Williams, Kramer lead Gold Cup Standings

Madeline Williams and Nevada Kramer were updated as the current leaders of the Jim Barrier Gold Cup in their respective gender/age groups. Williams competes in the Jr. One age group (17-19 years) and Kramer competes as a Jr. Three (13-14 years).

Jim Barrier Gold Cup The Jim Barrier Gold Cup is Northern Division’s premier race series. This is a
continental cup type competition for the top racers in Northern Division. Races
counting for Gold Cup points are the J1, J2, J3 qualifiers, all open races (not RMC
Invitational) and the OHG and are open to all A, J1, J2, and J3 competitors.
Recognition of these athletes will be at the Over the Hill Gang race.
Jim Barrier Gold Cup History Born in 1940, Jim Barrier grew up skiing for the Flathead County High School.
During the years 1956-1959, he was the #1 ranked alpine racer in Montana.
He tried out for and was picked to be one of four alpine skiers to compete as a
member of the US Olympic Ski Team at the first Winter Olympic Games held in
the United States, 1960 Squaw Valley, California. He finished 16th in the GS, but
fell in the slalom. He did not compete in the DH.
Jim Barrier earned a four year skiing scholarship at MSU, but broke his leg in the
fall of his freshman year. He joined the US Army, and skied for the Army. After
discharge, he was a ski coach at Schweitzer. He later was hired by PNSA as
the Divisional Coach. He introduced the first junior ski racing seeding system in the
United States. In 1966, 1967, and 1968, he also worked with Bob Beattie and
Gordon Eaton as Assistant Men’s Coach for the United States Ski Team. After
the Olympics, he was hired by the Head Ski Company to develop a fiberglass ski
made by Dura Fiber, which was called the Head XR-1. Later, Jim became president of Dura Fiber Ski Company. His experience in business and manufacturing led him to a successful career in business; working for Kaiser Electro Precision and Kaiser Aerospace. Jim, always a fierce competitor lost his final battle to cancer in 2000.

Whitefish attends the Bridger Qualifier

The Whitefish Resort Alpine Race Team visited Bozeman’s Bridger Bowel for a USSA sanctioned race series January 28, 29, and 30. Two Giant Slalom races and one Slalom race were contested over the three days with over 60 competitors participating in the events.

Whitefish skier’s results for the 3 days were:

January 28 GS #1
Junior Three Women category
Katherine Millette 10th place

Junior Two Women category:
Erin Tabish 1st place (1st overall)

Junior One Women category:
Michela Millette: 2nd place
Madeline Williams: 4th place

Junior Three Men
Nevada Kramer 3rd place
Austin Oberlitner 10th place
Jacob Welch 11th place

January 29, GS #2
Junior Three Women
Katherine Millette 7th place

Junior Two Women
Erin Tabish 5th place

Junior One Women
Michela Millette 1st place
Madeline Williams 2nd place

Junior Three Men
Nevada Kramer 2nd place
Jacob Welch 11th place

January 30, Slalom
Junior Three Women
Katherine Millette 12th place

Junior Two Women
Erin Tabish 1st place (1st overall)

Junior One Women
Madeline Williams 1st place
Michaela Millette 3rd place

January 30, Men’s Slalom

Junior Three Men
Nevada Kramer 1st
Jacob Welch 12th
Austin Oberlitner 17th

Junior One Men
Aaron Oberlitner 2nd

The Whitefish Alpine Race Team would like to thank The Base Lodge Clinic of the North Valley Hospital, Hammer Nutrition, and Hunter & Company for their help and continued support.

The Coaches and I have been talking about Pole Plants!

Pole Plant Fundamentals
The Pole Plant is one of the more fundamental issues relating to performance skiing.
Three things come to mind as primary factors in our performance skiing. They are: the pole plant, Balance on the front portion of the foot (ankles flexed forward to the front of the ski boot), and a transition of balance and carving very early in the arc of the turn…
I think today we will talk primarily about the pole plant….
While the feet are the most primary functional component to skiing (after-all they do control the skis directly) the pole plant is a VERY large part of the transition from one foot to the next.
Our need to teach, solidify, improve and maintain the pole plant for our skiing athletes is based on a very real need to assist in the working of the feet and in particular the transition from the dominant foot of one turn to the dominant foot of the next turn.
So…what does this pole plant do? Well, it does a bunch of things and much of it is difficult to recognize or point out; as it (especially as the athlete matures) becomes an almost artistic tool that is used in very impromptu situations to save the skier from difficulty. OK then; if this is the case, then a strong pole plant MAY just save our bacon at times…
Some of the things that we CAN count on the pole plant doing are:
1) It marks the beginning of each turn. As such; it helps us to determine rhythm and each race course, slope or bump run has its own rhythm that a skiing athlete needs to attune to.
2) It helps the athlete to move and move forward at the beginning of each turn…
3) When used properly, it helps to maintain a “stacked and square” stance that promotes a balanced position on the skis. (a double pole plant is particularly good in this order)
4) It aids in the balance change from foot to foot and in difficult transitions it helps to secure the upper body in its best balance movements from turn to turn. (AKA a bacon saver…)
What the heck does a good pole plant look like? Hmmm…Well then; it looks as though it will depend on 1) needs and 2) the pole planting ability of the skier…
1) The strongest pole plant will occur somewhere around the beginning of the turn and will only be actuated by the wrist. It will allow the hands to stay in the best “zone” for balance. The pole will angle forward and touch the snow actively (though not excessively) near the tip of the skis
2) Aggressive and accelerating turns may allow a slightly modified pole plant that touches slightly ahead of the boot, but still promotes movement and forward balance with the proper rhythm.
3) GS pole plants can diminish a bit, and they often flourish as the “double pole plant”, but again; if you need to save your bacon, I hope you own a strong forward placement pole plant!

