autumn 2017 usskiand snowboard.org/ other/masters

Are You in a Compatible (GS Ski) Relationship? Relationships are important. Just like all rela - when flat on the snow. The smaller the ra - figure out how to compensate for this large tionships, the one with your GS ski can make dius the tighter the turn the ski can carve radius. They adjusted by moving their cen - a world of difference. So, are you and your ski when tipped on edge. While World Cup ter-of-mass forward at turn initiation while a power couple? Or, are you just strutting racers have length and radius regulated, starting to tip the ski up. They found that around with the latest arm candy? While it is Masters, NASTAR, and beer league racing this increased tip pressure would curve the cool to be sporting the latest in ski arsenal, is leave the choice up to the participant. ski tip into a tighter arc. This reduced the this setup the best choice to land you on the Ski engineers have designed amazing ski’s turning radius, enabling a tighter turn. podium? ride characteristics for skis of all lengths. The NASTAR/beer leaguers, full-figured The ski’s radius is the largest factor in turn hourglass-shaped ones with the smaller ra - size. Using this radius size, we can divide dius, don’t need you to cheat to get their at - Selecting your partner Ski magazines and ski manufacturers, just like skis into two categories: NASTAR/beer tention. Their wider tip needs little external online dating sites, list specific features of po - league, with a radius less than 22 meters, motivation to start the turn. In fact, if you tential matches. While height and weight may and Masters/FIS, with radius greater than overdo the tip engagement by pressuring be exaggerated with online dating, the ski 22 meters. The assumption is NASTAR/beer too long, you may end up crossing your tips, length and ski radius are usually numbers you league courses have less distance between or the ski tip may continue to push unneces - can trust. Although you should be careful of gates and Masters/FIS have more. sarily deeper into the snow and scrub speed. the rhetoric, “I like long walks on the beach” Where do you want this relationship to go? and “this ski will carve a trench,” which can be Cheating misconstrued from: “I would like you to think Cheating is not only okay, it is advised if Race car drivers need to have a fast car. that I like long walks on the beach” and, “If you are with a slim-figured, tall partner, aka One of the things that makes their car fast is you are Ted Ligety, you can probably carve a a Masters/FIS race ski. “Cheating the side - that it fits the course that is being contested. trench with this ski.” Just like online dating, cut” is an expression World Cup racers use Ski racers have the same challenge. That is, they will probably tell you what they think to describe how they engage the ski tip on you want to hear. their long ski. With the restricted radius on Article continued on page 10. So what can you do? Date, or demo, is a World Cup GS skis (35m last year and 30m Related chart on ski length/turning radius start. But first, like searching the dating site, this season), World Cup ski racers had to on page 7. you need to separate out the smokers from the non-smokers. Which skis will make the short-list, and which skis will make the no-list? You want a find a match that will make you all the person you can be.

Size is important There are two im - portant sizes. Length and radius. Length of the ski is meas - ured from the tip to the tail and printed on the ski. The ra - Aspen dual. A tight dius, also printed on course set requires the ski, quantifies a well-thought out what size arc the ski relationship with would represent your ski choice. News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 2

some of its races jointly with Masters events in the northeast, and will continue to do so, now as Mid-Atlantic Masters and sanctioned National Chairperson’s Report by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. It will also offer separate sanctioned by Lisa Densmore Ballard, Chair, Masters events in New York and Pennsylvania. The addition of USSA National Masters Committee Mid- Atlantic Masters brings Masters racing to new locations near First, a heartfelt thank you to the members some sizeable population centers. Welcome, ASRA racers! of the national Masters committee for all Recruitment continues to be one of the focuses for your national they do year-round to ensure top-notch ski Masters committee. Our efforts were rewarded with an 8% increase racing for us each winter. The committee in - in memberships last winter, including over-20% increases in the cludes Bill Skinner (US Ski & Snowboard’s critical classes 1 and 2. That said, with just over 1,500 Masters rac - Masters coordinator); Bill McCollom (East - ers nationwide, we’ve still got a way to go. Please invite a friend, ern), Nadine Price (New England), Carol any age, to enter a ski race with you. I’m sure they’ll love it and Tomasetti (Mid-Atlantic), Ryan Fuller (Cen - want to do it again. Likewise, if you know a college student or re - tral), Fran Noel (Northern), Gary Randall cent graduate who ski races (or used to), treat them to a Masters (Alaska), Rob Cravens (PNSA), Dan Sim - race. You’ll both have a great time and help grow our sport. mons (Far West), Lauren Beckos (Rocky) and Stu Marsh (Inter - In addition to the myriad opportunities to race throughout the mountain). Others, such as Meri Stratton, Esther DellaQuadri, Bob United States in all four ski racing disciplines (SL, GS, SG and DH), Davis, Dave Brennan, Kip Blake, Carl Swanson and Deb Lewis par - we’ve got two BIG events planned for this winter, one in the east ticipate in various much-appreciated ways. And this is just part of a and the other in the west. The Masters nationals will be at Okemo very long list of volunteers who not only play a critical role in coor - Mountain, Vermont, Feb. 5 –10; and the FIS Masters Criterium dinating the ski races we attend, but also lend their brainpower and (world championships) will be at Big Sky, Montana, Mar. 19 –25. time to make Masters ski racing better. There are purposely no regional championships on the calendar in Did you notice a new region, Mid-Atlantic, among the division 2018 so that these two marquee events can bring us all together for chairs above? This summer, the American Ski Racing Association some hot competition at two of the coolest ski resorts in the coun - (ASRA) joined U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Masters circuit as a region try. Get ready to go fast! within Eastern Division. For a number of years, ASRA has held

Memory Lane: pro racing, 1979, Colorado pro tour. The safety equip - ment? Vuarnets. Masters Membership News by Bill Skinner, USSA Masters Manager 2018 promises to be a banner and unique racing season.

1. Our National Championships will be held in February in the East. You can be a National Champion before Presidents weekend! 2. Every six year the FIS Masters World Championships are held in the U.S. Big Sky has stepped up for the four-event series, which in the past drew over 200 European competitors. Here is the oppor - tunity to claim a Masters World Champion title! 3. Our National Downhill Championship and Speed Series Finals and soliciting sponsors for our events. The survey will be sent to will take place Mar. 9 –12 at Ski Cooper in Colorado. A speed ex - you in our November email update. travaganza DH/DH/SG/SG. • Phillips 66 will be continuing their sponsorship of Masters, in - 4. We presently have over 170 Masters races scheduled across the cluding the Criterium, Nationals and Speed Series. country. • JANS, Fischer and Leki have again produced our 2018 Masters *A special thanks to our division leaders identified by our Chair - Schedule Poster and will be available from your divisions and at person Lisa, above. Of note, Lisa led monthly conference calls with opening races. our volunteer leaders discussing masters related issues and our • The 2018 Masters Competition guide is available in challenges going forward. Thanks to all that participated. hard copy and online on our Masters website. If you would like a hard copy for your collection, contact me • A shout out to Lauren Beckos, who has spearheaded getting Mas - at [email protected] and let me know where to mail it. ters products designed and available, with proceeds going to our • Check out our new U.S. Masters logo! divisions. • Ryan Fuller and Lauren also have outlined and produced a "Mas - Have a great season, and I will be looking forward to seeing a lot ters Survey" to profile our members for use in identifying ourselves of you in Vermont, Colorado and Montana. Ski fast and have fun! Page 3

(Subject 2018 Alpine Masters Schedules to change)

Alaska Alpine Masters Feb. 24 –25 . . . .Sugar Mtn...... SL/GS Jan. 12 –13 . . . .Alyeska ...... 2SL Info Contact: Horst Locher 540.856.2121 Jan. 14 –15 . . . .Alyeska ...... 2GS skisara.org Carl Swanson, Feb. 17 –18 . . . .Alyeska ...... 2SL Alaska Feb. 19 –20 . . . .Alyeska ...... 2GS Far West Masters Dec. 2 ...... Mammoth ...... 2SL Feb. 21 –22 . . . .Alyeska ...... 2SG Dec. 16 –17 . . .Mammoth ...... GS/GS Info: Carl Swanson 907.344.8570 Jan. 5 –7 ...... Heavenly . . . . .2SL/GS/GS Jan. 19 –21 . . . . .Squaw Valley . . .GS/GS/SL Central Alpine Masters Nov. 26 –29 . . . . Koznick Fall Camp Feb. 2 –4 ...... Mammoth . .2SG/2SG/SG Copper Mtn, CO Feb. 23 –25 . . . .Northstar . . . .2SG/GS/GS Dec. 9 –10 . . . . .Afton Alps . . . . .2SL/2GS Mar. 10 –11 . . . .Mt Rose ...... GS/GS Jan. 12 –14 . . . .Ski Cooper . .2DH/2SG/SL Far West Finals Central/Region 2 Championships Apr. 12 –14 . . . .Mammoth . . . .2SG/GS/SL Feb. 9 –11 . . . . .Granite Peak . . .2SL/2GS Info: Dan Simmons 530.587.4864 Mar. 10 –11 . . . .Spirit Mtn...... 2GS/2SL farwestmasters.org Info: [email protected] Intermountain Masters/ JANS Cup midwestmasters.org Dec. 9 –10 . . . . .Snowbasin ...... SL/GS Jan. 6 –7 ...... Nordic Valley ...... SL/SL New England Masters/Sise Cup Dec...... TBA Jan. 19 –21 . . . . .Sun Valley . . . . .SG/GS/SL Jan. 6 –7 ...... Sunapee ...... SL/GS Jan. 27 –28 . . . .Snow King, WY . .2GS/GS Jan. 13 ...... Middlebury ...... GS Feb. 2 –4 ...... Park City . . . . .2SG/SL/GS Jan. 14 ...... Whaleback ...... SL Feb. 16 –18 . . . .Nordic Valley ...... SL/GS Jan. 18 –21 . . . . .Stratton . . . .SGtr/2SG/GS Mar. 3 –4 ...... Soldier Mtn...... GS/GS Jan. 27 ...... Suicide Six ...... SL Mar. 5 –7 ...... Soldier Mtn...... 2DH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS Jan. 28 ...... Ragged Mt...... GS Info: Stew Marsh 385.315.4817 intermountainmasters.org Masters Nationals Phillips 66 Masters National Championship Feb. 6 –10 ...... Okemo Mt. SG/AC/GS/SL Northern Masters Feb. 7 –10 ...... Okemo, VT SG/AC/GS/SL Feb. 16 –18 . . . .West Mt.,NY . . .SG/GS/SL Dec. 6 –10 . . . . .Red Lodge Bill Skinner 435.647.2633 Mar. 2 ...... Wachusett, MA ...... GS ...... Dust-the-Rust-Off Camp Mar. 3 ...... Mittersill ...... SL Jan. 19 –21 . . . . .Sun Valley, ID . .SG/GS/SL Phillips 66 Masters Downhill Championships Jan. 27 –28 . . . .Snow King, WY . .2GS/GS Mar. 8 –11 . . . Ski Cooper, CO 2DH/SG/SG Sise Cup Finals Lauren Beckos 267.496.1320 Mar. 9 ...... Sugarbush ...... GS Feb. 22 –25 . . . .Schweitzer, ID 3SG/GS/SL Mar. 10 ...... Awards Banquet ...... SL Masters World Championships Phillips 66 FIS Masters World Championships Info: nemasters.org Mar. 19 –25 . . . .Big Sky, MT .SG/GS/GS/SL Mar. 19 –24 . . . .Big Sky, MT SG/GS/GS/SL Info: Fran Noel 406.586.5759 Bill Skinner 435.647.2633 New York Masters TBA Pacific Northwest Masters Summer Fun Nationals Info: Jack Eisenschmid 585.288.4554 Dec. 16 –18 . . . .Mt. Bachelor . . . . .2GS/SG July 14 –15 . . . .Mt Hood, OR . . . . .GS/SL nymasters. net Dec. 16-17 . . . .Summit at Snoq trGS/GS Meri Stratton 541.490.5888 Jan. 27 –28 . . . .Crystal ...... SL/GS Feb. 16 –18 . . . .49 Degrees N . . .SGt/4SG Mid-Atlantic Masters Phillips 66 National Speed Series Jan. 6 –7 ...... Elk Mtn. PA ...... GS/SL Feb. 22 –25 . . Schweitzer . .SGt/3SG/GS/SL Jan. 18 –19 . . . .Stratton, VT ...... SG/SG Jan. 19 –21 . . . .Stratton, VT . . . . .2SG/GS Mar. 3 –4 . . . . Hood Ski Bowl . . . .2SL/GSL Feb. 2 ...... Park City, UT . . . . .SG/SG Info: Robert Cravens 541.419.3893 Jan. 27 ...... Hunter, NY ...... SL National SG pnsamasters.org Jan. 28 ...... Windham, NY ...... GS Feb. 7 ...... Okemo, VT ...... SG/SG Feb. 3 –4 ...... Montage Mt. PA . . .GS/SL Feb. 16 –19 . . . .Aspen, CO ...... DH/SG Rocky Mountain Masters Feb. 16 –18 . . . .West Mtn. NY . .SG/GS/SL Dec. 16 –17 . . . .Loveland ...... GS/SL Feb. 23 –26 . . . .Schweitzer, ID SG/SG/SG Feb. 24 –25 . . . .Mountain Cr. NJ . .GS/GS Jan. 12 –14 . . . .Ski Cooper . . .2DH/SG/SL Mar. 5 –7 ...... Soldier Mt. ID . . .DH/DH Mar. 9 –11 . . . . .West Mtn. NY . .SG/GS/SL Jan. 20 –21 . . . . .Winter Park ...... 2SL/GS National Downhill/Finals Info: Carol Tomassetti at 845.594.90451 Jan. 27 –28 . . . .Copper ...... GS/SL Mar. 9 –11 . . . . .Ski Cooper . . .DH/DH/SG mamasters.org Feb. 3 ...... Beaver Creek ...... 2GS Feb. 16 –19 . . . .Aspen Highland 2DH/2SG Masters adult racing: Age class competition Southern Masters (SARA) Dec. 23 ...... Bryce Resort ...... GS Mar. 4 ...... Eldora ...... TBD for skiers 18 years and older. For more in - Dec. 28 –29 . . . .Sugar Mtn...... SL/GS Masters National Downhill formation contact Bill Skinner at Jan. 6 –7 ...... Bryce Resort ...... GS/SL Mar. 8 –11 . . . Ski Cooper .trDH/2DH/2SG 435.647.2633 / Jan. 15 ...... Wintergreen ...... SL Mar. 17 –18 . . . .Loveland ...... SL/GS [email protected] Jan. 20 –21 . . . . .Massanutten ...... SL/GS Apr. 1 ...... Ski Cooper ...... GS Schedules subject to change. For complete Jan. 27 –28 . . . .Sugar Mtn...... SL/GS Apr. 7 –8 ...... Breckenridge . . . .2SG/GS info on Masters Racing visit Feb. 3 –4 ...... Snowshoe ...... SL/GS Info: Lauren Beckos 267.496.1320 ussa.org/masters . Feb. 10 –11 . . . . .Wintergreen ...... GS/SL rmmskiracing.org News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 4

