HENNIKER – With only four skiers and no room for error, it would take a near-flawless performance from the Concord High boys’ ski team to top the team standings.

The Tide didn’t get that performance, but sophomore Lucas Golden defended his giant slalom crown and his teammates turned in some strong individual runs as the Crimson Tide finished 15th at the NHIAA Division I Alpine skiing championship on Monday at Pats Peak.

Golden won the morning GS competition with a combined time of 1 minute, 21.02 seconds, besting runner-up Jack Martin of Portsmouth (1:22.68). He then finished second in the afternoon slalom, clocking at 1:13.49. Bedford’s Luke Purnell won with a 1:12.70.

“It feels great. I was in first (in both events) last year, so I was pretty nervous coming into this,” Golden said. “I wanted to defend it. It feels really good (to win GS); it’s a good sigh of relief. The first run was soft and a lot of kids were losing skis below the gate, but the second run I pushed out and it was really easy to get a good edge and get some speed.”

“Winning by (1.66) seconds is huge on a 40-second course,” said Concord head coach George Golden, who is also Lucas’ father. “I’m proud of him; he works really hard. … It’s something he’s really passionate about and wants to get better. His main goal this year is to make U16 Easterns, the top 14 boys in New Hampshire, they’re mostly private school kids, the top of the top. Most of those kids aren’t even from New Hampshire; they attend the private schools and ski academies here. To be a public school kid who doesn’t ski every day is quite an accomplishment.”

Golden’s finishes allowed him to proceed to the Alpine Meet of Champions on Feb. 18 at Mitterskill Ski Area at Cannon Mountain, Golden’s home slope for his club ski racing, which should help his chances of qualifying for Easterns.

Freshman Eugene Conn (16th GS) and junior Austin Vanacore (34th) scored for the Tide in the GS, helping Concord finish 10th out of 18 teams with 254 points. Freshman Ethan Audet was the only other Concord finisher besides Golden in the slalom, coming in 46th.

The Tide finished 15th with 157 points in the afternoon slalom to finish 15th overall with 411 points.

Portsmouth won the title with 733 points. Bedford (716) and Keene (686.5) were second and third.

“You need four boys to score and when you have a team of only four, if one falls that puts a damper on your whole race,” coach Golden said. “So we started off a little slow (this season). Each week the boys worked harder and harder and stayed focused, and last week they won a 12-team race at Sunapee, which was amazing to have with our four.”

With no seniors on the team, all four skiers can return next year – and hopefully add some numbers to their ranks.

For rookie Conn, who coach Golden described as his team’s “strong second,” the adjustment from club racing to high school racing has been a positive one.

“I’m enjoying it. … It’s a little different than skiing for club, but I like it,” Conn said. “I’m happy with my position (in the standings and on the team).”

Concord skiers will face the course at Pats Peak one more time when the Tide girls compete in the Division I championship on Tuesday.