The upcoming Putnam Investments NASTAR National Pacesetting Trials at Copper Mountain, CO on Saturday, Nov. 21 will be the first stop in a series of events that will bring past U.S. Ski Team stars to resorts around the nation. The popular NASTAR recreational ski racing program allows skiers of all ages at any participating resort to compare their times to top Olympic stars like Ted Ligety through a sophisticated handicapping structure.
NASTAR and the U.S. Ski Team have named a series of regional pacesetters who will take their times from the National Pacesetting Trials in Copper Mountain out to regional resorts. At those regional trials, pacesetters from each of the 120 participating NASTAR resorts will have their handicaps established so that they can essentially bring Ted Ligety’s par time back to their local resort.
All season long, NASTAR racers at local resorts have an opportunity to ski for platinum, gold, silver or bronze pins based on their own handicaps. Top performers in every age group will have an opportunity to also travel to Steamboat Springs, CO in March for the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships March 24-27.
Among the U.S. Ski Team stars named as regional pacesetters are Olympic champion Tommy Moe, world champion Daron Rahlves, World Championship medalist AJ Kitt plus Olympians Casey Puckett, Cary Adgate, Heidi Voelker, Kaylin Richardson and more.
“I remember when I was new to the U.S. Ski Team what a boost it was for me to win the NASTAR Pacesetting Trials,” said Rahlves, one of America’s greatest downhill ski racers who won the super G World Championships in 2001. “Today, I get just as excited being involved with NASTAR knowing that my time is being used by young aspiring ski racers to move up in the sport.”
At each NASTAR Regional Pacesetting Trials stop, pacesetters will set three handicaps: giant slalom wearing a coach, giant slalom wearing a racing suit and slalom.
It’s easy to get involved with NASTAR at 120 ski areas nationwide. To learn more, check out NASTAR.com.
2015-16 NASTAR REGIONAL PACESETTING TRIALS SCHEDULE
Far West Region – Daron Rahlves
Dec. 17 – Tahoe Area, CA (TBD)
Dec. 18 – Mammoth Mountain, CA
Dec. 19 – Bear Valley, CA
Northwest Region – AJ Kitt
Jan. 3 – Mt. Hood Meadows, OR – AJ Kitt
Western Region – Heidi Voelker
Dec. 14 – Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT
Rocky Mountain Region
Dec. 17 – Jackson Hole, WY
Dec. 18 – Aspen Mountain, CO – Casey Puckett
Minnesota/Wisconsin Region – Kaylin Richardson
Dec. 11 – Tyrol Basin, WI
Dec. 12 – Welch Village, MN
Dec. 13 – Spirit Mountain, MN
Dec. 19 – Alpine Valley, WI
Michigan Region
TBD – Boyne Highlands, MI – Cary Adgate
TBD – Alpine Valley, MI – Scott Hoose
Jan. 11 – Crystal Mountain, MI – Jonathan Ballou, PSIA Demo Team
Eastern Region – Ben Drummond
Dec. 18 – Labrador Mountain, NY
Dec. 19 – Roundtop, PA
Jan. 9 – Mount Southington, CT
Jan. 15 – Pat's Peak, NH