Radamus: What we learned from the COVID season

By Published On: May 17th, 2021Comments Off on Radamus: What we learned from the COVID season

It was just about one year ago in the face of stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, and rising case numbers that it wasn’t entirely clear if there would be a ski racing season at all. Each of us was impacted by changes to our personal, professional, social, and academic lives, and many were impacted by the loss of loved ones or personal illness. In light of these obstacles and tragic events, the health of our sport seemed to pale in comparison.

Through the hard work of many — in collaboration with host resorts, clubs and academies, local and state health officials, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, along with adjustments made by athletes, programs, officials and parents — this unique season not only took place but was, in some ways, better than ever. We can now see a light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccinations are readily available to those as young as 12 years old, mask mandates are being eliminated outdoors or in all settings for those fully vaccinated, and travel restrictions are being eased. Everyone is anxious to return to “normal.”

In order to keep our sport viable, many changes were forcibly implemented to meet stringent health guidelines. Some of these changes have been under discussion to reform ski racing for many years, but have not been possible to implement due to a lack of consensus among all stakeholders. The pandemic forced us to test drive some of these initiatives and have some real-world experience to help determine whether they are positive or not. Does the “new normal” look exactly the same as the old normal, or are some modifications “winners” we should adopt as a sport? If there is a silver lining to the global tragedy of the pandemic, we can now better inform our decisions about how to progress our sport.

Different approaches around the country mirrored different restrictions imposed by states and counties. As is always the case, many of the changes had both positives and negatives. Many are related to how, where, and why we compete. A debate is ongoing about whether, on balance, the benefits outweighed the challenges or if an immediate return to the “way we were” is needed. 

Offered below is a list of the top-10 initiatives that went into effect during the COVID season, as well as arguments for or against retaining them beyond the health crisis.

No. 10: virtual team captains meetings and electronic communications

Lowest hanging fruit first. Team captains meetings by video or voice conference call are far more efficient, saving both money and time. Meetings started on time, were generally shorter and saved travel cost and precious time and energy for coaches, officials and organizers. 

Downsides? None. This is a no brainer. Moving forward, it should become MANDATORY for race organizers to provide virtual meetings. It would be hard to find anyone in the coaching community who thought this was a bad idea.

Equally embraced by coaches, athletes, and parents is the use of applications, such as WhatsApp, for instant communications. Distribution of programs, referee reports, start lists and results by chat provide all participants with immediate race-day information, improving communication. 

Proposals currently before Congress stop short by allowing, but not requiring, organizers to provide a virtual option.

No. 9: awards ceremonies and banquets

Not congregating for awards ceremonies and banquets was not only a health benefit but also saved much time and energy. Many athletes, parents, and coaches were relieved to not be obligated to delay their departure to receive a medal and support their competitors. A competition day in ski racing is already long. Let’s take steps to make it more efficient. 

There is clearly a place for podium ceremonies and awards banquets, but have we really missed the pasta buffet and waiting, sometimes for hours, to celebrate a top-10 ribbon for a Youth Ski League race? The length of awards ceremonies are often the inverse of the importance of the achievement. We can do without most of them.

No. 8: race officials and volunteers

It takes a lot of people to run a ski race. Needed are administrators, officials, course workers, starters and assistant starters, bib collectors, scoreboard people, those who deliver lunch, and numerous other skilled and unskilled volunteers. Even COVID coordinators were required this season. Field size restrictions led to more races that needed to be staffed. Midweek racing limited the already stretched volunteer pool. The reduced number of people available or allowed on course caused an examination of what is essential and what is not.

Gate keepers were replaced in many instances by “eyes of the jury” to control correct passage. Competitors and their coaches adhered to the honor system in acknowledging disqualifications, and the presence of many video cameras on hill aided in deciding any contested disqualifications.

One of the consistent staffing challenges was securing certified referees for the start and finish. The emergency provision to allow those with the Alpine Official certification to fill those roles was helpful, but do we really need certified officials to record whether the designated athlete leaves the start and arrives at the finish? Adjustments to staffing expectations and certification requirements should be made to better reflect the minimum needs at each level of competition.

These are several examples, but scrutiny should be applied to other positions within the race organization. Safe and fair races can be organized with far fewer volunteers placed in harm’s way and by reducing the burden on organizers, making events easier to host.

The demands of some of the specialized positions of race administration, timing and calculations, and chief of race have created a professionalization of race officials and added expense to race-hosting, putting pressure on entry fees and organizers.