Get the poster. Spread the word. And know pre - cisely when your Steven Nyman next chance for

eNotwe yronu caanl mgolreo erasyily is. spread the gospel of Going Fast On Snow, by displaying this

EVENTS of handsome poster and sched - HAMPIONSHIP liments NATIONAL C Poster comp TERS SHIP MOUNTAIN MAS ONAL CHAMPION ROCKY GS/SL 6 MASTERS NATI S CUP VELAND PHILLIPS 6 SG/AC/GS/SL N MASTERS/ JAN . 16-17 LO 2DH/SG/SL OKEMO, VT INTERMOUNTAI SL/GS DEC OOPER TRDH/ FEB. 7-10 ule. Let all your peeps know BASIN 1-15 SKI C 2SL/GS 35.647.2633 IC MASTERS -11 SNOW SL/SL JAN 1 PARK BILL SKINNER 4 MID ATLANT /SL DEC. 10 VALLEY 21 WINTER S/SL PA GS NORDIC /SL JAN. 20- G NAL ASTERS ELK MTN. S JAN. 6-7 Y SG/GS COPPER G MASTERS NATIO LASKA ALPINE M JAN. 6-7 T 2SG/G SUN VALLE JAN. 27-28 LANDS 2DH/2S PHILLIPS 66 A 2SL STRATTON, V JAN. 19-21 Y 2GS/GS ASPEN HIGH HAMPIONSHIPS ALYESKA JAN. 19-21 SL SNOW KING, W FEB. 16-19 2GS DOWNHILL C SG/SG that you are the bringer of the JAN. 12-13 2GS HUNTER, NY JAN. 27-28 2SG/SL/GS BEAVER CREEK PER, CO DH/DH/ ALYESKA JAN. 27 GS PARK CITY FEB. 24 TBD 1 SKI COO AN. 14-15 2SL INDHAM, NY FEB. 2-4 SL/GS ELDORA MAR. 8-1 20 J YESKA N. 28 W GS/SL ORDIC VALLEY AR. 4 HILL** CKOS 267.496.13 . 17-18 AL 2GS JA NTAGE MT. PA B. 16-18 N GS/GS M ATIONAL DOWN LAUREN BE FEB SKA . 3-4 MO G/GS/SL FE DIER MTN. **MASTERS N /2DH/2SG 9-20 ALYE 2SG FEB MTN. NY S 3-4 SOL 2DH OOPER TRDH TERS FEB. 1 A -18 WEST GS/GS MAR. R MTN. -11 SKI C TBA LIPS 66 FIS MAS Word, the carrier of the torch 22 ALYESK FEB. 16 IN CR. NJ 7 SOLDIE MAR. 8 ND PHIL S FEB. 21- T 907.344.8570 5 MOUNTA /SL MAR. 5- 385.315.4817 18 LOVELA /GS CHAMPIONSHIP ARL SWANSON A FEB. 24-2 NY SG/GS STEW MARSH AT MAR. 17- IDGE 2SG WORLD /GS/GS/SL CONTACT: C WEST MTN. CONTACT: G BRECKENR SKY, MT SG MAR. 9-11 T 845.594.9045 AINMASTERS.OR APR. 7-8 7.496.1320 19-24 BIG TERS OL TOMASSETTI A INTERMOUNT REN BECKOS 26 MAR. 33 RAL ALPINE MAS CONTACT: CAR CONTACT: LAU INNER 435.647.26 CENT PPER MTN, CO S ORG BILL SK of adrenaline-fueled fun. L CAMP CO TERS.ORG N MASTER KIRACING. 29 KOZNICK FAL /2GS MAMAS NORTHER AMP RMMS LS NOV. 26- PS 2SL E PRE RACE C R FUN NATIONA AFTON AL L RED LODG SL SUMME GS/SL DEC. 9-10 DHT/2DH/2SG/S DEC. 6-10 , ID SG/GS/ OOD, OR SKI COOPER S (SARA) SUN VALLEY 14-15 MT H JAN. 11-15 HAMPS ** UTHERN MASTER JAN. 19-21 Y 2GS/GS JULY .5888 RAL/REGION 2 C SO GS SNOW KING, W TRATTON 541.490 ** CENT 2SL/2GS BRYCE RESORT JAN. 27-28 3SG/GS/SL MERI S GRANITE PEAK DEC. 23 SL/GS SCHWEITZER, ID FEB. 9-11 2GS/2SL SUGAR MTN. FEB. 22-25 NSHIPS** AL SPEED SERIES PIRIT MTN. DEC. 28-29 GS/SL WORLD CHAMPIO LLIPS 66 NATION SG AR. 10-11 S RYCE RESORT **MASTERS G/GS/GS/SL PHI VT SG/ M N. 6-7 B SL SKY, MT S STRATTON, TACT: S.ORG JA TERGREEN . 19-25 BIG JAN. 18-19 SG/SG CON IDWESTMASTER 5 WIN SL/GS MAR AT 406.586.5759 PARK CITY, UT AM.DIRECTOR@M JAN. 1 NUTTEN CT: FRAN NOEL SS FEB. 2 ONAL SG) SG/SG Contact your division chair PROGR RG 21 MASSA L/GS CONTA ACING: AGE CLA OKEMO, VT (NATI WESTMASTERS.O JAN. 20- N. S ASTERS ADULT R OLDER. EB. 7 DH/SG WWW.MID SUGAR MT S ST MASTERS M S 18 YEARS AND F EN, CO JAN. 27-28 SL/G CIFIC NORTHWE ITION FOR SKIER . 16-19 ASP G/SG/SG S/SISE CUP SNOWSHOE PA R 2GS/SG COMPET .647.2633 OR FEB EITZER, ID S GLAND MASTER FEB. 3-4 GS/SL MT. BACHELO SKINNER AT 435 -26 SCHW H/DH NEW EN WINTERGREEN DEC. 16-18 Q TRGS/GS CONTACT BILL ARD.ORG FEB. 23 MT. ID D TBA FEB. 10-11 SL/GS SUMMIT AT SNO SKIANDSNOWBO SOLDIER /SG to get posters, or pick some EC. SL/GS UGAR MTN. EC. 16-17 SL/GS .SKINNNER@US MAR.5-7 ONAL DH) DH/DH D NAPEE B. 24-25 S 121 D YSTAL BILL TO CHANGE. I COOPER (NATI . 6-7 SU GS FE HER AT 540.856.2 . 27-28 CR SGT/4SG S ARE SUBJECT MAR. 9-11 SK JAN LEBURY ACT: HORST LOC JAN GREES N SCHEDULE MASTERS 3 MIDD SL CONT 6-18 49 DE /GS/SL INFORMATION ON (FINALS) JAN. 1 ACK A.ORG FEB. 1 ITZER SGT/3SG FOR COMPLETE WHALEB /GS SKISAR 25 SCHWE 4SL NSHIPS JAN. 14 SGTR/2SG FEB. 22- BOWL G VISIT: IONAL CHAMPIO up at your first race and STRATTON ERS HOOD SKI RACIN ASTERS NASTAR NAT JAN. 18-21 SL FAR WEST MAST MAR. 3-4 41.419.3893 WBOARD.ORG/M EY, CA SUICIDE SIX 2SL RT CRAVENS AT 5 USSKIANDSNO 25 SQUAW VALL JAN. 27 GS MAMMOTH CONTACT: ROBE MAR. 21- RAGGED MT. DEC. 2 GS/GS .ORG JAN. 28 LS** MAMMOTH PNSAMASTERS ASTERS NATIONA DEC. 16-17 2SL/GS/GS ** M SG/SC/GS/SL HEAVENLY spread them around! Use its OKEMO MT. JAN. 5-7 GS/GS/SL FEB. 6-10 SG/GS/SL SQUAW VALLEY WEST MT.,NY JAN. 19-21 2SG/2SG/SG FEB. 16-18 SL MAMMOTH MITTERSILL FEB. 2-4 2SG/GS/GS FEB. 24 GS NORTHSTAR WACHUSETT, MA FEB. 23-25 GS/GS MAR. 2 S** MT ROSE calendar to track all the up - *SISE CUP FINAL MAR. 10-11 S** * /SL BANQUET FAR WEST FINAL WATERVILLE GS ** 2SG/GS/SL MAR. 9-10 MAMMOTH STERS.ORG APR. 12-14 87.4864 CONTACT: NEMA IMMONS AT 530.5 CONTACT: DAN S coming events while show - ERS TERS.ORG NEW YORK MAST FARWESTMAS 585.288.4554 EISENSCHMID AT CONTACT: JACK

NYMASTERS.NET ing your support for Masters ski racing. You don’t need the end times to experience rapture; it’s just up the hill.

