Our Mission

The Fairbanks Alpine Ski Club (formerly Moose Mountain Alpine Sports Club) is a youth and young adult alpine ski racing program based at Ski Land but also trains at Moose Mountain and Birch Hill ski areas.

The objective of the program is to teach the elements of alpine ski racing and provide opportunities for the skier to participate in organized racing events and camps.

The philosophy of the program is by developing the skills and technique necessary for ski racing, the result will be highly confident skier in any conditions, with strong technical abilities, that loves to ski for a lifetime. Consequently, our in depth methodological approach focuses on a long term and sustained skill development of state of the art alpine skiing techniques of our members.

History

The Fairbanks Alpine Ski Club (FASC), formerly known as the Moose Mountain Alpine Sports Club (MMASC), is a Fairbanks-wide promoter and developer of youth alpine skiing and all other related snow sports. Our name change was only one piece of the puzzle and valiant efforts to sustain downhill skiing and snow sports in Fairbanks. Fairbanks is home to one of the northern-most locations of organized ski racing in the world. FASC was established in 1993 (as MMASC) with the mission of offering alpine ski racing and coaching to children and young adults in interior Alaska, at Moose Mountain Ski Area. Ski racing, a thriving sport in Fairbanks since the sixties, at one time had as many as 100 kids total, enrolled in two ski programs (MMASC+FAST). Ski racing certainly has had its challenges to overcome during years of low snow, extremely cold winters, and fluctuations in program participation. Nevertheless, FASC has prevailed over these challenges and has continued to deliver its core mission. Now as FASC, the program keeps adding to the long tradition of the ski team and the fascinating sport of alpine ski racing in Fairbanks. Everyone that has been a member of the ski team can tell the tale of the inspiring atmosphere and camaraderie of a family of lifelong friends year by year.

2022-2023 Board of Directors

  • Reini Neuhauser, President
  • Seth Wilson, Vice President
  • Brendan LaBelle-Hamer, Treasurer
  • Kristen Olive, Secretary
  • Patrick Neubert, Seat E
  • Jim Wessel, Seat F
  • Piotr Kawka, Seat G

Coaches

Reinhard Neuhauser (Head Coach/Program Dir. Dev./Jun.)

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Reini has helped coach since 2005. He was a member of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Ski Team 2002-2005 and NCAA All-Academic. He was a member of the Austrian National University Ski Team 1999-2002 and member of the Upper Austrian Junior National Ski Team and Ski/Sports Academies of Windischgarsten and HIB Saalfelden 1991-1999. He coached and instructed for various ski schools and clubs in Austria as well as the Upper Austrian State Junior Ski Team, and BSFZ (Federal Sports/Ski School) Obertraun. Further, Reini is an International Ski Instructors Association (ISIA) certified ski instructor and was an instructor/demonstrator at Interski 2011 in St. Anton, Austria. His home club in Austria is TSU Pischelsdorf. Reini also has experience working for ski manufacturers such as Fischer- and Kaestle-Skis, he operates a year-round guide service and has worked in economic development in Interior Alaska since 2007. In his past time Reini loves to ski with his daughter, snowmobile, raft, fish, and hunt. His brother Andi also skied for UAA, and has helped coach for FASC at the summer camp.

Katie Liebowitz (Assistant Coach Dev./Jun.)

Katie comes from the east coast and grew up racing at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, New York. After graduating from Northwood School she attended Brown University where she was a member of the NCAA alpine team and All-American in 2016. Katie spent 3 years coaching full time for NYSEF Whiteface U14s before attending school to become a nurse and moving to Fairbanks. Katie Joined FASC as an assistant coach in 2022 and is excited to help the next generation of skiers fall in love with the sport. Off the hill, Katie works as an RN at FMH and enjoys outdoor adventures with her dog, Goose!

Frank Olive (Coach/Program Director Migthy Mites)

Frank grew up ski racing in Minnesota and first started coaching for FASC in the early 2000’s. He loves exploring the mountains on foot or on skis. Climbing and skiing are his main passions when he is not hanging out with his kids. Frank also enjoys exploring Alaska rivers in a kayak, raft and packraft as well as doing bike tours around the world.

Seth Wilson (Assistant Coach)

Seth has been coaching with FASC since 2020. His enthusiasm and passion for skiing carries over to his group on practice day. Seth enjoys skiing so much he crosses over to Nordic skiing during the week when Ski Land is closed. Seth is an avid hunter, builder, and is a former competitive/college wrestler.

Jim Wessel (Assistant Coach)

Jim grew up skiing the mountains of New England. He spent several years racing for Catamount Ski Area in western Massachusetts. Several years later Jim worked as a professional ski patroller at Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau, Alaska.  After Juneau, Jim spent several years skiing with his family in western Colorado. From there Jim moved to Cordova, Alaska and became a board member of the Mt. Eyak Ski Area. Today, Jim is an assistant coach and active member of the board of directors for FASC.

Jay Allyn (Mighty/Mini Mites)

  Jay is a level 3 PSIA ski instructor. He has been coaching Migthy Mites with FASC since 2023. His deep experience coaching and teaching is a great asset to this program. He has worked for Alyeska Resort’s Ski School/Mountain Learning Center and the “Little Rippers”. When he is not skiing he enjoys dog mushing, and in the summer he loves to fly fish and guide on the Kenai.