Autumn, 2005 Jim Fain’s NASTAR Newsletter Jim Fain In Dallas: In Steamboat Springs, CO: 8409 Pickwick Lane, #269 Tel. (214) 368-0913 Tel. (970) 879-7511 Dallas, Texas 75225-5323 Fax (214) 368-0916 Miller Lite Years The Finals Get A New Sponsor By Jim Fain © Copyright, 2005, JF Newsletters, Inc. (This article is the second in a series on the Finals) eno Beattie recalls that 1982 was a “pivotal” year in his life. In rapid succession, he: (1) graduated from college; (2) saw theZ birth of his first son; and (3) went to work for World Wide Corp., the Aspen ski marketing company that managed NASTAR. “Several very important actions took place that year which would influence my life for decades,” said Beattie. In sharp contrast, the 1981-82 ski season was a period of drift and indecision for the NASTAR program and its showcase event, the Championships weekend. Before the season, officials of the Joseph Schlitz Beer Co. had informed World Wide that it was experiencing major financial difficulties. It would be unable to pay the cost of the 1982 NASTAR Finals and must abandon sponsorship of the program. As title sponsor, the beer company had paid full expenses ÐÐ travel, lodging, meals ÐÐ for all racers who qualified for the Finals. The event grew from 39 competitors in 1969 to 80 in 1981. So the cost of producing the Championships weekend was the largest expense of sponsoring the overall NASTAR program. Schlitz, once the No. 2-selling beer in the nation, was publicly known to have some cash flow problems for at least two-and-a-half years. But its management originally thought the difficulties were Maria Morant, the most dominant recreational ski racer of her era, is “temporary” and genuinely wanted to continue its relationship with shown winning the 1983 Championships at Steamboat. NASTAR. “Schlitz was a very loyal sponsor from the start of our program and saw us through our early, struggling years,” recalled Mark Program Influences Driscoll, a top-level NASTAR administrator during the period. “We definitely wanted to give them every opportunity to work out their U.S. Skier Habits money problems.” By Jim Fain “Unfortunately, when their final decision (to abandon the pro- © Copyright, 2005, JF Newsletters, Inc. gram) was made, we did not have adequate time to obtain another (This article is the second of a sponsor for the 1982 Championships.” series on the general program) For the first time in fourteen years, NASTAR leaders needed to find a new title sponsor. In 1968 John Fry had a difficult struggle y the beginning of the 1980s, NASTAR had grown to become a convincing Schlitz to sponsor an untested pilot program for a new major force in the ski industry. concept of racing for recreational skiers. B The little pilot program that John Fry and his SKI Magazine Since then, NASTAR had grown into the largest alpine ski rac- associates launched in 1968 with only eight ski areas moved beyond the ing program in the world. With such broad exposure, several major 100-resort mark for the first time in 1980. It finished the 1980-81 season corporations were eager to assume the role of title sponsor, whose with 114 participating areas. responsibilities included paying for the substantial expenses of the In 1981-82 NASTAR headquarters reported that the nation’s Pacesetter Trials in December as well as the Finals in springtime. skiers recorded 223,783 “racer-days.” (A racer-day consists of one Driscoll, who was in charge of marketing for NASTAR and individual making one or more official runs per day through a NASTAR World Wide, said the program was sold to Miller Lite Beer Co. in course.) That number was nearly 100 times the 2,297 racer-days logged one brief conversation without needing to talk to anyone else. in 1968-69. (Continued on page 12) “I met with Kevin Wolf of Miller Lite in the bar of the Jerome Hotel in Aspen,” said Driscoll. (Continued on page 8) Page 1 Old-Time Standard Races John Fry, the creator of NASTAR, credits the French Chamois races for giving him the idea in the 1960s for a truly national ski racing standard. But several U.S. ski areas had experimented years earlier with a similar race format on a strictly local basis. A top professional ski racer would run a course to establish a time for local recreational skiers to shoot for. Those who performed well would win a pin from the area. One of the first areas to employ this format was Stowe, . Olympic silver medalist still retains a pin he won in the Stowe Standard Races when he was only nine years old. “The race was held on a run named ‘Standard’,” recalls Kidd. “Townspeople of all ages got a big thrill out of racing against a standard set by world-class competitors like Othmar Schneider, Anderl Molterer and Toni Billy Kidd (sporting 1970s hairstyle) is shown with Eleanor Davidson of Bend, Oregon, at Sailer.” the 1975 Finals at Steamboat. Kidd still retains a pin he won in the Stowe Standard Races Kidd would go on to become the first when he was nine years old. American male to win an Olympic alpine medal in 1964. He also won both the amateur Rival Racing Programs and professional World Championships in 1970. But he still cherishes that first pin he From its inception, NASTAR grew rap- USSA: won as a nine-year-old in 1953. idly into an organization of robust health. -- 1) First approached Commissioner “The fun and success I had as a child in Skiers who had no racing experience in 1984 investigating the those old Stowe Standard Races became part prior to 1968 were enjoying the competition possibility of buying the recreational of the motivation that influenced me to in increasing droves. Major corporations program. choose ski racing as a career.” were hopping on the bandwagon, eager to -- 2) Then sent a letter threatening to Similar races were held at several other provide money as sponsors and advertisers. create a program in direct competition with old-time ski areas. But there was no national These two factors -- broad public NASTAR. standard, and rules varied widely from one participation and solid financial backing -- “Bob Beattie has received a letter from local area to another. made NASTAR an attractive target for merg- Howard Peterson of the U.S. Ski Association (Continued on page 4) ers, takeovers and copycat programs from informing him that the Ski Association other ski industry organizations hoping to intends to create a ‘Ski Team Challenge’ cash in on the rising popularity of recreation- national race series in direct competition with al racing. Most observers were convinced NASTAR,” wrote George Bauer of SKI in a that such widespread popularity was created memo dated January 19, 1985. primarily by NASTAR, a program owned by Bauer continued: “Beattie’s advice, SKI/Times Mirror Magazines, Inc. given the politics of the Ski Association and One of the more interesting episodes in the current turmoil, is to remain aloof and not this regard involved the United States Ski to respond to these exploratory queries. He Association, the governing body that rules advises that we be alert to the situation and practically all ski competition in the country feels that the current strength of NASTAR except NASTAR. will enable it to survive a challenge if Memorandums from two high-ranking mounted by the USSA.” SKI Magazine officials describe how the Responding to Bauer’s memo, John Fry wrote: “At present, USSA has fewer than Work on Photos 25,000 members (about one quarter of Many of the photos in this publication were NASTAR’s annual participation) and lacks more than 20 years old and needed to be the money...... to mount a program that restored for clarity. The work was done by could compete successfully against Cooter’s Village Camera in Dallas. NASTAR.” Claudette Colbert...a determined Te l: 214-521-4553 (Continued on page 4) recreational racer

Page 2 Maria George Margi Ernest Beverly Lilla George Morant Hovland Albrecht Alger Francis Gidlow Goodrich