Skiers can progress to some degree without a strong pole plant, but they will be severely limited in how far they can progress.

Though it seemingly is a small and easily learned skill, The pole plant is so varied in its use and necessity, it is best learned at an early age. With early development of the pole plant skill, athletes have much more opportunity to develop a variety of uses and strengths for that skill.

We know there will be many questions, so do not hesitate to ask…
Thanks,
The Coaches…

A briefing on the Showdown Ski Race

Every season there is a stop on the Northern Division YSL circuit that brings an especially broad smile to my face:  The Showdown Super G.  While it may be a glorified Giant Slalom by USSA course set standards there is no doubt that a J4 going 50 plus mph qualifies as a speed event.  Aside from the racing at Showdown there's usually some fresh powder and sunshine mixed into the 3 day event.  But the best part of the trip is (as cliche as it sounds) the journey.

Of the 16 ski resorts (I use the term "resort" extremely loosely) in Montana there are few that rival Showdown.  I'm not talking about huge chute lines, awesome nightlife, or high speed trams...I'm talking real Montana skiing.  It's the kind of place that makes you feel like time travel is possible.  Pleasantville meets Ski School meets Deadwood.   If I had to sum it up in a word?  Classic. 

The two towns that sit just down the canyon from Showdown are Neihart and Monarch.  These old mining towns still have prospectors holding court at the local watering hole.  I'm not kidding, they still prospect and even pan for gold on occasion.  The ski hill itself has been in operation since the 1930's when some skiing pioneers founded the Great Falls Ski Club.  I can only imagine what the drive was like back then -- it's about an hour and half now.

There aren't many pretensions at Showdown.  The rental shop is in an old A-frame that looks as old as the mountain itself (see picture above).  The breakfast special is called the Miner, the drink special is coffee (until noon), and everyone is on a first name basis, including the owner.  George has owned and operated Showdown since God bequethed it to him on the sixth day, or so it seems anyway.  Old George is a bit of a  curmudgeony fellow but he runs a tight ship.  He might be bellowing instructions to the staff one minute and then serving you hot coffee with a smile the next.

The skiing at Showdown is also free of pretension and the lack of posers is pretty refreshing.  Porphory peak provides some solid vertical and with an elevation a little over 8,000 ft there's always a fair amount of snow.  Every time I visit it's either a bluebird day or a powder day and on a few occasions it's been both.  I won't spray about awesome pillow drops or perfectly spaced tree lines; I'll leave it to you check out the action yourself.   Oh, and if you're in the area make sure to stop by the Cub's Den or the Lazy Doe for a frosty pint and a few stories, I gaurantee a classic moment will occur.

Nevada is leading the "Gold Cup"

Congratulations to Nevada Kramer for currently leading the Gold Cup points for his age group. The Gold Cup is the season long Northern Division Series described here: The Jim Barrier Gold Cup is Northern Division’s premier race series. This is a
continental cup type competition for the top racers in Northern Division. Races
counting for Gold Cup points are the J1, J2, J3 qualifiers, all open races (not RMC
Invitational) and the OHG and are open to all A, J1, J2, and J3 competitors.

Red Lodge/Silver Run Qualifier

We Just Returned From Red Lodge and the Northern Division Qualifier. Our results were very good: Check them out here: http://www.northernussa.org./calendar/index.html Scroll down in the "ND USSA Column and click on the appropriate links for January 7, 8, 9 at Red Lodge (Silver Run)

Red Lodge Qualifier Jr 3 and Older

Our Jr. 3s and older athletes will be traveling to Red Lodge this weekend for a Qualifier series of GS races and 1 Slalom. See more here: http://www.northernussa.org./