All posts by johnjett

Education Resources Posted

A complete repository of USSA/FIS education resources have been posted on our Education Resources page, Check it out!  Prepare for the season with the Update and Review doc or prepare for any clinic and exam with the assorted PPT and PDF files available.  We have also posted ALL of the USSA Master Packet forms available for individual download, or you can get them all from the ZIP file also available on the Master Packet page.

RMSRO Advisory committee fall update

Last spring we conducted the first Advisory Committee Conference Call to discuss how RMSRO can better support the Rocky Mountain Ski Racing community.  Attached you will find the minutes of the meeting for your reference.  The initial meeting was a great success and we’re looking to schedule the fall meeting this next week to follow up on items discussed in the first call and to expand on some of the committee initiatives.

Using the link below please go to the Doodle Pole site and select dates you are available for the fall call.  Options are for Thursday October 6th @ 6:00pm, Saturday October 8th @ 10:00am and Monday October 10th @ 6:00pmTuesday evening I’ll check the results of the Poll and send out details for the call including conference bridge information along with an agenda for the meeting.

http://doodle.com/poll/dnecgt3bqx3ibh55

Thanks again for participating in the RMSRO Advisory committee!

World Cup running over

This coming winter USA will play host to a record number of Alpine World Cup events.  With the traditional opener in Aspen changing with Aspen hosting FIS WC Final, the door was opened for another to jump in and Killington did just that with picking up the traditional Thanksgiving weekend ladies tech events.  Beaver Creek holds onto the men’s speed events but thats not where it ends.

With the aforementioned FIS Finals, Aspen makes its mark in the spring running all events for both genders, including the Nations Team Event.  Backing this up will be more ladies tech with Squaw Valley hosting a World Cup at their legendary 1960 Olympic Winter Games site.

RMD Golf Tournament

18th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament

Friday, September 23, 2016

The COLORADO GOLD MEDAL INITIATIVE

Join us at the Copper Creek Golf Club and enjoy some of the best views of the Rocky Mountains!

This event benefits the Colorado Gold Medal Initiative, an athlete-centered talent development initiative, with the goal of

Copper Creek Golf Club is a Mountain golf course located at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Come and enjoy a chance to play an exquisite

mountain course while supporting one of yourfavorite non-profit organizations.

sustainable Olympic excellence by Colorado athletes in snow sports.

Gold Medal Initiative Update

100% of net funds are given directly back to the athletes and disciplines. Last year, funds assisted:

Colorado’stopAlpine athletesto compete at U16 Nationals.

RMD athletes with a local opportunity for speed training with USST athletes at the Copper Speed Center.

RMD Freestyle athletes gain inverted and off-axis jump qualifications and qualify at 3 separate locations by USSA.

Colorado All-Starathletes who were trainedby top Aerials Coaches at an All-Star Water Ramp Camp.

Top RMD Jumping/Nordic Combined juniors who trained alongside USST, Austria, Norway, and other nationsin

Lillehammer, Norway and at World Juniors.

Aspen World Cup Finals highlight 16 USA World Cup races

CANCUN, Mexico (June 11, 2016) – American ski racing fans are in for another exciting season with the global alpine ski racing tour making four stops in the U.S. in 2016-17, culminating with the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Colorado’s Aspen Snowmass resort. The final schedule was confirmed at the annual International Ski Federation (FIS) Congress on Friday, June 10, with 16 alpine tour starts being awarded to the USA. Killington Resort, Beaver Creek Resort and Squaw Valley will each host World Cup stops before the season ends at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen. After successfully hosting the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2015, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), in conjunction with its resort partners and the FIS, continues to help grow the visibility of alpine ski racing in America.

The World Cup Finals, taking place March 15-19 in Aspen, will feature the top 25 men and women in eight tech and speed events as well as a mixed gender team competition – the newest Olympic event. Aspen is the first U.S. resort to host World Cup Finals since 1997. Aspen, which has been an iconic stop on the tour since 1968, has invested heavily into bringing the season finale event to America, showcasing the sport in one of its most popular venues.

Bringing the World Cup back to the east for the first time since 1991, Vermont’s Killington Resort will host women’s slalom and giant slalom races in November. Beaver Creek, site of the 2015 Word Championships, will once again host the iconic Birds of Prey men’s races in December. The women will return stateside in March to race at Squaw Valley, the resort’s first World Cup since 1969.

“Aspen has been a remarkable partner in a very large scale project to bring the best ski racers in the world to the USA for an end of season festival of the sport,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “It’s an important part of our initiative to increase awareness of ski racing in America.”

