How do I get into ski racing?

[Tips^Up]

No race background, unpolished style/technique, but I like to go fast. I'm 23, currently only have K2 Seth's with Tornado Pro AT boots and live on Front Range with 5-Mtn pass. If I get any new skis this winter, they'll probably be 115 underfoot, not exactly racers.

Never raced before but I feel like GS or DH (despite light weight ~160 lbs) would be a ton of fun to get into and I could eventually do well with a little coaching, technique and the proper equipment. Plus, I think I've got the ass to really shine in a GS suit (jk...)

Any recommendations for grown-up introductory racing?
Ski race leagues/coaches?
Open race leagues?

[Sphinx15]

NASTAR? Maybe a beer league type of thing. I have no idea but it seems like it might be a good place to start to see if you actually like it or not.

[oftpiste]

Most ski clubs (primarily catering to kids) have Master's programs. Sign up for one! You will need a racing ski, no question, but good ones a coupla years old are not too hard to come by at reasonable prices if you shop around. Speed suits, on the other hand, are pricey!

[ectreeskier11]

As a former serious racer, let me say that you will never get the same rewards out of racing that you can get from freeskiing. Then again I was forced to ski on skinny boards 6 days a week on a run that wasn't much longer than my cock, so that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.

[pechelman]

if you need a set of race sticks, i have some 188 volkl p50s that id consider parting with for cheap
race stock in damn amazing condition. drilled for whatever plate and a 315mm solly.
havent even skied them yet myself

[squatch]

You still living in Boulder? I imagine you could check into Eldora's masters program.

[rmackd]

a run that wasn't much longer than my cock, so that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.

This made me laugh...but it's [I]your[I] cock

[SkiBumOfVT]

buy a skin tight suit and some race skis and your all set

[Gripen]

Just google Masters racing and your ski area of preference.

I've got some Fischer SL's from last year or the year before- ten days on them max. If your interested that is.

[Dromond]

As a former serious racer, let me say that you will never get the same rewards out of racing that you can get from freeskiing. Then again I was forced to ski on skinny boards 6 days a week on a run that wasn't much longer than my cock, so that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth.

Perhaps, but it can do great things for your skiing. 4 years on my high school team brought me from utter suckage to competence. I often wonder if it would be fun to pick up the skinny skis again.

[ectreeskier11]

don't get me wrong, racing used to be awesome. but then i went to a ski academy, didn't get a chance to get off my race stock boards for 3 years, and ended up destroying my relationship with the head coach because i got so sick of it.

that's just me though, i'd say go for it but definitely still buy the fatties and don't waste your money on overpriced hunks of metal and boots that are 3 and a half sizes to small.

[thegreyarea]

don't get me wrong, racing used to be awesome. but then i went to a ski academy, didn't get a chance to get off my race stock boards for 3 years, and ended up destroying my relationship with the head coach because i got so sick of it.

I had the exact same deal. Raced from 5-18, +130 days/year on snow, ski academy...whole deal. You burn out, but racing makes you an unbelievably good skier and will take your freeskiing to a whole new level. Unfortunately, it's made me over critical of bad technique.

I don't know about masters programs, but when I raced we did drills out the arse. We rarely trained DH or super g because if you can't make a gs turn, your super g and dh turns will be even worse.

[MTslackcountry]

^^^^^^^^^
you must have had a tough life.

[hartzejr]

yep check into masters leagues. Most mountains have a number of races each year. Not a lot of DH races though. The CO HS program only had slalom and GS. Clubs did DH and SuperG. When my parents were in school they even had aerials.

Whenever I see a slalom course under a lift I always want to poach it. Its fun times but in HS I often 'crashed' on my first run so I could go freeski the rest of the day, especially powder days!

[Wandrin*]

Go That Way, Really Fast — If Something Gets In Your Way, Turn!

[hartzejr]

I had the exact same deal. Raced from 5-18, +130 days/year on snow, ski academy...whole deal. You burn out, but racing makes you an unbelievably good skier and will take your freeskiing to a whole new level. Unfortunately, it's made me over critical of bad technique.

I don't know about masters programs, but when I raced we did drills out the arse. We rarely trained DH or super g because if you can't make a gs turn, your super g and dh turns will be even worse.

Thats the difference between clubs/academies and HS programs. The club kids were typically the over-priviledged Breck/Vail kids who received expert training (and paid out the ass for it), were possibly headed to Junior Olympics and didn't have as much fun.

Meanwhile us HS program kids trained hard with less experienced coaching and had fun the whole way through. Never got burned out on racing just strayed towards freeskiing.

---
Please note the sarcasm and don't jump my ass for my comments, just messing with you former club kids. I always envied the clubs kids for their opportunities/abilities but in hindsight wouldn't trade my experience for theirs.

[Franz]

i raced on a team in college where you could be as hardcore as you liked or hungover as you liked. It did AWESOME stuff for my style of skiing, even though i was super hungover most of the time...seriously i look a lot better now than i did when I was 18...
oh and if you want some race skis, I live in the front range and I have a pair of 191 Atomic GS World Cup, w/ race stock bindings and a pair of race stock Head ISL World Cup slalom skis (demo) that I would be THRILLED to part with for a very reasonable price.

[jgb@etree]

I've got 2 pair of mint Rossi 7SK's (extra tips too!) if you decide to do SL

[shera]

Jeff Bergeron knows everybody in the adult racing scene up here in Summit County. He could probably point you in the right direction.

[nick > jesus]

eldora has a super fun beer series

http://www.eldora.com/lessons/nighthawks.cfm

I would start there. Most race clubs offer punch cards for training, so you don't to commit to a whole season. Those will require you have a USSA license, for liability reasons.

Race skis can be found cheap when used, get some.

[ill-advised strategy]

running gates is a really good way to make the most out a desire to ski someplace with shitty skiing. You either learn good technique or you're slow...so if you're competitive by nature you should improve. That said, my improvement in racing happened when I was in high school running gates 5-6 days a week for entire seasons, so recreational adult beer league once a week may not yield the same results, you may just be continually getting smoked by old racers and end up frustrated.

plus that adult beer league-type stuff never seems to have rapid gate slalom...which is fun fun fun.

[CaddyDaddy77]

As mentioned run Nastar at your local hill ask about a beer league, meet a few friends.

Check out Rocky Mountain Masters if you want to get more serious, some nice folks and good skiers and open to getting people psyched on banging gates. They also have training for all of the events, and will help you get dialed in before throwing you into something,
http://www.rmmskiracing.org/

[alma del polvo]

you can start by snow plowing powder off of runs with the pizza pie turn and learn to cut the lift line while being the biggest dick possible.

[hartzejr]

don't discount slalom. DH is exciting but slalom is tons of fun.

[basinbeater]

racing will make you a stronger skier. And it is fun. Just not as fun as skiing powder. If you are in Utah, I will sell you my race stock gs skis from a several years ago cheap. All they need is a good sandpapering to get the rust off the edges.