The Middlebury ski team kicked off the first day of carnival season with impressive performances on both the alpine and nordic sides. The Panthers sit in second place overall with 409 points after the first day of races at the Colby Carnival. The University of Vermont is just ahead, leading the pack with 412 points, while Dartmouth rounds out the top-three (367 points). The nordic team resumes action on Saturday with the 5K Skate at the Quarry Road Trails. The slalom races originally scheduled for Saturday at Sugarloaf Mountain were postponed until Sunday due to high winds and cold temperatures. 
 
The alpine team dominated the giant slalom (GS) on the first day of competition, with both the men and the women winning the event. On the women's side, Lucia Bailey finished in second with a combined time of 1:47.15. Alexandra Cossette had a two-run time of 1:48.65 to place fourth, while Sofia Yubero was just behind in sixth (1:49.11). 
 
Bradshaw Underhill finished as the runner-up on the men's side with a two-run time of 1:41.45. Axel Bailey placed 10th with a combined time of 1:43.25, while Justin Alkier finished in 12th place (1:43.38). 
 
In the Nordic 20K freestyle, Kate Oldham crossed the finish line in fifth place in a field of 80 skiers, clocking in at 56:54.5 to lead Middlebury. Avery Ellis placed 14th with a time of 59:43.7, while Quincy Massey-Bierman also cracked the top-20, finishing in 18th (1:00:16.6). 
 
Sam Hodges was the top finisher for the Panthers on the men's side, placing 10th with a time of 51:30.5. Logan Moore was just behind in 12th with a clocking of 52:02.3. Willson Moore cracked the top-20 with a 17th-place finish, completing the course in 52.39.6.