TWherhe’se mnor eS top fashniodn ethxan iwseanrin’tg stkhinetig hat nclosthwinge thr at shows off every well-earned muscle, bulge and crease. For those times when you’re not attempting low-earth orbit, it’s nice to wear some - thing soft that proclaims your affinity for Masters racing.

Available in men’s and women’s tees, short and long sleeved, as well as a sweatshirt hoodie design, all have the new U.S. Ski Team logo on the front, and logos for the different divisions on the back.

In this special offer, all profits go to our divisions . It’s a great way to make a statement, support our racing program, and retain a little body heat.

Visit https://teeSpring.com/stores/masters-us-ski-team News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 5

! ! ! Attention, Masters ! ! Ski Racers! ! This is a very special ! ! ! invitation. ! ! ! ! ! ! New England Masters Ski Rac - ! ! ! ing invites you to the most ex - ! ! ! citing ski racing event of 2018, even more of a thriller than the !"#$%!"#$%%%%%%%%%%&'(%%%%&'())((*+)))*+)((*+*+,,,--.+.+/01/0122++22++33././(45.)4(45.)4 )+ %+)+ %+ % 2018 Winter Olympics— THE 2018 PHILLIPS 66 MASTERS 67670808449%%9449%%:9%%;:; NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. !""!"#"$%#$%&$'&((($')(((*)+,* +,-(.,+/-(.,+/ ( ( On Feb. 6 –10, the 2018 ((( ( Phillips 66 Masters National (((((((((((((((0%"12&' * !"#3 ) Championships will be return -!!!!!!"#$$%& !!! !!! !!!' (#$$)& *% !+ !,- !+., !+/0 !12 ! 3/!,&! 4! ing to Okemo Mountain, site o!!f !!!!5$#$$%& !!! !!! !!!' 5#$$)& 67 !!!) !!!,- !!!8 9-%1212: !;.1 !,< ! the wildly successful 2014 Na - !!!!!!=#=$ !)& ! ! !6,,> ! !?,,@ !12 !:A !3/ !,& !4 !;4&),@ !1@14 !2 !;,! 2@!,-! tional Championship event. (((((((((((((((4"25"12&' * !"#3 6 Racers are still talking about the!!!!!!B#$$%& ! ! !*% !+ !,- !+., !+/0 !12 !3/ !,& !4 ! rolling terrain, impeccable !!!!!!B#=$%& ! ! !C2A), !+@14 !2 ! !;.1 !,< ! grooming, masterful course set -!!!!!!"#= !$% !& !67 !!!!!!!) !!!!!!!,- !!!!!!!8 0 ;!D E 8-47)A !!;.1 !!,< !! ting, and warm ambience. It’s !!!!!!55#=$%& ! ! !67 !!!!) !!!!,- !!!!8 0 F!D G!8- !!47)A !! !! !;.1 !,< ! no coincidence that Okemo is !!!!!!=#$$) ! !& !H%@ !142 !%I !;4 !&& !J !&, !,@1 !2: !3/ !,& !4 ! always the most popular stop !!!!!!K#$$! !) !& !L,I+ !!!!4& !!!!, !!!!%2> FM%->A N%-@O 3/ !,& !4 ! on the New England Masters ((((((((((((07%$12&'* !"#3 / calendar. This one is not to be !!!!!!B#$$%& ! ! !*% !+ !,- !+., !+/0 !12 !3/ !,& !4 ! missed. !!!!!!B#=$%& ! ! !C2A), !+@14 !2 ! !;.1 !,< !%2>!L%->% !2+ !, ! And that is just the begin - !!!!!!5$#$$! !%& ! !FI !)12, ! !;4&P12, !!!>! !!!6Q !!!;RE 8-47)A L%-> !%2 !+, ! ning. Race organizers are al - !!!!!!5$#$$%& ! ! !FI !)12, ! !;4&P1 !!!!2, !!!!> !!!!68 0 F!D G!8- !47)A ! ! !;.1 !,< ! ready planning for multiple !!!!!!5S#=$) ! !& !FI !)12, ! !;4&P12, !!!!>!6 !!!!8 !!!!0 ;RE 8-47)A !;.1 !,< ! Vermont-themed awards, par - !!!!!!5S#=$) ! !& !FI !)12, ! !;4&P12, !!>! !!6Q !!F!D G!8- !47)A ! !L%-> !%2 !+, ! ties and banquet. Will a craft !!!!!!K#$$) ! !& !FM !!%- !!>A !!N%-@O 3/ !,& !4 ! beer and craft distillery tasting (((((((((((((((!$82&' * !"#3 9 session quench your thirst? !!!!!!B#$$%& ! ! !*% !+ !,- !+., !+/0 !12 !3/ !,& !4 ! How is your appetite for Ver - !!!!!!"#$$%& ! ! !C2A), !+@14 !2 ! !!;.1 !!,< !!%2> L%-> !%2 !+, ! mont cheeses, chocolates, ice !!!!5$#$$%& ! ! !!!6Q !!!' F!D G!8-47)A !!!! !!!!' 5A@ *72 L%->%2 !+, ! !! ! !!! !!!!A@ ! cream, and maple syrup? !!!!!!5$#$$%& ! ! ! !!!!!!!!86 !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!' ; D!E 8-47)A ' 5 *72 !;.1 !,< ! Yes, there will also be spe - !!!!!!5S#$$ !)& ! ! !!! !!!6Q !!!' F!D G!8- !!!!47)A !!!! !!!!' S2> *72 L%-> !%2 !+, ! cial deals for family members. !!!!!!5S#$$ !)& ! ! !!!!!!!!86 !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!' ; D!E 8-47)A ' S2> *72 !;.1 !,< ! With an expansive mountain to !!!!!!K#$$) ! !& !FM !!%- !!>A !!N%-@O ! ! ! explore, shopping opportuni - (((((((((((((((:&;%$2&' * !"#3 +, ties in nearby Woodstock, and !!!!B#=$%& ! !C2A),+@14 !2 !;.1 !,< !%2>!L%->%2+ !, ! !! ! !A@ ! ! multiple lodging options, ei - !!!!5$#$$%& ! !86 !!! !!!' F!D G!8-47)A !!!! !!!!' 5 *72 ;.1 !,< ! !! ! !!! !!!!! A!@ ! ther slopeside or in close prox - !!!!5$#$$%& ! ! !!!!!!6Q !!!!!!' ;!D E 8-47)A! ' 5!!!!*72 L%->%2 !+, ! !! ! !!!!!!!!2> ! imity to the mountain there !!!!5S#$$)& ! !86 !!! !!!' F!D G!8-47)A !!! !!!S *72 ;.1 !,< ! !! ! !!! !!!2> ! will be no problem keeping oc -!!!!!!5S#$$ !)& ! ! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!6Q !!!!!!!' ;!D E 8-47)A S *72 L%-> !%2 !+, ! cupied. !!!!!!((#$$$$) ! !& !HH%@ !142% !I !FFM !%- !>>A !GG%2T7, ! !@ !3/ !,& !4 ! Your New England Masters %%%%%%%%%<='0>?)0%+? %%%@A0= %%%/ %%%/4 B'.5C0 Ski Racing hosts would like to !""( 1( make this Championship event ( Q%@,!!!<,,A!!!!4< U5$! !) !,- ! !-%+ !, ! !%<@ !,- ! !V,P !J !5W!S !$5 !B ! the most convenient, hassle- ( ( 9-%121!!!!!!!!!!!!!2:!!!!!!!!!!!!!U=K X!U=K Q1<@ @1+/,@ free ski race you have ever at - ( !!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!F; !!!!!!!!!!!U(K !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!X!U=K!I1<@ @1+/,@ tended. Transportation, !!!!!!!!!68 !UKK ! ! lodging, race information, and !!!!!! !86 ! ! !%2 !> ! !6Q !UK$! !,%+ ! . ! social schedules will be on dis - !!!!!!G%2T7,((((@ ((U=K play at ussamasters.org and <"=81;$&;8>(((5(((1;&$;1 ?"@3 +3(.,+ ((6 ((&; AAA31B8$&@"$"=3@>C( 3((!8$((1;((D,, "5;$8 ("1 (&@@"E;" (23 ( nemasters.org. ((( (( ( (( ( ( !>((((((((($(((((((((7>%185=(85F>$C&;8>5 &52 $"1"$G&;8>51 @&HHI /,,J6/)JKD))(&52(%1" ;7" @>2" LC&1;"$1L . Please RSVP with your ((((((((( entry! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! —Bill McCollum, Eastern Division Chair News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 6

