{"id":156290,"date":"2023-02-22T15:41:22","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T23:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=156290"},"modified":"2023-02-22T15:41:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T23:41:22","slug":"reflections-of-a-pro-ski-race-peering-through-the-looking-glass-at-pro-ski-racing-in-bear-valley-mark-phillips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=156290","title":{"rendered":"Reflections of a Pro Ski Race!  Peering Through The Looking Glass at Pro Ski Racing in Bear Valley.  ~ Mark Phillips"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Bear Valley, CA&#8230;After a forty-year hiatus, professional ski racing reappeared in Bear Valley Resort in the the form of the World Pro Ski Tour (WPST). The event consisted of two days of head-to-head racing on February 11th &amp; 12th. It was deja vu all over again as top skiers once again found themselves on the technically challenging track of \u201cFeather Duster\u201d. accurately referred to as one of, if not, the toughest race hill pro racers ever face. The likes of Jean Claude Killy, Billy Kidd, Spider Sabich and Hank Kashiwa, to name a few, have tested their mettle on this steeply benched piste; offering thrills and spills that pro ski racing provides spectators on the slope and in the comfort of one\u2019s home on TV. The recent race at Bear Valley was no exception!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156296\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n-768x486.jpg 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n-86x54.jpg 86w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n-570x361.jpg 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/331081309_730657052022351_5830575140240712888_n-701x444.jpg 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156298\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-570x380.jpg 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-701x467.jpg 701w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1-1067x712.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156297\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-570x380.jpg 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-701x467.jpg 701w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_5148-1067x712.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WORLD PRO SKI TOUR 2023 | BEAR VALLEY, CA | DAY 1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/I5yHA9gAGVE\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Race Qualifying Footage Starts at about 20 min the 20 min mark in the above video.<\/p>\n<p>The one major deviation to this year\u2019s event was the addition of women competing on the same courses and same day as the men. Furthermore, they are competing for the same amount of prize money as their male counterparts\u2026long over-due and is unique to many ski racing formats across the board of sanctioning bodies, like the F.I.S. (Federation Internationale du Ski). This year\u2019s contingent are comprised of ex-Olympians, National Teamers and collegiate ski racers of both genders.<\/p>\n<p>One athlete of note is Erin Mielzynski. Erin is a 4x Olympian and World Cup slalom winner with multiple podiums and is fresh off the Canadian National Team. I had an opportunity to spend some time with her prior to Sunday\u2019s race. She told me that she really liked Bear Valley and that course was challenging and well-prepared and would be fair for all the competitors throughout the multiple runs pro racers must make to reach the Finals on each day of racing. This was Erin\u2019s second pro race but stated she really liked the flexibility of the racing while enjoying other personal and professional pursuits; unlike the rigid structure of competing and travel on the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>The flip side of Erin\u2019s racing career were two former Bear Valley ski racing athletes both racing on the Tour for the first time; Michelle Morozinski and Karl Arvidsson. They are great skiers in there own right and both had great results as junior ski racers in the Far West Division of the United States Ski Association before college and careers in the private sector tugged on on their speed suits. Both Michelle and Karl said their motivation to race on the pro tour events in Bear Valley was to have fun, see how they stack up against seasoned pros and possibly earn some prize money! I am happy to report both did. They also said they wanted to exit the weekend uninsured\u2026Karl succeeded but I heard Michelle suffered a few tweaks. A speedy recovery to Michelle.<\/p>\n<p>Even though the weather that weekend was windy and cold, the event was great to witness and I am personally gratified pro racing returned to Bear Valley. Not only did it bring back memories of prior pro races at Bear, it made an indelible impression on the current organizers and athletes that Bear Valley is a legit venue for ski racing\u2026especially the head-to-head pro ski racing format.