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The Dartmouth
February 26, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

January look back: Nordic and alpine ski teams dominate at the Bates and St. Lawrence Carnivals

With a total of 21 podium finishes across the Bates and St. Lawrence Carnivals, Dartmouth Skiing secured back-to-back victories to open the season.

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The Dartmouth ski teams began their season with back-to-back victories at the Bates and St. Lawrence Carnivals on Jan. 10-11 and Jan. 16-18, respectively. Securing a combined 21 podium finishes across both weekends, the teams’ early dominance positions Dartmouth as a top contender heading into February. 

The impressive performances put up by both Nordic and alpine weren’t just a stroke of luck — they were the result of months of rigorous training, a cohesive team dynamic and a focused mindset heading into the season. Men’s Nordic head coach Brayton Osgood emphasized the importance of early and consistent preparation, explaining that the team’s journey to success began long before any snow had fallen. 

“The whole team was on campus this fall and training together,” he explained. “Since early-mid October, people have been really healthy, motivated and working well together.”

Heading into the first carnival of the season, Osgood said he was “cautiously optimistic.” Reflecting on the team’s progress over the past year, Osgoodhighlighted strong individual performances in non-college, early-season races. For example, he described John Steel Hagenbuch ’25 and Luke Allan ’25 as “nationally competitive” in both the U.S. and Canada.

The Nordic team showcased depth and talent at the Bates Carnival, with exceptional performances from John Steel Hagenbuch ’25 and Luke Allan ’25. Allan secured a first-place finish in the men’s 1.3K sprint on Saturday and a second-place result in the men’s 13.5K race on Sunday. Hagenbuch placed third in the sprint and first in the freestyle on Sunday. 

Osgood noted that both Allan and Hagenbuch bring a consistent level of competition to the team and “have had some really outstanding results.”

Allan said he focused on pacing and “seizing key opportunities” during each race. 

“The biggest moment for me was on the final of the sprint day,” Allan said. “I was behind another skier, and I could tell he was getting tired. That’s when I made the move around him. I knew if I could hold my lead there, I’d have a clear path to the finish.”

Allan added that this was his first carnival victory since his freshman year.

“It’s validation that the hard work has paid off,” he said. “It means a lot to get the carnival season started off right.”

Osgood said he hopes that each skier will have at least a top 30 result in each technique class this season. 

“Eight guys took care of that this first weekend, so we might have to refine that goal and set the sights a little higher, which is really exciting,” he said. 

On the Nordic women’s side, Ava Thurston ’26 led the way, securing her first victory of the season in the 13.5K freestyle race and placing third in the 1.3K sprint. She was joined by Evie Walton ’27, who claimed a fourth-place finish in the 1.3K sprint, narrowly missing the podium. Their results underscored the team’s depth, with three additional women earning top 20 finishes in the freestyle race. 

The alpine teams delivered equally impressive results. On the women’s team, Allie Resnick ’25 celebrated her first podium of the season with a victory in the women’s giant slalom. She was joined by Izzy Washburn ’27, who took third place, and two more teammates in the top 10. Zoe Zimmerman ’26 led the women’s slalom, finishing third, with two more teammates placing in the top 10. 

On the men’s alpine side, Benny Brown ’27 earned third place in the men’s giant slalom, and two additional Dartmouth men landed in the top 10. In the men’s slalom, Philip Lundquist ’28 claimed first place.

The giant slalom run featured a particularly difficult setup with gates placed very close together, leaving many skiers, including Brown, feeling like they were far from competitive. However, upon learning he was in contention for a podium place after his first run, Brown’s confidence soared heading into the second. 

Though the course was nearly a minute and a half long — significantly more than the average one minute — Brown kept his energy up and pushed through to the finish.

“We got more points at the Bates Carnival than any team did all last year,” Brown noted. “It’s a testament to how good our training has been, but we’re still not perfect. When we show up and put it all together, it’s going to be dominating.”

From Jan. 16-18, the teams traveled to Canton, N.Y. to compete in the St. Lawrence Carnival, where they earned eight podiums and placed first overall out of 14 teams. 

Allan showcased his dominance yet again, placing first in the men’s 7.5K classic interval start and 20K freestyle.

On the women’s side, Jasmine Drolet ’25 earned first, while Thurston clinched third place in the women’s 7.5K classic interval start. Thurston also placed second in the women’s 20K freestyle race, supported by four other teammates inside the top 10. 

The alpine men did not take home any podium finishes in the slalom, with Louis Latullipe ’25 earning fourth and two other Big Green skiers in the top 10. Zimmerman, however, placed first in the women’s slalom.

“It’s not just one or two people doing well — everyone is packing in the top 10,” Brown said. “The whole team is firing, and we’re excited because we know we have more to do.”

With a strong start to the season, the Nordic and alpine teams are eager to maintain their momentum. The carnivals continue over the coming weeks, and the Big Green will face tough competition from other top collegiate teams.

Both teams also have their eyes set on the NCAA Championship later in the season. This year’s championship carries extra significance, as Dartmouth is hosting at the Dartmouth Skiway and Oak Hill for the first time in more than 20 years. Only three men and three women from each team will qualify to compete at the NCAAs, making every carnival crucial for securing a spot.