Racing

About SRC racing

Course

• SRC races on Thursdays on the Sugarbush NASTAR course, located on the Racer’s Edge trail. The race format is giant slalom, dual course. Each racer must race one run on each course.
• The course is dedicated to the club on Thursdays, and the club race runs from 10:00 AM until noon. Racing begins in January and ends in March.
• Once a year, we run a feature race on the Legends Arena course, which is set up on the skier’s right of the Spring Fling course.
• Racers should register with the NASTAR web site and have a  NASTAR number. Registration is free and takes minutes.

Race passes and fees

• Visit the passes tab above for complete details.

Scoring

• The SRC will use the NASTAR scoring and reporting system.
• Racers can log onto nastar.com and see how they rank nationwide against other racers in their age group and race category.
• The club has an internal club handicap system that is used for club awards and bragging rights. Internal club scoring applies to both individuals and club teams. For details on the internal club handicapping system visit the scoring  tab above.

Race status

• Members will receive an email from SRC advising of cancellation or postponement.
• Club members who set up in Gate House lodge to collect “day of” race registrations will be notified and will know the race status of the day.
• Lincoln Peak Guest Services will announce cancellations over the Gate House loudspeaker system. Please do NOT call them to ask about race status.
• The home page Twitter feed will be updated with the race status. Follow @sugarbushrc for updates. Parties usually happen regardless of racing, but Twitter notifications will also indicate party status.

Racing passes 101

There is often confusion among members as to the difference between the Sugarbush Racing Club season race pass and a Sugarbush Resort NASTAR season pass. Sugarbush Resort and Sugarbush Racing Club are two different entities – the differences and options are explained below.

Sugarbush Racing Club Season Race Pass

You must be an SRC member to purchase an SRC Season Race Pass. The SRC Season Race Pass does not allow you to ski the Sugarbush race course on weekends and holidays for free. Sugarbush Racing Club takes advantage of the Sugarbush Resort NASTAR timing system to score the Club races and results are uploaded to nastar.com.

• Sugarbush Racing Club contracts with Sugarbush Resort each year to run an 8-race series, currently run on Thursdays and pays a fee for this service.
• Sugarbush Racing Club recovers these costs from its members by charging the club members to race in Club races on Thursdays.
• SRC “day of” racing option – Pay SRC each week you are able to race, at a cost of $15 per race (you must register to race each week).
• SRC Season Race Pass option – Buy an SRC Season Race Pass for $100 that allows you to run all 8 Thursday races (go directly to the start shack, no weekly registration). You can  purchase it here.

Non-SRC-member racers

Please note that this process is designed for your guests, the odd tourist and for the feature race.

• Persons who are non-members may run one SRC race per year without joining the club.
• Non-members wishing to run a second race must join and pay race fees before they can race.
• Non-members follow the same registration process as “day of” racers. The club race committee keeps track of non members who have participated.
• Non-members must sign a release, available at the registration table.
• All racers must have a NASTAR number; get one (free) ahead of time at nastar.com

Sugarbush Resort NASTAR season pass

Purchasing a Sugarbush Resort NASTAR season pass does not allow you to race in Sugarbush Racing Club Thursday races for free. Results use the NASTAR timing system, and are uploaded to nastar.com. In addition, Sugarbush Resort NASTAR race passes are offered at a steep discount to SRC members.

Current Sugarbush Resort NASTAR race fees can be found here.

• Sugarbush Resort contracts with USSA and NASTAR to use their licensed timing system on the designated resort race course (currently Racer’s Edge).
• Sugarbush Resort pays a fee for this service and recovers these costs by charging the public to run the race course on weekends (Fri-Sat-Sun) and holidays.
• If you only race the NASTAR course on race day during the club race, there are no additional NASTAR fees.
• If you plan to race the NASTAR course on weekends (including Fridays) or holiday weeks, you will need to pay additional NASTAR fees to Sugarbush Resort.
• Sugarbush Resort usually offers two cost models for this – a daily “pay as you go” or a season pass, with a big discount for SRC members.

Racing schedule

Don’t miss the après-ski party following every SRC race that begins at 4:30pm at one of the great restaurants in the Valley. Enjoy good company, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, great door prizes, and get a first glimpse of the race results for that day. Visit the calendar for all SRC events and the gallery for additional photos and race videos.