George Phil Andrea Margarethe Carol Tom Hulbert Letourneau Neiley Richter Sweeney Temple In addition to the 13 persons pictured above, Steve Graham and Margareta Lambert were also multi-year champions. Offshoot The “Fabulous 15” NASTAR Programs Multi-Year Winners Since the NASTAR National and the NASTAR organization wanted to In addition to its major event, the Championships were revived in 1998, racers make the Championships -- and the all- National Championships weekend, NASTAR have been allowed to qualify and compete as expenses-paid trip that went with it -- as developed many programs that demonstrated often as they wish. Because of the new rules, accessible to as many different persons as the organization’s philosophy of inclusiveness several individuals have already built an possible. So stringent regulations were for all ages and all forms of snow-sliding. impressive record of national titles, medals imposed regarding how often an individual Most of the offshoot programs involved won, etc. (Six persons have raced in all eight could be invited to compete. publishing rankings lists of racers with the events since 1998, and three have won With such restrictions, only fifteen elite best national handicaps in the various snow- medals every year.) ski racers -- nicknamed “The Fabulous 15” sliding disciplines. Since results from all That definitely was not the practice dur- by a NASTAR publicist -- were able to win public NASTAR races around the country ing the 22 years the Finals were sponsored by more than one national championship during were sent to the company’s computer center, either the Schlitz or Miller Lite beer compa- the period. it was a simple task for the computer to nies. Management leaders of both companies continued on page 4 process those results into rankings by low- handicap performance. The lists received excellent publicity in Racer (Home Town) Years as Champion SKI Magazine and also in the Official NAS- 5-Time National Champion TAR Guide, which was published yearly by World Wide Ski Corp. between 1980 and Maria Morant (Windham, NY) 1979, ‘83 1993. The Guide was financed by ski ‘87, ‘89, ‘91 industry advertising sales and was distributed 3-Time National Champion free to racers. Along with the publicity they A--George Hovland (Duluth, MN) 1971, ‘78, ‘87 received in the two publications, top racers 2-Time National Champions sometimes were awarded merchandise prizes Margi Albrecht (Seattle, WA) 1973, ‘88 from various ski-related retail companies. Ernie Alger (East Haven, CT) 1976, ‘90 Most of the rankings programs were Beverly Francis (Bend, OR) 1983, ‘89 started in the 1970s and 1980s. Some still Lilla Gidlow (Wayzata, MN) 1986, ‘91 exist today and can be viewed on NASTAR’s webpage. Details of specific programs George Goodrich (Cincinatti, OH) 1977, ‘86 include: Steve Graham (Strafford, PA) 1986, ‘90 -- Junior Rankings. The program with George Hulbert (Sun Valley, ID) 1980, ‘84 the longest life which also involved the most Margareta Lambert (Dillon, CO) 1975, ‘86 persons was the rankings of junior-age alpine Phil Letourneau (Duluth, MN) 1984, ‘88 ski racers. Andrea Neiley (Langdon, NH) 1978, ‘87 Apparently to avoid conflict with the Margarethe Richter (New Haven, CT) 1979, ‘89 school year, juniors were not included in Carol Sweeney (Rocky Hill, CT) 1978, ‘87 Championships weekend until the year 2000. Tom Temple (Bend, OR) 1973, ‘83 However, very shortly after the 1968 incep- Note A: George Hovland. In 1998 (after the conclusion of the Schlitz/Miller Lite years) tion of NASTAR, listings of top junior racers George Hovland returned to the Finals and won his fourth NASTAR national championship. (Continued on page 14)

Page 3 Jim Bosch, who won the 2004 NASTAR was great for the public.” Equitable Family Championships in his age division, “Every year they tried to out-do each remembered the Equitable Finals as a other in terms of hosting lavish evening par- Racers delightful experience: “My son Vince and I ties. We racers were just average recreational qualified the last year Equitable sponsored skiers, but we were wined and dined like we the competition. They put us up in the Lodge were Jean-Claude Killy or Picabo Street. It at Vail and staged a torchlight parade just for was wonderful!” our group.” Bosch added: “The banquets were very Old-Time Standards impressive. I remember going to one party (continuing from page 2) with Phil Potvin and his daughter Amy. There Claudette Colbert was a giant ceramic clam shell filled with Sun Valley, Idaho (generally regarded as shrimp and a chef ready to cook for you. All America’s first “destination” ) Rosvita Wolk (left) and Jim Bosch are two of us enjoyed getting to know great ski racers opened in 1936. From the start, pins were modern-day racers who enjoyed their like Moose Barrows and . Vince experience in the Equitable Family presented to amateur guests for racing Challenge Finals. and I had a wonderful time throughout the achievement. event.” The award was given a formal name by Rival World-class ski racer Jim “Moose” the resort’s marketing department: the Silver Barrows, who became famous for his spectac- Sun Racing Pin. Programs ular crash in the downhill race at the 1968 The races attracted large participation (continued from page 2) Olympics, was involved in the lead- from guests at the Sun Valley Lodge and ership of both the Marlboro coin-ops and the USSA leaders, upon reviewing the Challenger Inn. Guest lists of those two Equitable Family Challenge. situation, apparently agreed with Fry’s hotels included such celebrities as movie stars “We spent a lot of money trying to make assessment. The “Ski Team Challenge” never Gary Cooper, Norma Shearer, Clark Gable the Equitable Challenge as good as or better got off the ground, and no formal buyout and Groucho Marx, novelist Ernest than the NASTAR Finals,” said Barrows. offer was made directly to SKI Magazine Hemingway and famed radio commentator “We thought the recreational racing market management. Lowell Thomas. was big enough to accommodate more than However, a few copycat recreational In the movie star set, one of the most one program.” racing programs did succeed. One of these enthusiastic and determined skiers was popu- Speaking from his home in Steamboat was the Marlboro Ski Challenge, a coin- lar, Academy-Award-winning actress Springs, Barrows continued: “The primary operated, dual-course format in which a Claudette Colbert. When powerful -- and beneficiaries of a variety of programs were racer’s time was electronically shown at the autocratic -- studio boss Darryl F. Zanuck the public racers. They got to race in several finish line. Some of the coin-operated courses demanded that she leave Sun Valley and premier events without having to pay for their are still around today at modern ski areas. return to Hollywood to begin production on a ski trip expenses.” Equitable new movie, Colbert refused. One veteran competitor who raced in “To hell with making another movie for Family Challenge both the NASTAR Finals and the Equitable that jackass Darryl Zanuck,” she said. “I am NASTAR’s most successful and popular Family Challenge agreed with Barrows. “The NOT leaving Sun Valley until I win a Silver rival was the Equitable Family Challenge. competition between the two organizations to Sun Racing Pin!” Equitable’s competition was divided into produce the most memorable and best event Zanuck threatened legal action if the four parts: (1) father-son; (2) mother-son; (3) actress were not on the Hollywood set in time father-daughter; and (4) mother-daughter. The to start production of the movie on schedule. race times of parent and offspring were added Fortunately, the disagreement was resolved together to determine total time for the team. before it got to the courts. Equitable sponsored several qualifying But Colbert demanded (successfully) competitions around the country. Winners that her movie contract be re-negotiated to were invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to give her lengthy vacation time in winter to the Equitable Family Challenge Finals -- just enjoy skiing and racing in Sun Valley. like the NASTAR Finals. The story has a happy ending. Unfortunately, most race results and “Claudette Colbert was thrilled to win several other written documentation of the Equitable Silver Sun Racing Pins throughout the program have been either lost or destroyed. 1940s,” according to Sun Valley historian All that remain are the memories of a few Dorice Taylor. That was about twenty years modern-day NASTAR Finals racers. before John Fry invented a nation-wide rac- “I was fortunate to go to two Equitable ing standard that became NASTAR. Family Finals with two different sons,” said Rosvita Wolk of La Crescent, Minnesota. “Fabulous 15” “Equitable flew us to and treated us (continuing from page 3) like royalty for the entire trip.” Maria Morant led the group with five “In 1987 at Vail my younger son Chad national titles. George Hovland had three. and I won the mother-son national title,” con- The thirteen others had two victories apiece. tinued Wolk, who has won eight medals at Only two communities -- Bend, Oregon, the NASTAR Finals since 1998. “Chad went and Duluth, Minnesota -- could boast of on to make the U.S. Ski Team as an adult. Jim “Moose” Barrows...Olympian was the being home to more than one multi-year win- But he got his start racing NASTAR and pacesetter at the 1975 NASTAR Finals and ner. Details of the Fabulous 15, including the Equitable events.” also a leader of the Equitable Family years of their victories, are shown on page 3. Challenge and Marlboro Challenge.

