Colorado Leaps to NCAA Skiing Title; VVM Takes Third as Jumpers Falter

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.--Taking first, third, and fourth places in the 55- meter jump on the last day of the competition, Colorado's "Norwegian Legion" airlifted the Golden Buffalos from an eight point deficit to the team title Saturday in the 1973 NCAA Skiing Championships.

Wyoming, with its jumpers performing a little closer to par than those of three event leader Vermont, took second place, one place, one point ahead of the Catamounts.

Favored Vermont ace Peter Kongsli fell on his last and longest jump of the day, losing his chance to better a short first jump. With superior style points, Vidar Nilsgard of Colorado took the individual title with 220.7 points, one ahead of Kongsli, who had not lost all year.

Although Kongsli's mishap may have cost Vermont the runner-up spot, what cost them a chance at being the first Eastern team in 14 years to win the title were the disappointing performances of their second and third jumpers who finished at 17 and 21. Kongsli and the Colorado jumpers were all in the 58-60 meter range, while the Vermont backup men found gravity much more irresistible and gave up the urge to flight at the fifty-meter mark.

Named to the NCAA All-American Alpine Skiing first team were Chris Brown and Bobby Cochran of Vermont, Peik Cristensen of Denver, Greg Jones of Colorado and Tom McGhie of Utah. Eastern skiers who made honorable mention were Dave Dodge of Vermont and Brian Vorse of St. Lawrence. In the Nordic, Peter Kongsli of Vermont was the only Eastern first team All-American.