Friday afternoon at Olympic Park.

Boehm, a native of Samedan, Switzerland had the fastest opening run in 1:05.08. His two-run total of 2:10.59 was one second better than Alaska-Anchorage's Leon Nikic. MSU's Isak Staurset also notched a top five showing, placing fourth overall in 2:11.95. Staurset, a product of Andalnes, Norway had the third fastest (1:06.52) opening run.

Senior Jamie Casselman completed MSU's scoring finishing 11^th in 2:12.55. The Bobcat trio accounted for a meet-high 91 points in giant slalom, nine points better than runner-up Colorado (82). Tanner Perkins also recorded two successful runs for the Bobcats in 2:13.43. Henry Heaydon, Luc Dalton, and Dawson Yates did not finish their first runs.

Sophomore Justin Lamontagne paced the Bobcat women finishing fourth in 2:17.55. Her 1:06.85 second run was the third fastest of the heat. Also scoring for MSU were Lana Zbasnik, eighth, 2:18.44, and Kristiane Bekkestad, 17^th, 2:20.93.

Also finishing for the Bobcats were Ylva Falksete, 19^th, 2:21.28, and Brynee Hitchcock, 23^rd, 2:22.68. Nellie Talbot did not finish her first run.

Hannah Saethereng of Westminster won the women's giant slalom in 2:16.97.

Behind the 161-point output from its alpine team, the Bobcats moved from fourth to third in the final team standings. Utah won the team title with 579 points, followed by Denver 557, MSU 536, Colorado 525, Alaska-Anchorage 511, Alaska-Fairbanks 260, Westminster 254, Wyoming 134, Colorado Mountain 108, and Nevada 101.

Just 58 points separated first through fifth places, the closest RMISA meet in 15 years.

The alpine portion of the Utah Invitational finished on Saturday with giant slalom.