Page 4 NASTAR’s National Pacesetters Memories Some of the greatest ski racers in the history of the sport have acted as of the pacesetters for NASTAR. Among them are Olympic gold medal winners and world The Miller Lite Era professional champions. There follows a Miller Lite season-by-season listing from 1968-69 1982-83 Racers through 1990-91. Included are racers who set Mack Lyons pace at the Finals, “zero” handicappers and The following quotes come from partici- national traveling pacesetters. pants in the Miller Lite era of the NASTAR 1983-84 National Championships: The Schlitz Era Jan Stenstadvold 1983 (at Finals) Steamboat 1968-69 Mack Lyons Carol Bonn (Rowlett, TX): “This Reidar Wahl was the first Finals sponsored by Miller Lite. Zeno Beattie met us at 1969-70 1984-85 the airport and rode Pepi Stiegler Jan Stenstadvold with us on the bus to Steamboat. He 1970-71 explained the new rules Pepi Stiegler 1985-86 (a 60-plus age division Gunnar Grassl (at Finals) was added in 1983) and the Jarle Halsnes schedule of activities. Zeno’s talk gave us a 1971-72 great start for a fun, exciting trip.” Pepi Stiegler ★ ★ ★ 1986-87 Pat Laxar (Allentown, PA): “Billy 1973-74 Jan Stenstadvold Kidd came to a lot of our Pepi Stiegler (at Finals) activities. With his cow- Gunnar Grassl boy hat, he is the human 1974-75 symbol of Steamboat. “Moose” Barrows (at Finals) Reidar Wahl Because my maiden name is Needham, I was Pepi Stiegler very pleased to meet 1987-88 Dick Needham (the long- 1975-76 Reidar Wahl (at Finals) time editor of SKI Pepi Stiegler Troy Watts Magazine). He is a first-rate ski journalist.” ★ ★ ★ Jan Stenstadvold 1976-77 Angie Smith (Endicott, NY): “I raced Ken Corrock (at Finals) in the Championships twice at Steamboat 1988-89 Springs, and I fell in love with the Tyler Palmer Mike Brown (at Finals) friendliness of the western town. They set up picnic tables right at the bottom of the race 1977-78 Tiger Shaw course. It was fun!” Otto Tschudi Reidar Wahl 1984 1978-79 1989-90 Aspen Doug Woodcock Nate Bryan (at Finals) George Hulbert (Sun Valley, ID): Felix McGrath “Tom Shanklin and I tied for Fastest Overall 1979-80 Racer with exactly the same handicap. (Not Available) Bob Ormsby NASTAR leaders decided not to use exact Mike Brown times to break the tie. Tom and I are both from Sun Valley, and we are best of friends. 1980-81 But we still enjoy arguing about who would Bill Shaw (at Finals) 1990-91 have won if they had made a decision based Lonnie Vanatta Mike Brown (at Finals) on fractions of a second.” Nate Bryan ★ ★ ★ 1981-82 Pamela Fitzgerald (Ironwood, MI): Bill Shaw “We stayed at a hotel (the Continental Inn) very near the base of Ajax Mountain. It had a (No Finals held) big outdoor-indoor swimming pool where you could swim right up to the indoor bar and order a drink. We had a wonderful trip.” (Continued on page 10) Page 5 1DWLRQDO&KDPSLRQV7KURXJKWKH

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Page 7 recreational racing, Miller and NASTAR bracket. The policy was adopted to make the Miller Lite Finals administrators decided to add a 60-Plus age Championships more accessible to a larger (continued from page 1) division for both men and women. This number of individuals. NASTAR leaders “I laid out the recent racer participation boosted the total number of Finals thought this would help make the program numbers and the expenses to be paid by the participants from 80 to 100. A 70-Plus grow. It would also offer a wider exposure for title sponsor.” division was added in 1985 for men only. the sponsor’s product. “Wolf bought the full program There was a very important difference in The rule played an important role in the immediately. The entire conversation lasted the rule governing how often a racer in the growth of NASTAR, but it also had one very as long as it took us to drink one beer, and older divisions could qualify for an invitation negative effect: it killed incentive for racers NASTAR had a new sponsor.” to the Championships. to remain in the program after they had been Miller Lite signed on to handle the adult In 1975 a regulation was installed limit- in the Finals. This was particularly true in portion of NASTAR beginning with the ing all racers to only one Finals invitation the more mature age divisions. 1982-83 season. (Coca Cola would replace (and with it an all-expenses-paid trip to a Fearing that the skiing quality of racers Pepsi Cola as sponsor of the junior program major western resort) in each 10-year age in the older age (continued on page 9) in 1984-85.) Miller Lite Innovations Starting with its first Final in Steamboat in April, 1983, Miller Lite sought to imprint its own individual stamp on the event. In addition to the free dinners and receptions that had been a part of all Championships weekends, the beer company came up with a distinctive special gift: a top-of-the-line, luxury-class winter parka with a unique “Miller Lite Finalist” logo on the front. A parka was presented each year to every competitor Ð not just the medal winners. Because of the growing popularity of

