Eastern High School Championships: The Greatest Show on Snow

Photo Credit all images: Brewster’s Photos

Imagine the thrill of Olympic-level excitement but with high school athletes from across the Eastern United States. This is the Eastern High School Championships, where over 250 ski racers from 13 states converge each March to compete in slalom and giant slalom racing.

In the late 1970s, it all began as an idea to create an event to bring high school ski racers together for a regional competition. The Eastern High School Championships bring together ski racing athletes from across the East, introducing them to USSS-scored racing while maintaining the traditional team format. Most high school ski racers’ seasons conclude in the middle of February. However, as members of USSS, they could extend their ski racing season for another six weeks.

The first Eastern High School Championships took place in 1978 at the Crotched Mountain ski area in Francestown, New Hampshire. The event drew 67 athletes from five states. Though small, it was a resounding success. The following year saw considerably more athletes and the addition of Team Wisconsin. To promote the event and generate regional exposure, organizers decided to take it on the road. For the next 25 years, different ski areas around the East hosted the championships. Today, the event includes teams from every state in the East, including Wisconsin and Michigan.

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Event History

In the early days, organizers communicated with the host club and teams via mail and phone. To streamline communication, logistics, and the overall process, they selected three host clubs and rotated the championships among them. This approach simplified finding lodging for the teams each year and improved overall communication and the quality of the championship.

The championship was initially a three-day event, starting with a training day, followed by men’s and women’s slalom and giant slalom races. A team banquet on Saturday night featured the awards ceremony. Each state selects a team of 12 men and 12 women. Since the USSA (USSS) sanctions this event, all athletes must be USSS members and adhere to USSS rules. Working closely with the USSS membership department, organizers created a special USSS student membership for athletes without a current USSS competition license.

The championship awards trophies to the top six men and women finishers in slalom and giant slalom as a USSS-scored race. These top six finishers also score team points based on their placement in each event, using a simple place points system: one point for first place, two points for second place, and so on. Adding the total team points from the top six finishers in slalom and giant slalom results in a team score. If an athlete does not finish (DNFs) in the first run, they get a second run and can still contribute to the team score.

Two Host Rotation

Today, the championships rotate between the Franconia Ski Club and the Mount Washington Valley Ski Club. Over 250 athletes representing 12 divisions participate in the four-day championship. For many years, Team Wisconsin drove 24 straight hours by bus using two bus drivers! Now, Wisconsin and Michigan teams fly in. On Thursday, teams check in and participate in scheduled slalom and giant slalom training. Friday features men’s and women’s slalom; Saturday is women’s giant slalom; Sunday is men’s giant slalom, with awards presented after each day’s event.

West Follows the Lead

Inspired by the Eastern High School Championships, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) High School Championships, now in its third season, drew 175 athletes to Mammoth Mountain, California. Lucy Conklin created this flagship event for the PNW’s high school ski racers, following a similar format.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the cost of participating in ski racing continues to rise without any signs of stopping. However, high school ski racing is thriving, offering a lower-cost alternative and a social experience that many high school athletes enjoy. This trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.