In the early stages of training for the 2019 skiing season, Colorado head Nordic coach Jana Weinberger wasn’t sure what to make of freshman Erik Dengerud.
“When he came, he’s kind of a quiet guy and doesn’t talk a lot,” Weinberger said. “He got sick and was kind of behind everybody and then slowly started coming back. He came back and everybody was a little skeptical, looking at him, ‘Is he ever going to perform to his potential?'”
Then the season began, and the Buffaloes quickly discovered Dengerud was going to be just fine.
“He showed that calm and steady pays off,” Weinberger said.
Although just a freshman, Dengerud has been one of CU’s top skiers this season and one reason why the Buffaloes take some confidence in the NCAA Championships, which run Wednesday through Saturday in Stowe, Vt.
The championships begin with the Nordic freestyle races on Wednesday and continue with the giant slalom on Thursday, the Nordic classical races on Friday and the slalom on Saturday.
.