“Our resort partners continue to be extremely supportive in showcasing alpine ski racing on home snow,” added Shaw. “Killington, Beaver Creek, Squaw Valley and Aspen are world-class resorts that will put on fantastic events. Many of our athletes grew up training and racing on these hills and they’re excited to have this many opportunities to ski in front of a hometown crowd.”

The 16 alpine starts are part of a total 30 World Cup events across alpine, freeskiing, freestyle and snowboarding in the USA. The USSA and NBC Sports are teaming up once again to put together an extensive TV and live streaming schedule for all of the alpine World Cups. A complete TV schedule for 2016-17 will be announced in this summer.

“With these four World Cup sites, we are taking a huge step in helping to raise the profile of alpine ski racing in America,” continued Shaw. “The engagement we saw in 2015 with the World Championships was unlike anything we’d ever seen and we expect to reach and engage with an even bigger audience this season. It’s a great time to be a ski racing fan.”

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen will highlight a total of 16 U.S. World Cup events in the 2016-17 season. Nine starts will be on the calendar for the Aspen Finals.
  • It is the second highest number of U.S. alpine World Cup events ever (19 events in the 1996-97 season).
  • In November, Killington will host women’s slalom and giant slalom races. It is Killington’s first time hosting a World Cup and the first time the east coast has hosted a World Cup since 1991.
  • Beaver Creek will host the famed Birds of Prey men’s races in December.
  • In March, Squaw Valley will host its first alpine World Cup event since 1969 with women’s slalom and giant slalom races.
  • The 50th World Cup season will conclude in March with the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen. It is the first time a U.S. resort has hosted World Cup Finals since 1997.
  • The Aspen races will include the return of America’s Downhill.
  • Coverage of all the races will be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN. A complete TV schedule will be announced this summer.
  • The Audi FIS Ski World Cup debuted in the U.S. in December 1967 in Franconia, NH. Aspen has been a consistent stop on the tour for many years beginning in 1968.

 

QUOTES

Tiger Shaw, President and CEO, USSA
Aspen has been a remarkable partner in a very large scale project to bring the best ski racers in the world to the USA for an end of season festival of the sport. It’s an important part of our initiative to increase awareness of ski racing in America.

Our resort partners continue to be extremely supportive in showcasing alpine ski racing back on home snow. Killington, Beaver Creek, Squaw Valley and Aspen are world-class resorts that will put on fantastic events. Many of our athletes grew up training and racing on these hills and they’re excited to have this many opportunities to ski in front of a hometown crowd.

With these four sites, we are taking a huge step in helping to raise the profile of alpine ski racing in America. The engagement we saw in 2015 with the World Championships in Beaver Creek was unlike anything we’d ever seen and we expect to reach and engage with an even bigger audience this season. It’s a great time to be a ski racing fan.

John Rigney, Vice President, Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen is one of the world’s iconic ski resorts and a popular stop on the World Cup tour since its inception in 1968. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals is a major focus for Aspen Snowmass and our entire community. We’re proud to bring the world’s best ski racers to town in celebration of athletic achievement, and treat racing’s global fans to an amazing week on and off the slopes in Aspen, Colorado.

Mike Solimano, President and General Manager, Killington
Killington is an ideal venue for World Cup skiing’s return to the east coast. To be considered for this event is a tremendous honor and opportunity for Killington and the surrounding community. We plan to hold the race on our Superstar trail, located adjacent to the K-1 Express Gondola and base area. Snowmaking infrastructure on this trail received significant upgrades this summer and this November race will allow us to showcase our world-class snowmaking system. Killington is thrilled to represent the entire state of Vermont to the international ski market.

Andy Wirth, President and CEO, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
As a mountain community, we are hosting this event to inspire the next generation of ski racers. There is nothing like watching a group of young athletes standing there in the finish corral looking up and truly being motivated by the best athletes in the world. With 1,500 kids in our race program and countless others in the region, this is the stage we must set for them to achieve their goals, in ski racing or otherwise.

Mike Imhof, President and CEO, Vail Valley Foundation
We always look forward, as an organizer and a community, to the annual Birds of Prey in Beaver Creek. Our recent World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek in 2015 was an opportunity to dramatically raise the profile of alpine ski racing with record spectators and broadcast audiences. The Vail Valley Foundation and Beaver Creek Resort are proud to be a part of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup and to be kicking off an exceptional World Cup calendar with Birds of Prey this year.

