2024 National Champs Recap
04.18.2024 |Bill Madsen
2024 NASTAR National Championships at Snowmass, CO
The slopes were alive with the thrill of competition as ski enthusiasts from across the nation gathered for the 2024 NASTAR National Championships. Held in the picturesque backdrop of Snowmass, Colorado, this annual event brought together amateur racers, seasoned veterans, and rising stars for a weekend of adrenaline-pumping action and camaraderie.
Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Snowmass provided the perfect setting for the championships. With more than 3,330 acres of terrain, 98 trails and 21 chairlifts with access to cruisers, glades and steeps, Snowmass is an excellent location for the championships. The Spider Sabich Race Arena easily accommodated six race courses and the picnic palace offered lunch at the bottom of the venue for racers and guests.
At the core of the NASTAR National Championships is the spirit of competition. From young skiers making their debut on the national stage to seasoned veterans vying for another shot at glory, participants brought their A-game to every race. The atmosphere was electric as racers lined up at the start gates, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
The championships featured a series of races across different age and ability groups and skill levels. One of the standout moments of the championships came in the adult Platinum Division Final where Mariel Gorsuch took the win ahead of defending champion Melanie Schwartz.
April 8
NASTAR Slalom Championships
The event kicked off with a slalom race that allowed competitors to test the skills competing in a different discipline. The NASTAR slalom championships courses were set with short rubber gates, or stubbies, so racers could focus on making short radius turns without having to make contact with full-sized gates. Each age group was divided in two ability division. If racers were very fast, they were placed in the platinum/gold division and if racers earned silver or bronze level handicaps they were group in the silver/bronze division. The awards ceremony was held in the Base Village at the ice rink where the top finishers in each category celebrated on the podium. Among the champions were familiar faces who had dominated the NASTAR circuit for years, as well as newcomers who had risen to the occasion and proved their mettle on the national stage. But regardless of their standings, all participants walked away with a sense of pride and accomplishment, having tested their skills against some of the best skiers in the country as well as U.S. Ski Team racers Tommy Ford and Wiley Maple who set the pace for the races.
Alex Yamada
Tommy Ford
April 9
NASTAR Bronze Division Championships
The Bronze Division Championship at the NASTAR Final provided a fun atmosphere for the racers. The energy and sportsmanship were high as novice and adaptive racers took to the traditional, modified giant slalom (GS) NASTAR courses. When the snow started to warm by the end of the race and the final times were tallied, the Bronze Division champions emerged with the top racers qualifying for the Bronze Division Final.
Junior Bronze Division Results
Fuxi Racing providing raffle prizes
April 10
Silver Division Championships
The Silver Division championship races saw a remarkable display of talent and determination, with several standout performances propelling racers to get bumped up to the Gold Division. Their ascent earned them a place in the gold division championships races and the top silver division racers qualified for the Silver Division Finals.
Junior Silver Division Results
NASTAR Bronze Division Final
The Bronze Division Finals took place on the Cabin trail and pro styled start gates were used to handicap the racers.
Congratulations to Steven Evangelist (center) for winning the Adult Bronze Division Final. Deborah Madsen (right) was second and Dale Rose (left) was third.
Daniel Joseph won the Junior Bronze Division Final. Arjun Khurana took second and John Truesdell III was third.
Tanner Jadwin earned the win in the Adaptive Final with second place going to PJ McLaughlin and third place was earned by Elliot Maxwell.
April 11
Gold Division Championships
The Gold Division Championships showcased racers with a more refined racing style but it was their determination that propelled them to national titles.
Meanwhile, the Silver Division Finals provided a stage for talented young riders and seasoned veterans to demonstrate their prowess. As competitors took to the course, the intensity was palpable, with races determined by fractions of a second. The Silver Division Finals were a celebration of the diversity of age groups and competitive spirit that define NASTAR.
NASTAR Silver Division Finals
The Junior Silver Division Final was won by Evie Bishop. JooWon Lim was second and Ryan Titiliuc was third.
Bill Tomcich won the Adult Silver Division Final with Lou Horwitz second and Cindy Bedell third.
April 12
Platinum Division Championships
The Platinum Division Championships at the NASTAR Finals are the pinnacle of NASTAR alpine racing. The top-tier athletes tore down the slopes as competition was fierce and exhilarating. In the end, the top 32 juniors and the top 32 adults qualified to compete in the finals for their share of the $10,000 prize purse.
Meanwhile, the Gold Division Finals delivered a spectacle of its own, where racing was fast and the margins were razor-thin. The races were very close, in fact, Cory Shield and Brighton Luke tied while racing in the semi-final. They had to race again to break the tie with Schield advancing to the finals to face Hans Schroeder who took the Gold Division Championship title.
Junior Platinum Division Results
Adult Platinum Division Results
NASTAR Gold Division Finals
The Junior Gold Division Final was won by Natalie George. Justin ODell was second and third place went to Eleanor Ross.
The Gold Division Adult Final was won by Hans Schroeder. Cory Schield was second and Chris Dunlap was third.
April 13
NASTAR Platinum Division Finals
In the electrifying climax of the NASTAR National Championships, all eyes were fixed on the Platinum Division Finals, where not only glory but also substantial money was on the line.
Junior Platinum Division Finals
Adult Platinum Division Finals
Hansen Shepherd won the Junior Platinum Division Final. He is the son of Tyler Shepard, former U.S. Ski Team member and current alpine competitive program director at the Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club. Liam Cournoyer took second place and Charlie Reuterdahl was third. Jake Down placed fourth but scored the lowest handicap of the day.
Mariel Gorsuch earned the win in the Adult Platinum Division ahead of Melanie Schwartz and Bryan Feltz placed third.
In addition to the traditional awards, NASTAR recognizes the fastest and most senior racers in the Platinum Division. Congratulations to Patti Zehner for winning Pauline's Cup and congratulations to JC BLACK for winning the John Fry Award.
NASTAR also rewards the Jerry Taylor Award annually to the winner of the men's 75-79 Platinum Division. Jerry Taylor started racing NASTAR as a novice and set a goal of winning a National Title. After ten years of training, racing and working on his skills, Jerry won the men's 75-79 Platinum Division, but sadly he lost his battle with cancer the following year. We recognize Jerry's focus, perseverance and determination with a trophy in his name, and for the second year in a row, the award was won by Tony Lizotte.
In the end, it was a display of camaraderie that demonstrated the spirit of competitive alpine racing is alive and well. The thrill of head-to-head racing provided an opportunity for NASTAR racers to win new friends, national titles and some cold hard cash.
Whether you're a seasoned racer or a casual enthusiast, the NASTAR National Championships offer something for everyone.
Thanks to Wiley Maple and Tommy Ford for setting the pace for the races.
Big thank you to Aspen/Snowmass and the Town of Snowmass Village for hosting the event.
