We woke up around dawn, as is typical for race days, and got to enjoy a free breakfast (less typical) courtesy of the folks at Super 8.

After slipping the course, I took a few runs with some other boarders while we waited for our start.We then proceeded to get amped with the traditional boarder pump up, followed by ye olde crushing of the energy drink can.

 The start gate at Bryce is steeper than most, and can be pretty intimidating the first few times, but I’ve actually come to like it. It helps you get some speed and I think it helps get me in the right mindset for the rest of the run. Between runs we tucked into a lovely lunch provided by the Drumhellers and mingled in the lodge. By the time we took our second run, it had warmed up significantly, which allowed for some exciting racer fashions.

The alumni tore it up:

…and were rewarded at the finish with a storm of snowballs.

This is definitely my favorite picture from the weekend.

When the race was done, we sang the Good Ol’ Song, which incidentally, I didn’t actually learn until I started racing with VASST, and which has never made me feel more proud and connected to UVa than it does in this context. That night we all gathered for food and festivities at the house the alums had rented.

This weekend was a perfect example of everything I love about VASST.

 I got to spend time with some of my favorite people at UVa, meet some new friends, and hang with the alumni. Taking runs with the lady boarders was a blast as usual, and (by my standards) I even had a pretty good race. All in all, it was an awesome time. I’m so glad to be a part of this organization and thankful for all the friendly, hilarious, and memorable people it’s brought into my life. Friends, you da bes’.

Sachi “blogging>homework” Ainge

It started raining early Saturday, and didn’t let up for most of the morning at the mountain. Personally, I’ll take slush over ice any day, but things got a little ridiculous on the slopes, with patches of grass and dirt visibly poking out through the melting snow.

Like last year, there was also a good deal of fog, especially near the top of the mountain. This presented an interesting challenge throughout the weekend—both for the novice skiers and boarders who flock to Beech, and for us racers who had to navigate around the multitude of fallen bodies scattered across the few open runs. Due to snow conditions (or general lack thereof), a lot of us ended up running the course just once on Saturday before the second half of that day’s race got cancelled.

Slipping the course

Sunday was better in that it didn’t rain, but the damage was done, and the fog remained. Skiers ran the slalom course, but the ruts, slush, and mud resulted in a fair amount of DNFs, and the snowboarders’ second GS ended up being cancelled altogether.

Luckily, we were pretty well-equipped in the lodge.

I was talking to some other VASSTers, and we came to the conclusion that this has been the first incidence of climate change directly and negatively impacting us. And we don’t like it. The area around Beech was pretty sad, lots of closed ski rental shops and signs advertising unnecessary snow tires.  It’s not just North Carolina either. At practice last week, Wintergreen had exactly two runs open, and the slope we usually use for race training was straight grass. At this rate, I’m willing to bet that most of the mountains we ride in the USCSA Southeastern Conference will cease to be ski resorts in the next 20-30 years. It’s some scary stuff.

I did some research and it looks like other snow lovers are getting concerned too. Professional boarder Jeremy Jones founded Protect Our Winters in 2007, and in 2009 they produced a short film with Teton Gravity Research called Generations. Give it a look if you have some down time or need an excuse to put off your homework for a little longer.

Doomsday speeches aside, it really was a fun weekend. Hanging with the team at races is always a good time, and in the long run, I’d definitely rather be free riding some slush on a Sunday morning than sitting in my room contemplating a textbook. So let’s remember that as we gripe about the conditions this season, and start getting serious about doing what we can to help keep snow sports around for years to come. My kids need to be shredders.

Sachi “stoked to see some VASST alums tear it up this weekend” Ainge

Last week about eighty of us carpooled up to Maine to spend five jam-packed days skiing, boarding, bonding, and of course, raging.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with VASST’s Sunday River trip, the average day includes waking up in the wee hours of the morning to meet our instructors on the slopes at 9.

Heel-side action at Barker

The staff at Sunday River is awesome, and because we break up into smaller groups, everyone has the advantage of getting some crucial one-on-one pointers. We ride/ski in our groups for about 6 hours, shredding it up from White Cap to Jordan Bowl, and breaking for lunch.

So far, it’s been a pretty warm winter worldwide, but my instructor Chris told us that Sunday River currently has more runs open than just about anybody else, which I thought was pretty impressive.

 And even though it wasn’t nearly as cold as last year, we still got a great storm last Thursday, and got to ride some powder (which, incidentally, can be pretty exhausting if you’re not used to it).

As the sun goes down, we head back to our respective houses for some dinner, relaxation, and maybe hot-tubbing before gathering at the Maine House for the evening festivities and eventually to bed so we can do it all again.

It was an exhilarating/exhausting week to be sure, and if you didn’t make it this year and are considering it for next year, I’d definitely recommend it. It’s a great way to get to know the team, spend time with your friends, and get some quality instruction, all while riding snow that would make Wintergreen weep with jealousy. Just sayin’.

