Category Archives: News

News from the world of ski racing

News

Fall 2021 – Season 21-22 Updates

We have settled on dates for the Fall clinics here in Rocky. The North American FIS TD will be held online the weekend of October 23-24, open to FIS TDs only. RMSRO TD Workshop for US Alpine TD’s will be on October 30, open to US TDs , level 3 officials and race organizers. RMSRO Officials Update/ Continuing Education, open to all officials and interested parties, will be offered Virtually again this year with several options available. CE Clinics will begin on November 5, specific schedules will be available soon. Officials Certification clinics for level 1 will be offered this year however the details are not yet available. These will likely be in person clinics scheduled on the weekend of November 5-6. Clinics and Tests for Jury Advisor, Referee, Timing and Calculations, Race Administration and Chief of Race will be offered, schedule and Summit County location TBD.

News

Congress 2021

Congress May 17-21
With US Alpine Nationals winding to a close in Aspen, things are winding up for US Ski and Snowboard Congress May 17-21 (some meetings may happen sooner). This year will again be held in a Virtual format with all meetings taking place online. Schedules are still in the formative stages and the final may not be available for a little while, stay tuned.
Looking back to our Covid summer and fall leading into the race season, we planned to race in a quite different way. Protocols at races, one gender race days, virtual meetings, strange bib assignments, e-signatures, online everything, it was quite different. But then we started up and found that all these things could change and did so we could have races. Once it started in January, racing was heavy on the calendar with four-day mid-week series becoming the norm and nearly double the days on the calendar for some groups.
We got good at it too! The virtual TC meetings were clear and efficient, bibs bagged by team quick and easy and the online official posting board (whatsapp for most) allowed the quick changes between runs with the coaches fully informed and start lists delivered directly to them, almost instantly. The giant leap taken on some of the technologies will be a great help even when the masked and distanced rules fade.
Where we missed out was on our fall clinics. Without a virtual solution for the education, we missed a season of training for new officials and those looking to expand their certifications. With normal attrition RMSRO officials were fewer than previous years but our ranks stepped up and worked a tremendous load of mid-week races, some getting in over 60 days! We also had many taking on new people doing practical training with certification to come next fall.
Not missing the opportunity, RMSRO did receive approval to mentor TD aspirants who have been nominated for candidacy, they have started with their shadow assignments and will test in the fall. We are excited for this talented group to take the next steps to becoming Technical Delegates.
Chelsea Roth, Breckenridge
Chris Ogilvie, Vail
Scott Ptach, Steamboat Springs
Alice Black, Aspen
Also taking the next step and applying for FIS candidacy are Ron Rupert and Kristina Revello. Their candidacy will be subject to approval by the FIS TD Working group meeting at congress. RMSRO is also excited to see their commitment to the division and the Nation.
Please be sure to keep a look out for the meeting schedules and links and participate in Congress this year. See you online!

News

COVID best practices

Hope all had a great Thanksgiving are remaining healthy, safe and sane!
It was great to see US Nationals take place in Copper in the middle of November and very thankful for
those that worked the event and help ‘test the waters’ of Covid Racing! Today I would like to pass along
some items from their event wrap up to help everyone for the upcoming season.
Fact Sheet – make sure the communication platform is listed, whether it be What’s App, Team App, or
other platforms. This will create less confusion by providing platform info up front.
COVID Controls – lots of reminders of daily checks sent out via the communication platforms. Links can
be posted on the Fact Sheet, too. Make sure it someone designated to follow up on the daily checks,
don’t have it just land on the RA. They used google forms to collect the daily info so that everything is
completed online. One time bib distribution and collection, pictures provided on communications
platform on where to pick up and drop off bibs. Becomes a team effort to help remind athletes, coaches,
etc. to remain distanced.
Team Captains Meetings- announce your platform, send out link to the coaches with enough time to
prepare/attend. Found that roll call by team worked best in the online scenario. RA needs to be
comfortable with sharing screen, coaches are able to watch the work completed in the software as there
was no physical board. Remind coaches to be patient as the work is completed. They used a google form
for TCM sign in of coaches, jury and guests.
On hill communications – address at the TCM what happens if cell or Wi-Fi communications are lost.
Timing will communicate with the starter of the upcoming athletes, white board to write the next few
down helps. The TnC needs to be comfortable being able to help create 2 nd run start list if necessary due
to data transfer issues (the RA and TnC need to have a pre training session for the just in case scenario).
No announcer, DSQ’s were communicated via jury radio to announce within their vicinity. DSQ’s can be
posted via communications platform. They did not have any protests so this was not tested, but they
were prepared to meet outside, masked up, if necessary to complete the process. Make sure that the RA
has someone that can help with Jury Minute communications as necessary.
Jury Minutes – Cath used Hello Sign during a non-contact time frame. There is a fee with this program
so check them out early if looking to use this sort of method. Jury minutes were sent to the TD for
approval first then sent to the jury for signatures.
Other – practice using your communications platform prior to the event. Check out if there are any costs
to your communications platform as free version do not always allow for enough time or attendees.
Your team captains meetings will take longer. Set some ground rules for TCM regarding muting and
unmuting. Possible recording of your TCM for attendance reference as it records chat bar, too.
Be prepared that Live Timing shows athletes in bib order not in start order and this can create confusion
for coaches and officials.
A PORTABLE CHARGER FOR YOUR PHONE IS AN EXCELLENT STOCKING STUFFER THIS SEASON! With the
temps and communications/data time, it definitely draws power.
Fogged up glasses –the struggle is real! Google search home remedies using soap or wax.

It is in a good season to make a divisional plan on your communications, OC’s working together, etc.
Thank you to Karen Ghent, Cath Jett, Roger Perricone, Darlene Nolting, and all others that I may have
missed naming, for sharing their ‘take-aways’ with all of us as we prepare and prepare and prepare for
this upcoming season!
Looking forward to a great season and excited to see ski racing happen!
Happy Holidays.

Lucy Conklin
Alpine Officials Education Working Group Chair

News

Digital Signatures

AO Community,

I am forwarding onto you the info from US Ski and Snowboard regarding digital signatures as it has come up with our ‘least amount of contact’ discussions for the 2021 season. Please read and make sure you follow the procedures.

If you have any questions please reach out to me directly.

Thank you.

Lucy

Lucy Conklin
Alpine Officials Education Working Group Chair

Hi Jeff and Roger,

We accept electronic signatures captured through electronic signature platforms such as DocuSign, Hellosign, PDFfiller, etc.  Most jurisdictions recognize electronic signatures on documents and signature platforms allow for a digital audit trail if the signer opens a link from an email and signs or enters an email when completing the form and then receives a copy.

It’s fine for an organizer or club to use the option that is most cost efficient for them.  Any forms that would have typically been provided as hard copies with wet signatures may be accepted as electronic copies with digital signatures.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,   

Alison Pitt            

General Counsel

U.S. Ski & Snowboard

News

COVID-19

A very abrupt end to the season 19-20 with all races being scratched just one week ago, now all ski areas are closed and most of US on some form of lock-down. US Ski and Snowboard has announced that Congress will take place as a virtual conference with call in numbers, stay tuned for more information.