Snowboard Gates at Okemo's NASTAR course

[gymnast46]

I had promised to do this last year but broke a couple of ribs and contracted pneumonia ending my season early.

This past weekend I set two courses, one with traditional ski gates and one with snowboard-specific panels. Skiers are welcome to run the snowboard course and several of them did. We had a number of boarders (including two hardbooters) run the course. My plan is to set the course this way every Saturday and Sunday for the balance of the season. There's a twofold purpose in doing this. 1. First time racers are sometimes intimidated by the traditional gates and won't have to worry about hitting them. 2. We're trying to encourage more snowboarders to try NASTAR racing. The number of "one plankers" at the Nationals each year is small in comparison to the number of skiers and we'd like to change that.

I do the pacesetting on skis and then switch to my GS board to "run against myself".

There will be a few occasions (March 1 & 2 for example) when the course will be reserved for private races.

Results count toward NASTAR National rankings and can qualify you for the Nationals in Steamboat.

Pat Moore
NASTAR Pacesetter - Okemo

 

[trailertrash]

man this looks familiar!

 

[gymnast46]

Yep

man this looks familiar!

"Copy and Paste" from that other site.

Come join us and beat the pacesetter!

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

They've set a duel course at Whiteface like that for years (1 traditional gates and the other snowboard gates). I'm a skier, but I love the snowboard gates, they are just so easy to lean into.

 

[gorgonzola]

i haven't seen this before - what are snowboard gates?

 

[Hawkshot99]

i haven't seen this before - what are snowboard gates?

Different shape.

 

[gymnast46]

Update

We've now completed two weekends with the dual course setup (ski gates and snowboard gates) and the reaction from the public has been favorable. Skiers as well as boarders like the idea of being able to take a tight line without hitting the gate. On Fridays I only set a single course with ski gates but join us at Okemo on Saturdays and Sundays to try the snowboard course. If you haven't raced NASTAR before, preregister to save time. There is no charge to register. Kids can take 2 runs for $4 and adults $6. Or anyone can run all day for $10. Come earn a medal!

 

[SkiDork]

what about just using brushes?

 

[gymnast46]

Brushes

what about just using brushes?

We had kicked around the idea of using brushes (they'd certainly be easier for course setting) but the results wouldn't qualify as as official NASTAR results. NASTAR HQ is okay with the snowboard panels.

 

[kbroderick]

what about just using brushes?

I've been a part of discussions on this issue with regard to our local ski bum league, and brushes are just too easy to straddle without being obvious. If you put a ski on the wrong side of the turning gate on a GS panel or a snowboard panel, it's probably going to be pretty obvious (to you, at least, if not to an observer); if you do the same with a brush, it's not going to be much different than skiing over the correct-path line but very close to the turning pole. (and I'm assuming that's why NASTAR HQ wouldn't like the idea)