A lack of snow in the immediate Hanover area, which caused cancellation of the Lyndon ville Ski Club meet on the first weekend of the new year and the Hanover invitational cross-country race and jump in mid-January, has given no opportunity for Dartmouth to show its team strength.
However, some idea of Dartmouth's strength may be gained from the results of ski meets held in other sections of the Northeast. On January 9 Dartmouth's sophomore star, Chiharu Igaya, flashed through a 30-gate slalom course in 56 seconds to capture the Louise Orvis Giant Slalom held at Big Bromley in Manchester, Vermont. The 23-year old Igaya, former Japanese Olympic ace, displayed the same flashing form which won him the National slalom and combined championships last winter. Egil Stigum, Dartmouth's Norwegian veteran, finished third, just two seconds behind lagaya, while Tony Carleton in ninth place completed the scoring honors for Dartmouth.
On the same weekend the Dartmouth cross-country racers competed in the eightmile Jackson race, but did not fare as well as their Alpine brothers. Dartmouth ski captain John Bassette was first across the line for the Big Green in 13th place, with Dusty Johnstone 14th, Magne Johnsrud 19th and Dick Hallagan 26th.
A week later the Dartmouth Alpine team again showed its strength in the U.S. Eastern Amateur Giant Slalom Championships at Woodstock, Vermont. Egil Stigum won this time with a combined time for two runs of 1:51.3, with Dartmouth's Bill Beck in third place, Dave Vorse sixth and Tom Corcoran, former Dartmouth ace and now a member of the U.S. Navy, in seventh
place. Chick Igaya, favoring a sprained ankle, fell on his first run and wound up in 26th place.
With a rather weak cross-country squad and only a few jumpers, Dartmouth's hopes on the winter carnival circuit starting in February rest largely with the fine Alpine team.