Chasing Gravity The National Speed Series Championship • By Dave Brennan

Slipping into the start periph - eral vision collapses, eyes tunneling forward finding the line onto the first pitch. Waiting to trip the wand time distorts as if approaching the event horizon of a black hole. The only sound is your own muffled breathing. A handful of heartbeats pass skating out of the gate. You disconnect from reality. Tipping the skis and arcing down the first face you’re suspended in space - chasing gravity. Accelerating off the “Waterfall” reality re - turns; balance challenged, arms adjusting. With a collection On the false flat you grab a tuck and remem - of booty like this, ber to breathe. Mr. Brennan needed Approaching the second pitch the outside leg no one to validate extends pressuring the new ski, setting up di - him last season. rection. The knees retract at the kicker, hands and chest pressing forward and down. The terrain motivation, commitment and planning. falls away and then quickly rises up under you. Motivation: In September of 2013, while changed that. And while continuing to ski Gravity keeps pulling ahead. training and racing SG with the Skinner in all disciplines during the following sea - Heaviness and lightness alternate through the brothers in Chile, a question reemerged sons, last year that lingering question compressions and rolls as your focus moves to from my distant youth: was it in me to be turned to motivation and finally gestated aerodynamics. a speed skier? Growing up in New England into committing to find out if it was in me. during the early ‘60s, there was the occa - Outside the blue dye the world is a blur. sional opportunity to strap on a pair of Find out if it is in you! Take a breath. DHs, but few chances to train and still Speed peaks as time slows entering the fewer venues to develop speed skills. Chile (Continued next column) “Roundhouse.” Crushing your boot-top, inside hip and hand Trng Trng Div Races NSS Races 2018 National Speed Series Schedule Pucker inches off the snow, upper body Dates DH SG DH SG DH SG Venue Comments Factor angulated, pushing the limits Dec 18 1211 1 1Mt. Bachelor, OR Four blind knolls keep you sharp on this rolling FIS venue 3.5/5 across the fall line, you struggle Jan 11 –14 121 Ski Cooper, CO Masters-friendly venue for transitioning into speed 2.5/5 to maintain the line. Jan 18 –20 12 2Stratton Mtn, VT Wide, rolling terrain with a steep pitch before the finish 3.5/5 Gravity is winning. Jan 19 1 Sun Valley, ID Steep and stays steep all the way to the parking lot 4/5 Three gates from the finish. Hold Jan 30-Feb2 2 4 Silver Star, BC Fantastic DH training venue, fun team races 3.5/5 your tuck. Arc the turns with the Feb 2 22Park City, UT Steep on top, long gliding section, stacks up on the bottom 3.5/5 ankles. Keep the edge pressure Feb 2-4 5 Mammoth Mtn, CA Course has it all, speed, gliding and technical turns 4/5 light. Feb 4 2 Breckenridge, CO Short but sweet, last pitch is a fast ride to the finish 3/5 Breathe. Feb 6-7 22Okemo, Vt Masters Nationals* –track has it all, pitch, speed, terrain 3.5/5 Breaking the beam, adrenaline is Feb 16-19 12211Aspen Highlands, CO National Downhill Championships –the real deal DH 5/5 spiking, legs are burning, lungs Feb 16-18 14 49 Degrees North, ID Watch the compression before the S-turn at the bottom 3/5 pumping, endomorphs kicking in. Feb 19-20 2 Alyeska, AK Wide open, go-as-fast-as-you-dare, challenging FIS venue 4.5/5 The clock reads 1:09:45. But Feb 22-23 13 3Schweitzer, ID Stay balanced, the terrain keeps moving under you 3.5/5 time seems to stand still while chasing gravity. Feb 23 2 Northstar, CA Wide gliders track on top, narrows at the bottom pitch 3/5 Mar 5 –7 2 2 2 Soldier Mtn, ID Speed, air and technical turns racing with FIS athletes 4/5 How to Succeed at Speed Mar 9 –11 22Ski Cooper, CO National Speed Series Finals 2.5/5 Beyond the requisite technical Mar 9 1 West Mtn, NY skills and a healthy respect for Mar 19 1 Big Sky, MT FIS Criterion –another FIS track with lots of speed 4.5/5 skiing fast, there are three ab - April 12 2 Mammoth Mtn, CA Far West Finals –big fun on a big mountain 4/5 solutely critical characteristics necessary for success on the Totals 6310 33 5 11 16 Venues *One SG is part of the Super Combined event National Speed Series circuit: News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 7 Skis Sorted by Sidecut/Length Commitment: It’s said that it takes 10,000 by Ron Kipp • Part of our front-page article hours to become good at anything. While that may be true, focus and effort can be a Atomic Redster G9 183 19.4 compounding factor for each hour you put Ski length radius in — perfect practice makes perfect! (cm) (m) Stöckli Laser GS 185 19.4 Whether right or wrong, last season the SL Atomic Redster TR + X12 TL 158 13.3 Nordica Dobermann GSR 182 19.5 skis went into mothballs and the go-to Atomic Redster TR + X12 TL 165 14 Voelkl Racetiger GS 185 20.3 boards for free skiing alternated between Stöckli Laser GS 165 15 Nordica Dobermann GSR 186 20.5 GS and SG, getting as many hours of vary - Atomic Redster TR + X12 TL 170 15 ing terrain and speed as possible. This one Voelkl Racetiger GS R21 174 21 commitment alone was not only a great Head iSpeed Pro 165 15.1 Atomic Redster G9 RS+X19 MOD 176 21 confidence builder when it came time to Atomic Redster G7 168 15.2 Rossignol 175 23 run speed in the gates, it also contributed Atomic Redster X9 175 15.4 Head Rebel i.GS 176 23 to a new level of technical understanding. Head iSpeed Pro 170 16.1 Nordica Dobermann GS Race Plate 177 23 Stöckli Laser GS 170 16.1 Voelkl Racetiger GS R23 178 23 Make your commitment this season! Atomic Redster G7 175 16.2 Fischer RC4 Worldcup GS Atomic Redster TR + X12 TL 175 16.2 Masters Curv 183 23 Planning: On the Speed Series, traveling to train and race is often difficult, complex Atomic Redster X9 181 16.2 Fischer RC4 Worldcup GS and costly, in both time and dollars. How - Nordica Dobermann GSR 167 16.5 Masters Curv 188 23 ever, the solution is a combination of Atomic Redster G9 165 16.8 Fischer RC4 Worldcup GS good planning and finding training and Voelkl Racetiger GS 165 16.8 travel partners. In my case, good fortune Masters Curv 191 23 provided two: Nick Hudson and Navid Nordica Dobermann GS Race Plate 170 17 Redster G9 RS+X16 VAR 183 24 “The Hammer” Rashid. Carefully coordi - Head iSpeed Pro 175 17 Redster G9 RS+X19 MOD 183 24 nating our schedules, traversing the U.S. Stöckli Laser GS 175 17.1 Head Rebel i.GS 181 25 not only became more practical in cost, Atomic Redster G7 182 17.3 Rossignol 182 25 but traveling as a “team” kept our motiva - Atomic Redster TR + X12 TL 182 17.3 Voelkl Racetiger GS R25 183 25 tion high, the training disciplined and the complexity of logistics significantly easier. Elan GSX Fusion 170 17.4 Nordica Dobermann GS Race Plate 184 25 Nordica Dobermann GSR 172 17.5 Head Rebel i.GS 186 25 Develop your plan to join the tour! Atomic Redster G9 171 17.6 Rossignol 185 27 Voelkl Racetiger GS 170 17.9 Nordica Dobermann GS WC Plate 188 27 The Phillips 66 National Speed Series is a Voelkl Racetiger GS 175 17.9 Voelkl Racetiger GS R27 188 27 tour that spans from New England to the Fischer RC4 The Curv 178 18 Northwest, often on the same venues that Head Rebel i.GS 188 27.5 stage FIS events. For Masters, this opportu - Head iSpeed Pro 180 18 Atomic Redster G9 RS+X12 VAR 190 27.5 nity is unique, the experience worth every Stöckli Laser GS 180 18.2 Head Rebel i.GS 191 28 peso, and the sensation, priceless. The Atomic Redster G9 177 18.4 Fischer RC4 Worldcup GS Women 183 30 prize: a coveted belt buckle worthy of an Nordica Dobermann GSR 176 18.5 Voelkl Racetiger GS R 30 183 30 eight-second bull ride and, to the season- Head iSpeed Pro 185 18.9 Fischer RC4 Worldcup GS Men Curv 188 30 long champions, a hand-thrown ceramic bowl that will hold a magnum of Brut. But Rossignol 170 19 Nordica Dobermann GS the rewards are being able to test yourself Elan GSX Fusion 175 19 WC Dept Plate 188 30 on speed venues you’ll never forget and Elan GSX Fusion 180 19 Rossignol 188 30 hanging out with some pretty fast (and Voelkl Racetiger GS 180 19.1 Voelkl Racetiger GS R W 30 188 30 friendly) company.

The Speed Series is a season-long 2017 Speed marathon, not a sprint and you have to Series winners: play to win, as points do matter. Consistent Don Johnson, RM; results can bring home the gold, so get out Jennifer Kaufman, RM; there and play! ussamasters.org/2018/nss and Dave Brennan, IM.

A long-time ski industry veteran, Dave Bren - nan has sponsored numerous alpine athletes during his career, including Olympic Down - hill Gold Medalist Tommy Moe. Last season he made a full commitment to the National Speed Series, competing in six DH and 10 SG races, scoring just enough points to stand on the podium as one of three 2017 Overall Champions. News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 8

On Top of the World! Winning on the FIS Masters circuit, By Lisa Ballard

This winter, Masters racers worldwide will 1. Pick the winter wisely. Commit to the cir - start list, including 80 –90 women. turn their attention to Big Sky, Montana, cuit when your toughest competition is Unless you want to spend most of the Mar. 19 –25, for the FIS Masters Criterium. not in your age group (fis-ski.com). Racing winter in Europe, the best strategy is to go “Criterium” is Masters -speak for world at Big Sky will help you figure out who to Chile in September, the races in North championships, which come to North they are and how you stack up. If they’re America and the finals in Europe, which America only twice each decade. (The last the same birth-year as you, see #2 below. give you 10 starts. Fill in the remaining five time was 2012 at Mammoth Mountain, races with at least one more trip to Europe 2. Pick your races strategically. Forty to 45 California.) With this FIS Masters races are that spans two weekends. All sites host an most prestigious of FIS Fun Facts scheduled each win - SL and a GS. Look for at least one three- Masters events on In the United States, you must be 18 years old to ter, beginning with day event with an SG in the mix to get the home snow, which enter a Masters race. In FIS Masters racing, the four starts in mid- extra start in a particular location. includes four races minimum age is 30. As a result, if you are, say, in September in Chile. 3. Contact Masters. To enter an FIS Masters that count toward Class 7 (ages 55 to 59) in the U.S., you will be in Most of the events race, including the Criterium at Big Sky, the FIS Masters Cup, Class 6 in an international race. are in Europe. There you must have an FIS Masters license in why not chase an FIS Masters GS races are only one run in Europe are also four starts in addition to your Masters license. Sign up overall title in your and usually the last race of the weekend, to allow North America. This for an FIS license when you renew your age group or in one Europeans to drive home at a reasonable hour. winter, the FIS Mas - U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership. If of the ski racing dis - ters Criterium at Big you’ve already renewed your membership, About 300 skiers compete at most FIS Masters ciplines? Sky are those four contact Bill Skinner, Masters Manager, to races in Europe, including about 80 to 90 women, Like the regular starts. add an FIS license. You also need to tell the average size of the entire field for most sanc - World Cup, each The FIS sanc - him where you want to compete, as he tioned Masters races in the U.S. winter the FIS sanc - tions races elsewhere must enter Americans in races outside of tions races around Skiers earn FIS points on the FIS Masters circuit, in the world, includ - the United States. You can enter the Cri - the globe that count which determines ranking and seeding throughout ing Japan and New terium events at Big Sky the normal way, toward overall titles the winter. If there’s a tie at the end of the season, Zealand, but they do through SkiRaceReg.com. in SG, GS, SL (there’s the person with the lowest FIS points, added up not count toward a Start looking for no DH) and in each from among his nine best finishes, wins. 4. Book your travel early. globe. Be sure to pick airfare deals and frequent flier tickets at least six months ahead of time. The local race coordinator has a list of recom - mended hotels, which most people book either directly with the hotel or through Bookings.com. Rental cars can be booked a week or two in advance of your trip. In Europe, most rental car companies require you to rent chains or special winter tires to drive into any mountain regions.

