There’s a certain comfort in knowing that not only Middlebury’s Nordic skiers, but almost all Nordic skiers, wear their hats in a similar fashion. In fact, if the objective (functional or aesthetic) is to position one’s hat as parallel to the ground and as high above the ears as possible, then the Panthers had most teams beat at the Middlebury Carnival. The same goes for their performances last weekend.
The home carnival, which doubled as the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) championships, began with the 7.5k classic individual start on Friday morning. Similar to the time trials of professional cycling tours, the race requires each competitor to begin in 30-second intervals. The staggered starts prevent packs from forming, and although the course is more navigable during the race, the competitive spirit of racing in a group is partially sacrificed.
The Middlebury men’s Nordic squad set the tone in the opening race of the weekend. Facing a Dartmouth team headlined by John Steel Hagenbuch, who arrived fresh off a 14th-place finish in the 10k interval start free and 6th in the 4 x 7.5k relay at the Winter Olympics, the Panthers finished second overall with the help of multiple standout performances. The team was led by Mason Wheeler ’26 (fourth), Abrahm Geissinger ’29 (10th) and Peter Warner ’27 (13th).
“Shoutout to Abrahm Geissinger, he had a ripper day,” teammate Finn Veit ’29 said. “I think it’s the best result of the season.”
Shortly after the final men’s competitors trickled in, the Middlebury women’s Nordic team raced to a strong fourth place as a team. Shea Brams ’26 (fifth) was the first Panther to cross the finish, followed by Sofia Scririca ’27 (14th) and Beth McIntosh ’29 (15th). The Dartmouth team proved a formidable challenge again, placing five skiers in the top ten.
A significant share of the Panthers’ successes on Friday is owed to precise ski tuning. It’s paramount that the skis are treated with a suitable wax based on temperature, humidity, and snow type. The benefits of a well-chosen wax were especially evident on Friday.
With classic skiing (akin to running) in the 7.5k race, the balance between glide wax at the front and back of the skis and kick wax underfoot could substantially impact one’s race. Trudging uphill, competitors without the right kick wax began to slip far earlier and were forced to run with their skis in a “V” shape. But Middlebury’s skiers were able to retain their form longer thanks to the team’s wax technicians' tuning setup.
“We have a team of wax techs who get up here obscenely early [when] we have a race and are testing skis the moment the sun comes up,” Wheeler said. “It takes an entire village.”
“They are the unsung heroes of ski racing,” Veit echoed.
The Nordic races resumed on Saturday with the 20k mass start. Competitors skate skied four laps of the 5k course, and unlike Friday, began as an entire field. On the heels of heavy Friday night snowfall, the racing loops were covered in fresh snow for the start of the men’s race. It only took one lap for the new snow to break up, however, resulting in battleground conditions for the skiers at Rikert. Skiing efficiently, as Wheeler explained, “went out the window.”
The men secured a fifth-place team finish, with Wheeler tying for 10th towards the front. Veit followed close behind for 13th, while Geissinger tied for 28th. The Middlebury women produced another fourth-place overall result, led again by Brams in eighth. Mica Bodkins ’26 followed in ninth, and Scirica rounded out the Panthers’ top three in 12th.
“It was so fun to ski the whole 5k with everyone,” Bodkins said. “I couldn’t stop smiling.”
“It’s our last carnival of our whole EISA career so it was a great way to top it off,” Brams said as she stood beside Bodkins following the race.
To end an EISA career with the Middlebury Carnival is special for the Panthers’ skiers, although its significance goes beyond merely racing at home. The plain thrill on Saturday was palpable, even as a spectator. Students, families, community members and other competitors created an atmosphere that combined the frenzy of a cross-country race, the quirks of Nordic skiing and the rowdiness of a college party.
“There’s nothing like the Middlebury Carnival,” race announcer Caio Brown ’26 said after Saturday’s race.
“The Middlebury Carnival’s got that special something… skiing up that hill and getting hit by a wall of sound is amazing,” Wheeler added.
“That hill” was the heartbeat of the race course. Numerous party speakers blasting house music practically made the snow vibrate, and Middlebury’s cheer squad revved chainsaws (without the saw) as competitors skied by. The air smelled like gasoline as cheers infiltrated the woods, and hordes of spectators dashed between course segments to catch an extra look at the skiers. Some sank into waist-deep snow on the sides of the trail. By the last lap of the women’s race, multiple onlookers were shirtless as they shouted their support.
The Nordic races at the Middlebury Carnival embodied a carnival in the purest sense of the word. While many intuitively flock to the Snowbowl to conduct their carnival reveling, a unique, potent energy could also be experienced at Rikert this weekend. Consider making it a destination for any future carnivals — if anything, you’ll stay warmer from all the running and yelling.
Simon Schmieder '26 (he/him) is a Senior Sports Editor.
Simon is an avid runner and biker and enjoys spending time outdoors. He is a philosophy and political science joint major with a minor in German, in addition to being a Philly sports fan.
