FAR WEST NEWS
Autumn 2012
President’s Letter
It’s Auction Time!
Welcome to the 2012-13 Nordic ski season. As the new board president I want to thank outgoing president Chauncey Parker for his years of leadership. I also want to recognize and thank outgoing board members Mike Shaw, Julie Riggs, Mary Ellen Benier, Juliet Bradley, and Michael Collins for their dedication and service to our community. New board members are Paige Derdowski, Steve Yale, Martin Benes, Kathrin Burkhart Hudson, August Teague, Julie Halvorsen, and Peter Hanson. We are such a volunteer driven organization that it seemed wise to include this entire diverse and qualified group, and increase the size of the board. Challenges and adversity seemed to define our last ski season. Who remembers roller skiing and bicycling in January? Dryland training and trail running instead of waxing and racing? Well, it didn’t affect our performance at Junior Nationals in Soldier Hollow. We had numerous top 10 finishes, and our team finished 6th overall in the Alaska Cup standings, our strongest finish in many years. In spite of the thin snow pack, we managed to put on a rescheduled Tahoe Rim Tour, and got the Billy Dutton Uphill in just before it all melted. Thanks to all our members and volunteers, we made it through one of the driest winters in recent memory. Looking forward to the upcoming season, our many years of weather observation tell us one thing- like snowflakes, no two winters are alike. It therefore stands to reason that we will see a bit more snow this year than last. And we will need it, too, because the schedule is packed. Starting with the Annual Auction/Raffle on October 27th in Squaw Valley all the way through the Billy Dutton Uphill on April 14th, Far West Nordic will be working hard to promote, develop and expand Nordic racing in our region. We need the support of all of our Far West members! Please renew your membership, bring in a new member, make a donation, or volunteer. If you love Nordic skiing and racing like we do, you’ll want to help us any way you can. See you this winter on the trails, at a race, or join us at a board meeting. Members are always welcome. -Fred Zabell
MARK YOUR CALENDAR -- We hope you can join us for the Cross Country Ski Event of the season! The 27th Annual Far West Nordic Auction/Raffle Fundraiser Party is on October 27, 2012 at 6 pm at the Olympic Village Inn in Squaw Valley. We’re having a Pasta Party (including gluten free options). There will be incredible live and silent auction items as well as lots of great raffle prizes. Win the Raffle Grand Prize - a “Dream Ski” Package from Fischer, Salomon, & Swix including a 90 minute “Pick Your Pro” Ski Lesson! Ski Area Passes - Restaurant Dining - Romantic Weekend Getaways - Ski Equipment - Vacations - “Celebrity” Ski Lessons - Fine Art - Outdoor Gear & Clothing - “One of a Kind” Prizes. Last year we had over 200 items up for auction. Auction items are generously donated by individual donors and business sponsors. If you’d like to donate an item, please email us at info@farwestnordic.org. The 27th annual Auction/Raffle Party is a benefit for the Far West Nordic Junior Nordic Ski program. Juniors benefit in two ways: (1) 60% of each junior’s ticket sales are awarded in the form of “Far West Bucks” that the junior can use to pay for Far West programs throughout the year, (2) all proceeds from this event go to subsidize Far West Nordic Junior Programs for the season. Please remember that bids in excess of market value are considered charitable contributions and are tax deductible, so bid early and often, knowing your money is going to a great cause! Tickets are $30 and include one raffle entry. The Child’s $7 admission ticket includes an entry to a special raffle for kids 11 years and younger. Tickets are available from local Junior racers, online, or at the door.