Page 8 Major Awards and Gifts of the Finals

A Schlitz Cup was awarded to the top three finishers in all age divisions. A Miller Lite Finalist parka was given to all competitors who qualified for the Championships. (The photo of the Schlitz Cup was done by two-time champion Ernest Alger of Connecticut.) Phil Letourneau Ð captured a national great ski racer, and that made the feeling even Miller Lite Finals championship more than once. more special.” (continued from page 8) Maria Morant Change to December divisions might drop dramatically if the one- Among the multi-year winners, one The slushy snow at Sun Valley may have invitation-perÐage-bracket rule were applied, competitor deserves special mention. been the final straw in a series of events that NASTAR officials tweaked the eligibility While George Hovland (with his many influenced NASTAR management to make its requirements to read: medal-winning appearances) earned the most dramatic change in the Finals format: to 1. All racers 60 and over could be nickname “King of the Schlitz era,” the move the dates of the event from late spring invited every other year. queen of the Miller Lite years was to December. 2. Only one racer from each of five unquestionably Maria Morant. The main reason was that there was not geographic divisions would be invited in the She raced five times in the Miller Lite enough time between the qualifying deadline two oldest divisions (Men 70-Plus and period (the maximum possible under the and the Finals weekend to allow many racers Women 60-Plus). This led to only five every-other-year policy for invitations), to make arrangements for vacation time from competitors in those brackets and held the winning four national championships and one their jobs. total number of invitees to 100. second-place medal. She and her husband “We normally set March 10 as the 3. The original rule of one invitation per Richard captured titles at Beaver Creek in deadline for qualifying races, and it took age division would continue to be applied to 1989, the only time the feat has been three or four days to inform all the racers that all racers under 60. accomplished by husband-wife racers in the they had invitations to the Finals,” Because of the differences in how same year. remembered Zeno Beattie, who had become frequently a racer could qualify, all record Maria was simply the most dominant national coordinator of NASTAR. holders for number of victories, medals, etc. recreational ski racer of her era. Her five “Even when we pushed the Finals week- wound up in the older age divisions. overall national championships stood as a end deep into April (and risked radical spring The more relaxed ruling may have rekin- record for 14 years until Helen Brace won for snow conditions), there were still only a few dled the enthusiasm of older racers to stay in the sixth time in 2005. weeks to plan for the trip. A lot of employers the program. But the overall eligibility poli- Morant’s only Miller Lite loss came on a would not give vacation time to the racers on cy definitely accomplished the major objec- very hot mid-April weekend at Sun Valley in such short notice.” tive of the leaders of both NASTAR and 1985. Marjorie Burrows, who lost to Maria The irritation level ran high when a per- Miller Lite. That goal was to make the at Steamboat in 1983, handled the radical son learned that he had qualified for a free Championships accessible to a very large spring snow conditions better and won the trip worth several thousand dollars -- and number of different participants. national title by one handicap point. then was denied the chance to take the trip. During the nine years the rules were in “Winning the national championship NASTAR officials were forced to scramble at effect, there were a total of 883 entrants. Of over Maria was the biggest thrill of my racing the last minute for substitute racers to replace those, 808 were different individuals. Only career,” Burrows recalled recently from her those who couldn’t take part. five elite racers Ð Beverly Francis, Lilla home in Colorado Springs. “She was a truly (continued on page 10) Gidlow, Maria Morant, Steve Graham and

Page 9 Memories Miller Lite Finals Most Frequent Racers (continuing from page 5) (continuing from page 9 Atotal of 1,811 entrants competed in Because of the confusion regarding trav- Lisa Ruskin (Park City, UT): “They the NASTAR Finals between 1969 and 1991. el plans, there were times when both the orig- However, because of strict limitations on the held the races high on the mountain (at inal invitees and the substitutes showed up at frequency of invitations, only 32 persons Tourtelotte Park) so the April snow did not the Finals ready to race. At Sun Valley in raced in the event three or more times. get slushy. But the sun was so strong that I 1985, there were 105 competitors who The leaders were George Hovland got sunburned.” actually raced in the event. (This was the (eight times), Maria Morant (seven times), only occasion when more than 100 persons 1985 and Richard Morant (six times). were allowed to compete.) Sun Valley The complete list of 32 follows. Please Advantages of December Move note that several racers have added to their Margi Albrecht (Seattle, WA): “Sun Starting at Keystone in 1986, the total appearances since 1998. The annual Valley is the site of so many historic events, Championships were scheduled for the numbers shown here include only the starting the day that Averell Harriman and second weekend in December. This was at the Schlitz/Miller Lite era. the Union Pacific Railroad opened it in 1936 beginning of the next ski season following all as America’s first destination ski resort. qualifying races. 6-Plus Years in Finals Olympian Dick Durrance won the Harriman The move solved many administrative (3 Racers) Cup races before World War II. And Pulitzer problems for NASTAR officials. Prize-winning novelist Ernest Hemingway Qualifying racers were given all summer George Hovland (8) wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls in Suite 206 and autumn to work out such travel problems Maria Morant (7) at the Sun Valley Lodge.” as vacation from work, baby sitters, etc. This Richard Morant (6) ★ ★ ★ applied not only to the racers themselves, but Marge Burrows (Colorado Springs, to spouses, family members and friends who 5 Years in Finals CO): “Ski racing was my wanted to come along. (2 Racers) passion in those years; As a result, the six December Finals drew a much larger crowd of spectators at the Ernest Alger and winning the national Jack Armstrong championship was my races and guests at social events than previously in springtime. The move insured goal. I wanted to quit on 4 Years in Finals top, so I retired from that the top qualifiers from each region were competition shortly given every opportunity to compete and enjoy (7 Racers) afterward.” the free trip. Margi Albrecht ★ ★ ★ The switch to December also allowed Harry Blair NASTAR to use the entire spring season for Ernest Alger (East qualifying races, rather than having a cutoff Eleanor Davidson Haven, CT): “I thought in early March. With the incentive of win- Maurice Gale the Sun Valley Lodge ning an expenses-paid trip to a major ski Angie Smith was fascinating. resort, sign-ups for public NASTAR races Particularly the hallway Ben Yamamoto showed a dramatic springtime increase. with the many photos of James Yohn all the old-time movie Snow Crisis stars who had stayed in the Another reason for the change was the 3 Years in Finals hotel.” expectation that colder December tempera- (20 Racers) ★ ★ ★ tures would provide more consistent snow conditions for the racers, plus better all-day Nancy Baker Jim Yohn (Colorado Springs, CO): free skiing for the growing number of guests. Bob Carlberg “The temperature was very hot, so the snow But that idea backfired in 1987 when a got slushy pretty quickly. I spent lots of time Rick Francis lack of early-season snow nearly forced the in the evenings selecting and applying the Bengt Hakansson Championships (originally scheduled for correct wax to my .” Craig Jennings Snowmass) to be canceled or postponed. 1986 Snowmass Mountain could not be opened for Marlene Knapp Keystone public skiing, even by mid-December. Jack Krantz Fortunately, a small area of man-made Margareta Lambert June Williams (Heath, TX): “The snow was found on the Little Nell section of Phil Letourneau December snow stayed firm Aspen Mountain. Bill Lucchesi all day long, so the race Racers were transported by bus each day courses were in excel- from their Snowmass hotel to Aspen, about John Lysobey lent condition for a lot 17 miles away. “We looked out the bus Doris Martin of runs. Family mem- window and saw people playing golf at the William Meckem bers and guests had Snowmass Club by the highway, “ said Tom Paulsen Marian Coonrod, a participant from Texas. good free skiing Hans Quehenberger throughout the after- “It did not appear very promising for ski noon.” racing.” Jack Snider Little Nell offered the only patch of Tom Temple (Continued on page 12) marginally-skiable snow in the four-mountain Alan Thrasher Aspen complex, and all skiers in the area George Toyama were crowded onto it. Itsue Yamamoto (Continued on page 11)

