She didn’t have significant achievements in Norway. Nevertheless, the Raufoss native had a fantastic first season after moving to the University of Denver, making an immediate impact in the NCAA series. The freshman was honored as the team’s Most Valuable Skier.

Synne Bollingmo delivered an impressive debut season with five top-10 finishes and two podium spots across 12 competitions. She finished among the top 15 in 10 of the 12 races she entered, culminating her freshman year by being selected for the All-America first team at the NCAA Championships after placing third in the 7.5-kilometer classic interval start on March 12 in Utah.

This podium finish marked the first for a female cross-country skier from the University of Denver at the NCAA Championships since Eveliina Piippo won the 5-kilometer freestyle in 2020. It was also the second consecutive year that a Denver skier earned a spot on the All-America first team in women’s cross-country, following Lea Wenaas’s fourth-place finish in the 20-kilometer freestyle in 2025.

The Raufoss native secured her first podium at the collegiate level earlier in the season, finishing third in the 10-kilometer classic mass start at the Denver Invitational in Frisco on February 7.

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Attended NTG in Lillehammer

22-year-old Synne Bollingmo moved to Denver and Colorado after completing her studies at NTG in Lillehammer. She competed for Raufoss Langrenn and Team Olympiaparken.

As a junior, she achieved several strong results in the Norwegian Cup, including a top-6 overall finish in her age group in 2024 and a top-10 finish among U23 skiers in classic sprint in 2025.

However, her results at home over the past two years do not quite match the two podium finishes in the U.S. Her best result was 45th in the 30-kilometer event at the Norwegian Championships in Hovden in 2025. That same winter, she placed 43rd in the sprint at the Norwegian Championships in Gåsbu.

Her mother, Trude, also competed in cross-country skiing for the University of Denver. This was in 1995, the first year the university had a women’s team in cross-country skiing.

Two Norwegians received awards

In addition to Synne Bollingmo being named the Most Valuable Skier for the cross-country team, Maja Moland from Andebu in Vestfold received the Pioneer Award, which is given to athletes who excel through team spirit, hard work, and pride in representing the University of Denver.

Maja Moland participated in all 13 competitions of the season and achieved four top-10 finishes. She ranked among the top 20 in 10 of the races.

The Andebu native delivered two eighth-place finishes in a row at the Utah Invitational at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center on January 24 and 25. She placed eighth in both the 7.5-kilometer freestyle and the 15-kilometer classic.

A month later, she secured two more top-10 finishes at the same venue during the RMISA Championships, finishing ninth in the 7.5-kilometer classic on February 27 and eighth in the 20-kilometer freestyle the following day.

Moland concluded the season by qualifying for her third NCAA Championships and competing in her second NCAA Championships of her career.

This marks the third team award in Moland’s college career. She also received the Pioneer Award as a freshman in 2024 and was named the team’s Most Improved Skier as a sophomore in 2025.

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