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In this edition of The Forerunner:

December

Opening race weekend for 2019-2020 was at Mammoth Mountain on Dec. 13-14. Unfortunately due to 4"-6" of new snow, conditions on the SL hill on Saturday morning were warm and soft, with thick fog limiting visibility on the upper sections. After inspecting the hill and assessing the conditions the jury cancelled the race due to unsafe conditions.

The weather cleared and Sunday was a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine. After competitors assisted with slipping some overnight fluff on the ADG race hill, we got down to a very nice race surface and had a good track for both runs. A fun race to start the 2019-2020 season!

The second December event was a SL double-header at Alpine Meadows on Sat. Dec. Dec. 21. The Alpine race crew did a great job keeping the day organized and moving along. Racing the weather as well as our fellow competitors, the final run of the day had to be cancelled when high winds closed all the Alpine chairlifts for the day. Nonetheless, 3 good runs of SL were completed before everyone headed off for the holiday break and time with family and friends.

January

Racing resumed in January at Heavenly with the classic Viva Italia races on Jan. 10-12. The weekend started well with good weather and a good racing surface and both SL races completed successfully.
Unfortunately high winds over night scoured much of the snow from the higher sections of the GS course on the NV side of the mountain, leaving exposed rocks and an unsafe race surface, so the Saturday and Sunday GS races were cancelled.
After the cancellation of the Saturday races it was decided to award the 2020 Viva Italia trophies based on the results of the Friday SL races and an impromptu party was held to celebrate the life of John Gianotti and to present the 2020 Viva Italia trophies to Liesl Panke and Are Papazian.
The Sunday GS was rescheduled as a third SL back on Worldcup on the CA side. A slightly smaller field of competitors enjoyed a nice morning of racing on Sunday.




 
The final races in January were the Mammoth Sierra Cup speed series from January 23-26. Once again the weather played a role causing changes in schedule and race cancellations, despite this the organizers managed to put on a 3 race SG series as part of the National Speed Series. A great day of racing was had by all and as usual the Mammoth Mountain Race Department ran an excellent race. 



 
Far West Masters Scholarship Program
by Sandy Hogan
 
Our Far West Masters Scholarship Program, now in its 26th year, has awarded more than $1.2 million to our athletes, thanks to the generosity of Far West Masters members.  This season, more than 50 juniors applied, and 38 awardees were selected based on a combination of citizenship, work ethic, academic scholarship, financial need, and race results.  The funds awarded are only used for race-related expenses during the race season, and we continue to sponsor many of the athletes for a number of years.  Some of them go on to race in college, on the US Ski Team, and several have competed in the Olympics.  
 
Some interesting facts:  Of this year’s athletes, the youngest is 13, while the oldest is 20.   One now skis out of Steamboat, and another from Snow Summit.   In the Sierra resorts, Squaw, Mammoth, and Sugar Bowl produced 31 of the recipients, with Northstar, Mt. Rose, and Diamond Peak making up the rest.  When you ride up a chair with a young racer, be sure to ask them if they are aware of our program, and encourage them to apply.
 
The 10 years of the Jeff Wattenmaker College Scholarship program have ended, having awarded each of 13 recipients $10,000 over 4 years.  In addition to the FWM Scholarship Program, the new Masters College Scholarship Program has been created.  The first recipient is Sophia Staudenmayer, who will attend Boston College. The recipient is chosen based on their combination of (and in order of importance) exemplary work ethic, academic scholarship, citizenship, and financial need. The program is unique in that it is dependent upon your donations.  An anonymous donor will match all contributions up to $10,000, making the potential of $20,000 for this 4-year scholarship.  A “PayPal donate button” has been set up to help you donate:  https://farwestmasters.org/scholarship_program
    
Thanks to all of you who support these unequaled programs with your contributions, your purchase of raffle tickets after many of our races, and your purchases of donated items from our US Ski Team scholarship athletes who give back to our program.  Thanks especially to Chair Eddie Mozen and Board members Doug Fulton and Miles Anderson for their outstanding leadership over many years.  
Far West Masters Contacts
The Forerunner

Have you moved? Please let us know. Send your new address, phone number and email information to:
    Mary Feddis
    P.O. Box 7691
    Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
    Or email membership@farwestmasters.org

Your submissions or photos to this publication are always welcome. Please send articles and/or photos to Hamish Butler, forerunner@farwestmasters.org
Copyright © 2020 Far West Masters Ski Racing Inc, All rights reserved.


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