The requirement for assigned technical delegates to be from out of town and sometimes from out of state, region, or nation is an archaic regulation dating to concerns of cheating. While this may be a valid concern at high-stakes, professional-level competition — and there are examples of cheating at all levels — these incidents are EXTREMELY rare and easily exposed. Due to the lack of TDs available for the many races calendared this year, there was a relaxation of this requirement. The visiting TD requirement should be eliminated at all levels below Continental Cup.

There is much hand-wringing about how to attract young volunteers to replace our aging officials. Reducing the need and increasing the supply are necessary steps we should be taking.

No. 7: virtual certification, education, and conferences

Last year’s US Ski & Snowboard Congress saw unparalleled levels of participation when made available virtually. Coaches, administrators and other interested parties were able to listen in and participate from the comfort of their home or office. The requirement of traveling to one location — which incurs the cost of travel, accommodation, meals and a multi-day commitment — has always limited participation to those with the time, money and high level of interest. Attending virtually has lowered the bar to participation, engaging more of the community and creating a more robust conversation around the issues of the day. Sure, those “hallway conversations” and reconnecting during social hour are lost opportunities, but on balance, providing the opportunity to participate virtually and view archived recordings clearly outweighs the lost networking opportunities.

An urgent need must be addressed by the officials community to offer virtual and on-line curriculum and certification. The barrier to becoming an official is excessively high due to the required commitment of time and money. Last year’s offerings of some educational updates and entry-level courses were both innovative and successful. However, certification was on hold due to the inability to conduct in-person meetings. This added to the shortage of certified officials in an environment where more were needed.

When professionals in the legal and medical fields are able to maintain their licenses, and the Supreme Court of the United States is able to conduct its business virtually, it seems reasonable to provide referee certification in a virtual environment. Not enough is being done to encourage more people to come into the fold.

No. 6: training local

Once opened, domestic spring, summer, and fall training venues were in high demand with Europe, the Southern Hemisphere and Canada out of bounds. The most elite athletes on the US Ski Team conducted nearly all of their preparation in the United States with the exception of their fall European glacier training in October. With a breakout year for many US Ski Team athletes, it is hard to argue that the preparation period was deficient due to the inability to train overseas. 

In at least one case, Copper Mountain, COVID was the catalyst to reintroduce spring training through the middle of June. So successful was it for clubs, academies, and the US Ski Team that the program continues this year adding a venue to the options for high-quality domestic training. Mt. Hood introduced a two-session daily schedule to limit the number of skiers at any one time and created an environment where everyone was able to get an equal or greater amount of training in a shorter time frame with less crowding.

If the national team and its athletes can thrive internationally, maximizing domestic resources, what is the athletic argument for junior and developing skiers needing to participate in training and racing outside of that which is available nationally? (See more on racing below.)

The most cost-effective training remains at home during the regular season. It is not necessary to tap financial resources, especially when not fully taking advantage of what is already available at a lower cost.

No. 5: racing procedures

Many modifications were implemented to facilitate racing in the COVID season. Are some worth keeping?

Delaying the start of the season was necessary with the evolving guidelines and protocols. Perhaps the most important benefit of delaying the competition season is leveling the playing field between those who have access to early season snow and those whose natural season begins later. The pressure for early season training and costly preseason camps is reduced allowing racers to be reasonably prepared for their first races by training when it becomes available at home. For those who have seasons that start earlier, the advantages of more training time and days on snow is not lost. Driving the season earlier and earlier while moving onto other activities in the spring (when conditions are the best, crowds are gone, and opportunities are most readily available) is a lost opportunity.

Access to the competition venue was reduced to essential personnel only and spectating or congregating in start or finish areas was not allowed. Together with the recently implemented rules regarding the number of skis allowed for younger competitors, application of additives and elimination of fluoros altogether greatly reduced the mayhem and distractions around the race venue. This is a hard one for parents who all want to support their kids and love to watch them as they participate in their sports.

It is noteworthy that most parents, who value education and personal development above all else, rarely clamor to watch their children as they take their finals or SATs. Photos of them studiously at their computer keyboards or reading textbooks are not often displayed on walls or coffee tables. Trusting kids and young men and women to put in their best effort and allowing them to have fun in the activities they choose to pursue sends an incredible message of support and confidence. Going skiing or to lunch in town instead of hanging around the finish reduces expectations and pressure on these young racers and allows them to enjoy the experience, improve, and ultimately perform their best. While hard, and surely unpopular, limiting spectators at younger ages may be a “keeper.”

