NASTAR Eastern Championships return to Okemo Feb 1-2

[gymnast46]

Last year's inaugural year event was very well received and it returns this year on Feb 1-2. No qualifying required! Open to skiers and boarders.

Pacesetting will be done by four-time Olympian A.J. Kitt. Registration is now open.

See you there!

 

[4aprice]

Nastar's been dropped by so many mountains I'm not even sure where you can do it anymore.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[gymnast46]

119 resorts offer NASTAR. Come to the Eastern Championships and try to beat the arthritic 67 year old local pacesetter (me).
This is a fun event and has folks coming from as far away as Florida and Kentucky. Hope to see you there.

Bear Valley Mountain

Squaw Valley

Sugar Bowl Resort

Team Mountain High

Yosemite`s Badger Pass

Aspen Highlands

Aspen Mountain

Copper Mountain Resort

Durango Mountain Resort

National Championships

Powderhorn Resort

Ski Cooper

Snowmass Ski Area

Special Olympics Colorado

Steamboat Ski & Resort

Telluride Ski & Golf Resort

Winter Park Resort

Mount Southington

Powder Ridge Mountain Park

Ski Sundown

Bogus Basin Ski Resort

Schweitzer Mtn. Resort

Sun Valley Ski Resort

Chestnut Mountain Resort

Paoli Peaks

Perfect North Slopes

Wachusett Mountain

WISP Resort

Mount Abram

Shawnee Peak

Alpine Valley Ski Area

Bittersweet Ski Area

Blackjack Ski Resort

Boyne Highlands

Boyne Mountain Resort

Caberfae Peaks Resorts

Crystal Mountain Resort

Indianhead Mtn. Resort

Marquette Mountain

Mt. Brighton Ski Area

Mt. Holly Ski Area

Nubs Nob Ski Area

Otsego Ski Club

Pine Knob Ski Resort

Pine Mountain Resort

Schuss Mountain

Ski Brule

The Homestead Resort

Timber Ridge Ski Area

Treetops Resort

Afton Alps

Buck Hill Ski Area

Coffee Mill

Giant''s Ridge

Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area

Mount Kato

Spirit Mountain

Welch Village Ski Area

Wild Mountain

Hidden Valley Ski Area

Snow Creek Ski & Board Area

Cataloochee Ski Area

Sugar Mountain Resort

Bretton Woods

Cannon Mountain

Cranmore Mountain Resort

Crotched Mountain

Granite Gorge Ski Area

Gunstock

McIntyre Ski Area

Mount Sunapee

Pats Peak

Waterville Valley

Angel Fire Resort

Taos Ski Valley

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort

Sky Tavern

Bristol Mountain

Greek Peak Ski Resort

Holiday Valley Resort

Labrador Mountain

Peekn Peak Resort

Song Mountain

Swain Resort

Toggenburg Mountain

Tuxedo Ridge

West Mountain Ski Area

Windham Mountain

Mad River Mountain

Ohio Valley Ski Council

Hoodoo Ski Area

Mt. Bachelor

PACRAT

Bear Creek

Blue Knob All Season Resort

Montage Mountain Resorts

Roundtop Mountain Resort

Seven Springs Mtn. Resort

Shawnee Mountain

Crescent Ski Council

Deer Valley

Park City Mountain Resort

Bryce Resort

Massanutten Ski Resort

Wintergreen Resort

Jay Peak Ski Resort

Okemo Mountain

Sugarbush Resort

The Hermitage Club

Cascade Mountain

Granite Peak Ski Team

Little Switzerland

Mt. Ashwabay

Mt. LaCrosse

Trollhaugen Ski Area

Tyrol Basin

WIJARA

Snowshoe Mtn. Resort

Timberline Ski Area

 

[HD333]

Last year's inaugural year event was very well received and it returns this year on Feb 1-2. No qualifying required! Open to skiers and boarders.

Pacesetting will be done by four-time Olympian A.J. Kitt. Registration is now open.

See you there!

Is the NASTAR Course for this at Okemo the one near the A&B lifts? Is it me or is that extremely flat?

 

[gymnast46]

That is indeed the location. The top three gates are very sedate and then it gets steeper. The venue was moved from Lower Blackout three years ago to give it more visibility. The move paid off as we've significantly increased the number of racers. Certainly there is steeper terrain on the mountain but A.J. enjoyed running it last year as did all the entrants. If you need a more challenging course then don't come.

On the other hand I suspect you'll enjoy yourself.

The Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge was held there in December and I videoed both my runs with a chest mounted GoPro.

 

[HD333]

That is indeed the location. The top three gates are very sedate and then it gets steeper. The venue was moved from Lower Blackout three years ago to give it more visibility. The move paid off as we've significantly increased the number of racers. Certainly there is steeper terrain on the mountain but A.J. enjoyed running it last year as did all the entrants. If you need a more challenging course then don't come.

On the other hand I suspect you'll enjoy yourself.

Not knocking it just saying it looks flat compared to other courses I have seen. I have never run gates on my board or skis but it looks fun. I couldn't tell from the registration, can you sign up for ONLY the family one? I'd like to sign up me, the wife, and my kids and see how we would do.
Maybe it is better off just to do it some day outside of the organized competition.

 

[gymnast46]

$10 Entry fee for the Team Race only: Competitors that would like to join a team and race only in the Family/Friends Team Race can enter Sunday morning in the Competition Center.

 

[hammer]

Any advice on those going to Okemo on the Saturday? No plans on doing any runs on the course (yet).

 

[gymnast46]

If anyone wants to get a jump on training, the NASTAR course at Okemo will be open tomorrow with a single course from 10 -2. On Saturday and Sunday we'll have dual courses - one with traditional ski gates and one with stubbies (ideal for snowboard racers). For the actual event both courses will have ski gates. You can do unlimited runs for $12.

For the competition the following weekend, look for the outdoor tent of SuburbanSkiAndBike.com. They'll have free recreational race ski demos for entrants.

 

[HD333]

Any advice on those going to Okemo on the Saturday? No plans on doing any runs on the course (yet).

Our usual plan of attack for crowd avoidance:

If you get out early (8:00ish) start on Northstar and lap those runs (Defiance, Worldcup, Chief) until you see crowds form, might be 1-2 runs, then head over to Jackson Gore (they are all still waking up), hit up Tuckered Out (fun easy trail) before the masses, then Vortex to Eclipse to bottom of Big Bang, Big Bang top to bottom is also fun. When crowds form head over to South Face, gotta get on Northstar to get over, then from Glades Peak Quad hit Fall line if it looks good if not take RimRock . Then head to South Face Quad and take Stumpjumper, Blind Faith, Punchline,stay over hear until you have had enough or go fight the crowds on Northstar.
Natural trails have been closed but if they open up then your options expand.
Finish the day with a beer or 3 at Sitting Bull or Tom's Loft, get the Jerk wings at the Loft if you get a table.

 

[gymnast46]

The event went off without a hitch. We had a great turnout and the snow held up well despite a large number of competitive runs.

Here's a recap video.