2012-13 Ski & Entertainment Guide
Page 10
The Salamanca Press
NASTAR Recreational Skiing: a race against time By Deb Everts Community Editor ELLICOTTVILLE – Skiers with a passion for speed will feel at home on Holiday Valley’s NASTAR race course, where ski and snowboard racers compete with other contenders across the country to win a medal in a battle against the clock. Holiday Valley’s website describes Nature Valley NASTAR (National Standard Race) as the world’s largest recreational ski and snowboard race program. It claims that if anyone can comfortably ski Cindy’s Run, a trail at Holiday Valley, they can handle this “entry level” race. Jane Eshbaugh, Holiday Valley’s marketing director, said NASTAR Racing is for skiers of all ages and levels who can participate individually, or on teams, and use the same standard course. “It is technically called ‘modified giant slalom’ racing, so it’s a fairly easy course,” she said. “They reset the course every day, which might make it
Photo courtesy of Holiday Valley A dual NASTAR course at Holiday Valley.
slightly different, but overall there’s usually about the same number of gates each day.” Eshbaugh said getting started is pretty simple. Anyone interested in compet-
ing should go to the start ramp at Cindy’s Run and fill out an easy form to register and then pay for their runs. Competitors get their NASTAR number, which they can use every year, and
they are set to race. According to Eshbaugh, it’s a timed course, and, as each person competes, their category is adjusted according to whether to their gender and age. Then their time is compared to the pace setter of the day and a handicap is set. His or her time is compared to the fastest skier in the NASTAR program in the entire United States. “It’s based on a handicap, kind of like in golf and bowling, where it equalizes the participants,” she said. “A computer keeps track of competitors’ times and race records throughout the whole season.” Eshbaugh said, based a person’s time and category, they could win a platinum, gold, silver or bronze medal. If they race in several qualifying races throughout the year and do well, they could qualify to go to the NASTAR Nationals at the end of the year in places like Utah and Colorado. The 2013 National Championship is being held at Aspen/ Snowmass on March 20-24. See NASTAR, Page 12