The Harvard ski team will compete in its last major event of the year, the Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association championships, this weekend at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. The prospects of a Crimson success, however, are dim.

In three festivals this year--Williams, Dartmouth and Middlebury--the team has finished no better than seventh place.

Crimson Hope

Any Crimson hopes rest on the performance of sophomore Ben Steele, the only class A racer on the team. Last week at Middlebury, Steele finished second in the slalom combined and third in overall alpine events.

If he can repeat his performance this weekend, Steele will probably qualify for the nationals.

The championship will consist of two types of events. Alpine events include slalom and downhill, while nordics include cross country and jumping.

Because of Steele, the Crimson may stand a chance in alpine events. However, the team has almost no power in the nordic ones.

Last week, for example, Harvard was fifth of seven teams after the alpine events but moved to dead last after the nordics.

Either Dartmouth or Vermont is expected to win this weekend.

For the Crimson, only one more event is planned for this season, a Harvard-Dartmouth slalom.