<\/p>\n<p>I also had the opportunity to speak with World Pro Ski Tour CEO, John Franklin. Franklin intimated that they look forward to bringing the Tour back to Bear Valley next season. Of course, in the world of sports marketing and event production, the viability is tied to sponsorship and the equity packaging that appeals to both National and regional companies and organizations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156295\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1.jpg 775w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1-768x1015.jpg 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1-570x753.jpg 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG_4344-1-701x926.jpg 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Franklin has the pedigree, having started his career with IMG\u2026the big dog on the porch of global sports marketing companies. Franklin is up to the challenge and likens the WPST to NASCAR\u2026 home grown in America, exciting to watch and held at historic venues; while the World Cup might be more like Formula One. Fortunately the WPST makes both left AND right turns!<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Franklin has a long and distinguished career in skiing and sports marketing and intimated he and the WPST is looking forward to Bear Valley to once again host \u201cthe white circus\u201d in 2024 and beyond. \u2018Bear Valley did a great job for us and Feather Duster lived up to its reputation as a world-class pro racing venue\u201d, stated Franklin.<\/p>\n<p>Bear Valley\u2019s Director of Operations, Tim Schimke, echoed the WPST sentiments in saying they are looking forward to next season and beyond, Experiencing something that feel happened before is both exciting and appropriate. Deja vu all over again!<\/p>\n<p>####<\/p>\n<p>2023 MAZDA FAR WEST PRO CLASSIC BEAR VALLEY, CA<br \/>\nFebruary 11-12<\/p>\n<p>Results are below&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>OFFICIAL RESULTS Feb 11th<\/p>\n<p>WOMEN &#8211; GIANT SLALOM DAY 1 FEB 11<br \/>\nOFFICIAL RESULTS<br \/>\nERIN MIELZYNSKI<br \/>\nTUVA NORBYE<br \/>\nSONA MORAVCIKOVA<br \/>\nMICHELLE MOROZINSKI<\/p>\n<p>MEN &#8211; GIANT SLALOM DAY 1 FEB 11<br \/>\nOFFICIAL RESULTS<br \/>\nDAVID KETTERER<br \/>\nSIMON KAMMERLANDER<br \/>\nJOACHIM LIEN<br \/>\nKIEFFER CHRISTIANSON<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156292\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1.png 947w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1-277x300.png 277w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1-768x830.png 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1-570x616.png 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.04.48-PM-947x1024-1-701x758.png 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156291\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1.png 857w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1-251x300.png 251w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1-768x918.png 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1-570x681.png 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-11-at-8.05.06-PM-857x1024-1-701x838.png 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>WOMEN &#8211; GIANT SLALOM DAY 2 FEB 12<br \/>\nOFFICIAL RESULTS<br \/>\nERIN MIELZYNSKI<br \/>\nSONA MORAVCIKOVA<br \/>\nTUVA NORBYE<br \/>\nMICHELLE MOROZINSKI<\/p>\n<p>MEN &#8211; GIANT SLALOM DAY 2 FEB 12<br \/>\nOFFICIAL RESULTS<br \/>\nDAVID KETTERER<br \/>\nSIMON KAMMERLANDER<br \/>\nNOLAN KASPER<br \/>\nDREW DUFFY<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156293\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1.png 979w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1-287x300.png 287w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1-768x803.png 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1-570x596.png 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1-701x733.png 701w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.46.11-PM-979x1024-1-30x30.png 30w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-156294\" src=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1.png 910w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1-267x300.png 267w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1-768x864.png 768w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1-570x641.png 570w, https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screen-Shot-2023-02-12-at-10.45.28-PM-910x1024-1-701x789.png 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bear Valley, CA&#8230;After a forty-year hiatus, professional ski racing reappeared in Bear Valley Resort in the the form of the World Pro Ski Tour (WPST). The event consisted of two days of head-to-head racing on February 11th &amp; 12th. It was deja vu all over again as top skiers once again found themselves on the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":156298,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,3,19,20,4,1,28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-156290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-valley","category-business","category-entertainment","category-featured","category-life-style","category-news","category-sports","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/37EC7EB5-A148-463D-AC9B-3593545933EB-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=156290"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156299,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156290\/revisions\/156299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/156298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=156290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=156290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=156290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}