Page 10 Miller Lite Finals (continuing from page 10) NASTAR officials set a course on a nar- row strip at the side of the run and managed to complete the two-day event. “If you skied a little wide around the gates, you were in danger of running into the fence,” said participant Jim Yohn (who still competes in the Finals through 2005). The 1987 race was notable in one other way. It was the only time that Finals super- stars Maria Morant and George Hovland competed in the same event. (Both won their divisions.) The lack of snow in 1987 was the last weather-related crisis faced by the Championships. The next four years offered Helen Brace finished in second place in this 1988 race at great snow, allowing competitors as many as Steamboat. It was her only loss in a NASTAR final. Since seven racing runs. Handicaps from the best then she has won six national titles. In 2005 she became four runs were averaged to determine a the all-time leading champion. racer’s final handicap score. In 1990 at Winter Park, racer Jim -- 2) Lodging. Four nights free lodging program for 6,000 racers was less than what McKenna used his four best runs to record a at five-star, ski-in-ski-out hotels. (The Hyatt Miller Lite was paying for the handicap better than the score of Mike Regency at Beaver Creek, the Sun Valley Championships weekend for 100 racers,” Brown, the professional NASTAR national Lodge and Harrah’s Hotel at Lake Tahoe are remembered Bill Madsen, who went to work traveling pacesetter that season. (Brown was examples.) Guests of racers received dis- for World Wide in 1989 and is now only one of several pacesetters used at the counted room rates. NASTAR’s Director of Operations. Winter Park event.) This was only the second -- 3) Meals. Three meals a day, includ- “It was disappointing to see the old Ð and last Ð time an amateur participant ing seated dinners and receptions. Miller Lite Finals fold,” said Angie Smith, defeated a pro pacesetter during the -- 4) Lift Tickets. Free for racers and who took part in four Championships before Championships. discounts for guests. 1991 and continues to race today. “Getting to The End of an Era -- 5) Gifts. Aluxury-class free Miller know people well was a lot easier at the America’s recreational racers were very Lite winter parka for all racers, plus other smaller dinners and receptions.” happy with NASTAR. Participation of both top-quality gifts. Veteran Finalist Ken McKenna is one of individuals and ski areas was increasing, and -- 6) Liquid Refreshments. All the a small number of persons who raced in all the lure of winning a trip to the Finals was a beer you could drink. (Miller Lite, of course.) three eras of the Championships: the Schlitz major reason for the growth. An accounting firm recently estimated years (Heavenly Valley in 1981); the Miller But public satisfaction with the program that the average retail value of the free give- Lite years (Snowmass/Aspen in 1987); and carried very little weight at a 1990 budget aways was $3,375 per racer, adjusted to 2005 the “modern” years (Beaver Creek in 1999). meeting of the marketing department of the dollars. McKenna put it this way: “Both the on- Miller Lite Beer Co. Marketing leaders had And there were now 100 racers - - more mountain racing and the evening activities been asked by higher-ups in the company to than two-and-a-half times the 39 persons that were fantastic when the number of competi- undergo a monetary belt-tightening process. raced in 1969. Plus administrative officials tors was limited to 100. The camaraderie and Much had changed since the first from SKI Magazine, World Wide Ski Corp. ease of social contact were wonderful. That Championships were held at Lake Tahoe’s and Miller Lite. atmosphere is very hard to achieve after the Heavenly Resort in March, 1969. And most “We really enjoyed our years of sponsor- group became so much bigger.” of the changes cost a lot more money. ing NASTAR.” said a former Miller market- “With costs going up, I guess it was When the Finals began there had been ing executive who was active with the pro- inevitable that the Finals would change,” Ken no trouble in the Middle East and oil prices gram. “But the cost had grown to where we continued. “Today the NASTAR organization were very low. By 1975 the Organization of could not justify it as part of the company’s must deal with a much more difficult climate Petroleum Exporting Countries had quadru- budget. Particularly when we were benefiting regarding monetary sponsorships.” pled the price for a barrel of oil, boosting the only 100 potential adult beer drinkers.” The era of the all-expenses-paid ski trip cost of air travel exponentially. Other costs The last Miller Lite Championships was was gone forever. When the Championships in the ski resort and travel industry had been held at Snowbird in 1991. No other corpora- weekend resumed in 1998, it had an entirely forced upward by inflation. tion showed much interest in taking on the new format -- one in which the event’s Beer company executives at the meeting sponsorship under the format of paying all expenses were sustained by racer entry fees. wanted to see a detailed report of the expens- expenses for the racers. es that Miller Lite was paying (either by itself When Budweiser Beer took over as title or together with other sponsors) to produce sponsor the next season, the Bud Lite All-Star the Finals. An itemized listing included: Top Ten rankings program was launched. -- 1) Travel. Round-trip air fare from Posters were mailed to racers with the ten all parts of the country for all qualifying rac- best handicaps in each age division. This ers. Racers who traveled by automobile included not only in the nation, but in each of received generous mileage reimbursements. the 50 states. The program involved printing Guests often got discounts on air fare. the names of as many as 6,000 adults. “The total cost of the new rankings