No sooner were we back in Charlottesville than it was time to leave again, this time to Boone, NC, for the first race of the season at Sugar Mountain. Not much snow on the race course (grass patches, anyone?), but it was a beautiful day, and nice to get back into the swing of racing.

Shout out to my lady boarders!

Mitch (President) and Sara (Women’s Snowboard Captain)

If you’re interested, race results can be viewed at www.live-timing.com, just click “View Races” and search the race date (1/15 for skiers, 1/16 for boarders) and look for the USCSA logo.

All in all, it’s been a busy week and a half, but I’m so excited that snowboarding season is finally here. Classes started today, practices start tomorrow, and I’m ready to ride!

See you on the slopes!

Sachi “praying for snow” Ainge

Thanks so much to everybody who made it out to the tailgate on Saturday! The rain finally cleared up, and it was a beautiful day here in Charlottesville. We had a record turnout of alumni, including three former presidents (shout outs to Christian, Zev, and Kate!), and a great showing by the class of 2011. It was so nice to see you all, and it brought back some warm fuzzy memories of races and VASST fun this past spring. The food from Paulie’s Pig Out was a big hit, and I’m not surprised, the scent of chicken and barbecue pork wafting through my car as I drove back from picking it up in Afton on Saturday morning was nothing short of heavenly. We even won the game! All was right with the world.

It was also really awesome to see so many fresh faces! I’m so glad so many new members made it out, and I hope you all had a chance to chat with some VASST alums and to hear what makes people fall in love with this team.

More highlights after the jump!

Come one, come all to the VASST Homecomings Tailgate 2011!

Everyone was in their game day best

Cooper and Becca, back from the real world to share some smiles.

The man with the plan. This event wouldn’t have been possible without all the help I received from our treasurer Laurance.

Thanks bud!

Women’s Snowboarding captain Sara Chiaravalle, looking cute.

Former Men’s Snowboarding captain Michael Downey, doing the same.

Get to know this face, it’s the face of VASST greatness 2012.

And for anyone who doesn’t know yet, this is me on the right, stoked to see Baxter!

Say hi if you see me around, I’d love to hear what you think of the blog.

Hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

Alumni, don’t be strangers! We’d love to see you all again before the Alumni Race at Bryce (Jan 28-29th).

Sachi “deposit down on Sunday River, snuggling with my snowboard” Ainge

It’s getting to be that time of year again–time for the ‘Hoos to come together and rage like undergrads (or for those of us who still are, rage like it’s the weekend)! That’s right friends, Homecomings Weekend is coming up, and on Saturday, October 15th, VASST is having a tailgate, and you’re all invited! We’ll have food, cornhole, and all kinds of beverages to get you amped for the game against Georgia Tech.

Where, you might ask, can I partake in such festivities?

Why, in the back yard of 320 14th Street of course!

Things will get rolling around 1:00 PM, so come on out and reconnect with old friends, make some new ones, and celebrate the glory that is VASST!

Hope to see you there!

Sachi “doesn’t know jack about football” Ainge

I’m Sachi, I’m a third year and a boarder, and I’ll be the VASST historian/blogger for the 2012 season and the months leading up to it. I’m from Hawaii, but I’m excited to be back in Virginia and getting back into school and snowboarding. Looking forward to hanging out with old friends, making new ones, and documenting what promises to be an epic year with the best team on grounds.

So, without further ado…

Yesterday, VASST went to the activities fair. It was a beautiful day, and we were posted up in the sunny amphitheater spreading the VASSTy word. For those of you who didn’t make  it, see what you missed out on after the jump.

As usual, the fair had a huge turnout, the lawn and amphitheater were packed!

Our fearless leader Mitchell Oliver was present,

and there was no shortage of VASST hotties

(of the male variety as well)

I got to bust out my body paint, had a lot of fun painting the team

Rachel was all smiles,

and Crockett just wanted to make sure you purchased your tickets…

….to the GUN SHOW

There was an attempted ski pallanquin

Laurance set a stylish example of sun safety,

and Dave said unto the first years, “Thou shalt ski!”

I’m going to go ahead and say VASST repped the hardest…

and this was potentially the historic first planking of the amphitheater!

We were enthusiastic to the last,

but after a long day, even the steeziest need to relax.

So, first years, if you still aren’t convinced that we’re the team for you, come to one of our info sessions. They’re on September 7th and 8th at 7pm in Clark 108. Hope to see you!

aaaaloha,

Sachi “earthquakes are no big for islanders” Ainge

This is the new blog for VASST, the Virginia Alpine Ski and Snowboard Team.  We are a student organization for skiing and snowboarding at the University of Virginia, and our racers compete in the Southeast Conference of the USCSA.

We have a radical website coming soon that is going to host everything legit; here you’ll find a more casual documentation of our adventures.

Get stoked for the 2011-2012 season!

Contact uvasst@gmail.com with any questions/comments.