Upcoming races

New events will be posted as they are scheduled.

Recent races

Thursday Jan 02 2020 - 4:30pm A Race Day Party when there is no Race! Tucker Hill Inn, Fayston. Race course unavailable but Post Race Party: 4:30 Tucker Hill Inn will take place Tucker Hill will offer dinner following the party to anyone making a reservation. Below is menu of the Italian specials we will be serving on January 2nd! Shrimp scampi $25 House made manicotti with red sauce $25 Chicken a la putanesca $20 Gemelli pasta with hot Italian sausage, broccoli, and pecorino cheese $20 We can make accommodations for folks who are vegetarian, dairy free etc. Please make sure folks call us (802-496-3983) and set up reservations for dinner on the 2nd if they definitely do want to stay for dinner.

Thursday Jan 09 2020 - 10:00am SRC race Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 The Taste Place in Waitsfield

Thursday Jan 16 2020 - 10:00am SRC race Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 at the Smokehouse Rtes 17 & 100

Thursday Jan 23 2020 - 10:00am Two Races get there early. Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 The Reks in Sugarbush Village

Thursday Jan 30 2020 - 10:00am SRC race Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 Hyde Away Inn on Route 17

Thursday Feb 06 2020 - 10:00am Race Cancelled Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 Lawson’s Brewery in Waitsfield

Thursday Feb 13 2020 - 10:00am SRC race Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4PM at GMVS Cash bar managed by Hyde Away Please let Dave G know by Tuesday, February 11 if you plan to attend Please email him at daveg@sugarbushracingclub.com

Thursday Mar 05 2020 - 10:00am SRC race Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 at Toast and Eggs in Waitsfield just north of the entrance to the Big Pic on Rte. 100

Thursday Mar 12 2020 - 10:00am SRC race Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Registration (Gate House, “day of ” racers): 8:30-11:00; Slip clinic/course inspection: 9:15-9:45 Racing: 10-12 Post Race Party: 4:30 White Horse Inn on German Flats Road Please carpool as the Inn has sold out lodging guests

Scoring overview

For the 2020 race season, Janet Ellison has bravely volunteered to take over the scoring system created by me, Peter Wicklund – your resident spreadsheet guru. Our scoring system started evolving about 15 years ago and was developed so that at our yearly, season closing banquet we could recognize not only the fastest women and men racers in the club, but also, those racers who show the highest levels of race participation and show the most improvement in their times. The system utilizes the NASTAR race class and handicapping process and essentially levels the playing field so that all racers can compete. No matter if you are an expert or beginner, you can end up on the podium at the end of the season. If you want to learn a little more about the NASTAR handicapping system just visit their website — nastar.com/how-handicaps-work. There’s also a nice explanation if you click on the NASTAR tab above.

2020 scoring

This season we have made a change to how we divide racers into race classes. We are using the NASTAR’S gender and medal classification system (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), and we have divided the club into the following Medal Classes:

• Women – We have put all women racers into one class since the number of women racing is low. We need more women racers!
• Men – We have created three Medal Classes for men:
• Platinum / Gold Class – These racers routinely get Platinum or Gold medals and have handicaps ranging from about 10 to 30.
• Gold / Silver Class – In this class the racers routinely get Silver and sometimes Gold medals and have handicaps ranging from the mid 30s to mid 40s.
• Silver / Bronze Class – In this class the racers routinely get Bronze and sometimes Silver medals and have handicaps ranging from about 50 and higher.

The club race scoring system works like this. At the beginning of this season, if you raced with the club last year, you started the season with a handicap that represents the average of your  handicaps you received in 2019. If you are a new racer this year, and you have a history with NASTAR, we look up your most recent national or resort handicap and use that as your starting handicap. If you don’t have a NASTAR history we will use the average handicap you received in your first race of the season as your starting handicap.

For the first race, we will determine how you did relative to the other racers in your Medal Class based on your combined two run time adjusted using your starting handicap. We call this the Discounted Time. For the rest of the season’s races, the Discounted Time will be calculated using a rolling average of your handicaps from your previous races.

Once Discounted Times are calculated, points are awarded in each Medal Class, with the fastest Discounted Time getting 10 points, second fastest 9 points, and so on. Also, if you show up and give it a go but don’t finish both courses, you will be awarded at least one point. Also, the slowest racer will always receive at least 2 points, so if more than 10 racers race in a class, the points will start at 10 plus the number of racers who raced.

