Masters diehards gather for summer nationals

Every summer diehard masters skiers in need of a fix, flock to Mt. Hood for a gathering of the clan. And what’s a gathering without little competition in the form of the appropriately named “Summer Fun Nationals.” As is usually the case, the conditions couldn’t have been better.

For the weekend of July 24-26, 2009, there were beautiful blue skies, warm weather, and hard snow.  What better conditions could you have? Racing is at 8,500 feet on Mt Hood, two miles above Timberline Lodge on the Palmer Snowfield, in Oregon.  There were about 100 racers who came from across the U.S. plus one each from Hungary, Austria and Norway. The field also included young racers whose parents were involved in the races.  Injured racers became race workers at the event, along with many other volunteers from across the U.S.Every summer diehard masters skiers in need of a fix, flock to Mt. Hood for a gathering of the clan. And what’s a gathering without little competition in the form of the appropriately named “Summer Fun Nationals.” As is usually the case, the conditions couldn’t have been better.

For the weekend of July 24-26, 2009, there were beautiful blue skies, warm weather, and hard snow.  What better conditions could you have? Racing is at 8,500 feet on Mt Hood, two miles above Timberline Lodge on the Palmer Snowfield, in Oregon.  There were about 100 racers who came from across the U.S. plus one each from Hungary, Austria and Norway. The field also included young racers whose parents were involved in the races.  Injured racers became race workers at the event, along with many other volunteers from across the U.S.

The cast of course setters for the eight courses throughout the weekend included world renowned Phil McNichol of U.S. Ski team fame, Hurricane Racing’s Bob Vial, Now Park City’s Scott Veenis, USSA Masters’ Bill Skinner, and Sun Valley’s Cliff Cunha. This lineup gave very high quality courses for the racers.

The top ten men from first run are pulled out of their respective classes and form the Super Seed.  Saturday’s GS Super Seed included fastest overall Macauley Lyon from PNSA, in descending order were: Franz Fuchsberger, RM; Tim HIll, PNSA; Cliff Cunha, IM; Dennis Wilhelmsen, NO; Mike McGurl, IM; Sean Griffard, IM; Rick Slabinski, IM; Tom Shanklin, IM; and in 10th David
Smith, CN. 

Saturday afternoon a BBQ was hosted in the Day Lodge with a chicken and a gourmet selection of accompaniments.  This was followed by raffles, a silent auction, drawings, awards and any other way to give out the many gifts from the sponsors. Atomic skis and K2 skis were highlights, with many other quality prizes in the line up.

Sunday’s Slalom Superseed saw Tim Hill, PNSA; fastest, followed by Scott Veenis, IM; Paul Koetke, PNSA; Willy Scroggins, PNSA; Dennis Wilhelmsen, NO; Mike McGurl, IM; Cliff Cunha, IM; Rick Slabinski, IM; and Jesse Scroggins, PNSA in 9th. 10th place, Chuck Wagner, IM; fell in second run.  The fastest man, Tim Hill, and the fastest woman, Dana Alexandrescu, IM; were awarded the PUTZI Cup trophies.

The Overall weekend combined winners are awarded the Skoch Cup awards on Sunday afternoon. They are listed on a permanent trophy at Timberline Lodge.  Class 13: Tuck Keleher, EA; Class 12: Joe Batho, Hungary; Class 10 David Britton, EA; Class 9: Men- Richard Zimmerman, PNSA; and Carol Davis; Class 8 Gary Randall, AK; and Meri Stratton, IM; Class 7 Greg Dilger, PNSA; and Carol Kadzejs, PNSA; Class 6: Hugh Mitchell, PNSA; and Nancy Riley, PNSA; Class 5: Mark Wolcott, NY; and Sherrie Glas, CN; Class 4: Bob Bennett, FW; and Kristin Kozlowski, PNSA; Class 2: Dana Alexandrescu, IM; Super Seed:
1. Tim Hill, 2. Scott Veenis, 3. Paul Koetke, 4. Willy Scroggins, 5. Dennis Wilhelmsen, 6. Mike McGurl, 7. Cliff Cunha, 8. Rick Slabinski, 9. Jesse Scroggins;  MJ: Michael Wollcott, NY; MJ2: Max Sertl, NY; MJ3: Luke Brust, NY; MJ4: Austin Baker, RM; WJ1: Sara Beeken, NC; WJ2: Hope Shiels, NY; WJ3: Maggie Gilligan, NY.