Page 11 Memories NASTAR’s Influence (continuing from page 10) (continuing from page 1) As NASTAR expanded, it began to Jerry Taylor (Arvada, CO): “I had change the habits of skiers throughout the only a short distance to drive North American continent. from to Keystone. One of the first communities to embrace But the NASTAR and the NASTAR program was the town of Bend, Miller Lite people Oregon, adjacent to the Mt. Bachelor ski area. insisted that I accept a As coach of the U. S. Ski Team, Bob generous gasoline Beattie had been taking his world-class racers mileage reimburse- to Mt. Bachelor for summer training camps ment. They wanted to since 1963. When he became commissioner of make certain that all NASTAR in 1969, it was easy to add sessions Finalists didn’t have to pay for recreational-level skiers. Many of for their travel expenses.” Beattie’s first customers were locals from ★ ★ ★ Bend. George Goodrich (Cincinnati, OH): “Many of our Bend residents really enjoyed the camps and took advantage of the “The Keystone Final had great racing and Jeff Nesrsta....former TSC president says very high-caliber coaching,” remembered Tom wonderful evening activi- that NASTAR is very important to the major Temple, who later became a two-time winner ties. I continued to ski ski councils. at the NASTAR Finals and also a Masters for many years at and/or Skiing magazines, the two leading champion. Perfect North Slopes, a industry periodicals of that era. In 1971 there When Beattie opened his camps to small midwestern area. were only three ski camp listings; by 1984 the recreational skiers, some of his early-year I’m delighted that my number had skyrocketed to 47. coaches included Olympians , good friend Fred Many of the advertisements included Jimmie Heuga, Billy Kidd and Jim “Moose” Fushimi is still winning such sentences as: “Come to our camp and Barrows. Beattie later was a founder of the at the National improve your NASTAR handicap.” Clearly, World Professional Racing Circuit. Coaches Championships.” the ski camp industry was fueled by the at what later became officially named the Bob public’s growing interest in the recreational 1987 Beattie NASTAR Racing Camps included top racing program. Snowmass pro racers Jan Stenstadvold, Gunnar Grassl, Reider Wahl and Bill Shaw. Large Travel Groups Ken McKenna (Duluth, MN): At the 1980 NASTAR Championships in Another area where NASTAR wielded a “Snowmass is a very well-planned ski resort. Vail, no less than four Bend racers -- Jim powerful influence concerned the efforts of Almost all the hotels and homes are located Brennan, Dana Temple, Eiel Eielson and major resorts to attract the largest ski-and- above the lowest chairlift, so everything is Dewey Davidson -- captured national titles. travel groups to book vacation trips. ski-in-ski-out. Unfortunately, the snow condi- Since there were only eight divisions at the With its high, majestic mountain peaks, tions were so bad the year of the Finals that time, fully one half of the champions lived in its dry climate and moderate winter we had to race in Aspen.” Bend and were products of Beattie’s summer temperatures, the Rocky Mountain region is ★ ★ ★ camps. home to the largest concentration of ski areas classified as “destination resorts.” It is the Marian Coonrod (Fairview, TX): This was unquestionably the most only region of the country where there are “Aspen is one of the oldest dominant performance by racers from a single community in the 30-year history of the more out-of-state skiers than locals. destination resorts in The resorts compete to attract large America. It opened in NASTAR Finals. Summer Ski Camps groups of skiers to book their vacations. Some 1946 with what was of the biggest groups are the state-wide ski Summer and other off-season ski camps advertised as “The councils from Florida, Texas, Ohio and other had existed long before the creation of World’s Longest states. NASTAR. (The Timberline Lodge introduced Chairlift,” a single As an example, the Texas Ski Council is its first camp in 1956 on the Palmer Glacier at chair that went from the composed of 17 clubs from cities and towns Mt. Hood, Oregon.) bottom to a point above throughout the state. They have joined However, the participants were all expert Ruthie’s Run.” together to negotiate high-volume discounts on ★ ★ ★ skiers with USSA and/or international airline tickets, hotel rooms and other vacation ambitions. (Future Olympic medal winner Dennis Novak (Madison, WI): expenses. The TSC often brings as many as Penny Pitou was a camper in Timberline’s “Considering how little snow 500-600 persons to a resort for a full-week 1956 camp.) Recreational skiers -- particular- there was, the NASTAR stay. That many people represent big money to ly adults -- were never included in the market- leaders did a great job to even the largest of ski resorts. ing of off-season programs. get the race completed. I Ski area managers soon learned that a Beattie’s camps were the first that catered was so favorably major factor in luring the big councils was to recreational racers, but they weren’t alone impressed that I have providing the availability of NASTAR and a for long. As the popularity of NASTAR grew, returned to the National well-managed recreational ski racing arena. the number of ski camps multiplied Championships eight “NASTAR racing is a very important part exponentially. times since then.” of a TSC ski week,” said Jeff Nesrsta, a Although no official statistics are kept (Continued on page 15) former president of the Texas Ski Council. regarding the exact number of camps, a good “We don’t like to book trips to U.S. ski areas indicator involves how many advertise in SKI that don’t offer official (Continued on page13)

Page 12 NASTAR’s Influence (continued from page 12) NASTAR.” “A few areas may want to set up a recreational race that is not part of the NASTAR program, but you can’t use the race to qualify for the Finals,” continued Nesrsta, a seven-time participant in the Championships, “Nor do those races count in the Top Ten rankings that only NASTAR provides.” Steamboat Ski Corp. executive Mike DeGroff looked at the growing popularity of recreational racing from a resort’s perspective. “We promoted NASTAR tirelessly to attract the big, state-wide councils. We even opened a racing arena with its own chairlift right beside Two-time champion Andrea Neiley springs into a turn at the 1978 the race course.” Finals at Squaw Valley. In the middle 1980s, Steamboat became the No. 1 NASTAR area in the nation, surpass- sored racing programs, in the Dick Durrance Jr. won a second-place ing much larger resorts like Vail, Aspen and Midwest would have much less appeal to a medal at the 1973 Championships at Alpine Breckenridge. lot of people,” continued Chally, a former Meadows. When Bud Lite started the rank- “Our promotion of NASTAR was defi- NASTAR national champion in his age divi- ings program in the 1990s, David Durrance nitely worth it. Our reputation for quality rac- sion. “I imagine that some of the alpine areas achieved the National Top Ten listings. ing brought the big councils to town very reg- would have to go out of business.” Judy Dercum captured a third-place ularly,” said DeGroff, who managed Also unlike the Rockies, snow condi- medal at the 1975 Finals at Steamboat. She Steamboat’s race program during the period. tions in the Midwest are invariably icey and is the daughter of Max and Edna Dercum, “The business the councils brought to the hard-packed, making pleasure skiing more founders of the Arapahoe Basin and hotels, restaurants and shops played an impor- difficult. But ice forces a skier to concentrate Keystone resorts in Colorado. Like Dick tant part in the success of the entire Steamboat on mastering edge control and angulation -- Durrance Sr., both Dercums have been voted community.” techniques that are vitally essential to into the U.S. Ski Hall of Fame. Midwestern Ski Racers successful ski racing. Another skier who would make a big The region of the U.S. most influenced Chally said that much midwestern name for himself was Doug Coombs, a sec- by NASTAR may be the upper midwestern skiing is done by persons in weekly Ski ond-place winner at the 1989 Finals at states -- particularly the hilly, northern sections Leagues which always offer a NASTAR race. Beaver Creek. He later starred as an extreme of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. With such great emphasis on competition, it skier in several Warren Miller movies. Compared to the Rockies, the ski hills in is small wonder that 40 per cent of the indi- Troubled Years for NASTAR the Midwest are tiny. Most have vertical viduals listed in NASTAR’s annual National The numbers reported by NASTAR descents of only a few hundred feet. The Top Ten handicap rankings reside in just headquarters for individuals, racer-days and number, length and variety of ski runs is three states: Michigan, Minnesota and participating ski areas climbed steadily limited. Wisconsin. throughout the 1980s. The only interruptions “After you learn the basics of turning and Famous Ski Families came in seasons when there was a major stopping, the free skiing can become fairly NASTAR attracted the sons and daugh- drouth of snowfall. boring with all the very short ski runs,” said ters of some of America’s most famous Record-high performances were record- Ted Chally of Mercer, Wisconsin. skiers, including the greatest U.S. ski racer of ed: (1) in 1987-88 when approximately “Without NASTAR and the USSA-spon- the 1930s, Olympian Dick Durrance. 250,000 racer-days (continued on page 14)

This photograph of an old newspaper clipping shows six residents of Bend, Oregon, who competed in the 1980 Finals at Vail. From left are Dana Temple, Eiel Eielson, Jim Brennan, Dewey Davidson, Dan Garber and Eleanor Davidson. The first four won national titles. Dewey Davidson later won a Subaru automobile in a Subaru Super NASTAR race.