Atle Skårdal, Women’s Alpine World Cup Race Coordinator, FIS
We’ll have great, exciting races at Aspen. It has been a classic downhill during the spring tour in the past. It will be good to see the men race on that hill again. In Aspen we will experience something very exciting for the sport and very memorable in terms of the event program they’re going to produce.

Everyone’s really excited about Killington. There is very active race environment in the east and why the industry has been pushing hard for years to have a World Cup race in this part of America. Squaw is probably going to be the most difficult GS on the tour next year for the ladies. It is a very technical and difficult hill, which we’re excited about. It seems to be a really keen organizing committee which is very proactive and trying to now develop something memorable for everybody.

Ted Ligety
World Cup Finals is always a highlight of the year and, with all four events and men and women at the same location, the best showcase of the sport. Having World Cup Finals in Aspen on home soil is awesome. Having friends and family there for support should add to getting that little edge on the competition.

Mikaela Shiffrin
These past few years have been huge for ski racing in the U.S. with World Champs in Vail and our World Cup in Aspen. It’s great to have Killington and Squaw coming up. I am really excited about having another World Cup weekend in the U.S. It’s no small task to host these events, but I’m so psyched that resorts are taking interest in spreading the word about our awesome sport and drumming up more excitement!

2016-17 U.S. Audi FIS Ski World Cup Schedule

Killington, VT
Nov. 26, 2016 – Women’s Giant Slalom
Nov. 27, 2016 – Women’s Slalom

Audi Birds of Prey
Beaver Creek, CO

Dec. 2, 2016 – Men’s Downhill
Dec. 3, 2016 – Men’s Super G
Dec. 4, 2016 – Men’s Giant Slalom

Squaw Valley, CA
March 11, 2017 – Women’s Giant Slalom
March 12, 2017 – Women’s Slalom

Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Finals
Aspen, CO
March 15, 2017 – Men’s and Women’s Downhill
March 16, 2017 – Men’s and Women’s Super G
March 17, 2017 – Team Event
March 18, 2017 – Men’s Giant Slalom, Women’s Slalom
March 19, 2017 – Men’s Slalom, Women’s Giant Slalom

FIS Council Decisions – Cancun

Cancun, Mexico 11.06.2016 INTERNATIONAL SKI FEDERATION

Decisions of FIS Council in Cancun (MEX) The FIS Council held its spring Meetings during the FIS Congress Week in Cancun (MEX) from 6 th-11th June. The tasks of the Council before the Congress Meeting itself included going through the agenda for the FIS Congress, reviewing reports and matters arising from the Organising Committees of the FIS World Championships and Olympic Winter Games, as well as dealing with proposals from the FIS Technical Committees in relation to World Cup calendars, the appointment of technical officials, adaptation to various rules, approval of technical courses and allocate financial support for special projects. In addition, status updates from a number of other FIS activities were addressed including AntiDoping matters, marketing and communication projects, the Bring Children to the Snow campaign and business reports from the FIS companies FIS Marketing AG and FIS Travel Service.

The main decisions of the Council in Cancun include the following: FIS World Cup calendars 2016/2017 to 2019/2020 A number of modifications to the FIS World Cup Calendars for the 2016/2017 season proposed by the respective Technical Committees were approved, the final versions of which are available on the FIS website. Calendar drafts for future seasons were also reviewed. FIS World Championships and Junior World Championships As already announced, the Council elected the following Organisers of the 2020/2021 FIS World Championships: 2020 FIS Ski Flying World Championships – Planica (SLO) 2021 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships – Zhangjiakou/Genting Resort (CHN) 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships – Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) 2021 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships – Oberstdorf (GER) In addition the following Organisers were appointed: Idre Fjäll (SWE) FIS Speed Ski World Championships 2017 FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships 2017, Valmalenco (ITA) FIS Telemark Junior World Ski Championships 2017, Rjukan (NOR) Technical Committees

A number of adaptions to the technical rules were made, details of which have been published under the discipline committee reports. These include: Cross-Country Skiing – The reduction of quotas for World Cup competitions. The maximum number of athletes per nation is reduced to 15 (from 22) and for the FIS Tour de Ski maximum 10. – In order to preserve classic technique, the Jury may ban the use of specific techniques on marked sections of the course.