5. Get a jump on jetlag. Plan to spend two days lightly free-skiing on the race hills and getting adjusted to the time change Carrying globes like they were Atlas: when you fly to Europe, especially before Anne Nordhoy, David Davi, Lisa Ballard and Mike Robbins. the finals which are so critical point-wise. One day is not enough. five-year age group. The top three get crys - events designated as “FMC,” not “MAS,” 6. Attend the team captains’ meetings. There tal globes like the ones Mikaela Shiffrin on the FIS Masters calendar, which is ap - is a team captain’s meeting the night be - and Marcel Hirscher have on their man - proved at the FIS Congress in late May. fore every race, during which the next day’s tles. I went for it last year, and garnered Your best nine finishes count, but schedule is confirmed and other nuances two globes, a big one for winning the SG plan on at least 15 starts. Fifteen races give of the event are announced in the local title and a small one for taking third in my you a buffer, as even the best athletes make language and in English. You can usually age group. Those two pieces of glass repre - mistakes or get out-skied occasionally. And pick up your lift ticket and bib then, too. sent the pinnacle of my 26 years on the you must attend the finals, which are al - 7. Bring cash. You can use credit cards to Masters circuit. ways in Europe and worth double points. pay for hotels, restaurants and rental cars, Going for an FIS Masters globe is not The races in eastern Europe tend to be but you’ll likely need to pay cash for entry a decision made lightly, due to cost and slightly less competitive than the ones in fees (15 euros per race), lift tickets (about time commitment. Most North Americans western Europe. No matter where you go, 25 euros per day), gas if the gas station has spend $10,000 to $15,000 chasing it, but abilities run the gamut, from those who no attendant (about 70 euros to fill a it’s worth the effort for the chance to ski in started ski racing as adults to former na - tank), and highway tolls (up to 30 euros, a number of memorable places and to tional team members, similar to Masters depending on your route). You need to tip make many new friends from around the racing in the U.S. There’s just a lot more of for everything in Chile and very little in Go wforo trhled .G Hlobeer! e’s how to go for a globe: competitors, with over 300 on the average Europe. Be sure to notify your credit card News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 9

Ski Racing and Ski Racing by Heather Black, CEO Ski Racing Magazine

bank where you are traveling. With the passing of While it may be hard for some to em - Gary Black, Jr., CEO of brace the digital way and use it for news, 8. Bring food on race day. You may miss breakfast due to an early start time, and Ski Racing International, its format is the current reality. I hope you you probably won’t have time for lunch dba Ski Racing Media, can embrace this not-so-new format be - between runs. Also bring a water bottle in February, there were cause Ski Racing Media is providing great that you can refill. a number of options insights with its coverage. Aside from read - for the 49-year-old ing articles online, there are also videos, The competition is deep and 9. Go fast! source of alpine ski webisodes, and, this coming season, pod - skilled. That’s the allure of FIS Masters competition news. In the spring, it was de - casts. Ski Racing will continue to provide competition and the fun. You’ll need to cided that I, Gary’s widow, would get in - basic news articles for free to everyone. put your best runs down the hill to be a volved as CEO and managing partner Our goal for this year, however, is to pro - contender. along with one of Gary’s daughters, vide you with original stories and videos To get Lisa’s book, “Ski Faster! Guide to Ski Amanda Black. Amanda is a previous pub - you cannot find anywhere else on the web. Racing and High Performance Skiing, 2nd lisher at Ski Racing and acts in an advisory We go behind the scenes, beyond the re - Edition,” visit LisaBallardOutdoors.com. capacity. While no one sults and the stats, so you can ever fill Gary’s shoes, could step onto the World Who Won in 2017? Five North Americans I have stepped into his Cup circuit, knowing exactly earned FIS Masters globes last winter role. In a short five what’s going on in this sport. months, I have been get - Those kind of features are cur - Women Anne Nordhoy (USA): 1st, Women’s Class 10 ting up to speed again. rently found in the Premium Lisa Ballard (USA): 1st SG, 3rd Women’s Class 6 Along with the staff, I’ve section in both longer and taken a hard look at how shorter form articles. The sub - Men Ski Racing can succeed in scription cost for Premium is Mike Robbins (CAN): 2nd Men’s Class 7 the future. just $2.99/month. While I re - Davide Davi (USA): 1st SG, 3rd Men’s Class 4 Over the majority of alize that some would like to Matt Johnson (USA): 2nd Men’s Class 2 its years of publication, just pay a yearly fee, we plan Ski Racing operated to stay with this new format under a shared agree - through the coming ski sea - 2017 –18 FIS Masters Cup calendar ment with the U.S. Ski son. If this is an unfamiliar Dec. 9 –11 Pila-Gressan, ITA SG/SL/GS Team, in which USSA way of paying for you, just Nov. 11 –12 Amneville, FRA (indoor) SL/SL (now U.S. Ski & Snow - know that we are not alone. Dec. 1 –3 Pila, SUI SG/SL/GS boarding) underwrote This is how the New York Dec. 9 –10 Abetone, ITA GS/GS Ski Racing subscriptions Times, Wall Street Journal and Dec. 16 –17 Haus im Ennstal SL/GS for its members. For the 2017 –2018 sea - others who bring you 24/7 news operate. Jan. 6 –7 Veysonnaz, SUI SL/GS son, U.S. Ski & Snowboarding decided to Finally, due to the readership-to-ex - Jan. 12 –14 Aften-Thurnau, AUT dedicate the funds previously used for pense ratio, we have had to re-address our SG/SL/GS these subscriptions to athletic program - Masters coverage. Ski Racing welcomes any Jan. 20 –21 Goetschen, GER GS/GS/SL ming, leaving Ski Racing short of its finan - well-written articles with accompanying Jan. 26 –27 Zagreb-Sljeme, CRO cial targets. Having said that, U.S. Ski & high-resolution images on events for con - SG/SL/GS Snowboard is supportive of what Ski Rac - sideration, but there will not be a regular Feb. 2 –4 Megeve, FRA SG/SG/SL/GS ing Media provides and continues to beat unless we are able to significantly in - Feb. 9 –11 Cortina D’Ampezzo SG/SL/GS maintain an agreement with our organiza - crease our readership of content geared to Feb. 17 –18 Strsnske Plezo SL/GS tion to help with content needs. this niche audience. Mar. 3 –4 Pec pod Snezkou, CZE SL/GS Having originally gotten my feet wet We hope you continue to see the Mar. 10 –11 Cerkno, SLO SL/GS with Ski Racing in 1988, when we were still value in what Ski Racing has to offer, Mar. 20 –24 Big Sky, USA a quarter-fold newspaper, I have sympathy knowing that this organization has a deep SG/GS/GS/SL Criterium for the many comments I receive about history in and understanding of the sport. Apr. 7 –8 Serre Chevalier, FRA missing the printed version of the publica - We hope you will continue your Premium tion. Were we to attempt that format subscription by opting in to our again, you would receive your newspaper $2.99/month rate so we can bring you the well after the events were over and the best of what you enjoy. news was old. Because you already would Heather Black first had skis put on her feet at have looked it up online, the information the age of 14 months. Growing up in Stowe, would be irrelevant. Moreover, there VT, she became an avid skier, though not a would be no way to cover the costs for racer. Heather worked at Ski Racing Interna - printing and distribution. Advertisers in tional from 1988 –199 7. She finally got to join the ski industry today, smartly, want to get the ranks of the Masters in 1998, and contin - the most bang for their few advertising ues to race today. She and Gary also brought a bucks, and have prioritized digital advertis - daughter up through the Junior program in ing over print for the past several years. A field of globes, waiting to be plucked by the plucky. Sun Valley, where Heather currently resides. Continued Mikaela Shiffrin drifting into the from page 1 turn before she cheats the turn Bending the tip just prior to edge radius with tip pressure on the engagement. Nina Loeseth of Nor - steep Squaw Valley World Cup way at the Squaw Valley World course in 2017. Cup, 2017.

find - ing the fastest ski for their race course. Some race courses are on flatter hills, other much steeper. The distance be - tween gates can be close or far. The result - just ing turns can be quite straight or they can staying be - be across the hill so much you need GPS. tween the bindings. The ski should fit the steepness and the This ease of turning comes course dimensions. But this is only one part with a price. The larger side-cut, of the equation. The next question is, does which gives the ski its uncomplicated turn - the ski meet your goals and skill level? ing characteristic, is also responsible for Who scrubbing away valuable speed and making and when to Who to date it very difficult to drift or stivot at turn initi - marry The NASTAR/beer league super side-cut ation. At first, the relationship with skis are a lot of fun to ski. With The good news is this ski will negotiate the slim, tall, and straighter Masters/FIS Give the just the mere act of tip - any course and help you find the finish ski may seem a bit tenuous. It is a racy relationship love I and No matter what your relationship choice, it f ping them up, line. An old racer cliché reminds us “if you breed. It is built mainly for speed and this self good for free skiing, needs love to last. Acts of love can be ex - y they can can be intimidating. This does not leave want to finish first, first you have to finish”. o with fewer they may be inhibiting your race re - pressed by drying the edges at the end of So this relationship may be a good choice much room for technical and tactical errors. f u instances of late sults. Ski racers have a cliché: “Feels good, the day, and before the drive home strap for some skiers, and some situations. While the NASTAR/beer league ski with ir pressure and adjust to course go slow.” They may be great for skiing, but the skis, so the bases don’t rub. Don’t for - s w Such as when the hill is steep, more side-cut needs just tipping to an edge conditions by altering your steering a balanced decision is required based on get that good night kiss (your other rela - t and/or the course set to turn, this Masters/FIS implement requires a angle at the top of the turn. Your turn will the race environment and skill level of the tionship)… and wax just as often… maybe grab y n is tight and/or a fine coordination between edge and pres - be not just a product of the edging pro - racer when strapping them on. o sure. It is like going from a car with auto - more. At the end of the season take them to the snow and t tur - u vided by the side-cut of the ski, but a com - the spa for an exfoliation (grind) to main - make a tight turn. t matic transmission to a car with manual o bination of edging and the bend you tain a flat running surface. And no one Since the size of the turn is a re - h transmission. You now have to push in Is the relationship moving too fast? pressure into the ski. When you get on a straighter Masters/FIS sult of just one ski characteristic and a fi the clutch, change gears, then wants to hang out with someone that is too v n ski, you will definitely feel like you went rough around the edges. Give them a bevel. one body action, you can get away with less let out the clutch e i from the Subaru to the Formula 1 race car. This will put more spice and variety into synchronization of movements than with s while giving Are you comfortable with your ney. Al - While the utilitarian Subaru is great for the t h the relationship? your turn initiation. the Master/FIS type race ski. though we should o The super side-cut NASTAR/beer league skis trip up to the mountain, the F1 racer is the Relationships don’t need to be compli - It is not a prerequisite to exploit the also remember that to f i are popular because they are comfortable. better choice for the race course. Although, cated. Your relationship with your skis can entire length of the NASTAR/beer league r “finish first,” “finishing fast” is also f if you put an untrained driver in the F1 race s They can make tight turns, they hang onto be simple and comfortable. It can also be super-duper side-cut ski. The only pressure i a good recommendation. And this is where n t the snow. While a good all-around choice car you better have your seat belt on tight. simple, comfortable, and fast. Time spent control the skier needs to worry about is our curvy partner often lags behind. This engine i working on your relationship involves ana - ski may be a good choice to date, but even - s lyzing your race hill, course sets, and your tually you may find that you are not just the right h slow Timing edge and ski selection. Race hill and course sets are getting enough out of the re - amount of RPM’s. A very go ood, pressure with beyond your control, but you can adjust lationship. coordinative collection of individ - els g ual movements. Instead of a clutch, gears, Fe straight skis needs your ski. Although, remember: it is not the and an accelerator, the straighter ski requires to be coordinated or fastest skis that win. It is the fastest skier precise coordination of just enough tip pres - the ski will not bend. and ski relationship. Alexandra Tilley of Staying centered and moving edge to edge, sure at the optimal time to create a groove Great Britain at Marcel Hirscher in a tight, straight, parallel for the rest of the ski to follow while pro - Squaw Valley. GS at Alta Badia in 2017 season. gressively tipping the ski up, thereby gradu - ally increasing pressure to be at maximal edge angle exactly when the ski is parallel By Ron Kipp with the fall line. Also a very coordinated Photos: Getty Images operation, with an order and timing to the movements, made possible by practice and Ron Kipp has worked with feeling. With coaching and practice, you can the U.S. and Norwegian learn to time the edging with forward tip Ski Teams and is currently pressure on this longer, straighter ski. You with the Squaw Valley- will be able to adjust your pressure to Alpine Meadows ski team. be in the fall line. Find your - News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 12

