Despite four knee injuries this season, the athletes are still pumped and ready for this weekend.  The men’s team has earned four third-place finishes, one fourth-place finish and one fifth-place finish. 

“The men’s team is well on its way to regionals with one more race.  We have been very consistent this season and have been competitive, but have still had a good time,” said Paul Bartholic, president of the ASU Alpine Ski Team. 

The Alpine Ski Team, consisting of the seven-member women’s team and 11-member men’s team, competes in the Southeastern Collegiate Ski Conference (SCSC), which includes Lees-McRae College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech University and James Madison University.  The SCSC is a part of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S. Collegiate Snowsport Association (USCSA). 

This season’s competitions have been held at Sugar Mountain, Bryce Resort in Basye, Va., and Winterplace Ski Resort in Flat Top, W.Va. 

Two courses will be used this weekend at Ski Beech.  The Slalom (SL) course consists of tight, fast turns around gates that parallel down the slope and are six to eight feet apart. The Giant Slalom (GS) course is similar to the Slalom, only the gates are 20 to 25 feet apart. 

Teams of five compete against racers from other schools.  The fastest three individual finishes from each school are combined and then compared with its competition’s times. 

The fastest four schools from the region’s conferences will win the right to compete at the USCSA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, held Feb. 26-27 at Mountain Creek, N.J.  If successful in New Jersey, the final step is the U.S. Collegiate Skiing Championship, held Mar. 6-11 at Loon Mountain, N.H.  Even if the entire team doesn’t advance to regionals, the fastest individual member still competes. Along with the men’s team, Meg Korybski will race at regionals. 

Each year, ASU provides $2,000 for the ski team.  Without the final competition and regionals included, it has cost the team $3,300 so far in expenses for race registration, coaching fees and lodging, according to Korybski.  “This doesn’t include gas or meals,” Korybski said. 

To supplement the university’s support, additional funds are raised by donations from companies that are advertised on the team’s T-shirt.  The sponsors for the 1999-2000 season are Boone Online, Farmers Ski Shop, Farmers Backside, The Warehouse, Big Pauly’s Pizza and Ma’s Diner. 

In order to raise money, the ski team holds its annual Ski & Snowboard Swap Shop each November, providing ASU students with an outlet to buy and sell ski and snowboard equipment. 
Last Wednesday, the team showed extreme skiing and snowboarding films by Teton Gravity Research (TGR), “Area 51” and “The Realm,” in I.G. Greer for $3.  The ski team gave away $300 worth of door prizes and, along with swap shop, hopes to make it an annual event. 

The racers practice on Mondays and Wednesdays at Sugar Mountain and optionally on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Sugar’s junior ski teams, made up of children ages 4-17.  The juniors also practice with local high school students. 

“We would like to influence (younger) students at Sugar Mountain to attend ASU and race for the ski team,” said Bartholic. 

To stay in shape for races during the off-season, the team practices twice a week during the fall semester. 

“Keep an eye out for signs next fall,” said Bartholic.  “We need competent skiiers with a desire to improve their skills ... and you’ll get a private coach, too.”  Good luck this weekend and at regionals to the ski team!