No. 4: midweek racing

Capacity restrictions required many races to be held during less-busy times, away from weekends and holidays. Midweek racing offered benefits of less-crowded resorts, lower lodging costs and less traffic. On the other hand, race organizers were challenged with filling volunteer positions, and clubs that rely on part-time coaches struggled to staff races. Racers also missed school. Overall, the challenges outweigh the benefits. The expected return to in-person classes together with less work-from-home opportunities for parents will reduce the flexibility many enjoyed this year. At the FIS level, it is critical to schedule races on weekends to not conflict with school and work. The opportunity cost of compromising academics has the potential to be an obstacle to participation and retention of our skiers.

An interesting opportunity may be to support smaller resorts and clubs to help them become regular event organizers. Anyone who has seen grassroots racing in Europe knows that from the Europa Cup level down to Kinder Cups, races are mostly hosted at little, if not, tiny ski areas. Major resorts host the signature events but rarely lower levels. The demands we place on our race organizers have made it challenging, if not, impossible for our smaller clubs to play a role hosting events. These smaller resorts are more likely to welcome the additional weekend traffic and see the presence of a race as a value-add instead of a business disruption.

The strategies of reduced field sizes and multiple races per day may support returning to weekend racing by compromising with our partner resorts on the impacts of racing on their busiest days. Separating genders or age groups to have mostly one-day races that can be day-tripped will also benefit development by protecting training time for weekend and part-time skiers.

Securing weekend racing and broadening the race-hosting community is an important initiative that must be tackled nationally by NGB leadership and our entire community.

No. 3: reduced field sizes

Field sizes were reduced to 100 competitors nationally by the USSS COVID Commission and even fewer in some locations due to local restrictions. This encouraged single-gender competitions with multiple races per day. In those regions where day travel was possible, athletes benefitted by reduced expenses for lodging, restaurant meals and lift tickets, reduced time missed from school and more time for training. Team travel was not practical, placing the responsibility on athletes and their families.

Full race-day schedules and limited access to indoor facilities kept athletes engaged and busy. Smaller fields provided an opportunity for athletes to make the flip and benefit from the better second-run course conditions (more on this to follow). A higher percentage of the field could legitimately feel they were “in the game.”

Arguments are made that the process of working up through the field from high start positions builds tough competitors. It can also be argued that starting in sometimes-impossible conditions against more seasoned and stronger competitors who benefit from earlier start numbers presents unreasonable challenges and little opportunity for success. This, in turn, promotes point-chasing to find easier scoring opportunities as a shortcut to the process. 

There is little compelling athletic argument to having races with fields in excess of 100 competitors. Having sufficient and appropriate hosts for competitions, family logistics, and other challenges can be met to provide the best possible athletic environment for our athletes.

At the Rocky/Central regional U16 championships the response to the imposed field-size restrictions was to host both genders the same day with a maximum of 50 athletes in each gender. This 50% reduction of championship qualifiers — which is a major goal for many young athletes — did result in some disappointment for those who would have qualified with the larger quota. The resulting field was filled with athletes who were “competitors” in the championship as compared to some in the larger field who were “participants.”

Those athletes who just missed the regional championship qualification had a chance to shine in a divisional championship that was open to all age-eligible racers. At the divisional championship, these athletes were able to leverage success and confidence to produce more peer-competitive performances in the remaining spring races.

Reducing field sizes to 100 creates both an athletic opportunity for rapidly advancing athletes and promotes retention with a more satisfying and rewarding environment for all racers.

No. 2: two races per day

At levels below Continental Cup, two races per day should become the norm and not the exception.

Less time is dedicated to race days, allowing more time for training, rest, school, or other activities. Wasted time spent in lodges is reduced. Having a second shot after a disappointing performance provides immediate opportunities for success. Reducing or eliminating the costs of lodging, restaurant meals, and lift tickets reduces the cost of the sport.

To be sure, four race runs in a single day is both physically and mentally taxing. Even though most  athletes will have at least four training runs in a session, the added stress of competition over a full day poses additional challenges. Over the course of the season, athletes and coaches learned to implement strategies to maintain energy and focus throughout the day. Hydration, nutrition, and moderation of activity led to an improvement of the athletes’ ability to perform to their potential throughout the day. Some athletes may even see greater value in conditioning and have increased motivation to improve their endurance, strength, and power during the off-season.

Some feel that in older age groups, two slalom races are productive while two GS races may be too much. Options include favoring the lower end of the range for allowed vertical drop and reducing run times to create more manageable physical demands and promote speed in a “sprint” format.