Ski Jumping – The application of Verifox as a new ski brand for Jumping skis as successor of the former brand Fluege.de was approved. – The introduction of a Ski Jumping ladies team event at the Junior World Championships. Nordic Combined – Introduction of the FIS Youth Cup Nordic Combined for boys and girls

Alpine Skiing – The starting order for downhill and super G (speed events) will be adapted as follows: – Athletes on the WCSL ranked 1 to 10 will choose between bibs 1 and 19 (odd numbers) – Athletes WCSL 11 to 20 are drawn between bibs 2 to 20 (even numbers) – Athletes WCSL 21 to 30 are drawn between bibs 21 to 30 From season 2017/18, the ski specifications for men’s giant slalom skis at all competition levels will be as follows: Minimum ski length: 193 cm (- 5 cm tolerance only in FIS level competitions) Minimum radius: 30 m Maximum width under binding: < 65 mm Maximum width at the top: < 103 mm

Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard One Technical Committee combining Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing will oversee the governance of both disciplines. Four distinct sectors will have their own Sub-Committees with experts members for each discipline and event: – Park & Pipe Sub-Committee (HP, BA & SS) – Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing – Cross Sub-Committee (SBX & SX) – Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing – Freestyle Mogul and Aerial Sub-Committee (MO & AE) – Snowboard Alpine Sub-Committee (PGS & PS)

Other Decisions – Anti-Doping Prohibited scientific and medical Equipment The use of use Oxygen tanks, hypoxic chambers or cryogenic chambers or similar medical equipment is prohibited during FIS World Championships, World Cups and other competitions registered in the FIS Calendar:

Sochi 2014 – Allegations of manipulation to doping samples at the laboratory In regard to the allegations about manipulation to the samples at the Anti-Doping laboratory used during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, FIS awaits the outcome of the WADA Investigation led by Richard McLaren, before evaluating and liaising with WADA and IOC as to whether there is further action required by FIS. In any case FIS is cooperating fully with the WADA Investigation.

Creation of ISS Database The Council approved the installation of a specific database with SAP as part of the Injury Surveillance System to record injury data in all FIS disciplines for research and evaluation of injury status.

Election of the FIS Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Doping Panel Chairman Vice-Presidents: Sverre Seeberg (NOR), Janez Kocijancic (KOR), Dexter Paine (USA), Aki Murasato (JPN) Chairman of the Finance Commission and Treasurer: Sverre Seeberg (NOR) Chairman of the FIS Doping Panel: Patrick Smith (CAN) Nomination of Committee Members and new Committees The members of the FIS Committees were appointed for the period 2016 – 2018. The complete list of members will be published on the FIS Website in the coming days.

FIS Council Member Dean Gosper (AUS) has been appointed chairman of the combined Snowboard Freestyle Freeski Committee. In view of the restructuring of Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard, the members of the main Committee and the four new Sub-Committees mentioned above under the Committee Decisions will be proposed by the National Ski Associations in the coming months and appointed by the Council at the next Meeting in November 2016.

FIS Calendar Conference 2017 (Technical Committees and FIS Council Meeting) Portoroz (SLO) will host the FIS Calendar Conference and the FIS Council Meeting from 24th -28th May 2017. * * * About FIS FIS is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding, founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIS manages the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. Through its 128 member nations, more than ’500 FIS ski and snowboard competitions are staged annually. Specific initiatives are undertaken by FIS to promote snow activities as a healthy leisure recreation, notably for the young. For more information, please visit www.fis-ski.com.

RMSRO Advisory Committee

Last fall the Rocky Mountain Ski Racing Officials (RMSRO) Board of Directors passed a resolution to start an advisory committee composed of representatives from clubs and ski areas with race programs to assist with developing programs in an effort to recruit, train and retain volunteers to support ski racing in the Rocky Mountain Region.  The goal is to conduct bi-annual conference calls with the club representatives to identify these programs.

 

In early May the first call was conducted with representatives from 9 clubs.  The initial call was very successful with several programs outlined to assist with club volunteer programs including:

  • Provide additional satellite clinics
  • Establish “On Snow” clinics for skill positions
  • Mentoring programs
  • Recognition programs
  • Establish a Volunteer Pool listing on the RMSRO Website
  • Establish a Club Volunteer “Need” list on the RMSRO Website

 

Minutes and an outline of the Fall Advisory Committee call is available at RMSRO.ORG.  For additional information or to provide suggestions on club volunteer programs feel free to contact Ken Gay at ken.gay@hotmail.com.

Bob Dart Receives the Julius Blegen Award

The late Bob Dart has been honored with this year’s Julius Blegen Award, USSA’s highest honor, presented to a USSA member who contributed his or her outstanding service to the sports of skiing or snowboarding in the United States. As both a volunteer and a ski area professional, Bob was the quintessential USSA supporter, dedicating much of his life to serving athletes as a competition official, mountain manager, committee leader and technical delegate based out of Colorado’s Winter Park Competition Center.

