I'll restart this now that there is a dedicated spot for the Opens. AND that it is getting closer, so hopefully folks have had time to think about it...

Who's gonna be there?

I will! Gonna get there Friday afternoon, about 4 PM or so. Can't make the clinics, wish I could, but can't. I'm sure we'll get together at the Ceremony Saturday night, but if anyone wants to hook up, we'll be around Friday night if anyone is interested.

Oh, maybe now would be a good time to post numbers (if you feel like it, if not comfortable doing that, we can PM numbers) so we can get in tough while there. My cell is 301 674 0087.

Rob Dexter (my roommate at last year's Nationals) and I should get there late Friday night. Cell is 860.559.4324

There's an outside chance we may come over Friday morning in time for the clinic but I couldn't figure out where to sign up or what it costs.

I'm thinking about going as a day trip, but it's a pretty long haul from Boston. I've been trying to find the trail called 'Assembly Line' on the Windham web site trail map, but without any luck. It's supposed to be the trail that my age group will be racing on. Does anyone know what trail they're refering to?

Assembly Line may not be on the online map, but it is on the hard copy. It is called Assembly Line Race Area. If you look on the lower right side of the map, the trail is called Wonderama. The course is next to the "C" chair (Wonderama Triple Chair).

Assembly Line is not Widham's daily NASTAR course. The other trail, Lower Wheelchair, is Windham's regular NASTAR course.

I'll be racing @ Windham, if I don't get in trouble again... lol. It will be an 8 hr. drive. Driving to Scranton on Thurs. and then to Windham for the clinic on Friday.

This is great. From my earlier posts, it didn't look like there was going to be much of a Forum turnout, but so far, it's looking promising.

Thanks for the clarification. Looks like a nice wide trail with easy access.

My husband and I will be going. Unfortunately, my son has a school activity and won't be able to join us (he will be with his dad that weekend). He went to Nationals and we all had a blast there. Oh well! Since I don't have to worry about him missing school, that means we might be able to make the clinic!

Regarding the "Assemly Line race area" being on Wonderama, that looks like a "green" area (and I've been to Windham, so I know where that is . . .). are you sure that's where we'll be racing??

Pat--I found out how to register for the clinic. On the Windham web site, click on the "Mountain" pull down menu. The last choice is the Nastar Open. Click on that, and follow the links to sign up. I found it while looking for the trail map.

See you there!

LOL, Kathy, even a blue will be too easy for you! You're our national champ! Go on out there and have a great time.

Kathy have a great time at the Eastern Open! Too bad your son can't go. I have fond memories of him carrying my jacket down to the bottom of the race course last year at Nationals, he is such a good kid. He can look forward to Nationals though, which will be a blast. I am looking forward to seeing you all there.

Enjoy the Open and ski fast!

CTC (Judy)

OOps, sorry, this posted twice. Can't figure out how to delete it....

I have officially entered!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see you all there!

Yeah, I was wondering when you were going to post this one, too....roomie!

And you will be glad to know I am bringing my air mask so I dont snore. Poor Pat wasn't so lucky.

Thanks, TeamHUB!! I actually like the regular Nastar course at Windham. It has a bit more pitch than many other Nastar courses, and is a decent length. On the down side, it is right next to the chairlift poles, and last year durning an ASRA race, one of our racers hit one of the poles and badly injured his leg. I also reinjured my shoulder a bit and conked my head pretty good trying to stop at the bottom (not while racing) and avoid a kid from the race that was set up next to our race. Sounds like that will be the set up for the Nastar Open, too (two courses right next to each other).

You and ChiTownChick will have to carry the mantle for our group at Nationals this year. I won't be going, because I have a big trip coming up in May (going to Africa). I'm sure you guys will have a great time!

p.s. Got my first Platinum at my "local hill" last weekend--woo hoo! Still in the gold group, though (at least for now!)

VA/Kathy

Hi Judy/CTC,

Thanks for the well wishes for the Open.

You can see from my post just above that I won't be going to the Nationals this year, unfortunately. But, I know you and TeamHUB will represent our group well, and have a blast! I want you gals to go for it and let 'em run!! Have faith in your skills! No Fear!!

Hope you're having a great season,

Kathy

Kathy,

I am sorry to hear you are not going to Nationals, we will miss you. I think a trip to Africa definitely sounds fabulous and there will be another Nationals in 2011 so we will see you there instead, Africa will be great!

