SKIING

The Dartmouth ski team is the best in the East. This is a statement which can be substantiated with definite proof. At the Middlebury Winter Carnival the Indians not only toppled the Panthers for the second time this winter, but they won their second straight Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Championship and the right to represent the East as a team at the NCAA championships at Solitude, Utah, March 21-23.

The Middlebury meet was even tighter than the Dartmouth Winter Carnival had been, but it was Dartmouth's depth which told the story. The Panthers edged the Green in the downhill, but a solid team finish in the cross-country moved the Indians out in front by 15/100 of a point. Ed Williams, Jim Page, and Dick Durrance took second, third, and fourth places.

Jim Jacobson was winner of the slalom, but Middlebury sliced the Green lead to 9/100 of a point. Bob Hiller was sixth and Durrance seventh, the only other Green skiers in the top ten. Despite John Bower's great jumping for Middlebury, the Panthers were unable to overcome Dartmouth's strength in that event. Page was a strong second, Sel Hannah was third, and Durrance fourth.

The final team points saw the Indians with 582.60 and Middlebury with 577.47. Vermont was third at 523.46 and the other seven teams were well off the pace.

Dick Durrance was named Skimeister as a result of his solid performances in all four events.

At this writing the eight-man team to enter the NCAA championship has not been named, but you can be sure it will be Coach Merrill's best. We'll give you a full report next month.