RMISA Announces 2027 Ski Schedule
September 22, 2026 | Skiing
Buffs Host Colorado Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational At Vail And Steamboat Springs
BOULDER — The Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association has released its 2027 schedule, highlighted for the Colorado Ski Team by the Colorado Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational, CU's home meet set for Jan. 16 and 18 (alpine) at Vail Resort and Jan. 29-30 (Nordic) at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs.
The alpine races are part of a four-race block at Vail from Jan. 15-18 shared with Denver. The Pioneers host the giant slalom on Friday, Jan. 15, and the slalom on Sunday, Jan. 17, while the Buffs host the giant slalom on Saturday, Jan. 16, and the slalom on Monday, Jan. 18.
The Nordic portion returns to Howelsen Hill, one of the most historic venues in collegiate skiing, with a 15K classic mass start on Friday, Jan. 29, and a 7.5K freestyle individual start on Saturday, Jan. 30.
The invitational honors former CU skier Spencer Nelson, who passed away in 2010, and continues to serve as a cornerstone of the collegiate ski circuit. [NEED: confirm Nelson line matches the standard house version]
Head coach Jana Weinberger's Buffaloes enter the season coming off a second straight runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, falling 10.5 points short of Utah in 2026 in one of the closest team races in championship history.Â
Colorado also claimed the 2026 RMISA regular-season title and had alpine coach Ian Lochhead named RMISA Alpine Coach of the Year. The Buffs will again chase the program's 22nd NCAA team championship. [NEED: any offseason roster or staff notes to include here]
The season opens Jan. 2 and 4 with the Nordic portion of the Utah Invitational at the Birkie Trails in Cable, Wis., with a 10K freestyle and a classic sprint. The Buffs remain in Wisconsin for the RMISA Nordic Qualifiers on Jan. 6-7, a 20K classic mass start and a freestyle sprint held in conjunction with the U.S. National Championships.
After the Vail block, the alpine team heads to Utah Olympic Park in Park City for the alpine portion of the Utah Invitational on Jan. 28-29, the same weekend the Nordic team races at home in Steamboat Springs.
February opens with four straight days of alpine racing at Mt. Rose in Reno, Nev. The RMISA Alpine Qualifiers hold a giant slalom on Feb. 1 and a slalom on Feb. 3, wrapped around the Nevada Invitational giant slalom on Feb. 2 and slalom on Feb. 4. The Nordic team closes the Colorado portion of the regular season at the Denver Invitational, a classic sprint and 10K freestyle on Feb. 5-6 at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby.
The final stretch of the regular season moves to Alaska. The Nordic team races the University of Alaska Fairbanks Invitational on Feb. 21-22 on the Competition Trails at UAF, a classic sprint followed by a 5K freestyle heat mass start. The alpine team completes the RMISA Alpine Qualifiers at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood with a giant slalom on Feb. 24 and a slalom on Feb. 26.
The RMISA Championships, hosted by Alaska Anchorage, run Feb. 25-27 with the alpine races at Alyeska and the Nordic races at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. The giant slalom opens the championships on Feb. 25, followed by the 7.5K freestyle on Feb. 26 and the 20K classic and slalom on Feb. 27.
The NCAA Championships will be hosted by Vermont on March 10-13, with alpine racing at Stowe Mountain Resort and Nordic racing at Craftsbury Outdoor Center. The championship schedule will be five races for the first time in NCAA history with the sprint discipline being added to the program. A 7.5K freestyle on the Nordic side and slalom on the alpine side on March 10 starts things off followed by a classic sprint on March 11, a giant slalom on March 12 and a 20K classic on March 13.Â
In all, the Buffs' regular season features five invitationals and 22 races, 12 alpine and 10 Nordic, before the RMISA and NCAA championships. All dates and venues are subject to change.
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The alpine races are part of a four-race block at Vail from Jan. 15-18 shared with Denver. The Pioneers host the giant slalom on Friday, Jan. 15, and the slalom on Sunday, Jan. 17, while the Buffs host the giant slalom on Saturday, Jan. 16, and the slalom on Monday, Jan. 18.
The Nordic portion returns to Howelsen Hill, one of the most historic venues in collegiate skiing, with a 15K classic mass start on Friday, Jan. 29, and a 7.5K freestyle individual start on Saturday, Jan. 30.
The invitational honors former CU skier Spencer Nelson, who passed away in 2010, and continues to serve as a cornerstone of the collegiate ski circuit. [NEED: confirm Nelson line matches the standard house version]
Head coach Jana Weinberger's Buffaloes enter the season coming off a second straight runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, falling 10.5 points short of Utah in 2026 in one of the closest team races in championship history.Â
Colorado also claimed the 2026 RMISA regular-season title and had alpine coach Ian Lochhead named RMISA Alpine Coach of the Year. The Buffs will again chase the program's 22nd NCAA team championship. [NEED: any offseason roster or staff notes to include here]
The season opens Jan. 2 and 4 with the Nordic portion of the Utah Invitational at the Birkie Trails in Cable, Wis., with a 10K freestyle and a classic sprint. The Buffs remain in Wisconsin for the RMISA Nordic Qualifiers on Jan. 6-7, a 20K classic mass start and a freestyle sprint held in conjunction with the U.S. National Championships.
After the Vail block, the alpine team heads to Utah Olympic Park in Park City for the alpine portion of the Utah Invitational on Jan. 28-29, the same weekend the Nordic team races at home in Steamboat Springs.
February opens with four straight days of alpine racing at Mt. Rose in Reno, Nev. The RMISA Alpine Qualifiers hold a giant slalom on Feb. 1 and a slalom on Feb. 3, wrapped around the Nevada Invitational giant slalom on Feb. 2 and slalom on Feb. 4. The Nordic team closes the Colorado portion of the regular season at the Denver Invitational, a classic sprint and 10K freestyle on Feb. 5-6 at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby.
The final stretch of the regular season moves to Alaska. The Nordic team races the University of Alaska Fairbanks Invitational on Feb. 21-22 on the Competition Trails at UAF, a classic sprint followed by a 5K freestyle heat mass start. The alpine team completes the RMISA Alpine Qualifiers at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood with a giant slalom on Feb. 24 and a slalom on Feb. 26.
The RMISA Championships, hosted by Alaska Anchorage, run Feb. 25-27 with the alpine races at Alyeska and the Nordic races at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. The giant slalom opens the championships on Feb. 25, followed by the 7.5K freestyle on Feb. 26 and the 20K classic and slalom on Feb. 27.
The NCAA Championships will be hosted by Vermont on March 10-13, with alpine racing at Stowe Mountain Resort and Nordic racing at Craftsbury Outdoor Center. The championship schedule will be five races for the first time in NCAA history with the sprint discipline being added to the program. A 7.5K freestyle on the Nordic side and slalom on the alpine side on March 10 starts things off followed by a classic sprint on March 11, a giant slalom on March 12 and a 20K classic on March 13.Â
In all, the Buffs' regular season features five invitationals and 22 races, 12 alpine and 10 Nordic, before the RMISA and NCAA championships. All dates and venues are subject to change.
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Tuesday, April 21
Friday, June 27
Tuesday, June 10
Tuesday, April 22
