The idea of introducing ski racing to the recreational skier was the "brain child" of Gene Bentley (Schnee Vogeli Ski Club) 20 years ago. With the encouragement of then PNSA Director Pat Fuller (Cascade Ski Club), Gene attended a weekend seminar in Colorado Springs hosted by the United States Ski Association (USAA). He then called a group of racers and race officials into his conference room, and a new Mt. Hood adult racing league was "hatched." Ski club members Beth Hauser (Plaza), Gene Hatfield and Danny Hummel (Schnee Vogeli), and Jeannie Hummel, Kathi Snouffer and Diane Hicks (Skiyente) spent many hours looking over the race rules of several different recreational leagues from the Eastern, Mid-West and Far West sections of USSA. Several late nights and 97 pots of coffee later, this pack drafted rules to fit the profile of the Mt Hood skier.

PACRAT was the "brain child" of Gene Bentley (Schnee Vogeli Ski Club)

The name of this new league, suggested by Bentley, 

The name of this new league, suggested by Bentley, was "Portland Area Clubs Recreational Alpine Teams": thus PACRAT was born. The group decided to run this new league through NWSCC, with the understanding that the competitors would come from the member clubs of NWSCC. The original idea was to hold five competitions at the three major ski areas on Mt Hood. Each race team would consist of six racers with four subs; there would be seven classifications of racers (Beginner to Elite); each class would be awarded to fifth place with pins; and points would be given to the first 25 finishers which went towards the total team score. An official Logo was needed, which was proposed and designed by Danny Hummel: a pin with Mt. Hood in red, white and blue, showing 1st through 5th place. After months of fine tuning, the first season was launched.