Alpine Season Recap: Looking back on a fantastic 2020 ski season that ended too soon

With carnival season well behind us and the confusion and heartbreak of the cancelled NCAA races receding in the rearview, now is a perfect time for a quick look back at the 2020 season. Here's a short overview of an eventful, with some of the league's top teams and racers highlighted.

EISA SKIERS OF THE WEEK:

Week 1, (Harvard Carnival @ Waterville Valley)

Marina Vilanova (UVM)

Drew Duffy (Dartmouth)

Week 2, (UVM Carnival @ Stowe)

Tricia Mangan (Dartmouth)

Justin Alkier (Middlebury)

Week 3, (Colby Carnival @ Sugarloaf)

Claire Thomas (Dartmouth)

Jagge Lindstoel (UVM)

Week 4, (Bates Carnival @ Sunday River)

Gwen Wattenmaker (Dartmouth)

Andrew Miller (Dartmouth)

Week 5, (Williams Carnival @ Jiminy Peak)

Stephanie Currie (Dartmouth)

Erik Arvidsson (Middlebury)

Week 6, (Middlebury Carnival & NCAA Regional Championship @ Middlebury Snow Bowl)

Ali Nullmeyer (Middlebury)

Tim Gavett (Middlebury)

As you might be able to tell from that list, UVM, Dartmouth, and Middlebury all had standout years and more often than not emerged on the top of the heap--and the podium--in both alpine events. Ali Nullmeyer, a Middlebury freshman, grabbed an impressive four first place finishes and one second place finish, climbing the podium at least once in each of the four carnivals in which she raced and twice at Middlebury (Nullmeyer also hit the world cup circuit this winter for some Kranjska Gora slalom). Claire Thomas and Tricia Mangan, representing the Big Green, grabbed four podiums each. Thomas won the giant slalom at the Colby and Williams carnivals, and finished third at the UVM and Middlebury giant slalom races. Mangan grabbed second in the UVM carnival slalom and giant slalom, as well as at the Colby and Middlebury giant slalom races.

In the men's field, Middlebury teammates Tim Gavett and Erik Arvidsson were no strangers to the hallowed heights of the podium with three wins for Gavett (Harvard SL, Williams GS) and two for Arvidsson (UVM and Middlebury GS). Gavett also grabbed a second place finish in the Bates slalom, and Arvidsson grabbed two second place finishes in the Williams GS and Middlebury slalom as well as a third place finish in the Colby GS. Dartmouth's Drew Duffy, coming off a hit rookie of the year season in 2019, nabbed four podiums this season but no wins, climbing up for two second place finishes (Harvard and UVM GS) and two third place finishes (Harvard SL, Bates GS). UVM freshman star Jagge Lindstoel was by far the most consistently fast skier in the men's field this season, grabbing a impressive nine podiums--at least one at every carnival, and twice at three carnivals. In addition to winning the Bates slalom, he came in second place five times (Harvard SL, Colby GS, Colby SL, Williams SL, Middlebury SL) and in third place three times (Harvard GS, UVM SL, Williams GS).

Finally, though no UNH racer was a skier of the week, the squad deserves an shoutout for their hugely impressive season, with senior Emma Woodhouse arcing into four podium spots--three second place finishes (Colby SL, Bates SL, Williams SL) and a slalom win at the Harvard carnival. Wildcat junior Patrick Kenney also had a formidable season, winning the Harvard carnvial GS and coming in third place at the UVM GS. Kenney went on to be the highest placing EISA skier at the NCAA championship GS a few weeks ago, finishing in fourth place.

NCAA Rankings:

Here are the top skiers of the EISA, stacked up by NCAA points earned during the season (rankings look at the best 2 results):

Women:

Claire Thomas (Dartmouth), 356 points total, 200 counted

Marina Vilanova (UVM), 266 points total, 200 counted

Josefine Selvaag (UVM), 242 points total, 160 counted

Tricia Mangan (Dartmouth), 280 points total, 160 counted

Lisa Olsson (UNH), 226 points total, 130 counted

Men:

Erik Arvidsson (Middlebury), 455 points total, 200 counted

Andrew Miller (Dartmouth), 312 points total, 180 counted

Patrick Kenney (UNH), 336 points total, 160 counted

Jagge Lindstoel (UVM), 365 points total, 160 counted

Drew Duffy (Dartmouth), 310 points total, 160 counted

For individual and team awards, please see my EISA championship recap post here! Thank you all for a wonderful season, even if it was cut short by extremely unusual and disconcerting circumstances. Onward towards the 2021 season!