USCSA Newsletter: February 2021

President's Welcome

Needless to say, this season looks nothing like we’ve seen before, but thankfully snow has still fallen across the country and I hope all of you have had a chance to hit the slopes! It’s disappointing that we won’t be getting together in Mammoth next month, but rest assured that we’ll be back bigger and better than ever in 2022. While your team may not be competing like usual, make sure you check out our Virtual Competition (more info below!) or reach out to the USCSA National Office for other ways to engage with our organization. See you on the slopes!
- Chris Shumeyko, USCSA President

Save the Date for the USCSA Virtual Summer Conference - Saturday, June 12! Details to follow.

Virtual Competition

Starting the week of February 15th, USCSA will host a virtual competition open to all college-aged snowsport athletes! Every Monday for five weeks, we’ll release a different on snow and off snow competition for that week. Simply tag USCSA in your entry on Instagram or Facebook and you’ll be entered to win our weekly and season long prizes. Full competition and details will be posted next week, but in the meantime get your best winter outfits ready!

Concussion Training for Coaches and Official

The USCSA is constantly striving to improve its offerings to not only our students, but our coaches and volunteers as well. As part of this effort, the USCSA is piloting a Concussion Training program this year. Please visit the Coach, Official & Volunteer page to learn more and participate!

USSS Masters

A message from US Ski and Snowboard Alpine Masters Manager Lauren Beckos:
The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Masters Race Series are up and running – we would love to have USCSA racers come join us! Depending on the area of the country, some masters have been training since November and racing since December. Many (but not all) races have been moved to midweek and many of our regular venues are still on this season’s schedule. See the 2020-2021 Schedules for All Divisions. Due to the uncertain nature of this season, many race series have eliminated or reduced their membership fees. Some have special rates for college racers.

For the 2020-2021 season, ALL race registration must be done in advance online since there is minimal lodge access and COVID pre-screening is required 24-48 hours prior to every event and daily on each race day. Most race events are U.S. Ski & Snowboard sanctioned and require a short-term, non-scored student, or masters alpine membership; there is also information about other non-sanctioned trainings or events on the individual race series webpages and social media. FIS helmets are not required (they will be starting 2021-2022) but hard ear protection on the helmet is required for GS, SG, and DH. There are no ski requirements. 

For more information for events, training, divisions, getting registered, and rules: usskiandsnowboard.org/masters

​Registration for most events: www.skiracereg.com

I am happy to answer all general masters email inquiries and can help direct you to local contacts as well for each race series. Masters has racers as young as 18 with our oldest racer being 91 this season. Masters member backgrounds include national team, FIS, NCAA, USCSA, high-school racing, NASTAR, and U. S. Ski & Snowboard junior racing, but we also have people every year that try racing for the first time. Masters – is a long game – jump in and out as it works with your lives and careers. I had never raced prior to joining the WPI ski team in college. Since graduating in 2007, I have been racing masters and it has only gotten more fun each year. I had never raced SG or DH until I turned 25 and gave it a try with masters. I try to get in as many powder and race days each season and love playing in the snow with the friends I have made ski racing. 

All the best in slapping plastic and carving turns,
Lauren Beckos (she/her/hers)
lauren.beckos@usskiandsnowboard.org
Alpine Masters Manager
Follow us: @usalpinemasters

Kritic Smartphone App

Two former USCSA athletes want to introduce a new app called Kritic! Kritic is a social media platform that helps athletes progress through critiques on their own videos. The app enables everyone to improve faster through continuous feedback from the community. This is done by crowdsourcing comments and helping each other by critiquing other athletes. Goals from your first video upload could be: 

• Adding more style to your favorite grab
• Landing that kicker for the first time
• Gaining more speed through a section of gates

This new platform is being developed by two USCSA alumni (now volunteers) who need your help to grow the app! If you have any ideas or suggestions for new features, they would love to hear from you! Please email maggie@kriticsports.com

​Be sure to use the #uscsa hashtag on you videos so everyone can see how others are progressing during the season, especially if your school is unable to compete this year. 

Download the app from the Apple app store or Google play store:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kritic/id1530834462
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kriticsports.kritic