FAR WEST NORDIC

There were 116 racers at Auburn Ski Club for today’s President’s Cup, the 3rd and final Junior National Qualifier for this season.

Farm Team racer Elias Bucher won the 10 kilometer men’s race with a time of 20:43.7, Far West junior Patrick McElravey was 2nd at 20:47.0, and Tav Streit was 3rd at 20:53.6. Far West junior Cassidy Cichowicz won the women’s race at 23:37.3, Nancy Fiddler was 2nd at 23:48.7, and Laurel Fiddler was 3rd at 24:02.1. In the 5 kilometer J2/J3 race Gabrielle Rinne was first for the girls at 11:57.2, with Hannah Halvorsen 2nd, and Skyler Flora 3rd. Peter Holmes was 1st for the boys at 10:37.5, with 2nd place going to Sam Zabell, and 3rd place to Julien Bordes. The 2 kilometer junior race was won by Ryland Belisle and Alexandra Tinsley.

Race Results
JNQ Results
JNQ Standings
Photos by MacBeth Graphics

FAR WEST NORDIC JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM NAMED

The 3 Junior National qualifier races this season were the ASC Classic Sprints, Allan Bard Classic, and the ASC Presidents’ Cup.
At this time we have 30 athletes, plus 9 coaches heading to Soldier Hollow from March 3-10.
Pending acceptance of their spot on the team, the following are the athletes that make up the Far West Nordic Junior National Team for 2012.
Thanks to all who participated in the races this season.
Way to Go Team!

J2 Girls: Bria Riggs, Gabrielle Rinne, Savannah Blide, Amanda Kirkeby, Skyler Flora, Danielle Nivinski, Camille Hartley, Tara Gallant
J1 Girls: Katrin Larusson, Cassidy Cichowicz, Laurel Fiddler, Joelle Romo, Raylene Chew
OJ Girls: *Melanie Swick, *Annika Taylor, **Joanne Reid
J2 Boys: Sam Zabell ,Peter Holmes, Dylan Syben, Julien Bordes, Peter Carroll, Evan Vomund, Eli Yale
J1 Boys: Patrick Mcelravey, Jordan Mcelroy, Shane Christian, Branden Deeter, Alex Koptyko, *Joe Piercy
OJ Boys: *Austin Meng

* = Accepted via Petition Process
** = Accepted via Automatic Qualification

Complete JO standings.

ASC CNISSF CHAMPIONSHIPS PURSUIT

ASC CNISSF CHAMPIONSHIPS PURSUIT
February 18, 2012
Congratulations to today’s winners Katrin Larusson, Amanda Kirkeby, Hannah Halvorsen, Jordan McElroy, Eli Yale, and Julien Bordes

Race Results
Photos by MacBeth Graphics

Yosemite Nordic Holiday Races Canceled

It is with a sad heart that I write, but I am sure that you were wondering about our conditions anyway. We have decided to cancel our 2012 Nordic Holiday Ski Races.

Unfortunately, we are in the same condition as many of the ski areas in California, low on snow. At this point, we do have our trails open and the skiing is good where we have coverage, but there are more than a few spots along the Glacier Point Road where the asphalt is exposed. It is now necessary to remove your skis on the way to our Glacier Point Ski Hut.

In order to save the snow we do have, we have not been able to groom our trails for more than two weeks now. Our estimation is that we will need more than a foot of new snow in order to be able to run the machines out on the trails, without doing damage.

There is snow in the near forecast, but the optimistic guess is for up to 8 inches over the next couple days, then sunny again through the weekend. In order to allow people to cancel their room reservations and readjust their plans, we felt compelled to make the call this weekend.

Thanks for racing with us in the past and we hope to see you again next year. We hope the conditions are better in your area.

Sincerely,

Dave Bengston
Director, Yosemite Mountaineering School
(209) 372-8344

The Race season is not yet over!

Have you forgotten to sign up for Far West this year or just haven’t got around to racing yet? You are not alone!

With TEN races still on the schedule, it’s not too late to jump into The Sierra Ski Chase and have a chance of winning the “Overall Title” as well as a commemorative participation prize and many great raffle prizes.

Races with at least 40 seniors and masters competitors will be scored depending on your place – with bonus points added if you are older! The final standings are decided by your total points in your best FIVE races.

Currently, Cathy Howard is leading the charge for the women with 72 points. Maggie Fillmore is in second with 62 points and Kara LaPoint and Mischel Twining holding third. For the men – Jeff Schloss is in the lead with 74 points, Joe Dengler with 72 and Michael Collins with 70. See our Sierra Ski Chase page for current standings & details on how the scoring works.

All Far West members who complete a minimum of THREE eligible XC races this season are eligible to receive the 2012 season participation prize. New Far West members will receive last year’s prize (a t- shirt) for just ONE race (as supplies last)!

Renew your membership, or email us at info@farwestnordic.org if you want to check if you remembered to join this year!

