CARRABASSETT VALLEY, ME – Sophomore Duncan Armstrong finished fourth in the men's giant slalom, while Skylar Sheppard made her return to competition with a sixth-place finish in the slalom as the Crimson kicked off the 2026 alpine season at Sugarloaf over the weekend.
 
In challenging early-season conditions marked by extreme cold and high winds, the Crimson got strong performances from Armstrong and Luke Kearing on the men's side, while Sheppard and Emma Speiser led the way for the women.

The women's team secured two top-30 finishes in the slalom, with Sheppard placing sixth and junior Emma Speiser finishing 30th.

On the men's side, Luke Keating finished 13th in his first run of the season while 2025 NCAA qualifier Ducan Armstrong picked up where he left off last season with a first run of 1:04.55, just 0.36 seconds off the leader, before finishing his second run in 1:05.10.  

His top-10 finish to open the season is a strong start to the 2026 campaign as the team prepares for the NCAA Championships later this winter.
 
RESULTS
 
Giant Slalom | Men
4. Duncan Armstrong | Bib 1 
43. Tristan Leightell | Bib 54 
 
Giant Slalom | Women
21. Skylar Sheppard | Bib 11 
DNF: Caroline Collins
DNF: Maya Eisner
 
Slalom | Men
25. Duncan Armstrong | Bib 15 
DNF: Luke Kearing
DNF: Tristan Leightell
DNF: Lucas Brumm
 
Slalom | Women
6. Skylar Sheppard | Bib 2 
30. Emma Speiser | Bib 58 
DNF: Caroline Collins
DSQ: Maya Eisner
 
NEXT UP
Harvard is back in action next weekend at the Dartmouth Carnival, beginning with the giant slalom on Friday and the slalom on Saturday.