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Show Paqe6 5 Thursday, December 14, 1978 Pros Now In 10th Year Bob :Many sports observers laughed at the idea of a professional ski racing circuit. cir-cuit. They said it would never last. They said that in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and again in 1976. Recently, however, the pessimistic prophesy for professional skiing has vanished, and the ski industry in-dustry is happy to celebrate the tenth anniversary of World Pro Skiing this winter. - During the 1960s, several people tried and failed to successfully organize and operate ski racing on the professional level. Then in 1969, came Bob Beattie. Beattie had just concluded nine years at the helm of the U.S. Ski Team, during which time he elevated American ski competition from obscurity ob-scurity to international prominence, marked by Olympic medals and World Cup triumphs. , " Beattie founded World -Wide Ski Coproration that summer, and under its rauspices, he created World Pro Skiing and also assumed the administration of the infant in-fant NASTAR program. -- Beattie strongly believed tin the concept of ski racers competing for prize money, 5to make a living from their 3ove and dedication to the Ssport. He believed that the general public could enthusiastically en-thusiastically enjoy the dual -racing format. And he believed that America should be pro racing's home 3-ather than Europe, which Ewas dominated by the nationalistic World Cup, or 'so-called amateur circuit, i The first season found -World Pro Skiing events in iboth North America and -Europe. A total of $92,500 "was offered to those racers Svho elected to turn professional, and American JBilly Kidd became the "sport's first champion and "spokesman. The late Spider Sabich and Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy were to follow, adding credibility and a sound foundation for the future of World Pro Skiing. The sport was, is and always will be dependent on corporations willing to contribute con-tribute prize and promotional dollars in exchange ex-change for exposure to the young affluent ski population. That fact almost proved the "doomsdayers" , correct when in 1975, the tour's major sponsor, Benson Ben-son and Hedges, elected to change marketing strategy, resulting in the tour's prize money purse dropping from $400,000 to a four-year low of $340,000 in 1976. .r Beattie's halfback moves H. through the corporate world j in search of diversity among sponsors pumped the tour's payroll up to $425,000 in the winter of 1976-77, and then to ia record $580,000 last winter. P; He and his organization were j 'able to book every available v"! weekend with a pro race, firmly establishing World s Pro Skiing on the limited ' roster of international professional sports. Helping to win popularity .for World Pro Skiing has been its exciting formatperfect for-matperfect for spectators and television coverage. The giant slalom and slalom each begins wnen two horse race type starting gates fx Beattie and two competitors jump onto the mountainside skiing identical, parallel courses. The skiing gladiators battle their way through a forest of bamboo obstacles planted in the snow several yap Is apart. They fly off two jr three man-made jumps, and sprint across the finish line where the time by which one racer beats the other is measured to the thousandth of a second. The pair ski a second run, exchanging courses. The man who wins by the greater margin advances to the next round of the tennis style ladder. lad-der. Twelve runs are required to reach the victory stand and claim the first place check. The downhill format Beat-tie Beat-tie introduced to pro racing last season spawned new and heightened interest for the circuit. Two daring runs are required in downhill, with the rf combined time deteriming the finish order. The suspense builds throughout, and as in the giant slalom and slalom, the outcome is not decided until the final descent is completed. com-pleted. Beattie's association with ABC-TV as a sports commentator com-mentator has helped bring World Pro Skiing into the homes of millions of Americans through its frequent exposure on Wide World of Sports. NBC's Sports World also began covering World Pro Skiing meets last winter, and Canadian television broadcasts all events held in that country to its national audience. A unique radio operation, the Winter Sports Network, broadcasts live coverage of World Pro Skiing races to about sixty ski communities from New England to Southern California. Beattie has always envisioned en-visioned the top pro racers being nurtured on smaller pro circuits using the World Pro Skiing format, as opposed op-posed to the amateur national teams. That vision has begun to take form with the recent expansions of regional or "B" pro circuits. The World Wide Ski Corporation Cor-poration run NASTAR (NAtional STAndard Race) program has also added to the increased public awareness and acceptance of ski racing as part of the American skiing experience. NASTAR, run at about 100 