Anyone going to the Nastar Finals a Steamboat?

[Vortex]

Anyone going to the Nastar Finals at Steamboat?

I know ga2ski myself and Thaller 1 qualified.

Aw I booked a room and registered today. I flying out March 22nd thurs... flying Back monday March 26th. Choosing my flight tomorrow. Anyone else going? Maybe an Az gathering at steamboat. Qualifiers can get discount tickets for their friends at that time. Steamboat central reservations rocks.:beer:

 

[skibum9995]

I'm strongly considering going, probably about 80% at this point. I'd love to go but I need to do my taxes and see how much I'm getting back and then look for some deals.

 

[hammer]

I know ga2ski myself and Thaller 1 qualified.

Aw I booked a room and registered today. I flying out March 22nd thurs... flying Back monday March 26th. Choosing my flight tomorrow. Anyone else going? Maybe an Az gathering at steamboat. Qualifiers can get discount tickets for their friends at that time. Steamboat central reservations rocks.:beer:

Congrats and enjoy...are you flying JetBlue? ;-)

 

[Vortex]

Funny. Probably continental. I just flew them yesterday. One engine switch froze as we were leaving the terminal Tuesday morning.. Can't make this stuff up. when I said Froze I ment cold Froze not stuck. Back for some un freezing maint.

 

[ajl50]

Have fun in steamboat.
Don't lose that that shaggy haired eight year old that was in the warren miller movies.
Or at least if you do...make sure to remind him that you can ride all the rides at six flags.

 

[Vortex]

lodging, hotel,airport transfers race registration all done. I'll get my lift tickets next week. all the shhhtufff is done.

 

[Vortex]

Bump.

been away anyone going?


I have lodging, I would be willing to split. Fairly cheap,easy local on bus route.

 

[Vortex]

one more bump

Am I the only one? Looking to hook up and make some turns with some east coast folk out west. I have a wrist band purchased for those who did not qulalify to make all the party eents. I also get to purchase $37 dollar lift tickets for up to 10 people per day if they are with me.

 

[billski]

Racer Ready? Set. Go!

Can't. I went last year, but life and business gets in the way this year. Just back from a combo business/Sierra trip and my eldest needs to shop around for colleges right in the middle of nationals. I would be nailed shut in the doghouse forever if I tried to sneak off to the boat this year. Next year.

Here's my two cents, you probably already know all this stuff.
In my experience last year, (I know it's kinda late for you Bob), I'd recommend arriving on Wednesday. Or at least real early arrival on Thursday. Steamboat is out of the way and takes longer to get to than most. You need to familiarize yourself with the place. There are so many courses, figuring out which one is yours (Bashor isn't immediately obvious) just adds stress. Then there is the stuff you forgot. It happens. You need an early Friday start. Your start time is AM, which means gate inspection is really early. DON'T miss the gate inspection. There is always a spin. Last year, on Bashor, our course had a dropoff after ~gate 10 and an immediate left turn. If I hadn't slipped the gates, I would have been in the woods on the first run!
Do NOT miss the Saturday night party at Thunderhead. Awesome!

Last piece of advice: bring suntan lotion and a permanent marker. Myself and many others sought Olympian autographs on our race bibs, now one of my most cherished possessions.

Have a blast, take lots of pictures!

Racer Ready? Set. Go!

 

[Vortex]

Thankx billski.
How are the coarses are they easy or hard?
I arrive thursday at 1pm. work and money made it the best I could do. I do fly into Steamboat so that hopefully will help a little.
Already pruchased my airport Transfer. Staying off site ot save some money, but I 'm on the city bus route in Downtown Steamboat.(Alpine Lodge.) Steamboat central reservations was very cool Told me I was in the center of the bars and Rest area. Seems like all the major events are at the base of Steamboat, but the Bus sounds easy. Please post or offer any other advice. I'm way out of my comfort zone.

I'll arrive early Friday. With the time difference it should not be an issue. Good tip. I dont't have the map gene as my wife says.

 

[tree_skier]

Hard to believe you sandbagged into the silver.

 

[billski]

logistics

Thankx billski.
How are the coarses are they easy or hard?
I arrive thursday at 1pm. work and money made it the best I could do. I do fly into Steamboat so that hopefully will help a little.
Already pruchased my airport Transfer. Staying off site ot save some money, but I 'm on the city bus route in Downtown Steamboat.(Alpine Lodge.) Steamboat central reservations was very cool Told me I was in the center of the bars and Rest area. Seems like all the major events are at the base of Steamboat, but the Bus sounds easy. Please post or offer any other advice. I'm way out of my comfort zone.

I'll arrive early Friday. With the time difference it should not be an issue. Good tip. I dont't have the map gene as my wife says.