2017 Summer Fun Nationals at Mt. Hood, Oregon by Hugh Mitchell Occasional wafts of sulfur from the vol - cano’s vents greeted the Masters racers, re - minding them that Wy’East is allowing them to play on her again, as she has for the past The Saturday night banquet in the Tim - with times on the first very “back-and-forth” 29 years ... at least for now. Mt. Hood (or berline Day Lodge provided ample food and run typically hovering around a minute. The Wy’East to the Multnomah tribe), is consid - drink (including complimentary local mi - second run started with the Superseed. ered an active volcano and one of Oregon’s crobrew) to hungry and thirsty racers. The Again, Minam’s speed was hard to process most likely to blow. Its Palmer snowfield ineffable Willy Scroggins emceed and called visually. Everyone was “wowed” (and hum - had been replenished from one of the out the prizes for the GS class podium win - bled). Class podium and Superseed results snowiest winters in recent memory. It made ners and Super Seed. The prizes were beauti - are posted on the website. Unfortunately, for light July lift lines, probably because fully hand-crafted wood plaques—one of a our fearless leader, Meri, had a spill after the there were still other resorts still open. With kind and future Masters’ collector items. first run and destroyed her knee. She stayed near-perfect weather—no humidity, cool Gary Randall expressed tearful appreciation on the hill at midstation, directing volun - nights, as he ac - teers on their duties via radio, until the race and clear cepted the was completed. Then she was transported days—an “Atomic off the hill by ski patrol. Get well wishes are epic 2017 Skier of the expressed by all. Summer Year” After a bit of a result tabulation delay, Fun Na - award by awards were given out at the post-race pool tionals last year’s party at the historic Timberline Lodge (fa - took place. recipient, mous for exterior shots in “The Shining”). 150 racers Rob The Skoch Cup winners (best GS and SL and volun - Cravens. combined times for each age class) and teers con - There were Super Seed winners received champagne by vened from not only the Pacific Northwest, plenty of raffle prizes handed out, to the Korbel. Handsome logoed pens, hand- but from a total of 21 states. There was even whoops and hollers of the winners. A hat crafted by racer Greg Dilger, were given out a racer from Bosnia and one from Kosovo, was passed around to help 18-year old as prizes to the podium winners of each whose goal was to make the Olympics in Minam Cravens, a Summer Fun regular who class. The Eigenvector Fastest Family Award, South Korea next year. He even came with a just made the U.S. Western Regional Team presented by Barry Wise of Eigenvector, Wall Street Journal photojournalist in tow, and is on target for the U.S. Ski Team. Ap - went to the Donald Grosser Family from depicting his journey in an article on August preciation was expressed by everyone for the North Carolina. Fastest SL Man award went 1. Most racers had come early to take advan - title sponsor, Booster Strap, along with to Minam Cravens and Fastest Woman tage of various training camps that helped major sponsors Atomic Skis and Fuxi Rac - award went to Lyndsay Strange. to remove the knee-rust and brush up on ing. Thanks was also given to all the other Next year is the 30th anniversary of the race technique prior to the weekend. wonderful sponsors. (See website for com - Summer Fun Race (if Wy’East permits!). The Friday check-in party was once plete list. PLEASE SUPPORT THEM, RAC - Those who attended this year’s race were again hosted by the Scroggins family in their ERS!) Special thanks go to the course perplexed why any Masters racers they knew now almost-completed and gorgeous “ski workers and volunteers, and especially Meri were absent. It is truly one of the coolest palace” in Government Camp. Lots of beer, Stratton and her daughter, Leigh, who made venues on the planet. The second weekend food, and tall tales, and an assortment of all of it happen. in July (14th and 15th, 2018) was almost vendors, made this a fantastic welcome to Sunday started off with an even more unanimously approved by a poll of those at - the weekend. bulletproof surface than Saturday (if that tending the banquet, so mark your calen - Saturday started with GS on a “bullet - was possible!). There was also a chilly high dars for next year. If you are a Masters racer, proof” surface, which made for difficulty in wind as the sun came up. The first SL run on this is your Mecca, and if you can’t be a reg - getting an edge on the first run; however, it both courses was a challenge for everyone. ular, the 30th anniversary is where all the ski softened a little by the second. The C/D A/B finishers were left gasping at the bottom racing fun will erupt. Be there!! course (for all women and children and Men’s class: 10 and above) was reported to be “turny.” Lyndsay Strange, who set first The beginning—or was run each day, put down fast times on both it the end?—of another days, but was edged out in the GS by half a perfect day. second by U16 Bryce Foster. The A/B (Men of Class 9 and under) GS course had 68 rac - ers and produced the Super Seeds (top 10 of the first run) led by aspiring pro Max Bervy. To the awe of onlookers, he broke 40 sec - onds on his first run. Class winners and the Super Seed results and photos (courtesy of Brian Robb) can be found on SummerFun - Nationals.com and BrianRobbPhoto.com. News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 13

Division News

Mountain. This is our third year for this in - on Dec. 2, followed by a weekend of GS Alaska By Carl Swanson credibly successful camp. The camp prima - racing at Mammoth Dec. 16 –17. There alyeskaskiclub.com rily focuses on free ski drills and video will be a training camp with Pierre Jeangi - Hello from the Far analysis. The bulk of our drills emphasize rard at Mammoth the first week of Decem - North. At the time I proper balance and stance and lots of ber. That’s always a good program, and write this we are well mileage on our skis to get our Masters highly recommended. Registration infor - into our fall season. started off in the right direction early in mation for all of our events is at FarWest - The birch trees, which the season. There are still a few slots left, if Masters.org and on SkiRaceReg. were a beautiful gold just a few weeks ago, anyone is interested in joining us. We’ve added more speed events this are already losing their leaves. Snow is visi - Our sanctioned Masters races have year, but unfortunately no DHs. Because of ble on the higher peaks and it looks to be been calendared and we will, as usual, be schedule conflicts with other venues, none staying put. Us locals call this “termina - racing against not only our fellow Masters, of our Far West speed events will be part of tion dust” because it officially terminates but competing against the local junior the National Speed Series, so we will miss fall. teams. We will have 2 SGs scheduled in ad - some of our regular speed series competi - Weather forecasters are predicting a La dition to our SL and GS events. Addition - tors from other divisions, but everyone is Niña weather pattern for the Northern ally, we will also have a number of “fun” welcome to come and take advantage of Hemisphere this season. Cooling Pacific races throughout the season. If you find our Sierra venues. Ocean temperatures typically set up high yourself in Alaska this winter, come out Masters season training programs are pressure systems in the North Pacific and and enjoy the fun with us. available at Mammoth Mountain, Squaw this tends to make Alaska a little on the Hopefully, you all will be running Valley, Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak. colder and drier side. This will be nice into some Alaska Masters competing at Our newsletter, the Forerunner , will be change from the last three winters, which some of the Western region races this win - out mid-October with more details about were rather warm and snowless at lower el - ter. Come and say hello! goings-on in the Far West. You can find it evations and at our ski areas in the An - For more information on our race cal - on our website, FarWestMasters.org. chorage area. endar, events, and camps please go to: The Far West Masters Scholarship pro - Because our local resort at Alyeska lost alyeskaskiclub.com and click on the Mas - gram continues to thrive, thanks to the a lot of money on early snow making ef - ters home page. leadership of Eddie Mozen. Congratula - forts these last three years, they have de - tions to this year’s Jeff Wattenmaker schol - cided to move back their opening date arship recipient, Calvin Wilson. Five of our from late November to December 15 this Far West scholarship program alumni currently are year. Alyeska Resort has said, if we get By Dan Simmons on the U.S. Ski Team: Stacey Cook, Tim Jit - enough early natural snow, they will defi - farwestmasters.org loff, Travis Ganong, Garret Driller, and nitely open sooner. However, this puts a The Sierra Aspens are Mark Engel. We are hoping that some or little bit of pressure on our early season turning color, we’ve all of them will be competing in the 2018 training opportunities. Fortunately, the had a little snow, and Olympics. The program also supports sev - Alyeska Masters will again be holding an we are looking to a eral aspiring junior athletes and stresses early season camp based at Breckenridge, great season with 25 academic success along with dedication to Colorado during the first week of Decem - scheduled races. The schedule is up on the the sport. ber. We will also take advantage of differ - website, FarWestMasters.org. Our first We wish everyone a fun and safe ent terrain at Keystone, Vail and Copper event is two SLs at Mammoth Mountain season.

Alaska Division, 2017 News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 14

Division News

ladies will be back this Thanksgiving week - increasingly popular and conveniently lo - New England Masters Nadine Price end for GS and SL. Although not exactly cated Ragged Mountain. nemasters.org part of our schedule, this is an event for Things depart from the usual a bit in Although the cool, wet sum - everyone even remotely interested in ski February. Obviously, everyone will want to mer might have raised hopes racing! go to the FIS Masters Worlds at Big Sky in for an early, snowy winter, While you were enjoying your sum - March, so the 2018 Phillips 66 USSA Mas - the recent ridiculously warm weather has mer activities, your ever diligent board was ters National Championships are being meant we’ll have to wait a bit longer to get hard at work getting ready for another held February 6 –10 at Okemo Mountain, on snow here in New England but, as has banner season of racing, parties and clin - Vermont. This will be an outstanding Na - become a tradition, we will be kicking off ics. Our scheduling Chair, Bill McCollom, tional Championship with terrific venues the season at the Boston Ski Expo. The and his all-star committee have put to - and fabulous parties. The schedule will in - Expo will be held from November 9 –12 at gether a spectacular schedule. We will be clude SG, AC, GS and SL. By the time you the Seaport Convention Center. With visiting many of the old favorites, a couple read this, there will be a website with all USSA’s generous assistance, we will be at of new venues, and returning to Okemo things Nationals available to help you find the show for the tenth straight season. This for the 2018 Phillips 66 USSA Masters Na - lodging, transportation, other things to do exposure has proven to be a great tool for tional Championships. The season begins (especially if you’re travelling with a non- building brand recognition, strengthening January 6 –7 with SL and GS at perennial racer) and answer any other questions you existing connections with other industry favorite Mt. Sunapee. The second annual might have. The site will be linked from stakeholders and forging new ones. If your Kelly Brush Challenge at Middlebury Snow our website, so check it out. schedule includes being in Boston at that Bowl (an interestingly formatted GS!) is In case you’re interested in the Na - time, please stop by. And make sure to paired with an SL at Whaleback, a very tional Speed Series—and who wouldn’t pick up a few of our slick, new posters— cool racer-friendly venue. This is our first be!?—a note about the SG at Nationals: one to inspire you while you’re tuning visit to Whaleback and promises to be a along with the two SG’s at Stratton, this your skis and a couple to share. great race. The rest of January includes two will be part of the National Speed Series. Also from the Get Ready for Racing SG’s, a day of SG training, and a GS at the Because Nationals are in February, Department, the women’s World Cup will always celebrated and revered Stratton you know there has to be more racing. be coming back to Vermont! After a very Mountain; an SL at Suicide 6, one of the And there will be! February 17 and 18 will successful debut at Killington last year, the best SL venues in the East; and a GS at the find us at West Mountain, just across the

Our ladies of speed at Mammoth Mtn. Nationals. News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 15

