racing groups

[Papasteeze]

Very highest level - USSA/FIS racing - You can enter USSA J1/J2/Sr races at any age (>= 15) as long as you register as a racer with the USSA. Very fast skiers get a FIS license and race in those events. (When I say very fast, I mean very fast.)

 

High level - Masters (but still has a wide variety of skill levels; anyone with a NASTAR Gold or higher could consider racing in Masters and would likely enjoy it.) Master's racing is organized racing, training, and some social events, with competition is sanctioned by the USSA, that is for racers 18 and over. Many who participate came up through the USSA kids race programs, but a significant number did not. Masters does break up participants into age categories, but they are pretty broad (ex: 18 to 44). You need to join the USSA to race (more than once per year) in a Masters race, but you can live anywhere and enter. (In fact, people might think it's cool if you came from far away to participate in a race.) And, you don't need to join the USSA to just try it out. You can learn more about Masters racing in New England at http://www.nemasters.org

 

Next highest - ASRA - lots' of overlap w/Masters, but allows younger participants and may not attract as many former elite racers Typically for intermediate skiers or better- club racing - CISC/CSC in Connecticut; Wachusett has a rich night league, etc

 

Hard to tag - NASTAR. The courses are open to make them reasonable for a wide audience. But, you'll get some lightning quick racers who go through the course each season to use as comparison.

 

There is no standard course. NASTAR suggests that par times be around 23 seconds. As you experienced, there is great variety. But, they say that variety is the spice of life.

 

You can find slalom racing in Masters events and ASRA events. Lower level racing, such as club racing or NASTAR do not typically have slalom as it is quite technical. The exception is when a league registers their race with NASTAR so participants can get a handicap.

Edited February 3, 2006 by Papasteeze

[sibhusky]

Papa's been reading up on things. You might want to mention that USSA and FIS have Super G and Downhill events.

[sibhusky]

piqued, not peaked

[Ski]

Also:

 

Europa Cup

FIS University

NCAA

USCSA (US Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Assoc.)

 

While Europa Cup is the "minor league" of the World Cup, some collegiate racing in America is considered just as competitive. Some colleges recruit and give full scholarships to young European kids coming out of their own national academies. US colleges are also sometimes a refuge for skiers kicked off their national team, or otherwsie demoted, and is their chance to win their way back.

 

The scary thing is that Metz Jerz did better than me on the SATs...

 

You compared SAT scores, eh?

[Metz the Jersey boy]

lol, we didn't compare anything, doug didn't tell me his.

 

And when talking about racing groups we mustn't forget the Steeze Cup, which is a PASR only series, holding races only in the Chinese Downhill format at mountains across PA. Trademarks include some harmless gouging, uncontrollable gloating, gaudy snow camo jackets, vicious freestyle rapping, red bull drinking, sticker sticking, and of course post-race post whoring.

 

Look for this series to appear on the Outdoor Life Channel between the hours of 3 and 4 in the morning, an hour during which the world has wisely chosen to sleep, for the most part.

[Papasteeze]

And when talking about racing groups we mustn't forget the Steeze Cup, which is a PASR only series, holding races only in the Chinese Downhill format at mountains across PA. Trademarks include some harmless gouging, uncontrollable gloating, gaudy snow camo jackets, vicious freestyle rapping, red bull drinking, sticker sticking, and of course post-race post whoring.

 

Look for this series to appear on the Outdoor Life Channel between the hours of 3 and 4 in the morning, an hour during which the world has wisely chosen to sleep, for the most part.

 

 

Good one..