Get those platinums and enjoy the Open, I bet you podium!

CTC (Judy)

Congrats, Kathy! Looks like the women did great on Tuesday. You and Daniel each got Platinum.

See ya next week!

Just sitting here feeling sorry for myself...

I was making my first pacesetting run this morning when an outside ski (my left) slid out from under me. Must have been ice under the grooming. I tried to save myself and should have just hit the deck. I slid across the other course and tucked into a ball to miss the gates. I then saw the ropes coming up and ducked my head to clear them. When I came to a stop, both skis were off and I was rattled. I stood up and felt some pain in my left knee (the good one!). There was some loss of stability that scared me. I clicked back in and skied to the base of the t-bar on one ski. I rode the t-bar up and told my partner I was going to ski down to first aid. I descended the mountain mostly on one ski but occasionally put some weight on the ski. as long as the skeleton was stacked over the boot/ski I was able carve a light turn. It hurt a LOT to walk into first aid. They sent me to the clinic in town and an xray didn't really reveal anything amiss. My wife drove most of the way back to CT and I treated the knee with ice, elevation, ibuprofen, and Yellow Tail Shiraz. I'll try to get an appointment with my knee doctor ASAP (I get volume discounts from him).

As of this writing I'm still planning on coming to Windham. Maybe I'll be able to race on the snowboard if not on the skis.

Good thing I'm getting younger!


Stay tuned.......

Oh Pat, I hope its nothing serious. Maybe just a strain of the knee - I sure hope so. Keep us posted and take care of yourself!

Feel better!

CTC

Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Pat! I hate it when injuries force us to "slow down and act our age"! Hope this isn't too serious.

"p.s. Got my first Platinum at my "local hill" last weekend--woo hoo! Still in the gold group, though (at least for now!) "

VA/Kathy



Sad to hear that you're not going to WP Kathy, but glad to know your going on an adventure to Africa.

Congrats on the platinum! Those are hard to come by around here.

Our local league has only given out a total of 4 platinum medals in 4 weeks. In the previous 2 weeks nobody earned above a gold, even the pacesetters. The pacesetter trials on Buck at Crystal this year have made a big difference, (5 to 10 points) in all our Midwest HC numbers. For me that is fine, I am NOT a platinum racer, this year I can only get gold on the easy courses, silver on everything else, which I think is right where I should be as a relatively new racer with lots to learn. And learning is the fun part right now for me. If only I had been smart enough to stay away from the easy courses and not be qualified in gold right now.........

Thanks, TeamHUB! It is hard to position yourself to be in the "correct" group at Nationals . . . and it's really just arbitrary, in a sense--where you place within your group just depends on where they set the "dividing lines" between each group! Best of luck with your continued improvement, and hope you and CTC have a great time at WP!!

The irony of it is that I'm back in Gold after racing in Platinum last year. I only need one good run to get back to Platinum but with the knee injury I may not be able to make any more runs until after the cutoff deadline. I can see myself getting that one run in a week after the deadline and then I'm one of those guys competing at the Nationals in a division below his current ranking. Hopefully the doctor will clear me for racing at the Open this weekend and hopefully I can regain my form. I wonder if there is a possibility of requesting to get bumped to a higher division?

Pat, I don't see why they wouldn't allow it. Especially when you have proven yourself over and over again. It would be asking to go the other way that may be a problem.

Asking to be moved from Gold into Platinum at Nationals should not be a problem. It has happened in past years.

Adding up last years injury with this years injury, factor in your age, add in the actual wear and tear age of your knees, then throw in the stress of competing in two simultaneous events held on different hills with two different sets of equipment and this is what you have: Be happy you're competing at all and stick with gold. How would you feel if you got special permission to move up to platinum at nationals and then got seriously injured like a spine, or neck trauma, etc. where your ski/snowboard days are over. How would Bill feel if he gave you that permission and you got very hurt?

Pat, I know this because I have one bad knee, one so-so knee, two separate 28 degree twists in my upper spine at the neck and at the shoulder blade area from childhood scoliosis, and I have recovered form one type of leukemia six years ago only to begin a new battle with another type called CLL 2 years ago. This means my knees hurt, I can't bend sideways nearly as well as I should, I tire easily, and at altitude I can't carry enough red blood cells. This doesn't stop me, but it does slow me down. It makes me cautious. It makes me work harder and stay in amazingly good shape despite all of it. Most importantly it makes me appreciate being able to still compete at any level. Eventually I will have to stop competing and even then I will be very happy to come out and cheer for the other members of TeamHub, my other forum friends, and for you in gold.