Fred Zabell’s Greetings
October 27, 2012 Olympic Village Lodge Squaw Valley
News
Juniors Summer Recap: Far West Nordic was busy this summer, as we always are, training athletes at the numerous summer camps that we host/co-host. The annual Western REG camp is put together for all the best Juniors in the western region to show their stuff, motivate themselves for the hot, long summer ahead and to make new friends/rivals. This year the camp was in Park City, Utah. Attending from Far West were coach Kara LaPoint and athletes Katrin Larusson and Patrick McElravey. They both did well and came away fired up for the summer ahead. Bliss Camp: We tried a new approach and hosted Bliss Camp in early summer instead of September like we had been. We had 20 camp attendees plus coaches, Mary Ellen Benier, Stefan Benier, and Ben Grasseschi. Everyone seemed to have a good time. June Lake Camp: The 19th annual June Lake Camp’s roster made up of 19 participants from Truckee, North Tahoe, Incline Village, San Jose, and Mammoth was an enthusiastic, hard working group. These kids, skiing for separate school teams in the winter, trained as one cohesive Far West family
for four days, pushing and supporting one another through some pretty tough workouts. Coaches Nancy Fiddler, Mark Nadell, Marie French, and Austin Meng led the daily charge from 6 AM until 10 PM, leading workouts, driving, cooking, motivating, entertaining, and even chasing camp bears. FW/PNSA Camp: 8 Far West Junior National qualified juniors, 1 senior, and coach Ben met the Pacific Northwest Team for a late summer camp in Klamath, CA. It was 5 days of high calibre training and high intensity playing. As always it was very motivating to meet up with our friends and foes from the North. Far West took it hard when PNSA crushed them, 4-0 in the World Cup Soccer match on the beach. The Season Ahead: Our season starts with our trip to West Yellowstone then back to Montana for the Bozeman SuperTour. US Nationals in early January are in Soldier Hollow. This is the biggest event on the USSA calendar- the best competition and athletes from all around the US and Canada will be attending with hopes of making US Ski Team, USST World Juniors, and USST Scandinavian Cup Teams. In late January we take our annual commute to Soldier Hollow, Utah for the Super JNQ- the biggest pre-Junior Nationals event in the West. This year the Super JNQ Freestyle Sprint and Super JNQ Classic races will be 2 of the 7 Far West Junior
National Qualifiers. The 2013 Junior Nationals will be in Fairbanks, Alaska. Go Far West! Our last trip of the year will be the annual Mammoth Marathon in early April. New Junior National Qualifications! There are 7 qualifier races for the Junior Nationals Competition scheduled for 2012/2013. Junior racers must ski in 4 of the 7 races, and have a QUALIFYING time in 3 races, including both a classic and a freestyle (skate) race. Senior News: The Farm Team is entering its 3rd season of fostering skiers to great results. This grassroots development program concentrates on athlete results and commitment, community involvement, and junior development. This summer the college residency returned with a strong second year. 20 athletes participated (including 3 local skiers and 2 post-collegiate athletes) and represented 9 New England college programs. Once again, it was a great opportunity for them and for our local juniors who were able to train alongside such accomplished student-athletes. Masters News: Check out this season’s race schedule - it is packed! There are 10 races in this season’s Masters Challenge and 7 races in the Fischer Cup race series.
2013 USSA SuperTour Finals and 30/50KM US National Championships: The United States Ski
& Snowboard Association (USSA) SuperTour Finals and US Distance Nationals are the premier cross country ski races in the US, held annually in the spring so that the top American skiers can return from the FIS World Cups to compete with 200+ of our nation’s best domestic cross county skiers. The SuperTour Final will attract the best skiers from all over North America including the US Ski Team, the Canadian National Team, collegiate athletes, and junior racers. The SuperTour is a season-long series of races that take place across America. The leaders of the SuperTour earn FIS World Cup start rights. The SuperTour Finals are a mini-tour of four races that cap off the 2012-2013 SuperTour series. The times from all four races are combined, with sprint and climbing prelims similar to stage racing in cycling, to determine the yellow bib (over all winner), the green bib (best sprinter), white bib (best jr, U19), and the polka-dot bib (best climber.) Following the SuperTour Finals are the US National Championship 30/50km races. Far West Nordic will host the SuperTour Finals and US Distance Nationals in the Tahoe area from April 2-10, 2013. While hosting these prestigious races is a huge boon for the Tahoe community, Far West Nordic is actively seeking sponsors in order to cover the event costs. Anyone interested in helping with fund-raising for this event can contact Ben Grasseschi or August Teague for more details.