Division News

New England line into that are capable of both trash talk - New York, where we will ing and encouraging fellow races be teaming up with our all at the same time. We individu - newest Masters division, ally hope to throw down our best Mid-Atlantic Masters, for run each time we get in the start SL and GS. This event gate, but watching a fellow racer should be very exciting, reach new milestones is equally as and both races will count exciting. in both divisions’ season- The Rocky Division has 8 venues long standings. lined up for this season, with 25 February will wrap up days of racing DH, SG, GS, and SL. with our annual pilgrim - After last year’s whirlwind of a age to the oldest ski race schedule, we were able to better in America, the Hochge - spread this year’s events throughout birge Challenge Cup. This the season and target weekend storied race will be an SL days. We sought to decrease travel held at Mittersill, an International between venues, have a better bal - equally storied venue, camaraderie with Czech ance of single and multi-race days, with its own interesting Andrea Cervina and and allow adequate travel time for history. As always, the race Americans Lisa Ballard those planning to travel to Okemo will be followed by a party and Anne Nordhoy. for Masters Nationals and Big Sky at the house of the oldest for the FIS World Criterium. ski club in America, where We thank the officials and volun - we will be surrounded by cially thank Artech for its generous and teers who dedicated countless photos and memorabilia of Tenth Moun - continued support. Please visit the Spon - hours throughout the season. Thank you tain Division veterans and the pioneers of sors page on our website (nemasters.org) to A Racer’s Edge and Fischer for sponsor - American skiing and racing. Don’t miss and when you have need of or use for any ing new bibs for the Rocky Division. this one! of the products or services our sponsors Thank you to the sponsors who provided Just before the Sise Cup finals, we will provide, we hope you will visit them first. prizes throughout the season in our new be at Wachusett Mountain in central Mas - sponsor program: HWK, FK SKS, Boot Me - sachusetts for a GS. This race has been a chanics, and FUXI Racing. Thank you to long time in the making and we are Jennifer Kaufman for our new division Rocky Mountain thrilled to be able to race at this incredible Lauren Beckos banners. And thank you to new and re - gem of a venue. Wachusett is in nearly rmmskiracing.org turning donors in our Sponsor A Race Day everyone’s back yard and if you don’t join program that provide supplemental finan - If you live anywhere us for this event, you’ll be likely to regret cial support that keeps as racing at our fa - in sight of the Col - it. And speaking of Finals, this year we will vorite venues and ensures we can host fun orado Rockies, you be back at Sugarbush for our season end - after parties: John Davis, Lori Hamilton & can see the snow is ing extravaganza with a Friday GS, fol - Jonathan Wolf, Bob and Loretta Huff, Jim now winning the fight lowed on Saturday by a SL. Both races will Reinig, Booka Law (Booka Smith), The with the sun and is starting to accumulate! be counting toward season-long standings Minnesota Connection (Bob Benson, The countdown to opening day for the so many final battles may not be decided Charlie Hauser, Lilla Gidlow, Winfried season is in single digits! until this event. Our season of fun, com - Raabe, Tom Patterson and Jerry Sorensen), The Rocky Mountain Masters board, radery, personal bests and accomplish - Hans Oberlohr, A Racer’s Edge (Chuck local venues, local race officials, and local ments will be celebrated at our gala awards Ginsburg), Aurum Food & Wine (Phillips coaches have been busy over the summer banquet on Saturday evening. We are re - Armstrong), Boot Mechanics (Jeremy evaluating last season, incorporating your ally looking forward to being at Sugarbush Johnston), Bob Benson, skiracereg.com feedback, and implementing changes as again and this promises to be a wonderful (Doug Briggs), Charlie Hauser, Lee Kauf - they plan for another season full of train - event. Make your reservations now! man, Barry Ottley, Jeanette Saylor, The ing and events to help you hone your skills Tengdin Family, and Bill & Lisa Gooch. and throw down with your fellow racers. With more than two months before the We have many Rocky Division racers The most exciting and rewarding part of first race, there’s still a bit of time to get that live within a few hours, but also many each fall is to share the information with your ski legs ready to rock and roll. So put that have to fly and drive much longer dis - you, the racers, and watch you bring it all down that ice cream, push those donuts tances to get to our events, as well as many to life. The collective energy of racers tun - aside and switch to light beer. Go for a that travel from other divisions. We de - ing, gearing up, hauling gear, training, couple of hikes and wax your skis. We have pend on and thank all of you! We look traveling, filling the parking lots at dawn, an exciting season ahead and the snow forward to hosting the Nationals DH in inspecting, and line planning creates an will start falling soon. Ski Cooper this season and hope many of electric atmosphere. Key to that electric at - As always, our series is made possible you from across the country will join us! mosphere is the fun and rowdy attitudes and enhanced by our sponsors. We espe - News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 16

Division News

the Mid-Atlantic Masters with a GS at New York State Snow Central Greek Peak and SL at Toggenburg. Greek Masters Series Ryan Fuller By Mark Wolcott Peak has one of the best GS tracks in the midwestmasters.org nymasters.org country down the Odyssey Race Trail. The We’re back at it again A little known fact is, Toggenburg SL is 40-plus seconds per run this season with a New York State is and is a regular stop on the college circuit. great schedule, with home to the most ski Then the series moves to Ellicottville for our season opener at areas in the entire the Holimont GS and Kissing Bridge SLs. Afton Alps, the Cyr United States and we have a strong ski rac - Ellicottville averages over 200” of “lake ef - Cup races at Buck Hill, and our Central Re - ing tradition, from the Olympic Training fect” snow every winter and has some of gional Championships in Granite Peak Center in Lake Placid, to many weeknight the best ski conditions in the East! and Spirit Mountain. We’re planning once adult beer leagues across the state. The The NY Masters travel east to Okemo again to bring a huge contingency to the New York Masters offers one of the most Mountain on February 6 –10 for the U.S. Rocky Mountain Ski Cooper speed races in accessible and fun ski racing series, from Masters Nationals with an SG, AC, GS, and January as we continue to work to get those new to racing, to former college and SL races. Okemo is a regular stop on the more Central folks on speed skis. We’re professional competitors. We typically run Eastern Cup FIS circuit, with a reputation also holding our 6th Annual Koznick four runs of ski racing before 1:00 pm, fol - for excellent snow and grooming. After the camp this year at Afton Alps in early Janu - lowed up with our always-fun post-race Nationals, the circuit returns to the Hunt ary, and training in the Fall once again at parties sponsored by Labatt USA and Hollow GS on the Glade Race Trail. Hunt Copper Mountain in November. Genesee Brewery! Hollow was the first ski area on the NY cir - Our direction, as a program, has not The season will open in mid-Decem - cuit to begin the four-run format back in changed and we will continue to focus on ber with our annual New York vs. Ontario, 1995. The series then wraps up the season increasing participation at our races by Canada non-sanctioned GS race at Holi - again at Swain with another GS and SL promoting them as special events which day Valley. This event is on a fairly easy combo in early March, along with our end are all unique in character. We continue to rolling race terrain for the first gates of the of season awards. use social media, online advertising, and season, and brings the team element into NY Masters Ski Racing is a fun group, online marketing tools to aggressively the competition. Last year, Team Ontario and we welcome adult racers of all ages to reach out to our membership and poten - won the race, so the New York racers will give us a try. While our schedule is still tial members. As we renewed as a NASTAR be out for revenge. We will take a break for being finalized, those interested in partici - club again this year, we will continue to the Christmas holidays, and then Hunt pating can find more information at our work with NASTAR at the Na - Hollow will be hosting their annual New website, New York Master Ski Racing, or tional and Regional Pacesetter Year’s Day race clinic from 10:00 am until check us out on Facebook. Trials, and continue to score many 4:00 pm, which is a great opportunity for See you on the race of our races with both U.S. Alpine racers to bash hundreds of GS and SL course! Masters and with NASTAR. By gates! being a club of both The January portion of the schedule organizations, opens with GS and SL races at Swain Re - we sort. Swain has been hosting Masters races for over forty years. They run a great event down rolling Wheel’s Run. The fol - lowing weekend, the series will join

Rocky Mountain team, 2017 News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 17

Division News hope to introduce even more people to with a race at Elk Mountain, PA. It’s an Southern Masters U.S. Alpine Masters racing this season. By Horst Locher amazing race hill and homey mountain. Looking forward, we are very excited sararacing.org The post-race party is always fantastic! for the arrival of winter. Our calendar is Living in the mid-At - Next, we will join our New York and New packed this year as we look to rebound lantic region and in England organizations for their races at from two consecutive poor winter weather North Carolina, the Greek & Stratton. We are back in the seasons. With the FIS Masters World Masters racers ex - Catskill mountains in late January, with Championships in Big Sky this year, we pected that after the races at Hunter Mt, NY (SL) and Wind - anticipate one of our best seasons ever! lousy winter of 2015 –16 that the ski sea - ham, NY (GS) on Why Not, Windham’s If there are any questions about Mid - son of 2016 –17 had to be better. Well, it fantastic GS hill. Don’t miss it! Montage, west Masters, contact us at program.direc - did not happen. We were surprised with PA follows in early February with both a [email protected] and we will get another warm season and had to cancel GS and SL. Next, we are on to the Nation - back to you. races. Searching older records, we had, sev - als at Okemo. We are excited to have Na - We’ll see you on the hill! eral times in the past decades, two winters tionals in our backyard this year, and hope in a row with non-favorable conditions. to encourage all of our racers to join in the Now, there is really hope that we have sur - fun. Right on heels of the Nationals, we Northern Division Masters vived those conditions and the future have West Mountain, where we hope to By Fran Noel looks bright. Races will be held at Bryce, have our fellow New England Masters rac - northernussa.org Massanutten, Snowshoe, Sugar Mountain ers join us for some friendly competition In cooperation with Inter - and Wintergreen resorts this season. Please for the three-day SG, GS & SL races. We’ll mountain Division, check the schedule for the Master racers at include some fun post-race plans both on Northern Division mas - sararacing.org in this upcoming winter. and off the snow at West. Next, we are off ters are proud to be hosting the FIS Mas - to Mountain Creek, NJ. We’re very happy ters World Criterium at Big Sky Resort in to have the help and focus from NJSRA March 2018. Jeremy Ueland and his Big (New Jersey Ski Racing Association) on Mid-Atlantic Masters Sky Ski Education Foundation have al - By Carol Tomassetti Masters. We will round out the season and ready signed up an impressive list of offi - mamasters.org finish with our Foy Cup Finals in mid- March at West Mountain. West Mountain cials and volunteers for the five-day event. It’s time to think Ski This season’s activities will again is a great place to race, and of course the Racing in the mid- après–ski parties are legendary! begin in early December with Lisa Dens - Atlantic area! We have more Ballard's “Dust the Rust Off” Train - There are mid-week training opportu - started a new Mid-At - nities at Hunter during the day, and ing Camp, Dec. 6 –10, at Red Lodge lantic Masters organi - Mountain. For complete info and to regis - evening training at Mountain Creek. Check zation! Many thanks to all the veteran it out on our website, mamasters.org ). ter go to: http://silverrunski.com/2017-18- Masters racers who have been generous camp-sessions/. We have some great sponsors on with their time and advice. Nadine Price, board, including ATCO Brewery (on White Our Masters race schedule will again Bill Skinner, Meri Stratton, Lisa Densmore be in conjunction with Intermountain and Horse Pike, Atco, NJ), ARTECH, Transpack, Ballard, John Pierce, Deb Lewis and Kip Green Ice, Booster Straps and Swany. Be PNSA. See page 3 of this newsletter for the Blake are just a few who have helped us. complete schedule. All of the races are sure to support them with your business. THANK YOU! We appreciate their invaluable support. open to competitors from any division We are very excited to now be part of and most can be entered on line at SkiRac - Our series offers a season-long Foy the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Masters. Mid- Cup award to the top man and woman, as eReg.com. Atlantic Masters’ roots originated from the Training programs in Northern are well as awards to the overall and class win - ASRA ski race organization, which was ners for men and women, and teams. We again scheduled for Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, formed by John (A.J.) Foy in 1980, and Lookout, Red Lodge and Whitefish. encourage our racers to have their kids join concluded in 2017, when John retired after them for racing. We will offer a seasonal 37 years of amazing dedication to the family award. sport of ski racing. We will continue to It’s going to be a great season! Come Fran Noel, grow and nurture the organization! out and join us for our Northern Mid-Atlantic Masters is a not-for- chair. races. Help us make our first profit 501(c)(4) organization. Our mission season a raging success! For is to offer quality ski racing with a big more information on the focus on FUN. Following John’s vision, Mid- Atlantic Masters racing quality ski racing is our primary activity, series, please check out our but what binds us together and makes it web site at mamasters.org special is the fun factor: camaraderie and and our facebook page at friendships that provide the energy and facebook.com/MAMastersSki. Please also personality of our organization. join our email list via this QR code, or ac - We have a great Foy Cup schedule for cess the link from our webpage. See you at the 2018 season that cuts across NY, NJ, VT the top of the race course! and PA. Our schedule opens in January News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 18