Sorry about painting such a grim picture, but please do only what you are capable of doing and no more. We all hope you will be participating in many more years of nationals. Please be careful. Gold is good, someday you'll even have to make do with silver, like me!

Wow, you've fought your share of medical battles yourself! I really appreciate your thoughts but I feel I'd be doing a disservice to the folks competing in Gold if I were to enter in that division. With rare exceptions, my runs have only been in our Monday Night Racing league where the pacesetter on my course is performing better than he did at the pacesetter trials. At the trials racing against AJ, I achieved Platinum by a comfortable margin. Pretty much all my other runs have been on a snowboard and even there I've managed one Platinum but it doesn't factor into the ski calculations. I just did the math and I only need one run at an HC of 18.99 to get bumped to the higher class automatically. With enough Advil I hope to be able to do that at least once in the next two weeks. If that should occur, the decision won't have to be made. If it doesn't I'm still inclined to take the bump if allowed.

Brings to mind one of my favorite quotes: "When you're over the hill, you pick up speed"

Ok Pat, you go for it then, and I LOVE the quote! You'd make an excellent coach!

I agree with TeamHub about staying in Gold, and would take her advice. But Pat you gotta do what you gotta do. So just take care of yourself in the process.

I think we don't give ourselves credit for just getting out there and doing it. TeamHub with your medical struggles you should give yourself a lot of credit. I tend to be cautious too because my ultimate goal is longevity in the sport, and if that means I get a bronze but preserve my body then so be it. I think that is what makes me more cautious at Nationals.

I was noticing at Chestnut last weekend a large number of large women sitting in the cafeteria or wherever, not skiing or exercising, eating all kinds of junk food watching and waiting for their husbands and/or children who were skiing or boarding, but not doing anything themselves. I was reminded that those of us who get out there and get it done, no matter what age and what level, are special. We worry about medals when we should just give ourselves credit for getting the the exercise, embracing competition, and taking care of ourselves. I saw one group of women around a table of junk food with a bowl of onion dip that would choke a horse. And they were all chowing down.

So that is my rant for the afternoon. Let's all give ourselves kudos and a pat on the back for just getting out there and skiing and racing. Bravo us!

CTC

Ladies, you have it ALL wrong. It is about the winning and the medals. Who wants to be in Bronze and Silver, heck even Gold. Platinum is the place to be. If ya ain't first, yur last!

I certainly hope you realize I'm just pulling your legs. You make great points. Ones that we tend to forget. Here is the problem... We are men, actually, boys. All of us. We don't think, no matter how much our bodies tell us otherwise, we are aging. We USED to be able to do it, so there's no reason we can't do it now! Logic says to contrary, but in our hearts we're still boys. That's why a man in his 40's (or even later) can look in the mirror, suck in his gut, and not only say out loud "I still got it!" but actually think that the young girls looking at him are eyeing him... as opposed to what they are really thinking... "Look at him, he looks so... 80's".

You women see life differently than we do. It is hard for us to be happy with being "out racing". We want to win. No matter how old, banged up, or out of shape we are, if a woman (or girl) makes it down faster than us, we don't get it! "I just got chicked by a teenager!" Never mind that the young lady is on a ski club and has been for 10+ years with coaches and aspirations of Olympics... in our minds, we just got chicked and can't understand how. We don't see ourselves as we are (sometimes).

The above is a generalization and doesn't apply to all men. But Pat is a perfect example of the undying competetive spirit in men. And BTW, I'm not trying to put words in Pat's mouth here. I would doubt that Pat would even care about getting beaten by a woman. He seems like one of the most fair competetors I've met...and I haven't even actually met him yet...maybe in a couple days.

As the ladies have so well put it, Pat, ya gotta do what you gotta do.

Ladies, longevity has its perks. I certainly can't argue your points.

We just want both...

TeamHUB, so sorry to hear about your battle(s) with leukemia, and your other health challenges, too. Hooray for you for not letting that get in the way of your doing what you like to do--what we all like to do--ski racing!! You're an inspiration to us all, and I wish you the best on the slopes and with your health.

