Congratulations Rachel. Who’s going to Mt. Hood?

Congratulations to Rachel Bigatel as she competed in the Marriot Eastern Championships (formerly known as Future Stars) that were held March 24-26 at Sunday River, Maine as the #7 seed.    Conditions at the championships were difficult at best as the warm weather in mid-March turned cold providing some very icy race courses for about 80 girls.  Rachel went on to finish (3) of her (4) runs at the championships; including a finish in the Slalom that beat her seed rating by about 15 spots.  Her 1^st run in the GS was better than about half the field.  This was a very successful year in only her 2^nd year of organized racing.

One more congratulations for a great season to our two 2012  PA State team racers,  Nick and Rachel.

HVRC currently has (3) racers that are planning to go to Mt. Hood, Oregon for summer race camp in June.  Typically, these camps have the racers on snow for 5-6 hours each day with other summer activities afterwards.  Due to the travel and distance from home, we recommend that racers attending summer camp be J3 or older unless escorted during travel to and from Portland.  If you are interested in sending your racer, we recommend contacting Ralph Blasey, Todd Bigatel, Alec Boright or Ralph Manson for more information.  All of them have racers that have either attended or will attend summer race camps.

As many of you are aware, USSA will be changing the age groups for next season.  Effectively, all age groups will be held back one year.  For example, a 2^nd year J4 at 12 years old will be a 2^nd year U-14 (J4) next season.  HVRC will be attending the PARA Spring Meeting on May 5^th and we hope to have additional information regarding the age change and how it will impact state derbies.

It will be some time before things start for next season.  If you were a USSA member this season, in Late June/Early July you can expect renewal info from USSA.  We’ll publish something as soon as it is available to help you decide the competitor level for your racer.  2012/2013 race schedules won’t be released until mid-October.  Typically, there will be USSA races at 7 Springs on the Saturday between Christmas & New Years and each of the 1st two weekends in January.  I usually try to avoid commitments during race season, but especially for these races.  There are usually 5-6 regional races at 7 Springs and 1 at Wisp.  State Derby invites for J3 & J4 are dependent on completing 50% of the available runs.  These three weekends represent 4 races; 2 runs each, which usually fulfills the requirement.

Congratulations Nick on a great season!

Congratulations to Nick Blasey for his accomplishments all season, culminating at the Marriott Junior Championships. 

 84 of the top ranked boys from the Eastern US competed over five days on the renowned Narrow Gauge race slope at Sugarloaf, Maine.  Nick finished 55^th in the Super G; a respectable result for his seed rating.   

Starting 71^st in his 1^st GS run, he jumped 15 spots to finish 56^th.  This result was quite good as race conditions were awful; a nice combination of freezing rain, rain, and fog.  (19) racers did not finish the run.  He had some bad racing luck in the second GS run as his ski came off early in the run; he was one of (18) racers that did not finish the second run.   

The weather for the Slalom was excellent and so was Nick.  Starting 71^st, he finished 41^st in the field of 84!  His second run was equally good and his net result for the Slalom Race was 33^rd place; an excellent result from a lower seed starting position. 

Most of our motley crew

On a sunny last practice Saturday of the year, racers & coaches took a pause from the ever popular dual SL.

Like Father like Son

Well sort of.  What’s up with that arm on your turning ski Johnny?  Check out your coach.  The part about him crashing into the timing display – you don’t need to pay attention to everything he does!

more at https://picasaweb.google.com/111622169468126145861/HVRCOpenCupMarch42012?authkey=Gv1sRgCI25g5zT95zhgQE#

Rachel and Nick make PA State team

Off to Okemo and Sugarloaf respectively with the J4 and J3 PA State teams, to compete against the other eastern US states. 

Good Luck – we’re proud of you!

Congratulations to Rachel Bigatel as she finishes 7th overall in the 2012 PARA J4/5 State Derby!

Rachel gives HVRC two more top ten finishes in state level events; finishing 7^th in the Slalom and 6^th in Sunday’s GS.  Forty- five of the best female racers from Pennsylvania race clubs competed during the three day event.  Rachel’s overall result has earned her a spot on the 2012 PARA J4 State Team and an invitation to attend the Marriot Eastern Championships (formerly known as Future Stars) that will be held March 24-26 at Sunday River, Maine as the #7 seed.  HVRC is very proud of Rachel as she has put together quite a season!  

Congratulations also go to Sloan Rost, Max Hessinger, and Clark Bigatel; all of whom finished all of their runs in the 2012 PARA J4/5 State Derby; enduring some challenging conditions.  For Sloan and Max, this was their 1^st state derby.  Clark, along with sister Rachel were competing in their 2^nd state derby.

