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 five 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