Page 13 NASTAR’s Influence The decisions that were made would (continued from page 13) revitalize public interest in recreational racing were logged; and (2) in 1993-94 when exactly as NASTAR moved into the 21st century. 246,284 were posted. But storm clouds were building on the horizon for the NASTAR program. Other forms of snow-sliding were gaining popularity to compete with recreational ski racing for the hearts -- and pocketbooks -- of America’s win- ter sports public. The chief challenge was provided by the skyrocketing enthusiasm for that swept the U.S. during the 1990s. But snowboarding was not alone. Other forms of snowsport -- moguls, aerials, , cross country and extreme skiing -- played a role. In the last few years, they were joined by halfpipes and terrain parks. Suddenly, recreational ski racing was no longer “the coolest” or “most macho” thing to do on the mountain. Participation dropped, especially in the younger age groups. Just as important, the dollars coming in from Racers from the Buck Hill Ski Area celebrate at a recent Finals in Park City. Buck Hill corporate sponsors and advertisers were now produces many outstanding technical-event racers. It is one of a large number of being diluted by all these other mountain midwestern ski areas that has benefited from the NASTAR program. activities. Commissioner Bob Beattie had originally The decisions that were made would seldom a true numerical National Top Ten. signed a ten-year management contract with revitalize public interest in recreational rac- Take this case for an example: If one SKI Magazine in 1969. The contract was ing as NASTAR moved into the 21st century. strong region had four racers with handicaps routinely renewed in 1979 and 1989 during under 5.0, and another weaker region’s two happier, more prosperous times. Offshoot best racers had handicaps of 8.0 and 9.0, By the 1998-99 season (Beattie’s last as NASTAR Programs only two of the strong region’s racers would commissioner), the number of racer-days had (continued from page 3) see their names printed in SKI. The others plummeted to 108,875, less than half of what appeared in SKI Magazine. were supplanted by persons from the weaker it had been a decade earlier. The list of Juniors were split into six age divisions region. This situation would continue until participating ski areas dropped to only 110, for both boys and girls: 4 and under; 5-6; 7- 1991-92, when the Bud Lite All-Star posters down from its high of 180 in 1991-92. 9; 10-12; 13-15; and 16-19 years old. These were introduced with accurate numerical Top Faced with these depressing statistics, same six groupings would continue until the Ten rankings. Beattie and SKI Magazine leaders made the 1999-2000 season. -- High School Team NASTAR. In mutual decision to allow World Wide’s The Junior Rankings were sponsored 1973-74, Hi-Star was introduced. This com- management contract to expire without originally by Pepsi Cola. When Coca Cola petition had a head-to-head, dual-course for- renewing it. Beattie would focus his energies took over in 1984-85, the junior program was mat for high school teams. The idea was con- on his other career as a television given new and vigorous emphasis. ceived jointly by John Fry and Tom commentator, while the magazine looked in a Twice each ski season, race results were Corcoran, the former Olympic racer who different direction for NASTAR leadership. tallied and the top 300 juniors (the best 25 founded and developed the ski area at Kaleidoscope Sports and Entertainment boys and girls from each age bracket) were Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. (which later changed its name to Octagon) was listed on the Coca Cola Junior Mid-Season -- Subaru Super. Subaru Super NAS- signed to handle the program, starting in Leaderboard and the Season-End TAR was introduced in 1979 on longer, more summer, 1999. A general-purpose marketing Leaderboard. The two leaderboards were challenging courses than the typical public and management firm, Octagon works with the distributed as posters and became a NASTAR courses. A racer needed to win a events and programs of many sports. John tremendous source of pride for both children pin in regular NASTAR before being eligible Arrix supervises the firm’s ski-related business and parents. for the Subaru Super competition. from offices in Connecticut. At the end of the season, the top 300 Although no National Finals event was Only one former World Wide Ski Corp. juniors were given plaques and patches by held, there was at least one Pacific Northwest employee remained with the program after their local bottler of Coca Cola. Their names Regional Meet that offered a fantastic mer- Octagon took over. Bill Madsen started with were published in SKI Magazine, and press chandise prize to the winner. (See below.) World Wide in 1989, was NASTAR’s national releases were mailed to the local newspaper -- Family Rankings. The competition traveling pacesetter for three seasons in the of each child. began in 1981-82 and was divided into four early 1990s, and became Director of -- Listing of Adult Finals Qualifiers. parent-child categories. The race times of Operations in 1995. He continues to hold that SKI Magazine also published lists of the ten parent and offsprings were combined to title with Octagon, and he is NASTAR’s only adults in each age division who qualified for determine the team score. full-time employee. the adult Championships weekend, normally -- Telemarkers. Telemarkers were The program was at a very low point in in order of lowest handicap. added to the rankings mix in 1982-83. 1999. In order to turn it around, Madsen and Because only two racers from each of -- Ski Clubs. Beginning in the early his new firm would need to make major five geographical regions could qualify for 1980s, U.S. ski clubs competed in a variety changes regarding competitive age divisions the Finals, the published lists were probably of categories. (Continued on page 15) and webpage organization. Page 14 Zeno Beattie, NASTAR’s national years of NASTAR. Between the two of us, Offshoot coordinator, noted: “Dewey skied really well. we raced in the Finals 13 times.” NASTAR Programs It was amazing to see a 55-year-old man ski ★ ★ ★ (continued from page 14) as well as the guys in their twenties -- even Included were total racer participation, num- without the age discount.” ber of NASTAR pins won, etc. The clubs Beattie continued: “With the age were divided into brackets according to the discount, Dewey achieved a minus-4 size of their memberships. handicap. That means, considering his age, he -- Canadian Expansion. Canadian ski defeated the national pacesetter.” resorts already had a copycat program called MOLSTAR, sponsored by the Molsen Beer Memories Co. When that race organization foundered, (continued from page 12) NASTAR obtained a Canadian patent for its own program in September, 1984. NASTAR 1988 races are now offered in many ski areas north Steamboat of the border. -- Physically Challenged. Starting in Jack Armstrong (Holderness, NH): the middle 1980s, physically challenged “The ski mountain is named for Buddy Brigitte Langer (Wayland, MA): “I’ve snow-sliders were included in the rankings. Werner, a Steamboat native raced in five Finals since 1998, but I still They were split into a large variety of cate- who was killed by an ava- enjoy wearing the “Miller Lite Finalist” gories. lanche. He was parka I was given in 1989 at Beaver Creek.” -- Cross Country. On two separate American’s greatest ★ ★ ★ occasions in the 1970s, World Wide Ski racer in the 1950s and Corp. tried to initiate a cross country compe- Maria Morant (Windham, NY): early 1960s. There is a tition. The program drew public interest in “We stayed at the Hyatt Regency, which is bronze bust of Buddy at only a few small regions where the sport was one of the more luxurious hotels in ski coun- the top of the mountain. It popular. So the race was abandoned. try. I remember the ice rink in the center of was done by a talented local This is the only instance where Beaver Creek village and the escalators tak- sculptor (Jack Finney) who later NASTAR’s attempt to start and sustain a ing skiers from one level to another.” did a full statue of Billy Kidd at the entrance program ended in failure. to the gondola.” 1990 -- Misc. Programs. Such offerings as ★ ★ ★ the AMF Head Handicap Card, the Gerry Winter Park Gretchen Cash (Farmers Branch, Race Pass and the Hotfingers Gloves Gift George Hovland TX): “The starting gate (of the Finals race may be lumped under the classification of (Duluth, MN): course) was on a road high above the public “Miscellaneous Programs.” “Everybody who lived in NASTAR racing area. The first section was The Biggest Prize: Duluth was very proud pretty steep, so you could build up a lot of A Subaru Auto of Jim McKenna (who speed. Then you hit a transi- NASTAR developed a well-deserved defeated the national tion onto a much flatter reputation for presenting first-class gifts and traveling pacesetter). section, and another road awards to participants at its National He was one of the very crossed the race course Championships weekend event. However, by best ski racers from our right at that point. If you far the biggest merchandise prize ever given town.” came at a Pacific Northwest Regional Meet didn’t set up early for the of Subaru Super NASTAR racers at Sun transition, you would be ★ ★ ★ Valley, Idaho, on April 8, 1984. in deep trouble. You Betty Harty (Fort Worth, TX): “I The prize? A brand new Subaru automo- would get low on the next really love the skiing at Winter bile, donated by a Portland, Oregon, dealer- gate and lose speed getting back Park. Unfortunately, I didn’t ship. on a good line. It’s almost impossible to race very well in the 1990 Rules of the competition employed an regain lost speed on the flats” Finals there. My husband “Age-Discounting Method” handicapping ★ ★ ★ and I enjoy the ski area so system that allowed men and women of all Margi Albrecht (Seattle, WA): much that we recently ages to race against each other for the car. “Steamboat in 1988 was my last of four races bought a condo The winner was 55-year-old Dewey in the Championships. No, I did not realize nearby.” Davidson, who narrowly defeated Tom that I was the only person to defeat Helen ★ ★ ★ Temple. (Both men were from Bend, Brace at the NASTAR Finals. My congratu- Patti Zehner Oregon.) lations to Helen on a great racing career.” (Steamboat Springs, CO): “Pinch me! I can’t believe this is real.” 1989 “Winter Park was my first exclaimed Davidson as he was handed the trip to the Finals. I enjoyed it keys to a new 4x4 Subaru hatchback. “My Beaver Creek so much that I’ve returned to present car has 130,000 miles on it, and I can Richard Morant the event three times in recent really use a new Subaru!” years.” ★ ★ ★ The Canadian national slalom champion (Windham, NY): in 1952, Davidson was also a two-time final- “Winning the national (continued on page 16) ist in the regular NASTAR National championship in the Championships. He won his age division at same year that my wife Vail in 1980. did at Beaver Creek was our biggest thrill in many