Hidden Valley has announced the sale of season passes for 2012-2013.  Discount pricing is available until March 31^st. 

Our annual HVRC annual banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 10^th.   Paying club members will  be free at the banquet.  There is a dinner charge for family members and siblings.  11 years old and under will be $10 per person.  12 years and older will be $20 per person.  Alcoholic beverages are not included and must be paid for separately.  Randy Myers will once again provide the entertainment after dinner.   

We are having a parents meeting at 4:30 PM in the Yukon.  The banquet will begin at 5:30 PM in the Yukon.  We plan to open the doors to the public around 7:00 PM for those who wish to enjoy the entertainment.  Please advise us if you are planning to attend and how many from your family will be attending by Monday night.   

We have one practice this Saturday from 9:00 AM until 11:30.  This will be a slalom based practice on Imperial known as the dual slalom.  Meet the coaches outside old Glaciers.  This practice is also Photo Day.  Those with cameras are invited to take pictures of their racers running the dual slalom.  We will attempt to take a club photo at 10:00 AM at the bottom of Imperial. 

The Hidden Valley Spring Carnival  Open Cup is scheduled on Imperial at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 10^th.   There is a $5 per racer charge for all racers.  Registration will be outside the locker room as usual from 10:30 – 12:30.  Set-up begins at 11:00 AM and teardown usually occurs about 3:00 PM.  If you are available to assist with setup and teardown, please meet us on the hill and we’ll put you to work.

Week of Feb 28 News

Nine racers competed in the Wisp Classic Slalom on Sunday.  Congratulations to N. Castracani (J6) as he earns 3^rd place for his first USSA trophy.  Nico becomes the 10^th HVRC racer to bring home a USSA race trophy this year.  J. Bigatel (J6) wins the race in the same age class.  Brother Clark (J5) brings home 3^rd place sister Rachel (J4) takes home 2^nd place for yet another Bigatel sweep!  J. Jupena (J2) takes home 2^nd place and B. Hunter (J1) adds a 1^st place to his collection in his final USSA race.

Best of luck to Clark, Rachel, and Sloan as they compete in the PARA J4/5 State Derby this weekend! 

We have one practice this Saturday from 9:00 AM until 12:00 Noon.  This will be a GS based practice on Imperial known as the bamboo forest.  Meet the coaches outside old Glaciers.

Our 7^th Open Cup is scheduled on Imperial at 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 4^th.   Open Cup Series champions will be announced with the race awards around 3:30 PM.  Please make sure you are available to help or have arranged for a substitute when you are scheduled to assist.  Set-up begins at 11:00 AM and teardown usually occurs about 3:00 PM.

We will be running one additional Race – Open Cup format –  for the resort on Saturday, March 10^th.  If you are available to help run this race, please advise Ralph or Jeff.

Our HVRC annual banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 10^th.  Practice on this day will be a dual slalom competition for club members.  If you have not already done so, mark your calendars.  Paying club members will  be free at the banquet.  There is a dinner charge for family members and siblings.  Randy Myers will once again provide the entertainment after dinner.  More details will be forthcoming.

Think about becoming a Certified Gate Judge.

Many of you have “enjoyed” the volunteering activity of being a Gate Judge!  Yet another aspect of the glamorous parent world of Alpine Racing athletes.   

If you haven’t been a Gate Judge yet, you almost certainly will in the future.  They are required in quantity at every race, often the last job to get enough volunteers for, and the race will not start without them. 

This web site http://www.srrclub.org/para_gate_judge.htm has information on becoming a Certified Gate Judge.  An easy  self study outline followed by a self administered test.  It turns out Alec is the only HVRC Certified Gate Judge, and if he can pass the test……. 

It makes you more knowledgeable; obviously important for the position, and as is the case with this email below that came out today, often entitles you to free lift tickets.  You’re going to do it anyway, why not learn more about it, and pick up some free passes while you do?  Check it out.  Get Certified.

…………………………………………………. 

The ROC’s have requested certified gate judges for the upcoming PA Cup Finals Feb 24-26 at Elk and the J4-5 Derby March 4 & 5 at Roundtop. Both ROC’s are offering two lift tickets for every certified judge that volunteers a full day at these races – one ticket for the judge and one for a member of his/her family. They may not be sold or returned for cash. If you can help, please contact: 

Elk  toniaomayes@comcast.net

SRRC millertate96@gmail.com 

These are two of Pennsylvania’s five premier races. Let’s load the hills with certified judges so there are no controversies due to uneducated judging at state level races. Thank you. Hope to see you there. 

