Racing
WPRC is a local US Ski & Snowboard (USSS) and Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association (PARA) ski racing club. WPRC hosts both regional and state level races throughout the race season. All races hosted by WPRC (except the Year End Derby) are USSS sanctioned races. Avalanche Slope is USSS homologated for Slalom (SL) and Giant Slalom (SL). Gunnar Slope is USSS homologated for Super G (SG).
Our athletes primarily race the technical events of Slalom and Giant Slalom. During post season events, our athletes compete in both technical and speed events such as Super G. We introduce Super G training components into our standard free-skiing and gate training for our older athletes (U14+) throughout the season.
The following page provides a summary of how our race season is structured, and explains how athletes compete in regional events in order to qualify for state and then regional championships.
Race Season Summary
In general, the race season for WPRC athletes comprises of Regional Races ("regular season"), which are open to all competitors and qualify athletes to PARA State Championships ("states"). From the PARA State Championships, athletes can qualify for USSS Eastern Regional events ("post season"). The following table summarizes the race season by age group for USSS races. For event details, please refer to the club race calendar.
1. Regional Races
2. State Championships
3. Eastern Regionals
U10
- 5 Regional Races
- U10 / U12 WPRC Derby (WPRC Only) @ 7 Springs
- None
- None
U12
- 5 Regional Races
- U10 / U12 WPRC Derby (WPRC Only) @ 7 Springs
- PARA State Championships @ Ski Roundtop
- Fancis Piche Invitational @ Gunstock, NH
U14
- 5 Regional Races
- PARA State Championships @ 7 Springs
- Eastern Championships
- Fancis Piche Invitational @ Gunstock, NH
- Eastern Finals
U16
- 4 Regional Races
- PARA State Championships @ Blue Mt.
- Eastern Championships
- Eastern Finals
- High School Championships
U18+
- U18/U21's are eligible to race in all Western Region Races, but are not required for post season qualification
- 2 PA Cups @ 7 Springs
- 3 PA Cups @ Blue Mt.
- 3 PA Cups @ Elk Mt. (U18 / U21 PARA State Team announced last day)
- Eastern Finals
- High School Championships
Regional Races
WPRC competes in the Western Region of PARA against 3 other race programs: Blue Knob, Hidden Valley, and Wisp. PARA Western regional races are open to all athletes and do not require any qualification. Athletes compete in their regional races in order to qualify for PARA State Championship events.
PARA State Championships
From the regional races, athletes in the U12, U14, and U16 age groups are able to qualify to PARA State Championship (previously known as a PARA State “Derby”) to compete against the best athletes across the 4 regions of PARA. The State Championship events are 2-3 day events at the end of February and beginning of March. They are a great opportunity for our athletes to meet competitors from across the state and race on new terrain. For details on the PARA State Championships and the regional quotas for each age group and gender, please refer to the following websites:
At this time, U10’s do not have a PARA State event. To make up for this, and to allow all our U10 and U12 athletes to have a year-end event, WPRC hosts the “WPRC Year End Derby” on the morning of the Year End Banquet. This race is open to just WPRC athletes (and future hopefuls!), and the race is put on by all the older athletes in the program. After the kids finish racing, the fun usually continues with festive activities such an across the mountain scavenger hunt.
U18 & U21 do not have any regional PARA qualifiers. As opposed to having one weekend of State Championships to decide post-season qualification to USSS Eastern events, their Championships is a series of 8 races over 3 weekends. The series is known as the PA Cups. PA Cups are open to all U18 and U21 athletes. The Governor’s Cup (the top male / female athlete across all 8 races) and post-season qualification for U18 & U21 athletes are all announced at the final weekend of PA Cups held at Elk Mountain.
Eastern Regional Championships
US Ski & Snowboarding (USSS) Regions
PARA competes in the Eastern Region of USSS against 7 other states (also known as "Divisions"). From the PARA State Championship events, athletes are named to the PARA State Team and are able to qualify to USSS Eastern Regional Events to compete against the best athletes in the Eastern Region of the US. Eastern Regional events are multi-day events, usually held in New England in the middle of March.
Please note that the USSS Eastern Region does not currently organize a regional event for U12 athletes. However, Gunstock Ski Club has hosted the Francis Piche Invitational in southern New Hampshire for many years now, and this has become the premier Eastern Regional event for U12's. You will not find information for this event on the USSS website, but instead, you will need to refer to the Gunstock Ski Club's website for information.
For details on the USSS Eastern events, please refer to the following websites:
- USSS Eastern Region
- USSS Eastern Region Events & Programs - Includes race announcements and registration information for regional events.
- Francis Piche Invitational
Western Pennsylvania Race Club (WPRC) is a successfully run ski program based at Seven Springs. The club has been in operation since 1962. WPRC promotes the development of youth athletics through alpine ski racing.