Truckee Donner Land Trust’s acquisition of Royal Gorge: The Truckee Donner Land Trust and The
Trust for Public Land reached an agreement to purchase the 3000 acre Royal Gorge property at Donner Summit. We now have our best shot in a generation to protect all of Royal Gorge’s remarkable meadows, peaks, forests, streams, and lakes. They face a December 20, 2012 deadline to raise $13.5 million to complete the project. Please donate now and help protect this remarkable property. Visit tdlandtrust.org.
Tahoe Rim Tour JANUARY 27, 2013
FAR WEST NORDIC SKI EDUCATION ASSOCIATION presents the 6th annual Tahoe Rim Tour & Race, a point to point 26 kilometer race from North Tahoe High School in Tahoe City to the Cross Country Center at Northstar at Tahoe featuring classic, skate, and snowshoe divisions.
Giving Back Please support the organization by volunteering at one of Far West Nordic’s fund-raising events. • Annual Auction and Raffle October 27th • Tahoe Rim Tour & Race January 27th • Billy Dutton Uphill April 14th Email info@farwestnordic.org for how you can help. Become a MEMBER, participate or volunteer in our races, donate (FWNSEA is a Charitable 501(c)(3) in good standing) or join the Far West Board or one of our Committees. The Association is only as strong as its leaders. Come on out and get involved! Qualifications: a willingness to donate your energy and ideas to promote the sport that your love. The board meets the second Monday of every month and all members are welcome.
Join Far West Nordic for 2012-2013! By joining Far West Nordic, you support our mission to promote the sport of XC skiing, XC racing, and funding junior XC programs. Membership in Far West Nordic is an outstanding value, with individual adult memberships starting at only $20, and junior memberships (age 19 and younger) for only $10. In addition to offering trail pass discounts at over ten XC ski areas, membership includes the Sierra Ski Chase -- all Ski Chase finishers receive a commemorative participation prize, celebrating their achievement in this Far West Nordic race series. Members also get access to special members-only sections of the Far West website and are eligible for junior camps/trips and adult programs at member prices. Now’s the time to sign-up, either through the online store at www.farwestnordic.org or by mailing in the membership form in this newsletter. Note that membership prices go up $10 after December 31st, so sign up now for the best deal! Far West Nordic adult members will receive a $5 discount on registration for each of the Far West Nordic races - the 2013 Tahoe Rim Tour and the 2013 Billy Dutton Uphill. We’re a small organization and we really need your help to grow -- for us, growth is key to broaden our base of financial support. As our membership grows, we’ll be able to offer even more services, expand our junior and senior programs, and better support our highly skilled coaches that represent the true backbone of our programs. So please do what you can to get the word out about Far West Nordic, and encourage your friends and others you know to join Far West Nordic and support our mission.
Stay connected www.farwestnordic.org
Far West Nordic Ski Education Association PO Box 10046 Truckee, CA 96162 530 852 0879 www.farwestnordic.org info@farwestnordic.org
PO Box 10046 Truckee, CA 96162
Upcoming Events
Mark Your Calendars for these Important Dates...
