Johnny Style Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 This is really just an informative post, but if you feel compelled, please comment. The whole purpose of this post is to inform others about Blue Mountain racing and to inspire them to come out and participate. This is long, so continue at your own peril... Here is my background. I mention it only to give others with a similar story some hope. 1. I raced in High School back in the 1980s when ski racing was a completely different game than it is today. I mainly did NASTAR and local high school races at Chadd's Peak (150' vertical) outside of Philadelphia. In other words, I was just some hack like the rest of you. 2. I had no formal training or instruction, just a lone picture of Phil Mahre that Ski magazine would publish once a year to inspire me. My entire racing technique was based around a single still-frame photo. And people wonder why I still try to shoulder gates. 3. I stopped racing after high school. Heck, I stopped skiing for almost a decade. 4. I wanted to get involved again. What was someone like me to do? I was not brought up through the proper ski racing channels; I didn't know anybody that raced; I didn't even know where the races were held. Heck, I didn't have any friends that skied. I found Masters racing and ASRA, but these looked like they were for people that had raced in college or had been involved with a local youth racing program. I was intimidated and felt that these races were way above my ability level. I found myself wanting to get involved, but not knowing how. Enter Blue Mountain. In 2008 I started skiing on the weekend mornings at Blue Mountain. I saw all the Blue Mountain Racing (BMR) kids practicing on Razor's. I could tell that Blue was serious about developing talent for its racing program. I watched the kids and tried to emulate the turns they were making. Next I tried NASTAR. I hadn't been in a course in over twenty years. I think I may have won a Bronze medal. Then I found out that Blue was offereing an adult racing clinic on Tuesday nights. I signed up and participated for two years. Blue also offers a Monday night race league. Through this very website I was able to find others interested in racing and we formed a team. I went from a Bronze in NASTAR to a Platinum medal. Since then I have beaten pacesetters at Blue, Snowmass and Aspen Highlands. I qualified for the National Championships and went to Winter Park, CO to compete. I made new friends and I constantly challenge myself by racing. It definately adds excitement to my life. After a race I have been known to dream about knocking down gates when I sleep. I come around corners at work trying to pick the fastest line. I think I am hooked. The point of all this is to let others know about my story in hopes of inspiring them to participate in Blue's racing program. Take a clinic, come out for NASTAR, enter the Monday night race and compete against some of the best. If you want it, Blue has it. My final note is that Blue moved their race course to Razor's Edge this year. It is so awesome. You must challenge yourself against this course, it is that worth it. So come on out this year, you can find me up on the course on any given night. As Glen Plake said in the Warren Miller film, Cold Fusion, "You can't evolve...unless you are involved." These words were very true to me and Blue Mountain racing. I hope they find meaning for you too. Johnny 1984 (thirteen years old): 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toast21602 Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 good read. sick photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbike-ski Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 awesome post & pic!!! big props to blue racing for sure on the nastar, clinics and monday nights - learned alot and have had alot of fun with some great people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Style Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 mbike-ski, I know that I have told you this, but I'll say it again. You deserve some credit for getting me involved. If it weren't for you, I might still be sittting on the couch. You were the one on this forum trying to get people involed in racing. I just happened to see your post and repond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Law Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Well as long as we are getting all mushy....I am entirely self taught which is clearly evident if you've ever seen me ride. I was a flippy spinny kid who raced but I didn't like racing because it was all organized and shit.....yada yada yada Many years later I got old and bored and decided to try Nastar again. Nastar may be the bottom of the barrel but its serious fun and if you aren't all about it your really only competing with yourself. No matter what level of skier you are racing will make you a better skier both on the race course and in 24" of fluff. Give it a try sometime you won't be disappointed...though you may have to buy some skinny sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarponhead Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Give it a try sometime you won't be disappointed...though you may have to buy some skinny sticks. Nice read from OP. Those skinny sticks show how crappy a skier I am... (I'm a Tuesday night clinic dude. FWIW, I got into it from Mbike-ski post on alpinezone two years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Glad you posted this. Would like to try the Tuesday night clinic but always thought it was for real racers, or like, at least gold nastar people. Will have to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Style Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Melissa, you should check it out. There are other women that participate. I know RaceChick participated in the past. Mrs.SnoBunSki does the Wed. morning clinic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I think that would be a good way for me to get some skiing in this season and it would be close. Are there people that are like bronze level in nastar? That's all I can do, but I would enjoy learning what you are supposed to do when you do nastar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbike-ski Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 its been a good mix in past years, tarponhead can to speak about this year. probably a third that have never been in a race course before, nastar or otherwise; a third that might be do a casual nastar course once in awhile for a bronze; and a third "racers" or racer wanna-be's. they are only 1 week into it becuase of last tuesdays rain - sign up! the focus is really on carved turn technique with some gate practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarponhead Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Smallish class this year too (~ dozen folks). Mbike-ski hit it with the skill level of the folks there (the good, bad and the ugly). Three instructors so plenty of feedback available and plenty of gate time. razor back is a great course. Only one week in and 5 more sessions to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I checked out the website. Do they offer any special night ticket discounts (Sno did this for their race league)? Or is it just window price for an evening lift ticket? Anyone have any ideas? Sorry, looking to close on a house in May so I have to save more than I spend:( Very difficult for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 good old chadds peak... too bad its a neighborhood now. never went there obvioulsy as im not that old but ive heard about it. only 10 minutes from my house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Style Posted January 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Here you go Kyle, scroll down the linked post to see what Chadds Peak looked like in the past, and what she looks like today. I am very proud to be from Chadds Peak. I think I ski pretty well, and I came from a 150' hill. http://www.paskiandr...__fromsearch__1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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