The University of Utah has locked down its 17th collegiate skiing national championship, and Pemberton's Joe Davies played a starring role in the accomplishment.
Davies and his fellow Utes found themselves sitting third overall after the alpine slalom event on March 5, but rebounded quickly and decisively. Erica Lavén prevailed in the women's 7.5-kilometre classic and Johs Braathen Herland won the men's giant slalom, granting Davies an opportunity to secure the NCAA title if he could conquer the 20-kilometre freestyle.
On March 8, the Spud Valley Nordics and Whistler Nordics alum left no doubt. He struck gold, besting runner-up John Hagenbuch from host venue Dartmouth College by more than a minute. Utah finished the competition with 590 points, well clear of runner-up University of Colorado (513) and Dartmouth in third (508.5), to obtain its 17th national title—and its fourth in the last five years.
"It means a lot, especially after last year coming up short to Colorado in the overall championship," Davies said. "Being able to put down one of my better races this year to help secure the win for the team is, I mean, it's the best thing I could have done to end my college career."
No stranger to varsity success, Davies also grabbed a national title in 2023 representing the University of Alaska Fairbanks by outperforming—you guessed it—Hagenbuch. The duo are friends well-acquainted with each other's skills.
Davies charged into the front-running pack early and never relinquished a dominant position. Hagenbuch is a threat to overtake at the end of any given race due to his sprinting ability, so the Pembertonian sought to establish a big lead.
Hagenbuch hung tough for the first three laps, but Davies pulled away during lap No. 4 and acquired a Utes flag from teammate Claire Timmerman to wave as he powered across the finish line.
Davies also netted bronze in his own 7.5-kilometre classic on March 6, but feels he did not meet his standards that day.
'There's something more personal about college racing'
Now the 89th individual champion in Utah history and an All-American, Davies will return in the winter semester to finish his engineering degree—but he's out of NCAA eligibility. College skiing will always hold a special place in his heart nonetheless.
"I mean, World Cup racing is obviously amazing and cool, but there's something more personal about college racing," opined Davies. "It feels more like a family and that's always, I think, what you should put first—so that's why I've [been spending] half the year doing the World Cup and coming back [for] college races I want to do. That's really where I have the most fun.
"What's cool about the [national] championship is that it really comes down to a team effort. I wasn't even thinking so much about winning that race individually—I just wanted to put down the best possible performance to be able to help our team. Erica and Johs both getting their own titles is really cool, and it's nice when the whole team can come together and put down some of their best results this season."
Davies authored a robust start to his own campaign with three straight top-16 World Cup results last December in Ruka, Finland and Lillehammer, Norway. Although he competes for Great Britain internationally, he has not experienced any dip in support from Canadian friends and family.
The men and women of Whistler Nordics back him heartily as well. They believe Davies' ceiling is high, and that gives him more fuel to keep plying his trade. Full-time World Cup racing in Europe awaits next year, and the 2026 Olympic Games in Cortina, Italy loom large.
Visit utahutes.com/news/2025/3/8/skiing-champs-utah-ski-team-back-on-top-with-17th-national-championship.aspx for more details on the University of Utah's national title.
