THE WPSC CHAMPIONSHIP RACE SERIES

The Pittsburgh Ski Club offers a club subsidized ski and snowboard race program and gate training program for MEMBERS ONLY. These programs are sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Ski Council (WPSC), take place every weekend at Seven Springs, start in December and run through March. As a member of the PSC racing team, you will compete against members of other local ski clubs, which are also members of the WPSC. Please note that all members of the Race Team must sign a release form.

Our race team is coordinated by Paul Schade and Robert Zacharski. Robert also runs a ski racing website of his own at http://www.skiexpert.net/. He is also on twitter and you can tweet him directly using the widget to the left.

A Special Message from our Racing Director...

PSC RACE TEAM TAKES FIRST PLACE AGAIN IN THE COUNCIL CUP RACE

I’m very proud to be a part of this team and announce their series winning championship again in the WPSC Council Cup at Seven Springs on 3/6/10. This is now “The Team of the Decade” of the Western Pennsylvania Ski Council Clubs. This is by far no easy accomplishment if you would ask the people involved with the Pittsburgh Ski Club Racing for a long time.

We as the team would like to thank the following, the membership of Pittsburgh Ski Club and the board members for their support and encouragement. The Western Pennsylvania Ski Council for their help sponsoring and funding of this program. Seven Springs coaching staff Jace Pasquelle and her team for the scheduling and setting up the gates.

This team is the deepest composed accomplished skiers I believe in club history. I could never express how grateful I am to this team, and the club for supporting us to accomplish all of this together. On the day of the Council Cup we had many of our finest racing team members on vacation, working at their job, or other commitments. The Pittsburgh racing team members who could not make the day were as follows, Matthew Schade, Katie Benjamin, Justin Jones, Ted and Mark Makowski, Bob Shusko, Chris Azzara, Luigi Diianni, Frank Kocevar, this list is some very impressive skiers. If you would have asked me years ago with members of this caliber not going to show the day of the Council Cup and ask me, “do we still have a chance to compete”, I would have laughed, for it would just not be possible!

However, the members who won the Council Cup this year are as follows, Ali Buday, Laurel Lalone, Colleen Ley, Lynne Hartnett, Jace Pasquale, Mike Andras, Tim Sweeney, Isaac Thomas, George Ehringer, Paul Schade, Robert Zacharski and Dane Morris. This shows what great depth we have as the Pittsburgh Ski Club Race Team. Wow, what a team!

The PSC Team ski awards party the next day went off very nicely, and our drawing grand prize winner was Mr. Tim Sweeney, with the new timing stop watch.

Robert Zacharski has set up a great skiing program this year teaching within the racing program. Those who wish to take part in this program need to check the web site and contact him for there will be dry land training also when the snow melts!

Thanks again,

Paul Schade, PSC Director of Racing

[Email]

OVERVIEW OF THE WPSC CHAMPIONSHIP RACE SERIES

Come out and experience the thrills (and spills) of running the gates by joining your fellow Ski Club members in the Club Championship. All skill level of skiers are encouraged to enter. Everyone who participates in our series has a chance to win skis, bindings, and poles.

Racing is a great way to improve your skiing ability because you learn to turn, turn, TURN. Almost every weekend the Club will sponsor a FREE racing clinic on the slopes at Seven Springs. You are not required to enter the Club Championship to attend the race clinics, you must be a current member of the PSC.

To race during WPSC scheduled times on the race course you must enter the Club Championship. See the Race and Training Schedule. Only the members entered in the Club Championship for the season will be eligible to win awards at the end of the season. As always, skiing the gates will be subject to weather and snow conditions, so be sure to check at the Seven Springs Race Shadow Box next to the Ski School desk on the day of the race or clinic.

The Championship Series costs only $20 for the season for any PSC member. This fee includes:

Multiple training sessions with several race coaches
5 Giant Slalom Races, and 3 Slalom Races
Chance to win skis, bindings and poles
Awards Ceremony

RACE TEAM AWARDS PARTY

Tim Sweeney wins the top prize (a stopwatch) at the Race Team Awards Party held on March 7, 2010.

HOW CAN I JOIN THE PSC RACE TEAM?

To enter the WPSC Championship Series, clip the race team application from your newsletter, or use the online form here. Fill in the fields of the online form and print the completed form to your printer by clicking the “PRINT” button at the bottom of the form. The application form is also a waiver, therefore all application forms must be signed. Send the completed and signed application form along with a check for $20 made payable to “PSC” to Paul Schade, Race Director, 11135 Scotch Hill Road, North Huntingdon, PA. 15642.

Because the club subsidizes part of the cost, these activities are limited to members only. If you need to begin or renew your PSC membership, you can clip the membership application from your newsletter, or use the online Membership Application Form. Send your completed and signed membership application and a check for the appropriate dues to the address at the bottom of the membership application form. DO NOT send membership applications or dues to the Race Director.

“Ski racing is definitely a helmet sport. The use of ski racing helmets (although not required) is strongly suggested!”

... Larry Collins, Past Director of Racing