FIS Congress

More than 900 delegates representing 82 Member National Ski Associations of the International Ski Federation are scheduled to participate in the 50th International Ski Congress in Cancun (MEX) from 5th-11th June 2016.

As part of the Congress Week, the FIS Council as well as the FIS Technical Committees, Sub-Committees and Working Groups will meet from Monday 6th to Wednesday 8th June whilst the FIS Congress (General Assembly) itself takes place on Friday 10th June. Click here for an overview of the main Committee topics.

The Organisers of the FIS Ski Flying World Championships 2020 and the FIS Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships 2021 will be elected by the FIS Council on Thursday 9th June. The Candidates will show their concepts to all Congress participants from display stands and will have a final opportunity to present to the Council on Tuesday 7th June. The announcement of the elected Organisers will take place at the Grand Fiesta Americana Hotel on 9th June at approximately 19:00 local time (01:00 CET). A live stream from the announcement will be available on the FIS website.

Representing the highest decision-making authority within FIS, the FIS Congress will take place on Friday, 10th June. It will review the business reports of the Council, the accounts and reports of the auditors, approve the budget, elect the 16 FIS Council Members for a two-year period as well as decide on the proposals submitted by the Member Associations and the Council. 18 candidates are running for election to the FIS Council (see here). In addition the Council is proposing to the Congress that the representative of the Athletes Commission, who is elected by the athletes themselves, becomes an ordinary Council Member position, instead of an observer as is presently the case, introduced in 2014. For detailed Congress documentation, click here.

The items on the agenda of the FIS Council in the days prior to the Congress include the final approval of the FIS World Cup calendars for the 2016/17 season as well as reviewing proposals submitted by the Technical Committees following their meetings. Additionally, items that will be addressed by the Council include developments with technology and marketing activities, the WADA investigation in regard to the alleged breaches at the doping laboratory at Sochi 2014 and updating the FIS Rules on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions. A key focus of the Council will be on the Congress Agenda and submitting its opinion on the various proposals to submit to the delegates.

The 49th International Ski Congress took place in Barcelona (ESP). The 51st International Ski Congress will be held in Greece in May 2018.

FIS Newsflash #598

#598 | WEDNESDAY 25 MAY 2016
FIS-SKI
COUNTDOWN TO 50TH FIS CONGRESS
Q&A with FIS President Gian Franco Kasper Q&A with FIS President Gian Franco KasperTwo weeks before the 50th edition of the FIS Congress in Cancun (MEX), FIS Newsflash took the chance to sit down with FIS President Gian Franco Kasper.
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16th FIS Leaders‘ Seminar to be held in Cancun 16th FIS Leaders‘ Seminar to be held in CancunServing as an excellent opportunity to learn and share, the annual FIS Leaders’ Seminar for the FIS developing ski nations will be held during the 50th FIS Congress week in Cancun (MEX).
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Important information for FIS Congress participants Important information for FIS Congress participantsDuring the time of the FIS Congress, temperatures in Cancun will be between 25°C – 33°C, with mostly sunny and warm, tropical weather.
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INSIDE FIS
70th Anniversary of Icelandic Ski Association 70th Anniversary of Icelandic Ski AssociationFounded on 23rd June 1946, the Icelandic Ski Association celebrated its 70th Anniversary last weekend and took the opportunity to recognise the milestone through a special event as part of its annual meeting in Reykjavik.
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FIS represented at 'Lillehammer Call' promoting female leadership FIS represented at ‘Lillehammer Call’ promoting female leadershipLinda Hofstad Helleland, Norway’s Minister of Sport and Culture launched an initiative to promote female leadership in sport as a legacy of the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in agreement with the IOC.
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
Cross-Country skiers have kicked off training season Cross-Country skiers have kicked off training seasonLess than two months after the FIS Cross-Country World Cup season 2015/16 presented by Viessmann concluded in Canada, the world’s best cross-country skiers have returned to training for next season including its major highlight, the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti (FIN).
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Quick Hits Quick HitsLast week, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association announced the recipients of the 2015/16 season awards.
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BRING CHILDREN TO THE SNOW CORNER
World Snow Day Organisers in China continue to expand World Snow Day Organisers in China continue to expandChina has seen an explosion in the number of ski areas opening in the past decade and there are now several hundred operating.
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VISIT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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