Some courses are harder than others. For me, Upper Bashor was kinda in the middle difficulty level. A little longer than most, one offset gate in the middle. Start is not a gatehouse, just a wand and two posts and a big banner overhead. There are about 7 courses all running concurrently. Mid March was somewhat icy in the morning, but slightly slushy by the afternoon. Courses are on lower mountain. Don't expect powder. Do have real sharp edges. Billy Kidd told me (yes, he stopped to chat) at our level (NASTAR), wax won't really make any difference, but everyone does it anyways.

Another thing, don't take new advice on racing technique from anyone day of race. Stick with your own style. Trying anything new will screw you up for sure. Speaking from experience, after an Olympian gave me good advice that I didn't have time to practice!

You will probably wait 45 minutes in queue at the top of the course for each of your runs. But it will be so damn warm you don't have to worry about chillin. (you can dump your coat at the top of the course.) You do have to worry about getting stiff, so keep stretching.

After your run, check the board/timekeeper at the bottom, they have all the numbers. Some timekeeprs let you check, some don't depending on the venue. Racers kept crashing into the timekeeper (guess they forgot to stop), so they made us leave! The stats are uploaded to nastar.com each night about 2am, so when you get up you can check how you did across all stats (I had my laptop and wireless was free at the motel. I sent pics home every night!.) Bring a camera, stuff it in your coat, ask others to click pics with you in it. They also have a pro photog that takes races pictures each day. $40 each, but it was really worth it. Memories....

I stayed at Rabbit Ears motel for I think it was 79-89/night. It was about a 5 minute drive. Even had wireless internet. In my advance age, I find it's a hassle to walk to the road with my skis and wait for the bus. If you get there early enough, and you will, it is pretty easy to drive over and park in the free parking. That gives you flexibility if you want/need to leave early for the day.

Great Mexican chow downtown - the one that looks like a diner. Cheap too.
Best of all, it's just a lot of fun with a lot of real nice folks!

If you are running on the Bashor course, I can send you pics.


Damn! I'm getting envious again.

 

[billski]

go!

I'm strongly considering going, probably about 80% at this point. I'd love to go but I need to do my taxes and see how much I'm getting back and then look for some deals.

That's why God made extensions.
Skiing trumps tax filing!

Decide by Monday the 12th!

 

[billski]

sandbagging.

Hard to believe you sandbagged into the silver.

He probably didn't sandbag; some people who qualify ahead of you get bumped because they also raced at another resort, were moved out and you move up on a "technicality".

I only saw one sandbagger at Nationals last year. Clearly out of his league. We were silver, he was at consistently 5-6 seconds faster than the rest of the pack. Everyone bitched, and we all had to be resigned to compete for 2nd and 3rd place.

Bob, another tip. The stress factor. I found the biggest stress was not knowing what to expect, how it would run. You didn't know how well you'd do in comparison to all these other very fast looking, speed suited racers. If you've never done it before at this level, it can make you very anxious. After your first two runs and you see that you're not dead last, you begin to build confidence.

There are a lot more DNF's / DSQ's the second day. People gain a lot of confidence from the first day and let it all out. Bam! I crashed on my 2nd run 2nd day, still placed well, since they take your top handicap over two days. Man, you slide faaaaaar in a speedsuit! But you're ego's not bruised, since it's happening a lot. Keep thinking of the old ABC sports "agony of deefeeet" film and remember, we all fall, no matter what level..

 

[Vortex]

Thankx billski. My buddy (Dead Head) said the Rabbit ears was a good choice also. I'm at the Alpine lodge. I trusted the reservations dept. I won't be bringing a lap top. My two kids and wife have them, I never want one. I'll have my gear tuned before I go.

Treee_skier has sandbagging confused with I sucked early in the Season raced well mid Season back to suck again know. I really could use a good run tonight. Much prefer to be in the Gold division.

 

[billski]

Thankx billski. My buddy (Dead Head) said the Rabbit ears was a good choice also. I'm at the Alpine lodge. I trusted the reservations dept. I won't be bringing a lap top. My two kids and wife have them, I never want one. I'll have my gear tuned before I go.

Treee_skier has sandbagging confused with I sucked early in the Season raced well mid Season back to suck again know. I really could use a good run tonight. Much prefer to be in the Gold division.

If you qual'd in the Silver, that's where you'll stay for the Nationals, regardless of how you do now.

 

[Vortex]

I started out as a high silver last year, but moved to Gold before the final closing of the numbers. This year it happend after the closing date. I'm not real consistant in my runs. Makes me feel a bit bette that Pats as a resort is currently #1 in the nation. So I can blame everythinf on that. I'm otta here until monday. Thankx again Billski. Hope to see some of you tomorrow at Cannon.

 

[Vortex]

I spoke to a few AZ folk who are going and are registered. ( We will be repersented in Steamboat) Anyone else today is the last day to register.

 

[skibum9995]

I'm all booked and ready to go.

 

[dmc]

I have to buddies working this event... Passing out samples for some natural food company... they get lodging and tickets...

If you see a short guy with a big smile handing out samples ask him if his name is Jeff...