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Recreational Ski Racing
By Pat Moore
We watch Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso, and other US Ski team stars
flying down ski race courses and we imagine what it would be
like to possess such skill. For most of us recreational
skiers, we’ll never come close to achieving their prowess.
That, however, shouldn’t deter us from enjoying ski racing.
There are a number of venues open to the intermediate skier
and they can provide you with as much exhilaration as the big
names enjoy. You don’t have to negotiate icy, steep-pitched
80 mph+ runs to participate in ski racing. You only need
basic skiing ability and a craving for fun! There are
town leagues, beer leagues, ski council and club competitions,
senior games, the Mt. Dew Vertical Challenge, and NASTAR, the
biggest program of all.
NASTAR!!!!
 You’ve
seen the courses and maybe wondered what it’s all about.
No fewer than 48 Eastern ski areas host this national recreational
ski and snowboard racing program. If you’ve ever
contemplated trying your hand at negotiating gates, this is
the venue to get you started. Skiers of all ability levels
will be able to complete the courses and vie for a medal.
It’s a popular family venture with kids doing their darndest
to outgun the folks.
The program began in 1968 and has had several sponsors.
Currently Nature Valley holds that distinction and also is a
major supporter of the U.S. Ski Team.
www.nastar.com is the
place to go for all your questions. You will find a list
of all participating resorts and when they hold races.
You can register online for free and you will be assigned your
own web page with your race record. You compete within
your age group and are classified in Bronze, Silver, Gold, or
Platinum categories based on your performance. If you
finish in the top three spots at a particular ski area over
the course of a season you earn a chance to compete at the Nature
Valley NASTAR National Championships held at Steamboat from
March 22-25. Note: if you qualify in the Bronze Division,
you’ll compete in the Silver Division at the Nationals.
Last year over 1300 skiers and boarders from age 3 to 86 competed
and had an absolute blast.
With a handicapping system, everyone competes at a fair level.
One of America’s most successful ski racers ever, Daron
Rahlves is the NASTAR National Pacesetter. Like a “scratch”
golfer, Daron holds a 0.00 handicap. Through a series of regional
pacesetter trials, your mountain’s pacesetter has established
a handicap that theoretically calculates how he or she would
have done competing against Daron on the same course.
If a pacesetter has a 15 handicap, that translates to a time
15% slower than Daron. Let’s say the pacesetter
turns in a 23 second time. Daron would have been expected
to complete the same course in 20 seconds. That figure
becomes the “par” time for the day and your handicap
is measured against that time.
 The
Mt.
Dew Vertical Challenge has been sponsored by Pepsi for a
number of years. Presented by Chevrolet, this series has
a western and eastern tour culminating in a regional championship
that will attract close to 1000 racers. it’s far more
informal than NASTAR and is highlighted by some terrific raffle
prizes. It’s also a wonderful fundraiser for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Strap on the boards, and let ‘er rip! Even if you’re
a beginning skier, you’ll have no difficulty negotiating
the courses. With each consecutive run, you have the opportunity
to quantify your progress. As a side benefit, ski racing
improves your overall skiing performance. Take what you’ve
learned on the course and dazzle your friends with your new-found
carving ability. By the way, most of these race programs are
open to snowboarders too!
Check out the race clinics that are offered in your area and
inquire if they’re appropriate for your ability level.
You’ll pick up technique tips that will have a dramatic
effect on how fast you run courses.
Make it a point to participate in at least one race.
You will be hooked and come back for more!
Pat Moore has been ranked number 1 nationally in NASTAR snowboard racing in his age group and holds three national championship titles. In 2008, he became the first NASTAR racer ever to concurrently hold the titles in both snowboarding and skiing. An avid unicyclist, he's not sure what he wants to be when he grows up. Pat runs domestic and international online sales for Suburban Sports in Berlin Connecticut
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