The Middlebury alpine ski team kicked off its 2026 carnival season with Friday's slalom hosted by Colby from Sugarloaf Mountain. After the opening day that featured tough conditions, Dartmouth leads the way with 206 points, followed by the University of New Hampshire (195 points) and the University of Vermont (177 points). The Panthers sit in fifth place with 123 points.
 
MEN'S HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers started the carnival strong with the men finishing in fifth place, amassing 92 points. 
• Sebastian Segre led four Middlebury skiers inside the top-20 slots, finishing with a combined time of 1:29.47 for 10th. 
• Nico Richeda was one spot back, putting together a two-run clocking of 1:29.54.
• Rounding out the Panther scorers was Julian Arthur, completing his initial collegiate trips down the mountain in 1:29.65 to secure 14th place.

WOMEN'S HIGHLIGHTS

• In women's action, Sara Paradis was the lone Middlebury skier who posted two successful runs. She tallied a 10th-place finish, combining for a clocking of 1:33.32.
• The conditions prevented more than half of the field from completing a pair of trips down the mountain.  

NOTES

• Richeda's showing was a career-best finish, while Segre tied his top Middlebury effort in the discipline.
• The 10th-place clocking by Paradis was her best placing as a Panther.

The program closes its opening weekend of competition on Saturday with the giant slalom.