[FWM News] Squaw Bernard Cup
Far West Masters news
news at lists.farwestmasters.org
Sun Mar 11 21:21:01 PDT 2012
The annual Bernard Cup weekend races at Squaw Valley featured weather changes, time changes, and
the always-challenging Exhibition race hill. Despite the season-long run of warm, dry weather and
below-normal snowfall, Squaw's race crews and grooming crews were able to prepare the Exhibition
race hill and provide the Far West Masters with a good racing surface. Artful course-setting by
Kurt Beldon and Pierre Jeangirard worked with the terrain and around the thin areas to make good
use of the hill.
Saturday was sunny and warm (50's?!) - sunscreen was definitely in order! Although the warm
temperatures and fierce sunlight rapidly softened up the morning run's firm surface, the courses
held up reasonably well. The younger guys had a bumpy ride, despite continuing efforts of the
experienced Squaw course crew and assistance from other racers with course slipping, and their good
spirits were an inspiration.
After 3 runs on Saturday, the between-runs break of GS #2 was highlighted by a great afternoon
social, with good food and some great raffle prizes. Guest star Norma Lausmann drew the grand prize
winner - a pair of new Rossignal race skis for next season - and racing couple Donn and Barbara
Bryant went home with the marital challenge of deciding whose ticket won the skis.
Sunday dawned with strong winds and light snowfall, as the front edge of a what's shaping up to be
a week-long series of much needed late season storms arrived over the Sierra crest. The first run
of the day went off after a short delay to permit all competitors to do a final slip of the race
hill to provide safe runout and slide zones on the hill. It was a bumpy ride for most and a day for
rising to the challenge of making tactical decisions to accommodate the conditions. With the crew
preparing for the start of the third race of the weekend, rising winds, intermittent visibility
problems, and difficulties slipping the track into a safe racing surface led the jury to
reluctantly cancel the remaining two runs.
After two challenging GS races in varying conditions, the 2012 Bernard Cup winners truly earned the
honor with some great skiing. Carol Levine (W08), newly transferred to the Tahoe area from Rocky
Mountain, and long-time Far West ace Dave Garner (M09) set a standard for all of us of good skiing
and gracious competitiveness.
Race Results and Season Standings:
http://farwestmasters.org/raceinfo/2012/results
http://farwestmasters.org/raceinfo/2012/standings
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