Part 1: Masters Nationals
It was my first USSA Masters Nationals and
FIS rules super G. Held on Copper’s challenging Rosi’s Run, named for Olympic gold
medalist Rosi Mittermaier’s World Cup Victory
on the same course, the race required equal
parts technique and tactics. And the competitors at USSA Masters Nationals were fast.
Really fast!
My grandfather, Frank Walter, came out to help
inspect for the super Combined. Grandpa’s a permanent fixture at Copper. He still skis 100-plus
days a year at age 88, has logged more than 6 million vertical feet in one season, and skied in a recent Warren Miller movie as “Father Time.” Copper
named a run for him this season — Frank’s Fav’.
Rocky Mountain “Hi”
ONE WEEK, TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND DOZENS OF
STORIES AS A NEW YORKER RACES IN COLORADO BY JAKE BRIGHT
It was a case of good timing. I spend every winter racing masters and NASTAR out of Hunter
Mountain, N.Y. (when I’m not working in Manhattan). And then I usually spend the last week or so of
March skiing with my grandfather at Copper Mountain, Colo.
This season, USSA scheduled the Alpine Masters National Championships for March 22 to 26 at Copper
while NASTAR Nationals were returning to Winter Park for a second year, from March 24 to 27. So I got
the chance to race in both finals, taking in the festivities on and off the hill and meeting some unique
competitors along the way.
SCHNEEHEXE PHOTOGRAPH Y
Three generations of ski racing. Before retiring
at Copper, Grandpa lugged my mom and Uncle
Larry (right) around to races as an assistant ski
coach for their high school team.
SkiRacing.com APRIL 7, 2011 | 43