In some GS races, first and second runs were held on the same course with minor modifications where deterioration had developed. This had the effect of reducing the opportunity for the athletes who had the early start positions for the second run. Whenever possible, setting two distinct courses for the two runs of each race enhances the athletic opportunity for rising athletes.

The economics of hosting races is also a factor. A certain number of entry fees are needed to cover the costs of the competition including the sanction fees, divisional and national head taxes, resort expenses, volunteer lunches, award tickets and professional officials (technical delegates, paid race administrators and chiefs of race, etc).

Fewer competitors racing twice places less of a burden on lift lines, parking lots, restaurants, and other facilities and provides similar financial resources with which to meet expenses as compared to hosting twice that number for a single race.

Overall, the benefits of racing two races each day far outweigh the challenges with additional opportunities to be more creative and progressive.

No. 1: racing local 

Travel restrictions forced the sport to look for new ways to organize competition. 

Limited opportunities to seek competition in other states, regions or outside of the US forced the sport to provide the necessary competition opportunities close to home. Race series had to be designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the competitors they serve. Regional FIS series were strengthened by more consistent participation when alternatives were less available. 

Different solutions were implemented in different parts of the country with differing levels of success. Eastern FIS races were organized state by state. Central Division had more skiers than start positions creating a midnight entry scramble to get registered before the field size was exceeded … often in several hours or less. In the Rockies, FIS and USSS race series were tiered with an entry or “devo-level” series and an “elite series” to which athletes from the devo level were able to advance based on performance. Field sizes and eligibility were closely monitored providing appropriate opportunities for every competitor. Western Region was challenged by limited race opportunities and fewer travel restrictions leading eligible athletes to attend all available FIS races making it impossible for some racers to have access to any.

Reduced regional quotas for out-of-region events and the elimination of out-of-division racing for U16 and younger before mid-season kept competitive peer groups racing head to head and focused on performance rather than chasing perceived opportunities.

The difficulty of international travel and the top-350 world rank standard for entry into races overseas maintained appropriate opportunity for older and NCAA athletes contending for a national team nomination and kept developing athletes focused on their regional race series. High-performing junior athletes were identified nationally for projects exposing them to the level and density of competition in Europe when they had earned the opportunity at home among their peers.

The major missing pieces were the NorAm series and national championships for U18s and U16s. Age group championships and a well thought-out NorAm calendar provide opportunities for the top development athletes to face off. Head-to-head competition and access for rising World Cup skiers to Continental Cup minimum penalties and World Cup start positions are critical developmental stepping stones.

While all the solutions had imperfections, providing appropriate competition closer to home strengthens head-to-head competition for clear-cut and fair qualification to higher levels and championship events, which reduces travel expense and increases training time. 

The COVID opportunity

It is not too dramatic to insist that our sport is in an exclusivity crisis. COVID provided an interesting opportunity for us to step back, test drive some different concepts and examine what we do and how we do it. The year illustrated the resilience of our sport and how exhilarating and beautiful it is. We were reminded of the wonderful lifelong activity that is skiing and how we positively contribute as a sport to the community as a whole.

Club populations swelled with families pursuing healthy opportunities for their kids with limited options due to the pandemic. We had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show a population of skiers what a great sport ski racing is. Our partner resorts provided unprecedented support to give our kids access to the snow and our clubs and academies the opportunity to provide our programs. Together, we not only managed to get through it. On many levels, we thrived like never before.

The challenges we face from over professionalization, escalating costs and complicated racing structure have not gone away. Many of the things we continue to do are steeped in tradition or history and not based on needs or current opportunities. Whether we seize this opportunity and step forward to progress our sport to become more accessible, easier to understand and more affordable, or whether we hurry to get back to “normal” will determine our trajectory into the future.

Have some thoughts on this? Send a letter to the editor. If it’s good, we’ll publish it.

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About the Author: Aldo Radamus

Aldo Radamus was a competitor at the CanAm (now NorAm) level and professionally for the Rossignol Pro Team on the Peugeot Pro Tour in the late ’70s. He has been a ski racing coach, administrator and official for 42 years and was recognized as USSA Domestic Coach of the Year in 1990. Having been both the Women’s Head Technical coach in the ’80s and Men’s Head Technical coach in the ’90s, Aldo was USSA’s Development Director from 1996-2002 culminating with the United States winning its first Marc Hodler Trophy in 2002. From 2002 to 2016 he was the Executive Director of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. Aldo was inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2016 and is currently the Alpine Director at Team Summit Colorado.