How to Join

Note: USSA masters license renewal notices for the 2013 season were sent to all current competitors in July. New racers can get a copy of the license application for the USSA web site the (see the USSA Master's License section below) or use Online Registration at ussa.org. The Far West membership application for the 2012-2013 season was sent to all recent members along with the fall issue of the Forerunner newsletter in September - see the Far West Membership section below for details and application). You will receive the fall newsletter and renewal package mailing if you have been a paid FW Masters member anytime in the past 5 seasons.

For adult, NASTAR, club racers, and good skiers in general, Masters ski racing is a new challenge. It's USSA sanctioned racing - more competitive and more fun. We welcome racers of all levels - from beginners who enjoy exciting race courses, to former Olympians, U.S. Team Members and everyone in between. The competition is exhilarating! Click here to learn more...

Briefly, competitors MUST have a USSA license in order to compete, either a masters license or a weekend license - this is essential for insurance purposes. Competitors also MUST provide proof of primary medical insurance coverage on either USSA license application. Competitors who race more than one weekend per season must also join Far West Masters, which provides benefits such as a permanently assigned stretch bib, a subscription to our regularly-published newsletter, and eligibility for season awards, along with access to special member offers and members-only features on this web site.

Eligibility

Men and women aged 21 and over may compete in the Far West Masters Ski Racing Series. A USSA masters competition or weekend license is required; membership in the Far West Masters is required if you race more than one weekend. Details are provided in the following sections.

USSA Masters License

A USSA Alpine Masters competition license should be obtained by all competitors participating on a regular basis in Far West Masters division races. A full masters license is required in order to compete in Regional or National championship events as well as for international masters competitions.

For racers who wish to compete only in a specific competition, a temporary weekend license may be obtained at registration on the morning of the event for races held within the division. A temporary license is $25 and is limited to one weekend per season. It's a good way to "get your toes wet" before deciding to commit to a full license for season-long participation; the temporary license payment will be credited towards your masters license fee.

For more information about USSA membership and competition licenses, visit the Alpine Masters section of the USSA web site. If you need any clarification of which license and dues options to select on the USSA application form, please see the explanation of different licenses and dues information below.

Links to the USSA application forms are provided here, or use Online Registration at ussa.org.

Note: The USSA forms are PDF documents. If you have problems accessing or printing these forms, please refer to the information on the Help page on how to obtain the free download of Adobe Reader for viewing PDF documents.

IMPORTANT: You will need to provide proof of medical insurance coverage for a USSA license, so have your insurance card with carrier and policy number available when you fill out a USSA license application. If you are signing up for a weekend license at race day registration, please arrive a bit early to fill out the application and please have your insurance card - we have to be strict about ensuring that this information is properly filled in on the application or we risk losing the option of having weekend licenses.

Far West Membership

Membership in the Far West Masters is required if you race more than one weekend in the season. Your Far West Masters membership includes a permanently assigned stretch racing bib, detailed race schedule, our regularly published newsletter, and eligibility for season awards, along with access to members-only offers and features on this web site.

Please send a check for your membership dues payable to Masters Series Ski Racing along with a completed membership application to the address on the form. Renewing members: please return your forms by October 31, 2012 - thanks!!

Note: The Far West membership application is provided as a PDF document. If you have problems accessing or printing these forms, please refer to the information on the Help page on how to obtain the free download of Adobe Reader for viewing PDF documents.

De-Confusing Licenses and Membership

The different licenses and separate membership records of the Far West Masters and USSA is a perennial point of confusion for both our FWM competitors and the USSA membership staff in Park City. Many's the time that a competitor has arrived on race morning and forlornly declared "But I sent in my membership months ago, why don't you have me on the membership list?!". Here's why that can happen and what YOU can do to prevent this tragedy!!

Far West Masters - we're the ones that organize masters races in the Far West, assign your permanent stretch bib, and produce the regular newsletter The Forerunner and this web site. Send your FWM membership to Marcie Pettigrew, our membership chairperson, in Mammoth Lakes, CA. (See the Contacts page for her contact info) or send an email to membership@farwestmasters.org.

USSA - USSA is the sanctioning body for organized ski competition in the US. By operating as part of USSA, we hold our races to the rules and standards consistent with regional, national, and internation ski competition. USSA also provides the liability and secondary accident insurance which is absolutely critical to being able to organize our events. You MUST have a USSA masters competition license (or a temporary weekend license) to compete in any Far West Masters event. Send your USSA license application to USSA headquarters in Park City, UT.

What you need to sign up for on your USSA application: You want a Masters license. You do NOT need a Competitor license or to pay Far West division dues UNLESS you intend to compete in non-masters races in the Far West. Some of our racers do compete with the juniors in their events, but those people know who they - most of us masters don't want or need the general USSA competition license.

Notes for Officials: if you are a licensed official, you DO need to pay Far West division dues if you will be officiating for any division (juniors) races or participating in the Far West officials clinic or related activities. If you definitely will be officiating only at masters competitions and are receiving your officials training solely through clinics organized by the masters, you will be required by the USSA system to pay the additional Far West division dues along with your officials dues; you may request a refund from Far West Masters so that our officials are not unduly burdened by additional costs.