Division News

Summer Fun Nationals 2017 was a medals! PNSA is proud of your efforts, PNSA By Rob Cravens great success. Meri Stratton, HMIC (Head ladies! pnsa.org Mother in Charge), and her band of race Looking forward to a great racing Hello, ski racing fans! junkies delivered one of the best Summer season! Welcome to the Fun events ever. If you didn’t hear, Meri 2017/2018 season. Pa - had an unfortunate accident loading the cific Northwest fore - Palmer lift. So, in Meri fashion, she posted Intermountain casts are for another La up against the midway lift shack, radio, Masters Niña winter. We have a full race schedule checklist and ice pack in hand. Currently, By Stew Marsh ready for the season and fresh snow in the she is sweating through knee rehab. Thank IntermountainMas - Cascades. Crystal Mountain and Mt. Bach - you, Meri, for all you do with Masters ski ters.org elor escaped the ravages of flames during racing! Here it is, October, the “North West Armageddon” fire season. PNSA Masters continued the tradition 2017. What I am A very near hit for Crystal Mt. and a lucky of funding a Junior male and female FIS about to write seems break for Mt. Bachelor. training grant for 2017/2018. This grant is similar to last season. September snow all Please check the race schedule on our processed through PNSEF (Pacific North - around the Intermountain region, giving website at pnsamasters.org. We will be west Ski Education Foundation). Funding all of us the hope of another great season loading skiracereg.com with races, just as was increased 25% for the season. Athletes of skiing and racing. Even though the soon as we have the announcements from are selected by a sub-committee of the word from all of the Sun Valley racers was race administrators and host clubs. New PNSA Alpine Competition Committee. they had too much snow and all they did this year, all three SG races at Schweitzer Congrats to the 2017/2018 recipients, Tess was powder ski, I think the majority of the are Phillips 66 Speed Series races. We will Baldwin (Crystal Mountain Alpine Club) rest of us would have loved being at Sun still have the speed races at 49 Degrees and Tanner Lujan (Mount Bachelor Sports Valley to ski all that terrain in powder. North. However, due to a scheduling con - Education Foundation). Both are remark - Again I would like to thank Meri flict with Aspen, we needed to move the able athletes in PNSA and across the west - Stratton for all her diligence and hard Phillips 66 races to Schweitzer. Don’t miss ern region. work into contacting the areas and arrang - 49 Degrees speed! Great hill, great I would like to recognize one of our ing dates and times for this season events. racing/training and welcoming hosts. cornerstones of PNSA Masters ski racing, The tentative schedule is out. You can view Please update your information on Carolynn Phillips. Carolynn completed a the schedule and make plans for the dates skiracereg.com. This will make your life— little dryland/wetland training over the and travel. I would like to encourage each and the race administrator’s life—a bit eas - summer. Hope the Class 11 ladies are of us to possibly make available a room or ier. Reminder: renew or add your FIS ready to race! September 2, 2017, Car - two for those having to travel to distant License number, if you wish to race in the olynn competed in the Bonney Lake venues. Please check the Intermountain FIS World Masters at Big Sky. It is a lot eas - Triathlon. Not so surprising if you know web site, intermountainmasters.org or ier to do this when renewing your U.S. Ski the Phillips family. Her daughter Robin www.skiracingreg.com for schedules closer and Snowboard License. New this year on White (45 –49 age group), and grand - to the race dates for any changes. skiracereg.com is our new PNSA Masters daughter Norah White (U-19 age group; Once again, this is a reminder to get store. Check it out and order your favorite she is 13) also competed. All three stepped your license for the season by going to PNSA logo gear! up to the podium and collected huge ussa.org . Registration for races remains

3…2…1…Go for it in 2018! Photo from 2017 Mammoth Na - tionals. News & Info of the Alpine Masters Page 19

meant, make it personal. Maybe that is what the same by using the online race registra - written many years ago by Pete Seeger and we need to do to entice these athletes back tion site, skiracereg.com. Be sure to check Joe Hickerson, I took the liberty to para - into the fold. out jans.com for all your race needs and phrase them to hopefully drive home our Another way I read about was what the latest in race equipment. This site concerns. Central division is doing. That is, inviting makes it easier to locate and get product at “Where have all the Masters gone, long parents, grandparents (who race) to bring incredible Masters racer discounts, while at time passing? Where have all the young their licensed (grand)children to races and the same time enhancing their sponsorship ones gone, long time ago? When will they have them compete in a non-scored race. with Intermountain Masters. ever return, when will they ever return?” Meri Stratton has been doing this for years Intermountain Masters would like to I have thought about this for a long at the Summer Nationals at Mt. Hood. It is welcome back our longtime dedicated time, talked with coaches, athletes who very successful and well attended. sponsors. Team orthopedic surgeon and have stopped racing after high school or Finally, the word from the coaches racer, Dr. Phil Davidson; Team Healthcare college. Like us, they all still retain the pas - seems to be we don’t reach out to these and competitor, Dr. Don Cofer; Brent Ams - sion for skiing and racing—the competi - younger athletes. They do not know who we bury at Park City Ski Boot; Jeff “Ernie” tion, comraderie, the fun—but what has are or what we stand for; again, we need to Ernst, of Boot Works; and Sun Valley’s For - changed, and “will they ever return?” reach out to these programs and let them mula Sports for their support of the Sun Recently, I spoke with an ex-racer, now know about Masters ski racing and the fact Valley races. 34, and she now has a family. But her pas - that they can continue along a fun filled Finally, this next piece relates to the sion was still apparent when I mentioned path. very essence of what Masters ski racing is racing. But, she said. “I know nothing I wish each of you a great, safe and fun about and where it may be headed in the about when, where and how to find out season this year. See you at the start—and near future. All divisions are facing the about the races.” I replied, “Check out the let the fun begin! same reality, and we, as chairs, are continu - USSA web,” and I sensed a light went on, ing to look for answers. From the lyrics but she still wanted a invitation. To me that

Happy 50th to NASTAR by Bill Madsen, Director of NASTAR, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association economical as possible. Depending on the NASTAR is youthful participants. In its half-century of layout of the race venue, many resorts can celebrating operation, over eight million skiers and now run NASTAR with just one staff person. 50 years of snowboarders have taken part in NASTAR Adults and kids alike have always been recreational racing at hundreds of different resorts. Now attracted to NASTAR, which is seeing an in - racing, and under the leadership of U.S. Ski & Snow - creasing number of three-generational fami - we are more board, NASTAR has modernized itself with lies participate. The dual, modified GS focused than an updated timing and scoring system that courses provide participants with a head-to- ever on con - provides greater information for partici - head racing opportunity that has been the necting the pants, including access to live timing and a program’s signature format for 50 years. alpine racing new badging and buddy system designed And, NASTAR’s handicap system provides community to help grow participation at local resorts. recreational racers with an opportunity to with a com - In addition to the traditional NASTAR pins compete against the U.S. Ski Team, their mon scoring for performance, the online badges will re - peers, family and friends across the country system. We ward participants for the number of runs simply by racing at their favorite resorts. The want to see they ski and the number of resorts where top racers in each age and ability group at more multi-generational families push out they race, as well as awarding badges on more than 100 resorts will qualify to com - of the start gate together, and if families are their participation in NASTAR since elec - pete in the Liberty Mutual Insurance NAS - in different parts of the country, we want to tronic results have been recorded. TAR National Championships at Squaw bring those families together virtually. We We’ve put a lot of attention into tech - Valley, Mar. 21 –25. There will be U.S. Ski want to introduce more people to the thrill nology the last few years to both create a Team athletes and alumni on hand to set of racing and the bond that is created when better experience for NASTAR participants the pace for individual races, team races and they race. and to make operation more efficient at NASTAR slalom has been added to provide NASTAR has come a long way in 50 NASTAR resorts. We’ve developed tools to a new discipline. years, from handwritten times on paper make the program more efficient to oper - We hope that you will consider joining scoreboards to online results and rankings ate for the host resorts and we have made it us in Squaw Valley to celebrate the sport and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) easier for skiers and riders to participate. and 50 years of NASTAR racing. technology that makes it more efficient for We are working closely with resorts on new resorts to manage, and more interactive for ways to manage NASTAR as efficiently and

The Alpine Masters Series newsletter is produced by Jim Hayes (a Master in age only) in Salt Lake City. Visit www.Ha-YesDesign.com. United States Ski & Snowboard Non profit P.O. Box 100 U.S. Postage Park City Utah 84060 PAID Permit 953 Salt Lake City, UT

Tom Scheeler, a top dog on the New York Masters tour.

These companies support Masters Ski Racing…and we support them

The VISION of the USSA Alpine The MISSION of the USSA Alpine Masters is to make this vision a reality by developing, Masters is to provide adult skiers with a promoting, organizing and coordinating the highest level of alpine ski racing throughout lifelong opportunity to enjoy the chal - snow country in the United States and internationally, and to fulfill our passion for and love lenges and rewards of alpine ski racing. of nature, the outdoors, mountains, freedom, self-challenge and accomplishment.

Masters Contacts ...... National Masters Chairman Eastern/Mid Atlantic: Carol Tomassetti Pacific Northwest: Robert Cravens Lisa Densmore Ballard tel: 845.594.9045 tel: 541.419.3893 tel: 406.690.0190 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Eastern/New England: Nadine Price Rocky Mountain: Lauren Beckos USSA Masters Manager tel: 802.746.8850 tel: 267.496.1320 Bill Skinner email: [email protected] email: [email protected] P.O. Box 100 Eastern/New York: Jack Eisenschmid Park City, UT 84060 tel: 585.288.4554 tel: 435.647.2633 2018 Major Events email: [email protected] fax: 435.649.3613 Phillips 66 email: [email protected] Eastern/Southern: Horst Locher Masters National Championships tel: 540.856.2121 Okemo, VT, Feb. 6 –10 SG/AC/GS/SL DIVISION C HAIRPERSONS fax: 540.856.8567 email: [email protected] Alaska: Carl Swanson Phillips 66 Masters National Downhill tel: 907.344.8570 Far West: Dan Simmons Ski Cooper, CO, Mar. 8 –11 email: [email protected] tel: 385.315.4817 DH/DH/SG/SG email: [email protected] Central: Ryan Fuller Phillips 66 FIS tel: 612.501.3268 Intermountain: Stew Marsh Masters World Championships email: [email protected] tel: 435.649.5751 Big Sky, MT, Mar. 19 –24 email: [email protected] Eastern: Bill McCollom SG/GS/GS/SL tel: 802.234.9561 Northern: Francis Noel email: [email protected] tel: 406.586.5759 NASTAR National Championships email: [email protected] Squaw Valley, CA, Mar. 21 –25