U.S. ski areas, is the largest recreational ski racing program in the world. It is ski racing designed for all skiers of all ages and abilities. Since its genesis in 1969, World Pro Skiing has awarded awar-ded more than $3,000,000 to the world's best professional ski racers. This season, the prize money total will be in the neighborhood of $600,000. With sponsor bonus and endorsement en-dorsement dollars, this winter's win-ter's World Pro Skiing champion stands to earn approximately ap-proximately $200,000. Add to all of that John Denver's second annual star-studded Celebrity Pro Am, additional downhill events and the toughest roster to competitors from throughout the world, and the picture is clear that the tenth anniversary of World Pro Skiing will be a jubilant one. TThe coach of the new yopk islanders says THAT HIS RIGHT WING MIKE BOSSY OWNS 7HE FASTEST HANDS HE'S EVER SEEN BOSSY WS VOTED "ROOKIE OF THE YEAR" BECAUSE OF HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES ON THE ICE LAST SEASON. HE SNOT 53 GOALS, which MADE HIM HIGHEST SCORING ROOKIE m I I THE 60-YR. HlbiUKY I I OF THE NATIONAL U HOCKEY LEAGUE. ONLY 6 OTHER. PLAYERS IN THE N.H.L. HAVE EVER. HAD A 50-GOAL SEASON. MIKE WAS SECOND ONLY TO GUY LA FLEUR, OF MONTREAL, WHO LED WITH 60 S' If Silver Kings Bow To Flyers Silver King Wire Service Sunday nigm ihc Par it City Silver King Hockey Club, played a losing 6-4 effort to the Flyers of Salt Lake. It was a close game for two periods, ending with a 3-2 Park City lead, but the third period was all Flyers. Salt Lake put in four unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead with four minutes to play. Very slow ice was a distinct factor in the game, making puck control difficult dif-ficult at times. Even though "both teams skated hard there was a noticeable Flyer edge in puck possession. Also, Park City had considerable con-siderable trouble at times clearing the puck out of their zone and sustaining a serious offensive threat. Randy Lewis opened the coring in the first period with a goal from in front of the net. The Flyers scored elmition Responsibilities Reprinted from The Enterprise Thp Utah Ski Association aU factors which they can is hoping state lawmakers next year will approve legislation which will more clearly define the responsibilities respon-sibilities between the ski areas and the skiers, themselves. them-selves. With passage of such a measure, the Ski Association along with various ski resorts, resor-ts, are hoping to avoid massive lawsuits by skiers who break a leg or arm or worse while skiing down Utah's slopes. Raivo Puusemp, executive director for the Utah Ski Association, says the proposed law will not prevent ski areas from being sued, but will give courts the basis for more rational judgements than a $1.5 million verdict issued in Vermont as the result of an accident that occurred four years ago. The Vermont case involved in-volved a man who fell while skiing at Stratton Mountain. The skier, who had apparently apparen-tly been drinking, broke his neck and became paralyzed from the waist down. He then sued the resort for $1.2 million. The Vermont Superior Court awarded the skier $1.5 million, and that was upheld by the state's Supreme Court. Although this decision does not have legal bearing elsewhere, Puusemp believes other judges could use the case as a precedent. "It's basically a problem of deciding where the responsibility lies," says Puusemp. "Skiing is a thrilling sport. It offers the skier an opportunity to challenge himself. Along with that challenge comes some risk and responsibility. That responsibility is at the heart of the liability legislation. "Presently ski areas are being held liable for surface conditions, mountain terrain, and irresponsible acts by skiers, all factors which an area operator has no control over, and therefore should bear 'no duty' in litigation. Ski areas are responsible for marking hazards, grading runs, and ACE, Bossy comes from a firm FAMILY OF 12, AND HAILS FPOM I A.VAI . rtIPRpr HF AND MIS WIFE LUCY SHUN THE PU3S, DlSCOS,ETC....LEADA QUIET LIFE. twice to end the first period 2-1. In the second period, Lewis again scored on a good rush down the ice to tie the game 2-2. Then Ron Larson, from the point, put a shot to the goal which handcuffed the goalie, who was screened and hampered by the Park City wings. The third period was a disaster for Park City, which saw four Flyer goals scored without retaliation. Park City ended the scoring when they won a face-off in the circle to the right of the net in Flyer territory, getting the puck back to Tim Miller at the point. The defenseman sent a hard drive to the net which the goalie lost in his pads. The next game will be December 17 at 3:30 in the Salt Palace. control. For years they have done this voluntarily." Puusemp says the legislature should reestablish re-establish the inherent risk in ski area injury cases, to reduce the amount of unnecessary un-necessary litigation. "Litigation, no awards, is responsible for the frightening increases in the ski area