Harvard's ski team began its campaign to better last year's dismal last place finish in the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) by placing fourth in both the Alpine and cross country competition at the University of Vermont Carnival last weekend.

Captain Ben Steele, a second-team All-EISA selection last year, headed Crimson Alpine skiers by taking fourth place in the slalom and fifth in the giant slalom.

Freshman Bob Beusman, sixth in the giant slalom and sophomore letterman Dick Raines, tenth in the slalom, were the other top Alpine finishers for the Crimson.

Nordiac Captain Jon Rikert placed fifth behind several top Norwegian skiers in what Coach Peter Carter called "a fabulous cross country race."

Weak Jumping

Crimson jumpers failed to take any of the top places in the weekend competition. "Jumping is our perennial weakness," Carter said yesterday.

However, he added that he expects the inexperienced jumpers to develop into a decent team by the end of the season.

Carter said that the Vermont Carnival was "sort of a warm-up" for this weekend's Dartmouth Carnival. All ten of the EISA Division One teams are expected to compete this weekend. Dartmouth, University of Vermont and Middlebury usually field top teams.

Earlier this season Crimson Alpine skiers captured an unprecedented top four spots in the Charles Beebe Cup competition at Temple Mountain. Steele, Carter, Scott Johnson and Raines placed in the race, which was open to all eastern skiers.