Photo Credit: Team Summit

Every proposal the Alpine Sport Committee passes affects US ski racing, but some issues are essential to understand promptly when properly managing athletes, clubs, families and coaches. A small group of dedicated volunteers and professionals meet annually to vote on proposals designed to better the sport. After three years of virtual meetings, the congress was again held in person in Park City this year.

2024-25 Level 100 coaches certification requirements

On the coaching front, after seasons of covid related delays, the requirement of a level 100 certification to coach to access race venues will become effective for the 2024-25 season. The deadline gives coaches wishing to participate on the hill at competitions this season to complete the level 100 coach certification requirements.

Notably, the first step is the Coaching Core Competency Modules available online. However, to obtain certification the completion of an on-snow practicum and final exam is also required. So be sure to plan ahead to get everything accomplished prior to the end of the 2023-24 season. Candidates should expect to put in 20-40 hours of effort to complete the Coaching Core Competency requirement. The time will depend on previous knowledge and the level of engagement applied.

There is a one-season exemption to the level 100 certification requirement for access to race venues for coaches with a first-year USSS coach’s membership. There is also a visiting foreign coach exemption.

U18 FIS slalom and GS start limit changes

The FIS SL and GS start limit for US first-year U18 athletes (YOB 2007) remains at 30. However, during the 2023-24 season, the second-year U18 athletes’ (YOB 2006) FIS tech start limitation has increased to 35. Notably, tech starts in the US World Cup, National Championships, U18 Championships, World Junior Championships, and Youth Olympic Games starts shall not be included in a racer’s start limit. FIS starts in Downhill, super-G, alpine combined, and parallel disciplines are unlimited for both age groups.

FIS point list change suggested for US Ski Team selection

To announce the 2024 Stifel US Ski Team nominations in a timely manner, this year, the intern base list published on April 4th was used for selection. However, selections occurred weeks before the North American FIS calendar ended. It has been proposed In the spring of 2024, the selection of the 2025 team should be based on the list after the conclusion of the North American 2023-24 FIS alpine calendar.

Changes for U16 athletes

During the 2024 season, the USSS will use the Teasdale and Randall System (TRS) random seeding for the tech events at the U16 Nationals. They will also use a separate random seeding for the super-G. This proposal received overwhelming support. It directly addresses the reality of point discrepancies between divisions. Seeding primarily by points created a situation where some of the best skiers started in later seeds even though their regional head-to-head and national results indicated their higher ability level.

During 2024 tech events, competitors will have an opportunity to start early and late, early middle and later middle. Everyone in the field will experience equal start position advantages and disadvantages using the random TRS system. The first tech run is randomized; the second run is the reverse of the first. The third run will be a butterfly of the second run, splitting the second run in the middle and flipping each half. Finally, the third will be the reverse of the third. The super-G will use a separate random start order.

This also offers a developmental benefit. The racers learn to compete in courses in a variety of conditions. Rocky committed to the system for their Sync Cup series during the 2023 season. They witnessed firsthand the confidence the better skiers gained by earning podiums with late start numbers. They also noticed the satisfaction of the less skilled skiers being better able to compete starting earlier.

Additionally, random seeding will reduce the incentive to chase points. Although it is up to each region to decide how they seed their regional U16 championships, points will not determine their start position at Nationals.

TRS approved for both scored and unscored events

Also, it is worth mentioning that the Alpine Sport Committee also approved the random seeding option for both scored and unscored racing. The ASC also agreed to its use for all events.

Change to event registration

Recently, when you entered an event in the Western Region or Rocky/Central, you used the MYUSSA app through the USSS. Unfortunately, due to USSS’s relationship with a business partner who owns an event registration business, the MYUSSA service previously included in your membership will be discontinued and outsourced to a private vendor. Hopefully, the entry cost will not increase to cover the additional expense. The good news is that the Eastern Region has successfully used an alternative vendor for registration adminskiracing.com

U14 and younger issues addressed

Training runs for U14 and younger super-G races is a USSS requirement. However, sometimes certain circumstances exist that make a safe training run impossible. In those situations, the training run can become a hill ski. The change to the rule is that the decision to change to a hill ski needs to include the jury. The jury minutes must document the decision. This will prevent the change from happening well before the event. It will also make consideration of the current situation on the slope more likely.  

Additionally, the committee has clarified the rules for entering out-of-region U14 and younger racing. The approved procedure as we advance is to have the athlete’s coach bring the request to their regional director, who, if they agree, then communicates with the hosting regional director for permission.

Or, if it is a desire to race out-of-division in the same region, the home coach would seek approval from their home division who would communicate with the division they wish to race in for approval.

However, racers can enter themselves in events outside of the Division or Region designated as open.

Entry fee transparency

As the cost of ski racing increases, it is helpful to understand how organizers determine entry fees. As we advance, event organizers will publish lift pass prices and entry fees separately.

Ski Cross

In the future, Ski Cross will report to the Alpine Sport Committee (ASC). Event coordination will continue with USASA and the Hole Shot Free Ski tour.