So the key to doing well in your class is to show up at all the races, and ski a little faster than your average handicap from the previous races.

We will also be recognizing the fastest racer in each Medal Class based on raw combined time using the same scoring system (those will be called the Fast Points). So the speed demons get a chance to battle it out, head-to-head. In the results section of our website we will post the race class results half way through the season. This will give you an idea of where you stand in your Medal Class.

To keep you in suspense, further results won’t be reported until the year end banquet, at which time awards will be given to the first, second, and third place finishers in each Medal Class, and the fastest racer in each Medal Class. We will also be awarding a women’s and men’s club champion. It will be the two racers that have the fastest average discounted time based on their six best race days. To qualify for this award you must complete at least six of our eight races.

So keep showing up at the races, try a little bit harder, race a little faster, and you might end up in the spotlight.

See you in the starting gate,

Peter

 

NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race)

NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race) is the world’s largest known recreational ski and snowboard race program. It allows racers of all ages and abilities, through a handicap system, to compare themselves with one another and with the national champion, regardless of where and when they race. NASTAR also holds regional and national championships each year, awarding medals in each age and class.

NASTAR handicap calculations

The National Standard is the Par Time or the “0” handicap which every racer competes against when they race NASTAR. The “0” handicap is typically set by a U.S. Ski Team racer or former champion. Runners-up establish handicaps against the winner by their lag time percentage. These ‘traveling pacesetters’ compete against pacesetters from each NASTAR resort at sanctioned Regional Pacesetting Trials jprior to the start of the following season.

These events enable pacesetters from each individual resort to establish their own certified handicap against the national champion’s Par Time or “0” handicap. The resort pacesetters use their certified handicap to set the Par Time at their local NASTAR course each racing day, and in turn give each participant who races at their resort a handicap that is referenced to the national champion. The Par Time is approximately the time the national NASTAR champion would have raced the course had he been there that day.

Every skier, regardless of ability or disability, can ski with a time referenced against the national champion, corrected for the specific resort and course conditions and his/her level. Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze designations are based on performance in several races, relative to each racer’s age, gender and ability group.

NASTAR registration

Club members should register with NASTAR and be able to provide their NASTAR number when registering to race club races. Registration can be done on the NASTAR website in minutes at skiracing.nastar.com/user/register. When you register with NASTAR, For Club Team select Sugarbush Race Club where it says “Choose Team”; for Resort Team select Sugarbush Resort where it says “Choose Team”.

SRC race clinics

You can sign up here whenever clinics are open for registration.

If you are new to racing, or just want to polish your skills, clinics can really help.

We must have a minimum of five participants to run a clinic. Please email racing@sugarbushracingclub.com if you are interested or have questions. Also note that if you are not a paid, registered club member the price of the clinic will be higher. We will finalize starting times before the clinics begin, but you can assume that clinics will end by noon. Emails are sent prior to the clinics which confirm dates, times and costs. Also once coaches are assigned, we will share that information as well.

Upcoming clinics

New events will be posted as they are scheduled.

Recent clinics

Wednesday Mar 04 2020 - 9:00am Race Clinic Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Wednesday Mar 4 9-11 AM $35 per person, 5 person minimum.

Wednesday Feb 05 2020 - 9:00am Women’s Race Clinic Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Wednesday Feb 3, 9-11 AM $35 per person, $45 non members, 5 person minimum Complete info

Wednesday Jan 22 2020 - 9:00am Race Clinic Racer’s Edge at Sugarbush Lincoln Peak, Warren. Wednesday Jan 22 9-11 AM $35 per person, $45 non members, 5 person minimum Complete info

Weekly clinics

Prior to each Thursday race, a “slip clinic” will be held on the race course. This consists of slipping the gates with race and gate strategy provided by Sugarbush Resort race staff. Cost:  Free.

Public clinics

Public clinics will be posted here as they are announced. More information on these clinics can be found on the Ski and Ride section of the Sugarbush website or by calling the Sugarbush Resort Race department at 802-583-6818.

Click  on a title to view results. If results display as a thumbnail, click to enlarge the image.

2020

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2018

2017