There are still plenty of races this season:

Monday, February 20^th - The snow is great up at Auburn Ski Club for the Presidents’ Cup at ASC – a Citizen’s Race, Junior Nationals Qualifier & Youth Race.
Sunday, February 26^th is the 10th Mountain Division Biathlon at ASC 10km Pro race (if you are USBA certified to carry a rifle) and a fun 3 km Novice & 2 km Youth Race. Clinics on Saturday, February 25th if you have never tried biathlon. (Race is scored on participation.)
Sunday, March 4^th - Organizers are still planning on snow and putting on The Great Ski Race. (Final decision will be made on February 27.)
March 10 & 11^th - Bear Valley hosts the fun weekend of Bjornloppet Racing which is again part of the Senior (50+ year olds) Winter Games. Why not register and compete in both?
Sunday, March 11^th - Possible fun race at ASC – stay tuned.
Sunday, March 18^th – The rescheduled Snowshoe Thompson CLASSIC race at Auburn Ski Club.
Sunday, March 25^th – NEW – Summit to Wildy Race – Point to point at Royal Gorge! Special NOVICE RACER wave to encourage more folks to try ski racing (Fundraiser for Auburn Ski Club).
March 24-25^th – the Mammoth Biathlon which boasts the prestige of being the largest Citizens’ Biathlon Race in the US! (Race is scored on participation.)
Sunday, April 1^st – Mammoth Marathon – with no Gold Rush this year, this is the only opportunity to ski a long one. 42 km or 21 km (short course 10 km + 2 km kids’ race).
Saturday, April 7^th – Tahoe Rim Tour Race (rescheduled from January) – a unique Classic point-to-point distance race (26 km Classic and Skate); 21 km (Snowshoe).
Saturday, April 7^th – Tom’s Race – We haven’t had many classic only races this season so if you prefer a shorter race, here’s your excuse to go back to Bear Valley for a 10 km.
Sunday, April 15^th – Billy Dutton Uphill – 3.2 miles Uphill from The Base of Squaw up to High Camp – a real lung burner that so many folks love to challenge!

37th Annual Ski for Light International Week: Report from Soldier Hollow

Far West Nordic master and blind skier, Walt Raineri, took gold at the Ski for Light International Week Competition in Soldier Hollow, Utah on Saturday, February 11, 2012.

Far West Nordic Community:

Just finished up a week of Ski For Light International practice and competition sessions here at Soldier Hollow. On the 10th anniversary of the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic games here in Utah, the 37th Annual Ski For Light International competition began in the Olympic Stadium for Cross Country events at the Soldier Hollow facility.

The snow here was very sparse, but the good news is that it was cold at night and they have state of the art snow making machines which had been churning out piles of snow each night for 3 weeks prior to the competition. The day before our first practice session, there were only 2 km of groomed trails, but the crew at Soldier Hollow put in a long night before the first practice session and plowed the piles of man made snow around the course. We ended up with 5 km of amazingly well groomed trails which crisscrossed the landscape, had a lap around the Olympic Stadium, and had several steep inclines and descents to make things interesting. [Read More...]

Allan Bard Classic

It was a nice , sunny, cold day at Tamarack Lodge for the Allan Bard Classic, the 2nd Junior National Qualifier of the season. Farm team racer Kara LaPoint won the 20k women’s race and August Teague won the 20k Men’s race.In the OJ/J1 boys 10 kilometer race Patrick McElravey was 1st, Jordan McElroy 2nd, and Branden Deeter 3rd. For the OJ/J1 girls 5k race Katrin Larusson was 1st, Cassidy Cichowicz 2nd, and Laurel Fiddler was 3rd. In the J2 5k girls race Bria Riggs was 1st, Gabi Rinne 2nd, and Amanda Kirkeby 3rd. In the 5k J2 boys race 1st place went to Dylan Syben, 2nd to Peter Holmes, and 3rd to Sam Zabell. Hannah Halvorsen and Brandon Herhusky won the J3 classes. The final JNQ race is the President’s Cup on February 20th.

Race Results
JNQ Results
Junior Nationals Standings

Boulder Mountain Tour

Far West Nordic was well represented in this weekend’s 32 km Boulder Mountain Tour in Sun Valley, Idaho. This year, 717 strong skiers finished the race on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Far Team racers Elias Bucher was 7th 18-24 year old men, 16th overall, Wyatt Fereday was 11th 18-24 year old men, 33rd overall, and Gus Johnson was 13th 18-24 year old men, 43rd overall.

Congrats to Far West Masters Joe Dengler, 3rd 45-49 year old men, 64th overall and Ralph Johnson, 3rd 60-64 year old men, 163rd overall.

Far West Masters results:
Zack Karas 7th 30-34 year old men, 46th overall.
Joe Dengler 3rd 45-49 year old men, 64th overall.
David Adams 20th 50-54 year old men, 158th overall.
Ralph Johnson 3rd 60-64 year old men, 163rd overall.
Byron Beagles 12th 60-64 year old men, 314th overall.
Norm Ploss 33rd 60-64 year old men, 524th overall.
Gloria Ploss 10th 65-69 year old women, 709th overall.
John Cobourn 7th 65-69 year old men, 489th overall.
Michael Cohen 16th 65-69 year old men, 639th overall.