LAS VEGAS — This desert oasis is known for gambling, entertainment and Hoover Dam — anything but skiing.

But the city is home to a national championship skier, courtesy of 1961 Butler graduate David Phillips.

Phillips, 64, competed in the NASTARNational Ski and Snowboard Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colo., recently and won the championship in the Silver division, age 60-to-64 category.

He beat eight other skiers representing six other states.

There are four divisions, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze, and skiers are placed in their respective divisions based on their handicap.

"The zero handicap is the time of the fastest skier on the United States team,"Phillips said. "You qualify for nationals by finishing among the fastest three skiers in your age group at a participating resort."

NASTAR is an acronym for National Standard Race. Developed by SKIMagazine in 1968, NASTARis the largest recreational ski and snowboard race program in the world, with 1,017 competitors ranging in age from 4 to 90.

Phillips qualified for nationals at two resorts: Wolf Mountain, near Ogden, Utah, where he competed against 30 skiers in his age group, and Deer Valley in Salt Lake City, where he competed against hundreds.

His handicap was listed at 35, meaning he's 35 percent slower than the fastest skier in the country. Skiers ages 60-to-64 who come in with a handicap of 31 to 45 are placed in the Silver division.

Phillips has qualified for and competed at NASTARnationals in each of the last five years.

"Not everyone who qualifies goes,"he said. "Most people won't go unless they believe they have a chance to win."

Phillips finished 17th during his first year at nationals, which also was the first year he skied competitively.

"Imoved to Denver in 1973 and took up skiing then," he said. "It was a fun activity and I've been skiing for 30 years now.

"Just going skiing became a little boring after all those years and I went to watch a ski competition a few years ago. It looked interesting, so I decided to give it a go."

Skiers compete on a modified Giant Slalom course with anywhere from 12 to 20 gates the competitors must maneuver around.

Phillips returned to nationals with better equipment in 2005 and finished 10th. He was fifth in 2006 and claimed fourth place last year.

"He called me after that fourth-place finish and vowed to win it this year," saidhis mother, Helen Phillips. "I sort of laughed that off, then he went out and did it.

"I shouldn't be surprised. The men in this family get what they want athletically when they focus on it."

Phillips' grandfather, James McDowell, is a former Butler football coach and was inducted into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1968. His late father, Harvey Phillips, played football and was a tennis champion in Butler, leading to his Butler Hall induction in 1998.

"David is just following in line,"said Helen Phillips, who still lives in Butler. "They dedicate themselves and they go after it."

Now living in Las Vegas, Phillips drives six hours to Salt Lake City every other weekend to practice and compete in skiing.

He remains an active softball and tennis player as well. He was a swimmer during his high school years.

"I've always been an active person," he said. "My son competes in ski events with me, and my wife enjoys skiing as a recreational activity."

At nationals, Phillips completed the course in 38.43 seconds on the first day of competition, then reached the bottom in 33.20 seconds on the second day.

"Oh, believe me, I'm staying with it,"he said. "Once you get that medal, you want another one. I'll be back to defend my title."