Spencer Nelson skiing at the 2010 RMISA Championships and NCAA West Regional
Buffs Set To Host Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational
January 14, 2020 | Skiing
BOULDER—The Colorado Ski Team will host the Eighth Annual Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational this week at Eldora and Steamboat Springs, bringing together teams from the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association for the second alpine and first Nordic action early in the 2020 season. Â
The alpine portion of the meet will be hosted at Eldora Mountain Resort on Wednesday to Friday, January 15-17 and the Nordic portion of the meet will take place in Steamboat Springs on Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19.  On Wednesday, action starts at 8:30 a.m. with the men's giant slalom first run followed by the women at 9:30 a.m. Second runs will take place early afternoon. Live timing can be found at buffs.me/skilive.Â
The Invitational is named after Spencer Nelson, who passed away in a hiking accident near Aspen in August 2010, just prior to the start of his sophomore season at CU. Â His parents, Peter Nelson and Peggy Smith, personally hand out custom made belt buckles as popular podium prizes at the awards ceremonies after each race in the meet. Â
Wednesday's action will kick off with giant slalom race that will be part of the Colorado Invitational, followed by two days of slalom races on Thursday and Friday. Â Thursday's slalom race will count toward the Colorado Invitational team standings while Friday's is considered an extra qualifier and will count toward individual accolades and NCAA Championship qualification. Â
Saturday will mark the first Nordic action for the 2020 season with the women's 5K and men's 10K freestyle races at Howelsen Hill. Â Action in the CU Invitational will conclude Sunday with the running of the women's 15K and men's 20K classic races. Â
This is the eighth meet named the Spencer James Nelson Memorial and the Buffs have won two of the previous seven, doing so in 2013 and 2015, both seasons in which the Buffs won the National Championship. Â This is the 33rd running of the Colorado Invitational since skiing went co-ed in 1983 and the Buffs have won the meet 16 times in those 32 appearances, including nine titles since 2000. Â
Â
The alpine portion of the meet will be hosted at Eldora Mountain Resort on Wednesday to Friday, January 15-17 and the Nordic portion of the meet will take place in Steamboat Springs on Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19.  On Wednesday, action starts at 8:30 a.m. with the men's giant slalom first run followed by the women at 9:30 a.m. Second runs will take place early afternoon. Live timing can be found at buffs.me/skilive.Â
The Invitational is named after Spencer Nelson, who passed away in a hiking accident near Aspen in August 2010, just prior to the start of his sophomore season at CU. Â His parents, Peter Nelson and Peggy Smith, personally hand out custom made belt buckles as popular podium prizes at the awards ceremonies after each race in the meet. Â
Wednesday's action will kick off with giant slalom race that will be part of the Colorado Invitational, followed by two days of slalom races on Thursday and Friday. Â Thursday's slalom race will count toward the Colorado Invitational team standings while Friday's is considered an extra qualifier and will count toward individual accolades and NCAA Championship qualification. Â
Saturday will mark the first Nordic action for the 2020 season with the women's 5K and men's 10K freestyle races at Howelsen Hill. Â Action in the CU Invitational will conclude Sunday with the running of the women's 15K and men's 20K classic races. Â
This is the eighth meet named the Spencer James Nelson Memorial and the Buffs have won two of the previous seven, doing so in 2013 and 2015, both seasons in which the Buffs won the National Championship. Â This is the 33rd running of the Colorado Invitational since skiing went co-ed in 1983 and the Buffs have won the meet 16 times in those 32 appearances, including nine titles since 2000. Â
Â
Colorado Ski: Why CU?
Friday, June 27
Colorado Ski: 2025 Facility Tour
Tuesday, June 10
Colorado Ski: 2024-25 Banquet
Tuesday, April 22
2024 Ski Team Season Recap
Tuesday, April 30