Green-Crimson Slalom

ON April 23 the Indians take on the Crimson in the annual Harvard-Dartmouth slalom. The traditional ski contest will be held at Tuckerman Ravine, Mount Washington, about one o'clock. Entrants on either team are unlimited, and the only qualification is that the contestants have some past or present direct connection with Dartmouth or Harvard. Undergraduates, alumni, graduate students, faculty members, and members of the administration are eligible. You see, almost anyone!

The purpose of the race is to offer competition to the men who usually have little chance at it after graduation, and, in the words of the founder of this event, to maintain the "pleasant, informal ski rivalry between Harvard and Dartmouth."

Bradford Washburn, Harvard '33, an enthusiastic skier, succeeded in gaining University recognition for the other young skiers by the formation of the Harvard Ski Team in 1934. In the same year he started the Harvard-Dartmouth ski meets. His original plan was for an alternate slalom and downhill schedule. One year the slalom would be held at Tuckerman Ravine and the next year the downhill would be held on the Moosilauke Carriage Road, which Brad averred was "one of the best downhill racing trails in New England." Dartmouth owns Moosilauke and Harvard has a cabin at Tuckerman. The downhill was dropped, but the slalom, first run on April 29, 1934, is now a tradition.

Dartmouth won that first slalom, with Ted Hunter '38 in first place. Harvard came back to win the next one, and after

twenty more races the score now stands at eleven-all.

This year the winner will get the trophy in fact, not just in effect. The trophy which Brad Washburn donated in 1934 mysteriously disappeared in 1942. Then the trophy which the Harvard Ski Team donated in 1952 disappeared a few years ago. In 1958 the original trophy reappeared, minus a handle, but the DOC doesn't know who has it now. The Harvard Ski Team trophy, discovered after much sleuthing, was in a Hanover jeweler's shop, and it will be awarded to the winning team (unless it's lost).

This race is a shirt-sleeves affair, as much a social gathering (or more) as it is an athletic contest. Skiing at Tuckerman is best in late April, so assemble the family and come on up for some good skiing and lots of fun!