insurance premiums, in some cases up 400 percent from just a few years before," he explains. According to Puusemp an audit conducted by a national ski areas association of American Home and Lloyds' of London (the only two remaining insurance in-surance carriers for ski area liability insurance) shows that insurance premiums account for from three to five percent of ski area operating budgets. Sixty percent of that premium, he says, goes to litigation, not awards, and more litigation than ever is forecast. "This bill will reduce costly litigation in those cases involving ski area negligence, and will enable insurance companies to more accurately fix risk factors fac-tors in ski area insurance and thereby reduce premiums," concluded Puusemp. Ray Hixon, president of Snowbird, says he favors the bill even though more responsibility is legally placed on his resort. "The only, thing we're legally held by now is the Utah Tramway Act (1060). All that provides for is safety of the skier up to the top of the mountain. With this legislation, we'll be held accountable ac-countable for things such as trail markings, obstacles and hazards. But at least that will clearly define what we're responsible for and what the skier is responsible for." Hixon adds that he currently curren-tly pays iou,ouo a year for liability coverage. Currently 11 states have passed similar legislation and, according to Puusemp. another ten states hav recognized the problem in case law. Woodcock First In NASTAR Doug Woodcock, 27, Dec. 5 won the NASffAR ski racing pacesetting trials in Vail, Colorado after injuring his right ankle Monday night playing racquetball. He was far enough ahead after Monday's Mon-day's four heats so he needed to run only two of Tuesday's remaining three heats to clinch the Schlitz trophy as fastest male racer. Linda Davis, 22, racing for Snowbird resort in Utah, won the Schlitz trophy as fastest female racer. She is from Hamburg, New York. She won six of the seven timed heats. Woodcock, a Canadian racing here for Sun Valley resort in Idaho, turned his ankle playing racquetball with Paul Carson, also a pro racer. He treated the injury with ice and still managed to beat everyone. Thus, he is NASTAR's zero handicap skier. His zero will stand through four remaining NASTAR trials over the next two weeks in the midwest and east, unless someone comes up with better times. Hundreds of the nation's top skiers will compete in the trials, earning handicaps which they in turn use at 97 NASTAR ski areas to set "par" against which recreational skiers race. NASTAR ( NAtional STAndard STAn-dard Race) is the nation's largest ski racing program. It is sponsored by the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Company, Pepsi and Bonne Bell and is administered by Bob Beattie of Aspen, Colorado. Tyler Palmer, another top pro, was more seriously hurt when he fell near the bottom of the course and hurt his knee. He is expected to be ready for the start of the pro season next week in Aspen, however. Bob Davis, 22, of Kirkwood "Meadows Ski ' Area, in California, got a 3 handicap here. He was zero handicap-per handicap-per last week at the trials at Alpine Meadows, California. Davis was drafted as a pitcher pit-cher by the Pittsburgh Pirates in June while a student at the University of Utah. He reported here that his baseball management was objecting to his ski racing. He pitched for the class A Cbaleston (S.C.) Pirates this past summer. Tuesday's races were run in a heavy snowstorm. Combineds Train At Steamboat Members of the U.S. Nordic Nor-dic Combined Team began a two week training camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Montiay December Decem-ber 4, 1978. Led by "A" Team member Walter Malmquist, Post Mills, Vermont, the five-man group; Pat Ahern, Breckenridge, Colorado, Gary Crawford, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Glenn Joyce, Laconia, New Hampshire Hamp-shire and Kerry Lynch, Grand Lake, Colorado, will jump on the famed Howelson Hill ski jumps which were rebuilt last year. They will ski on excellent crosscountry cross-country trails in the vicinity of Mt. Werner. Head Coach Jim Page said, "The team is fortunate to have such excellent facilities for training. We are concentrating on jumping here because the jumps are the best in the U.S. and the team members have had ex-cellent ex-cellent cross-country training during November. I am pleased with the progress of the team to date and I think we will begin th show some depth in Nordic Combined by 1980." The team is preparing for. the first Nordic Combined competition of the season in Winter Park, Colorado on December 9th then will return to Steamboat for a cross-country race on the 12th. The abundant snow in Northern Colorado is giving the athletes a challenge uj keeping the jumps prepared, however, once the snow lets up the training is expected to. be excellent. t SAVE TRIPS ELECTRONIC CORDS t PHONO NEEDLES I PHOTO BATTERIES PROJECTION LAMPS DARKROOM SUPPLIES t C.B. 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