The Opportunity in Recreational Ski Racing

Have you ever skied past the red and blue flags of a race course and wondered what ski racing was all about? Or, have you ever pictured yourself trying your first ski race, only to be featured in a segment of "The Agony of Defeat?" Do you believe that opportunity only knocks once?

For anyone who truly enjoys skiing, opportunity knocks every time race course is available. Recreational ski racing offers all these things: Excitement, exhilaration, challenge, skill-improvement, a way to measure improvement, self satisfaction, competition, awards, camaraderie, and plain old fun! Wouldn't you call that an opportunity?

Try to resist, for a moment, images of blinding speeds and bone crunching falls, and think about a key word, recreational. Satisfaction comes from successfully challenging your limits and little to do with speed. How can there be challenge without speed? Think about the ability to turn exactly where you want to every time, and not just where it's convenient or just feels better. Turning around those flags, actually called gates, is just that kind of training, and can be done at any speed. Most race courses available to the public can be skied by most skiers, even if they are relative beginners.

Simply breaking through a starting wand is exciting and exhilarating, and it just gets better as your skill increases. Even before you perform well enough to enter the medal categories, you will find a cheering group of fellow racers at the finish line and probably at the tavern or hot tub later, recounting every move--good or bad.

Lastly, for keeping track, at every NASTAR race you do, your time will be converted into a national handicap number. Watch that number from run to run or year to year to see your progress. All these things together add up to one great time. So the next time you see a race course, listen for the KNOCK OF OPPORTUNITY.