December 2
Kirkwood 10K
December 16
December Races Kirkwood XC
10 km Freestyle
Tannenbaum 10K
Tamarack XC
10 km Classic
December 22
ASC Classic Sprints
Auburn Ski Club
1 km Sprint Classic
December 23
Snowshoe Thompson Classic
Auburn Ski Club
10 km Classic
December 31
Pacos Fun Freestyle
Auburn Ski Club
10 km Freestyle
Junior Nationals Qualifiers
December 22
ASC JOQ Classic Sprints
Auburn Ski Club
1 km classic sprint
December 23
Snowshoe Thompson Classic
Auburn Ski Club
10km/5km/5km classic
January 13
Alpenglow Freestyle
Tahoe XC
10km/5km/5km freestyle
January 20
ASC JNQ Classic
Auburn Ski Club
10km/10km/5km classic
January 25
Super JNQ Freestyle Sprint
Soldier Hollow
1 km freestyle sprint
January 26
Super JNQ Classic
Soldier Hollow
15km/10km/5km classic
February 18
President’s Cup
Auburn Ski Club
10km/10km/5km freesyle
Junior Camps & Trips
November 17-25
West Yellowstone SuperTour
West Yellowstone, Montana
December 1-2
Bozeman SuperTour
Bozeman, Montana
January 2-8
US Nationals
Soldier Hollow
January 31-February 4
Utah Super JNQ
Soldier Hollow
March 8-17
Junior National Championships
Fairbanks, Alaska
April 6-7
Mammoth Marathon
Tamarack Lodge
As always, check the Far West Nordic website often for updates and the complete list of upcoming events, races, results, clinics, trips and more, plus this Fall’s NORDIC NEWS magazine for the full Competition Schedule of Events.
FAR WEST NORDIC
SKI EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2012/2013 MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT
SUPPORTING: All Racing benefits. Those wishing to donate a major level of
support. Thank you! RACING: All Basic benefits PLUS eligible to compete and be scored in Far West 2012-2013 race series: Fischer Cup, Sierra Ski Chase, Masters Challenge BASIC: Ski area discounts*FW clinics & programs* Sierra Ski Chase participation* FW website access to archived race results, photos, articles. Far West Nordic members will receive a $5 discount on registration for each of the Far West Nordic races - Tahoe Rim Tour, California Gold Rush, and the Billy Dutton Uphill. JUNIOR: Far West junior programs and trips*FW scholarships* Sierra Ski Chase participation
JOIN NOW for 2012/2013! Or join on-line at www.farwestnordic.org Far West membership year runs from May 1, 2012 -April 30, 2013. Make checks payable to FWNSEA MAIL TO: FWNSEA, P.O. BOX 10046, TRUCKEE, CA 96162
For detailed descriptions of all Far West benefits visit www.farwestnordic.org
PRIMARY OR INDIVIDUAL MEMBER FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
BIRTH DATE EMAIL ADDRESS MONTH DAY
MAILING ADDRESS CITY
STATE
ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS
ZIP
PHONE (
YEAR
)
(for family memberships only - all members must reside at the same address) BIRTH DATE
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
EMAIL ADDRESS
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
EMAIL ADDRESS
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
EMAIL ADDRESS
FIRST NAME
LAST NAME
EMAIL ADDRESS MONTH DAY
YEAR
MEMBERSHIP TYPE CHECK ONE Supporting Individual ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $100 Supporting Family �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $150 Racing Individual ���������������������������������������������������������������$45 ($55 after 12/31) Racing Family ���������������������������������������������������������������������$75 ($85 after 12/31) Basic Individual �������������������������������������������������������������������$20 ($30 after 12/31) Basic Family ������������������������������������������������������������������������$35 ($45 after 12/31) Junior (single member under 20) �������������������������������������������������������������������� $10
ADDITIONAL DONATION ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� FARM TEAM DONATION ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� TOTAL ENCLOSED ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� If you would like to pay by credit card please pay online at www.farwestnordic.org Far West membership dues may be fully tax deductible given the nature of benefits associated with membership and as we are a 501(c)(3) California non-profit corporation. Check IRS publication 526 for more information or with your accountant regarding your tax deductibility.
ELECTRONIC INFO ONLY
No Paper Mail Please Help us be green. Say no to snail mail.
Make checks payable to FWNSEA MAIL TO: FWNSEA, P.O. BOX 10046, TRUCKEE, CA 96162