CLICK HERE FOR FINAL RESULTS FROM THE 2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Steamboat raises the bar again for the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships!
A spring storm challenged many competitors getting to Steamboat Springs but NASTAR racers and their guests pressed on and they were rewarded with cold snow and excellent skiing conditions. The races were run efficiently so participants had ample time to explore the resort and the surrounding community. Our hosting pacesetters, Daron Rahlves, AJ Kitt, Doug Lewis, Diann Roffe, Heidi Voelker and coach Phil McNichol had a great time skiing and racing with the most enthusiastic group of participants on record. In fact, some of the pacesetters may have achieved legendary status in the Tugboat Saloon.
More than 4,000 starts were recorded on Friday and Saturday to determine Nature Valley NASTAR National Champions in age, gender and divisional groups. Every Champion was invited to participate in the Race of Champions on Sunday where each winner carries their National Championship handicap into the final race to level the playing field. To win the Race of Champions participants must ski faster than they did to win their Nature Valley NASTAR National Championship title. Racers with the fastest handicapped times climb onto the podium in the finish area and try to hold onto their positions as faster racers with lower handicaps charge down the course. Four year old Sarah Goode from Chapel Hill, NC stood in the start gate looking down Steamboat’s See Me trail, which is also used for FIS GS, looking confident. The starter told Sarah, “take your time and ski safely. When you get to the bottom of the course you will climb on top of the podium because you will be the first girl to race.” The started looked down at little Sarah and added; “the other girls are going to race after you and try to knock you off the podium.” Sarah looked back at the starter and said, “Why would they do that?” Sarah handled the See Me trail like a seasoned veteran, climbed on top of the podium and did not relinquish her position as older and faster racers put down faster and faster runs. Steamboat’s Kersten Scherer had the fastest raw time of the day, but even with her handicap of 8.265, she was not able to beat the four year old. Sarah Goode was awarded the 2009 Nature Valley NASTAR National Championship trophy. Kersten Scherer was awarded a US Ski Team uniform and a four day trip to South America to train with the US Team for posting the fastest time. The non-alpine division was won by Peggy Martin, with telemarkers Annecy Hillmuth and Kathleen Ross taking second and third respectively.
In the Men’s race the competition was fierce and the podium changed frequently as faster racers laid down faster and faster runs. A cloud of snow was thrown into the sky as each racer skidded to a stop in the finish area, but when the cloud of snow finally settled, 66 year old Pete Wither was standing on top of the podium.  Steven Coulter, the 2008 Nature Valley NASTAR National Champion, stood in second place and eleven year old Garrett Leis held on to third place (see photo). For the second year in a row Rob Zehner posted the fastest raw time. Rob was given a US Ski Team uniform and he too will be joining the US Ski Team for a training camp this summer in South America. Ray Heid, the 71 year old Telemarker form Steamboat won the non-alpine division, Winter Park’s David Stansbury took second and Bear Creek, PA’s Chris Berns took third.
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| Getting Started |
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If you are new to the Nature Valley NASTAR experience you can register online to race
any time during the year. Click here to register online today and save time at the resort!
If you have raced Nature Valley NASTAR since 1997 there's no need to register again - we know who you are! However, you should quickly verify that you're in our database by searching for your last name in the field indicated at the top of the page. Also, we strongly suggest that you verify that the personal information on your Race Record is complete and accurate prior to the start of the season.
Click here for instructions on how to maintain your Race Record.
When you go to race at a participating resort, to avoid confusion simply pay your entry fee, give the starter your NASTAR Registration Number and off you go. Did you forget your number? No problem - enter your last name in the field indicated at the top of the page, hit search names and you'll see it listed next to your name. It is also indicated on your Race Record. Now don't forget it again!
Want to learn more? Click here for additional information on Nature Valley NASTAR and answers to a number of frequently asked questions.
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| NASTAR News & Updates |
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STEAMBOAT TO HOST ANNUAL NATURE VALLEY NASTAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The World’s Largest Recreational Ski & Snowboard Race Program Returns to Steamboat March 26-29, 2009. For the fourth consecutive season, Steamboat Ski Resort will host the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships, celebrating its 41st anniversary. The previous three national championship events brought nearly 4,000 racers to Steamboat-Ski Town USA, becoming the most popular events in the NASTAR program’s history.
“We are proud to welcome the NASTAR National Championships back to Steamboat, which has deep roots in Olympic, World and National Championships,” said Andy Wirth, executive vice president of sales and marketing & chief marketing officer for Intrawest. “This event has been elevated to an entirely new level due to the successful partnership between Mountain Sports Media and the Steamboat Ski Resort. Building on the success of the last three National Championships, Steamboat’s goal will be to again exceed the highest of expectations in 2009.”
The 2009 Nature Valley National Championships are expected to attract nearly 1,400 racers for the multi-day event. Racers qualify for the National Championships by earning a top-three ranking in their age division at any of the 125 Nature Valley NASTAR ski resorts throughout North America. In 2008 competitors age 3 to 93 from 44 states as well as Canada and Australia competed in age and gender categories in alpine, telemark, snowboard & physically challenged categories for the chance to win a National Title at Steamboat. In addition to exciting race competition, participants will again have the chance to hang with a few of ski racing’s all-time greats including Olympic medalist and World Champion Billy Kidd, Olympic gold medalist Deb Armstrong and more. Building upon past opening ceremonies, a free music concert will kick things off and set the tone for the festivities. Participants rocked out to Rusted Root as Steamboat’s signature Champagne Powder® snow fell from the sky in 2008 and to platinum artist and part-time Yampa Valley residents Big Head Todd & the Monsters in 2007. Stay tuned to nastar.com for all the details on the upcoming championships.
“The 2008 Nature Valley NASTAR National Championship was the best NASTAR Championship ever held!” said Bill Madsen, Director of Operations for NASTAR. “Steamboat has been a terrific host for the past three years transforming the event into a resort wide festival that is greatly anticipated by many in the winter racing community. This year’s 41st anniversary will again set a new standard.”
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- BE INFORMED - sign up today for Nature Valley NASTAR's email newsletter!
- CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL SHARKEY AND WILLI ZOGG - Nature Valley and the US Ski Team would like to congratulate Michael Sharkey and Willi Zogg. Michael and Willi won expense paid VIP trips to the Nature Valley US Alpine Championships to ski with Nature Valley NASTAR Ambassadors Steven Nyman and Jimmy Cochran!
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| What is NASTAR? |
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Developed by SKI Magazine in 1968, NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race) is the largest recreational ski and
snowboard race program in the world. Our mission is simple - to provide a fun, competitive and easily
accessible racing program that, through the development of a handicap system, allows racers of all ages and abilities a means to compare their race results
to other competitors across the country regardless of when and where they race.
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