Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge or NASTAR

[ckofer]

My 15 yr old was checking out the NASTAR pages today. He's a solid skier but never showed interest in race programs and his high school has none. I'd like to seem him give it a try. I also pointed out the Mtn Dew thing. Is the racing experience about the same?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vortex]

I think the vertical challenges are pretty mellow as are Nastar. I would say the vertical challenge is a bit easier than Nastar. Vert challenges are side by side coarses. You are racing against the clock and your age group not the person next to you.

Some similarities to Nastar in that way I know some beer leagues have side by side Nastar races, but not the norm. Vet challenge gives alot of free bees. Most of a events are fun all ages parties Nastar is usually a run or two against your handicap.

 

[roark]

I would say the vertical challenge is a bit easier than Nastar. Vert challenges are side by side coarses.

Hmmmm... your results were a lot better for Nastar as I recall :razz:

 

[gymnast46]

NASTAR vs. MDVC

Both are terrific programs and I would encourage your son to try both. Frank Tansey of PepsiCo has spearheaded the Mountain Dew program in the east for a number of years and has done a significant amount of fundraising for the Make A Wish Foundation as a result of these competitions. As was pointed out, each event has a lot great giveaways and raffle prizes.

NASTAR is a more structured program with a National Pacesetter, Daron Rahlves, who is the "zero handicap". Everyone else is calculated as to how they would theoretically compare against him at a particular course on a particular day. I'm the pacesetter and coordinator for NASTAR at Okemo and I hope to see more of the AZ folks come run our course. We're open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 - 2. On weekends I set dual courses (one with snowboard gates).

Pat Moore

 

[Vortex]

Hmmmm... your results were a lot better for Nastar as I recall :razz:

Actually I finished fairly well in the Eastern finals last year for the MDVC in my are group.
It was Dave who failed miserably. :razz::razz::razz:


Nastar finals I licked my wounds. uke:

 

[billski]

I like NASTAR. It's more extensible, follows you around from resort to resort, had pretty solid record-keeping, and because scores are "normalized", you're really competing against yourself and can see yourself improve. (there can/will be several winners of Platnium/Gold/Silver/Bronze medals each day. (don't know that's true for Mountain Dew ) - big ego things for the kids. It's also offered more often at more places so the chances of it being running when you're there is better than having to slate yourself to a particular resort on a particular day.

I've been doing it since about '77 and have even gone to Nationals a couple years ago. It's really a lot of fun and is only as much pressure as you want it to be. Set your first goal at just getting around the gates, no worries about times. After a couple runs, it's as addictive as popcorn. The fear of "agony of deefeet" film footage is ill-founded for NASTAR. It's actually hard to go fast. If you do fall, it's unlikely you'll get hurt - you stand a better chance of that free-skiing. It's only when you get into the higher levels of racing (not NASTAR) that it gets intense.

Go try it (both of you) and have a blast.

 

[tree_skier]

The courses tend to be similar at each resort ie MDVC and nastar at snow as they tend to be run on the same trail set by the same course setters. Both can be fun. Nastar gives you concrete results, the handicap where the MDVC doesn't thus Bob was able to qualify for the MDVC finals without sandbagging down to the silver division of nastar.

 

[tree_skier]

Actually I finished fairly well in the Eastern finals last year for the MDVC in my are group.
It was Dave who failed miserably. :razz::razz::razz:
QUOTE]

How can that great picture be a failure???????????????????

 

[Vortex]

Failure for you, great humor for the rest of us.

Actually I was suprised I qualified last year. Alot of good racers in my division. 1st year out of 4 or 5 I qualified.

Difference is you care and I don't Dave.:smash:


I do hope I qualify so I don't have to buy a ticket to ski loon that day.:flag: Looking forward to seeing some old friends that day, Even, yes you Tree_skier,

The gang will try at King pine on Nh vacation week. A new place that looks reasonably priced.

Attitash is another option, but will be to much money, know that my pass does not work there. My wife still holds a grudge from a previous beaten to death conversation.

 

[roark]

How can that great picture be a failure???????????????????

OUCH!

 

[Vortex]

He is my favorite Power Ranger.

 

[tree_skier]

You just wish you looked so good in spandex

 

[roark]

He is my favorite Power Ranger.

dammit bob, you made me spit coffee on the monitor! :lol:

 

[tree_skier]

dammit bob, you made me spit coffee on the monitor! :lol:

That will teach you to drink and type

 

[gymnast46]

Ouch!

OUCH!

Ohmigawd! That's exactly what I did while pacesetting Okemo's NASTAR course on Feb 23rd last year. I ejected out of everything, broke two ribs, contracted pneumonia and canceled my trip to Steamboat for the Nationals. It brings up painful memories to see that shot but it gives me comfort to know I'm not the only one to accomplish the "straddle maneuver"....

 

[ckofer]

Ohmigawd! That's exactly what I did while pacesetting Okemo's NASTAR course on Feb 23rd last year. I ejected out of everything, broke two ribs, contracted pneumonia and canceled my trip to Steamboat for the Nationals. It brings up painful memories to see that shot but it gives me comfort to know I'm not the only one to accomplish the "straddle maneuver"....

Sorry to hear that, I busted 5 ribs and punctured a lung this summer mountain biking. OUCH!

Now since you were pacesetting, were the other racers judge against this performance?

 

[gymnast46]

Sorry to hear that, I busted 5 ribs and punctured a lung this summer mountain biking. OUCH!

Now since you were pacesetting, were the other racers judge against this performance?

I had already set the pace on the other course and got another pacesetter to rerun the latter course. I wound up working the timing shack for 3 more hours before the ski patrol took me down in the sled. I didn't realize at the time that the ribs were broken. Coughing up blood two days later convinced me to get the situation looked at and then I spent four days in Hartford Hospital with pneumonia. I hated to miss the nationals but had no choice.

 

[Vortex]

I had cracked rips and medicatd myself through the finals of Nastar last year.I crashed twice(pre- relased off the jumps) at the pats Race league finals.... Just before the nastar finals. Already paid so I went. Could free ski, but hurt to be aggressive. No blood spitting. Wow. Looks like you made the correct choice.

 

[ga2ski]

Back to the original topic. MDVC's courses tend to be eaier in my opinion and they give away great stuff. That being said Nastar is fun as you can watch your progress throughout the years and compare yourself to others throughout the country.