For sure TeamHub, I have been thinking about your health since you posted that a few days ago. I hope WP is not too high an altitude, and if you need anything at all while at Nationals just let me know although your husband and son are always close by so I know the other TeamHub members are there. Hang in there, you are an inspiration and a real fighter, what I read about CLL on the web leads me to believe that they are coming out with new drugs all of the time. I have a friend with lymphoma who is using a new drug that is really a miracle drug. So that, as well as your fighting spirit, lead me to believe that we will be racing together for a very long time.

Hugs,

CTC

Hi Putterman, This is a friend of Kathy's and she wanted me to let you know that she does not have her cell phone with her. Please call her husband Mike's cell which is 703-618-2015 if you want to get together for dinner on Friday night. Thanks.

Thanks!

Seeing a reference to sandbagging in another thread prompted me to revive this one. I wanted to clarify my earlier thoughts. The class is immaterial. My feelings would have been the same if I had qualified in Bronze but felt I should have been in Silver. As it turns out my run on Sunday at the Open moved me into the higher class so I won't have to make the request to get bumped up. Had that not occurred I'd still feel the same way. Racers should expect to be compete with folks of comparable ability.

At the Open I was the only snowboarder competing in my age group. To save time switching to skis I opted to run my ski boots (Lange World Cup 120s) on my snowboard. I could barely turn the board and had a slow time. Going into Sunday I asked Bill to disqualify me from the low net portion of the ROC (but not the fastest raw time). Since I was using my snowboard hardboots on Sunday that gave me a big advantage and would not be fair to the other racers. As it was, my run was going too fast and I got late on a gate coming to a complete halt on the course. But I still feel the same way. Had I won, it would have been because I handicapped myself too much on Saturday.

With all due respect to Tiger and Jack, the greatest golfer of all time was an amateur named Bobby Jones. His fierce dedication to fair play is as much a part of his legacy as his prodigious prowess with clubs. Modern athletes (remember the Soviet fencer?) too often lose sight of that.

I'm coming to Winter Park with the focus on having fun. If I wind up at the back of the pack so be it.

Pat, you ARE the pack! But, yes, I certainly see your perspective.

How's the knee holding up? Have you done anything to get the doc's OK to be back on the snow? IIRC, you got the results from your MRI after getting back from the Open and were told you should be off the knee... Hope I'm not mixing you up with another knee injured person on this one...

Yep. Same knee. My iPhone's voicemail malfunctioned and I didn't get the message until Monday. The message said: Don't race, don't ski, don't even walk on it...... Oh well.

I showed the doctor two pictures taken of me boarding and skiing and told him my results. He shook his head and said I could resume racing with a brace. I'm being fitted for a custom one that will arrive in a couple weeks. I have a generic one to use in the interim.

Back to the subject of fairness, I really really really like to win. In the mid seventies a graduate student was doing a dissertation on what motivates competitors in "dangerous" sports and she contacted the top 30 competitive sky divers in the country. I agreed to participate in her research and took a number of tests including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Months later, she sent out the results with our personal results compared with the general population. In virtually every category I was as normal as you could get - except one. "Desire to win" was almost off the chart. I really enjoy coming out on top but only if the results are achieved fairly.

No wonder you are an EX-weatherman! There is no winning predicting the weather...

Pat, I didn't see the thread you were speaking of. I would hope no one would be referring to you when it comes to sandbagging. If someone would read any of your posts they would know you would never sandbag or think of it. Your post is respected but I hope you know you never have to explain your actions to your friends and fellow forum mates. I think I can speak from all of us when I say we would never suspect anything but the best intentions from you. You skied/boarded a regional event with what would keep most of us on the couch.

Rest up that knee. I look forward to seeing you at Nationals!

Copper

bmorecopper, I think he is refering to another thread that mentioned (amoung other things) a disgust towards obvious sandbagging, but not at all pointing towards Pat.

Also, Pat is defending himself because earlier in this thread (I believe it is this one) he mentioned that because of certain circumstances, he was in the Gold division, but didn't believe he should be there. He was planning on asking HQ to bump him up to Platinum for Nationals because he felt it would be unfair to the other Golds. He met some opposers here who thought that he ought to race in Gold if that is what he accomplished, but Pat was obviously talking about the reverse of sandbagging, and just wanted to make sure that all was fair. I think he just wanted to revive this thread to reiterate how he felt about sandbagging and that that is not what he was doing (being in the Gold division when he knows that isn't where he should be...for the fairness of competition).