Notable Rule Changes from USSS Congress

Ski Racing Media expresses gratitude to the many committee members and participants of the USSS Congress. These dedicated people commit significant amounts of their time considering our sport’s issues. We all depend on their dedication to setting the mechanisms and rules of US alpine ski racing.

Alpine Sport Committee

U18 Athlete Management Changes

A new US U18 FIS athlete management rule controls the number of starts permitted in technical events. US competitors in the U18 age group will be allowed a maximum of 30 combined SL & GS FIS race starts per season. Speed events race starts will remain unlimited.

Many voices contributed to the discussion before the committee arrived at the 30 technical start maximum.

The reasons for the restricted start volume are multi-faceted. Primarily, the committee is looking to guide the development approach of young FIS racers in the US. Committee members believe it will encourage better race start management, additional training opportunities, and support scheduled rest. The committee wishes to promote deliberate periodization planning.

The committee also believes this approach will create additional opportunities to sample the speed events, which will help develop a skill set applicable to all events. Skills include but are not limited to terrain adaptation, inspection, and communication with on-hill staff.

Interestingly, two of the most successful ski racers in American history, Mikaela Shiffrin and Bode Miller, would not have had to change their development program if controlled by the new start limitations.

In her first season of FIS racing, Shiffrin started in 21 tech races, then 30 in her second, and 24 in her third. Shiffrin averaged 13 SL and 12 GS races over her first three FIS seasons. In addition, in her first three FIS seasons, she skied in 4 speed events.

When considering Bode Miller, America’s most successful male alpine racer, as a first-year FIS competitor at 17, he competed in 18 technical races and 11-speed events. In his second year of FIS racing, he competed in 30 tech races and 10 speed events.

First Year U18s Can Begin FIS Competitions Starting in November

Concerning the first-year U18s, the committee clarified the allowed date for US athletes to compete in a FIS race. The previous rule forbids first-year US U18 FIS athletes from starting in the Southern Hemisphere. The new regulation allows first-year US U18 athletes to begin their FIS careers in the second week of November.

Changes to the U16 Nationals

The committee has addressed the discrepancy in point opportunities between regions. No longer will seeding at the U16 nationals be directly from the points list. Instead, each seed will be 15 athletes, composed of five skiers from each region. The start order within each seed will be randomized.

Amongst each region, an athlete’s national point rank will determine the specific seed for each event.

The committee has also changed the U16 regional team selection for nationals. It will now be based on overall ranking within the region and no longer include protected birth-year quotas.

Coaches Certification Requirement Delayed

The anticipated requirement to have a level 100 coaching certification to access a competition venue is delayed two years and will now become effective during the 2024-2025 season. Additionally, during the 2024-2025 season, there will be a one-year grace period for first-year coaches.

Currently, only 60% of licensed coaches in the US have acquired a sufficient level of certification.