I disappear from this forum every winter to focus on my ski and snowboard racing. The season is winding down and I’ll haul my unis out of the garage soon.
I wanted to take a moment and share something with you.
I just got back from Steamboat Ssprings, Colorado and my fourth trip to the NASTAR Nationals (1100+ competitors). I’ve had success on my snowboard in the past but could never finish higher than 8th place in skiing. Last year I missed the event with two broken ribs and pneumonia and I set my goal this year to make the podium in both events. There were 3 snowboard racers and 13 ski racers in my category (men’s 60-64 Gold Division). After the first of two days of competition I had the lead in boarding and was in 2nd in skiing. I smoked my first ski run on Saturday and thought I might have a chance to overtake the leader. The results weren’t known until the awards ceremony that night. They called my name - twice! 1984 Olympic GS Gold Medalist Deb Armstrong gave me the Gold Medal for Boarding and my hero Phil Mahre gave me the second Gold for skiing. I was told it was the first double National Title in NASTAR history. At Sunday’s Race of Champions I ran the ski course first and, for a stretch of a couple dozen racers had the fastest raw time. The big guns ran later but I’m pleased to have wound up 20th fastest overall in the competition. The snowboard course was steep and icy so I took a conservative approach and pushed it at the bottom. Scott Maynard was clearly the class of that field and wowed the crowd with his run. Who was in the crowd? Watching and congratulating were (in addition to Phil Mahre and Deb Armstrong) Billy Kidd, Chad Fleischer, Kaylin Richardson, and AJ Kitt. They couldn’t have been more friendly and seemed genuinely pleased to be there signing autographs and posing for photos. Early in the week I began posting an online diary and wrapped it with an online photo album. In this post I’ll just share two shots - one taken with the charismatic and very speedy Franz Fuchsberger and the other my finish in Race of Champions.
I was asked a lot which I preferred and always replied “boarding”!
Way to go Pat!!! What a great achievement…plus meeting Phil. Great stuff.
I’ve skied more this season than in the previous three combined, and I think you’re inspiring me to look into NASTAR next year. I was a stick-dodger before the freestylers came along to give us that label, and it still seems like a worthwhile pursuit to take up again.
Thanks guys. The sobriquet “elderly” does apply I’m afraid.
There have been a few moments the past few seasons when a young body would have been better able to withstand the challenges I place on it.
I did my one and only halfpipe competition at the age of 58. It was at Okemo’s 18’ SuperPipe and I had to wait on my second run while they hauled out the previous contestant - with his arm broken in five places. I made a very conservative run with little pop turns at the lip and decided maybe it’s time to rethink freestyle. Or not…
Last year I straddled a GS gate, ejecting out of everything and wound up in the hospital with two broken ribs and pneumonia.
Early in March I was competing in a Super G race. I was pumped and was having a good run until two gates from the end when the binding on my outside ski prereleased. In the second shot below the heel has already slid out and I’m trying to transfer my weight to the inside ski to complete the last two gates (if Bode can do it, why can’t I?). That lasted a couple of microseconds before I flipped onto my back and slid the last two gates. My helmet hit the timing mechanism causing it to register a time of 1:05.10 which would have been one of the faster times of the day! I DNF’d myself.
Anyway, I wanted to share the “photo finish” of the “Agony of Da Feet”.
Fast forward to a week ago. It was a classic Vermont Spring day and my Volkl RT GS snowboard was holding a nice edge. Early afternoon everything turned to mashed potatoes so I dusted off my Salomon Scream mid fats and headed for the terrain park.
There is a series of jumps on one run. If you’re a skier you might know the kind - elevated kicker with flags marking the takeoff point, a flat tabletop and then a steep landing area. The first one went well, I launched and cleared the table top sticking a nice landing. A few more like that and maybe a daffy or a helicopter? (WHAT was I thinking???). I hit the second jump and realized too late that this one launched the skier almost vertical and was designed for inverted aerials! I had more speed on this one and consequently more air time before I slammed my right hip into the downslope. The pain was intense but what really got my attention was the shrieks from the kids behind me who launched off the jump and discovered a senior citizen sprawled in their landing area. Fortunately both of them managed to miss me and I dragged my protesting body to the side.
I limped home, applied ice externally and Long Trail Ale internally. I hopped in the whirlpool tub and gave some serious thought of giving up aerials. Don’t you hate it when logic and reason enter into the equation? Eight days later, a large area on my hip has suddenly turned black and blue. Can anyone direct me to the Fountain of Youth?
Good Lord! You found me on Epicski.com? I’ve posted less than a dozen times since 2005 over there. It’s truly skiing’s equivalent to this forum but I’m bogged down with too many other pursuits to spend much time there.