Page 15 1991 Schlitz/Miller Lite Photo Memories Snowbird Eva Polakiewicz (Burnsville, MN): “Snowbird is a delightful resort with a large tram that transports skiers all the way to the top of the mountain. We stayed at the Cliff Lodge, a high- rise hotel with a beautiful spa on the top floor.” ★ ★ ★ Jim Yohn (Colorado Springs, CO): “The race course was very flat coming out of the starting gate. The fellow (Ben Yamamoto) who won my age division got a great skating start across the flats and took a big lead of several seconds during the first day of the Jim Brennan (OR) race. He almost lost his lead the second day, but he held on for the victory.” ★ ★ ★ John Keller (Newburgh, NY): Mickey Armstrong of the “Snowbird’s first managing director was a guy Buck Hill (MN) Ski Area. named Ted Johnson, who was a legendary powder snow skier. The owner of the resort is a Texan (Dick Bass) who, at that time, was the oldest man to climb Mount Everest. I ski in a lot because my sister owns a shop in Alta (just up the road from Snowbird).” ★ ★ ★ Dave Perrigo (Arvada, CO): “Snowbird was my first trip to the Championships. Unfortunately, I had my skis James Jalbert (VA) and bindings worked on the night before the race, and I crashed the first day. But I enjoyed the Finals. I’ve returned six times since 1998, winning in 2001 and 2005.” ★ ★ ★ Pat Rupp (WI) with 1989 Finals Eleanor Davidson pacesetter Mike Brown. (Bend, OR): “NASTAR gave me the chance to try racing. I noticed that the best skiers on the hill were those who had raced. Winning the trips (to the Finals) encouraged me to do some additional training and even participate in Masters competitions. Thanks for your NASTAR research. It has been fun to remember those days.”

Jack Armstrong (NH)

Homes States In several cases in this section of photos, the home states of NASTAR racers are identified by Margi Albrecht (WA) Joe Pino (RI) postal service abbreviation.

Page 16 Schlitz/Miller Lite Photo Memories

To m Shanklin (ID) tied for Fastest Overall Racer at Aspen in 1984.

Tw o-time champion Margi Albrecht (WA) wearing her Miller Lite Finalist parka at the top of the mountain.

Maria Morant (center) shown getting trophy at Park City in 1979 for her first of five national championships. Helen Brace (MI) with Billy Kidd.

Richard Morant (NY) raced in the Carol Sweeney (CT) with Bob Beattie. Championships six times, winning in 1989 To m Te m p l e (OR) with Bob Beattie. at Beaver Creek.

Page 17 Photo Memories of the Schlitz/Miller Lite Years

1986 Championships at Keystone ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1985 Championships at Sun Valley Page 18 Photo Memories of the Schlitz/Miller Lite Years Page 19

1988 Championships at Steamboat ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

1987 Championships at Snowmass / Aspen This poster was created for the last Miller Lite Championships at Snowbird in 1991. The handwritten inscription was done by national pacesetter Mike Brown for Richard and Maria Morant.

Jim Fain 8409 Pickwick Lane, #269 Dallas, TX 75225-5323