SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah’s Nordic ski team has unveiled an impressive roster of five new athletes, marking a significant boost to the program for the upcoming season. Head coach Pierre Niess and director of skiing Fredrik Landstedt announced the addition of Neve Gerard, Erica Lavén, Selma Nevin, Carl Rune, and Lucas Wilmot to their team.
Landstedt acknowledged the challenge of replacing standout performers like Sydney Palmer-Leger and Karianne Dengerud, but expressed confidence in the new recruits. “You can never replace someone like Sydney Palmer-Leger, who had an amazing collegiate career. Karianne Dengerud also skied very well for us, but I believe that the three Nordic women that we brought in should be competitive with anyone in the country and that they should all compete for the top three spots on our team.”
On the men’s side, despite the graduation of Tom Mancini, Landstedt is optimistic about the team’s prospects. “We are lucky to keep Joe Davies, Brian Bushey, and Walker Hall for another year. Carl Rune will be pushing those guys for one of the NCAA spots and we see a lot of potential in Lucas Wilmot. Overall, it’s a very strong recruiting class, and we should be right in the mix for another national title.”
Here’s a closer look at the newest members of the Utah Ski Team:
1. Neve Gerard – Bend, Oregon
Representing the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, Gerard has earned five FIS podiums between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Notable achievements include winning the junior 10K freestyle at the 2024 U.S. Nationals and competing in the Winter Youth Olympics, where he achieved a top-six finish in classic skiing. Gerard also contributed to a top-five U.S. relay team at the Nordic Nations Cup.
Gerard commented on his decision, “I chose the University of Utah because I wanted a team where I can grow as an athlete as much as possible. The level of skiing, quality of teammates and coaches, and the location made it an easy choice.”
2. Erica Lavén – Täby, Sweden
Affiliated with Aasarna IK, Lavén boasts 33 FIS podiums over the past three seasons, with 16 in 2024 alone. She won the freestyle sprints at the 2024 Swedish National Junior Championships and finished second in the 5K classic. Lavén has represented Sweden at the Junior World Ski Championships three times, consistently finishing in the top 20.
Lavén said, “I chose Utah because I see the chance to train in a different and good training environment. Utah will allow me to try something new, and to train with some very talented skiers.”
3. Selma Nevin – Trondheim, Norway
Nevin, from Byaasen Skiklub, has secured twelve top-10 finishes in FIS races across Norway and Sweden since 2022. Her recent achievements include a 19th place at the 2024 Norway National Junior Championships in both the 15K classic and freestyle. Nevin aims to develop further at Utah, driven by the program’s strong facilities and team environment.
Nevin stated, “I chose the University of Utah because of the training facilities and the high-level ski team. My ultimate goal is to become a professional skier, and I believe Utah is the perfect place for me to develop as an athlete.”
4. Carl Rune – Vallentuna, Sweden
Rune, representing Täby IS Skidor, reached the podium four times in the 2022 FIS season and achieved three top-20 results at the 2024 Swedish National Championships. His World Cup debut in 2023 was marked by a top-50 freestyle sprint result. Rune’s decision to join Utah was influenced by the team’s strong skiing program and exceptional training opportunities.
Rune explained, “There are many good skiers on the team, and the training opportunities seem amazing. The University of Utah felt like the perfect place to combine skiing with my studies.”
5. Lucas Wilmot – Jackson, Wyoming
From Jackson Hole Ski Club, Wilmot has made notable strides in his career, including a bronze medal in the 10K freestyle at the 2023 U.S. Junior National Championships and a top-three junior finish in the 10K classic at the 2024 U.S. Senior Nationals. Wilmot also competed at the 2024 Junior World Championships and participated in the U-18 Scandinavian Cup in Sweden.
Wilmot shared, “I chose the University of Utah because I wanted to stay in the West near home, where I could be in the mountains a lot. I like how the UofU is in a bigger city than my hometown, so I could experience much more. The ski program and facilities are amazing and there are lots of opportunities to grow in skiing.”
These new recruits are set to bring a fresh energy and high level of competition to the University of Utah’s Nordic ski team, promising an exciting season ahead.
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