[FWM News] Alpine season finals

[Far West Masters news]

Read in your web browser: https://farwestmasters.org/#alpine-season-finals-results

The final races of the 2019 Far West Masters season were held at Alpine Meadows on Fri-Sat Apr. 5-6. The winter of 2019 continued its stormy pattern of February and March by bringing us a small spring storm for our season finale. While it wasn't the sunny spring conditions we had hoped for, all were grateful that the warm storm delivered snow rather than rain!
With snow and fog on the upper mountain ahead of the afternoon storm front, Friday's GS was held on Yellow trail. Although a relatively short course, the improved visibility that held just long enough to complete both runs was well worth the venue adjustment.

Friday's SL double-header on Kangaroo was delayed by a rare wind hold even on the lower mountain lifts at the base of Alpine. Thankfully, lifts were able to open at 9am, resulting in only a short delay for the start of the first race. With courses set for the second race but warming temperatures and rapidly softening snow conditions, the race jury announced a hold on the schedule for the second race to assess course conditions. Reluctantly, the jury decided to cancel the second race in the interests of competitor safety and that was a wrap for 2019 racing for Far West masters.

The season finale banquet and awards were held on Saturday evening at The Lodge at Tahoe Donner. In addition to race and season awards, an inspiring group of Far West Masters Scholarship athletes were on hand and some great items were offered at the fundraising silent auction.

Following the presentation of season age class awards and the 2020 leader bibs to the top-5 women and top-10 men in the overall season results, FWM president Ray Tulloch presented our special awards. The New Racer awards went to Cherie Williams (W02) and Wolfgang Virostek (M01). The most-improved men's category had so many worthy candidates that ultimately a tie was declared to recognize the season-long battle between Kirk Swanson and David Piermarini in M07, which went down to the final race of the season to settle. The Cantanho Spirit of Masters award was presented to Shawn Mason, while a new discretionary President's Award was presented with a standing ovation to recognize the gritty comeback to racing after a devastating 2017 ski accident of M11 star Don Merritt.

Congratulations to everyone who competed this season! Complete race results are posted on the *farwestmasters.org* Race Results <https://farwestmasters.org/raceinfo/2019/results> page along with the final Season Standings <https://farwestmasters.org/raceinfo/2019/standings> rankings for 2019 and the *Season Awards* report:

https://farwestmasters.org/reports/results/2019/FWM2019-SeasonAwards.pdf
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