[FWM News] Mammoth GS Races

[Far West Masters news]

The 2016 race season opened with a beautiful weekend of GS racing at Mammoth Mountain. Many 
competitors arrived early to participate in the masters camp week training sessions or just to get 
in some free-sking. With the best early season conditions seen in years, much of Mammoth has good 
coverage already and the skiing was excellent all week. 

We held GS races on Saturday and Sunday on ADG (Andy's Double Gold). The race hill was in fantastic 
condition both days - the snow was firm enough to hold up well throughout the race, yet completely 
grippy and easy to ski for all. Competitors helped out by following the jury instructions to 
inspect "in and out", preserving the well-prepared track for our race runs. Weather was comfortably 
warm under partly sunny skies both days; a few wind gusts got through to the otherwise sheltered 
race course on Sunday but the compensation was some spectacular clouds drifting over the Sierra 
crest to complement the clear views west to the Minarets. 

The debut of our new Open Class system, where competitors can elect prior to the race to be scored 
for their race awards and season points in the overall Open class, presented some interesting 
choices to competitors deciding whether to compete for age class awards or go into Open with a 
chance at a season leader bib. While many regretted the loss of the "head-to-head" competition of 
our previous system, overall reactions were generally positive. Feedback to your board members is 
always appreciated, the objective is to provide fun and exciting competition and everyone's ideas 
can help us improve the program. 

Complete results are posted on the Race Results page of our farwestmasters.org web site. (Season 
standings for 2016 will be posted after the scoring software is updated to switch to our new top-30 
points scoring formula).  

http://farwestmasters.org/raceinfo/2016/results

Race photos by ace photographer Sue Morning are available through Mammoth's Sharpshooter Imaging 
(race discount available through next weekend at their Main Lodge site if you're still in the area).

http://www.mammothmountain.com/winter/things-to-do/winter-activities/sharpshooter-photography