Big Alaska Snowboard & Freeski Club October 2006
Welcome USASA members old and new! You may be getting this newsletter for the first time if you went to the Big Easy Camp at Alyeska this June. Part of your camp fees included a USASA membership for the 06-07 winter season. If you didn't go to camp, register by the end of October on the USASA website www.usasa.org and save $10. You have to be a USASA member to race or train with Big Alaska so you might as well take care of it before snow falls.
We're getting ready for a winter of USASA Big Alaska Snow Series competitions and training for snowboarders and freeskiers. Competitions will start in January and run through March. The schedule will be posted on our website soon!
What is Big Alaska?
Big Alaska Snow Series is the USASA sanctioned race/event series run locally by volunteers. Snowboarders of all ages and ability levels can enter races in all 5 disciplines. Skiers can enter races in 3 disciplines. Adaptive snowboarders and skiers are more than welcome. There's even an Open class. Local events are intended to be fun, fair and safe. Check out the USASA website www.usasa.org for more information. Competitions will be on Sundays and school holiday Mondays at various locations. As usual, weather conditions may force changes to the race schedule but there are fewer comps scheduled this year and more training days for those in the program.
Big Alaska Snowboard & Freeski Club Training Program is for snowboarders and skiers of all ages past the beginner level who want to improve their skills for competition. You can train Wednesdays or Saturdays or both. Costs will be about the same as last year. This season we are going to have regular season training on Wednesdays at Hilltop and Saturdays at Hilltop, Alyeska or Alpenglow, depending on where the weekend competition will be held. If you register for the training program early, bonus (at no additional cost) training will begin in December, location determined by where there's snow. We're considering a "Mighty-Mites" type of training, if there's enough interest, for riders who want an introduction to competitive skills--this will be a shorter, less intense program, on Saturdays.
Northern Boarder
Northern Boarder is sponsoring ALL our events this year! Jay Liska joined the Board of Directors last season and sponsored races, got additional sponsors (remember the Slopestyle Trilogy at Hilltop--3 days of comps with no race entry fees?), filmed and produced a TV show, volunteered his time and equipment and otherwise supported kids in snowboarding and freeskiing. This year he's going bigger. Thanks Jay! Thanks Northern Boarder!
Go to his store in Fifth Avenue Mall! Join the Rider's Union, a fantastic deal. And they carry great brands. Check with Northern Boarder for Rider's Union details.
Coaches
Want to coach? Let us know! This year the Board is asking for a short resume of relevant snowboard or ski experience and qualifications--include a few words about what you have to offer as a coach for Big Alaska. We're looking for a top notch freeskier coach--Big Alaska skiers at Nationals killed it and want to do even better in 07. All Board members will provide input on coaching staff selection this year, so feel free to contact any or all of us.
Judges
Want to judge? We really appreciate how tough it is to be a judge. Chad, Nathen, Matt, Ken, Kari, Loghan and Zach did an exceptional job last year and we hope you all come back for this season! We can always use more judges and judges-in-training. Interested? Let us know!
Callan Chythlook-Sifsof
Congratulations! Callan, age 17, of Girdwood, has been selected to the U.S. Snowboard Team in Snowboardcross! Callan dreams big and works hard to make her dreams come true. She's spent the last few years training and competing all over the world with the love, dedication and support of her family helping to make it possible. Congratulations to Callan, her mom Gloria, and the rest of her family.
Audett Medical Fund
Thanks to everyone who donated to Coach Ryan Audett's medical expense fund. Ryan had a horrendous fall at Nationals last spring--his helmet saved his life. Ryan was taken off the mountain unconscious and is still paying the medical bills (no insurance!), while working full time, going to college full time, fulfilling his Alaska Guard duties and raising his two little boys with wife Crystal. Any help would be gratefully accepted--please mail your donations to Big Alaska, PO Box 112126, Anchorage 99511 and note "Audett Medical Fund." We deposit the donations and write a check to Ryan so your help can be anonymous or not, however you want. Thank you so much.
Who are we?
Your current volunteer Board of Directors:
Harvey Prickett harvey@bigalaskasnow.net
Steve Stassel steve@bigalaskasnow.net
Alison Sterley alison@bigalaskasnow.net
Kari Lamothe kari@bigalaskasnow.net
Jay Liska jay@bigalaskasnow.net
Volunteers
We need more. Alison needs help at the registration desk race day mornings--meeting and greeting, looking up membership info, inputting competitors, generating start lists, tracking entry fees. Bonus--meet everyone and have warm feet. Alison also needs race course start area help--herding cats type of tasks. Bonus--you'll get to shop at Northern Boarder for additional warm layers. We need course-setters for the alpine events and Boardercross--we have equipment, drills and technical manuals from USASA. Bonus--you get to put your 2 cents in on what the courses should look like.
Thanks for reading to the bottom!
Alison