Bill Filling

Nick B. finishes 6th overall in the 2012 PARA J3 State Derby

Congratulations Nick !  Competing against (44) of the best racers from Pennsylvania race clubs during the three day event, Nick gave HVRC its first ever top ten finish in a state level event; finishing 10^th in the Super G.  He followed that up with a 9^th place in Saturday’s Slalom, which included a 4^th place in the last run of the day.  His efforts in the Sunday GS netted a 7^th place podium spot that included 6^th place finishes in two of the three runs. 

Nick’s overall result has earned him a spot on the 2012 PARA State Team and an invitation to attend the Eastern J3 Finals that will be held March 8-11 at Killington, Vermont.  HVRC is very proud of Nick as he has put together quite a season!  Nick received all kinds of support (phone, texts, radio, and in person) during the weekend from club members and coaches, which was much appreciated. 

We have one practice this Saturday from 9:00 AM until 11:30 AM.  This will be a fundamentals practice with ski school instructors.  Meet the coaches outside old Glaciers. 

Our 6^th Open Cup is scheduled on Imperial at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, February 25^th.   This is a change from the original schedule.  Please make sure you are available to help or have arranged for a substitute when you are scheduled to assist.  We have been advised that the Croatian Race at HV will also occur on Saturday, February 25^th at 2:00 PM.  We will need help setting and running this race.  This race is our other volunteer effort for HV.  Please advise J.Eicher or. R. Manson if you are able to assist.  We are also asking that our J1-J3 racers assist with this event.  PLEASE NOTE:  As these races are occurring the same day, we will use the same course for both races.  The Open Cup start time will be moved to 12 Noon to allow us to run both races.  Set-up begins at 10:00 AM and teardown usually occurs about 3:00 PM.  

J1 – J2 racers planning to compete in the PA Cup #6 (GS, #7 (SL, and #8 (GS) at Elk Mountain on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, February 24^th  – 26^th should be registered by now.  Please let the coaches know if you are planning to race so we can advise you on procedures.  

J1 – J6 racers planning to compete in the Wisp Classic Slalom on Sunday, February 26^th should be registered by now.  Please Note:  This race is not being used for derby qualification.  Let the coaches know if you are planning to race.  Several racers are planning to compete.  Todd and Steve will be coaching for this race. 

Our annual HVRC annual banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 10^th.  Practice on this day will be a dual slalom competition for club members.  If you have not already done so, mark your calendars.  Paying club members will  be free at the banquet.  There is a dinner charge for family members and siblings.  Randy Myers will once again provide the entertainment after dinner.  More details will be forthcoming.

Critchfield Construction Open Cup Race a success!

41 Racers attended our annual race clinic last weekend.  Thanks to everyone who helped with food, registration, course setting, and coaching.  The weekend concluded with the 1^st annual Critchfield Open Cup at Hidden Valley.  Even though the weather was a bit on the windy and chilly side, the race went well.  Thanks again to Critchfield Construction for sponsoring the race. 

HVRC also assisted with Special Olympics on Monday and Tuesday.  Thanks to John, Clark, Justin, Todd, Steve, Eric, Alec, and Ralph for all their help! 

We have one practice this Saturday from 9:00 AM until 12 Noon.  The practice will be set as a combination course on either Firebird or Thunderbird.  Meet the coaches outside old Glaciers. 

Our 6^th Open Cup is scheduled on Imperial at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, February 25^th.   This is a change from the original schedule.  Please make sure you are available to help or have arranged for a substitute when you are scheduled to assist.  

We have been advised that the Croatian Race at HV will also occur on Saturday, February 25^th at 2:00 PM.  We will need help setting and running this race.  This race is our other volunteer effort for HV.  Please advise J.Eicher or. R. Manson if you are able to assist.  We are also asking that our J1-J3 racers assist with this event.  PLEASE NOTE:  As these races are occurring the same day, we will use the same course for both races.  The Open Cup start time will be moved to 12 Noon to allow us to run both races.  Set-up begins at 10:00 AM and teardown usually occurs about 3:00 PM.  

J1 – J2 racers planning to compete in the PA Cup #6 (GS, #7 (SL, and #8 (GS) at Elk Mountain on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, February 24^th  – 26^th should be registered by now.  Please let the coaches know if you are planning to race so we can advise you on procedures.  

J1 – J6 racers planning to compete in the Wisp Classic Slalom on Sunday, February 26^th should be registering now.  Please Note:  This race is not being used for derby qualification.  Let the coaches know if you are planning to race.  Several racers are planning to compete.  Todd and Steve will be coaching for this race. 

Our annual HVRC annual banquet is scheduled for Saturday, March 10^th.  Practice on this day will be a dual slalom competition for club members.  If you have not already done so, mark your calendars.  Paying club members will  be free at the banquet.  There is a dinner charge for family members and siblings.  Randy Myers will once again provide the entertainment after dinner.  More details will be forthcoming.