Competition Programs. Handbook & Information

Transcription

1 Competition Programs Handbook & Information

2 Our Competition Programs Welcome to a new season of racing/competing with The Heights. This handbook is for all parents and athletes to be used as a resource for your entire race/competition season. It was our mission to make all the information available to you and easy to access. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide a comprehensive and consolidated source of information on Heights Racing/Competition Programs in order to enhance communication within the Program and ensure consistency. Schedules will emerge as the season gets going and these will be communicated as soon as possible. Please utilise the AOA web site at for latest race/results information. Once the season begins, you will receive weekly communications from your lead coach or through the Administration Office (Mischele Stevens) - admin@theheightsofhorseshoe.com. The Heights Racing Contacts consist of: Mischele Stevens - Snow Sports Co Ordinator admin@theheightsofhorseshoe.com Brad Taylor - Director, Alpine Operations btaylor@theheightsofhorseshoe.com Terence Tse Manager, Snow Sports terence@theheightsofhorseshoe.com Janet Dryden - Race Administrator racing@theheightsofhorseshoe.com Program Overview The Heights Racing Program operates within the Southern Ontario Division (SOD) of Alpine Ontario and the Canadian Ski Association and competes against other clubs within the SOD and Ontario. We participate in the SOD (Regional Club racing) Series and O Cup (Provincial Level racing) Series of competitions. While alpine ski racing is an individual sport, we aim to foster a strong team training environment in support of all our young athletes. By utilising the Alpine Canada Snow Stars program, we offer the opportunity for ALL age group skiers to develop their skiing skills and adopt a Ski for Life culture. Ski Racing is truly a 365-day sport. We encourage all athletes to participate in multiple sport programs to allow for as diverse development in skill, fitness and life experiences as possible. The Heights runs a complete ski program. This consists of; off/pre-season dry land fitness (May to November). Our pre-season dry-land training provides for fitness testing and a training program designed specific for skiing. This allows our athletes to best prepare for high volume training on snow. It is recommended for all athletes looking to prepare for the racing season. **Please note: all U14/U16 OCUP athletes are required to complete a fitness test before Dec 31, 2018 in order to participate in the AOA O CUP finals. 2 Page

3 Our Christmas Holiday training Camp is during school break and is available for all ages. During the Christmas Camp, athletes will be benchmarked by ability within their age group so like abilities will be able to train and develop together. Weekend training and racing begins in early January and continues through to mid-march. The season wraps up in March with the Club Championships followed by March Break Camps and the various Spring Championship or Invitational races at various locations in the SOD for the U10 to U18 age groups. The Heights Racing Program is designed for young racers from 4 to 19, as well as adults. Ontario Cup Racing (OCUP) The Heights offers our members an opportunity to follow a performance pathway through ski racing at an OCUP level. For 2018/19 The Heights is offering a U14 & U16 performance program. To compete amongst the best age skiers in the Province, this level will focus on preparing athletes to race each week in three disciplines. (Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Super G). What is OCUP? The OCUP is a provincial wide race series that brings together the best racers from across the province and is the highest standard of competition for these age groups in Ontario. The OCUP consists of events specific to U14 & U16 (& up) that align with the train to race ratio of 1:4 ( e.g. 5 competition events would be supported by 20 training sessions, a training session would be equal to 2-3 hrs on snow) as recommended in Alpine Canada s AIM-2-WIN and the N.C.C.P., LTAD documents for each age group. For more information please follow this link; OCUP Partnership with Glacier Ski Club To be successful in competition at OCUP requires a greater commitment to the sport. Much of the training and racing occurs through the week during the competitive season. The Heights Ski and Country Club has partnered with our neighbour to the north, Glacier Ski Club, to share hill space and coaching resources throughout the winter. This partnership supports our Heights athletes to better prepare to compete at their highest level. Athletes in this program will be required to purchase a Mount St. Louis ski pass in addition to their program fees. Any family looking for information or would like to discuss entering the OCUP program, please contact Brad Taylor, Director of Alpine Operations at btaylor@theheightsofhorseshoe.com or (416) Page

4 The Heights - Racing Program Goals To create a Ski for Life culture amongst our athletes. To build The Heights racing program into one which exceeds its membership s expectations for safety, FUN and skill development. To provide a creative outlet for young skiers to explore, challenge, and develop their skills in a positive, and trusting learning environment. To follow the LTAD (Long Term Athlete Development) model as described by Canadian Sport for Life initiative. Check out their website here! Heights ski racers will be competitive as a result of excellence in our programs. The Heights racing programs will increase membership subscriptions to the Club because parents will want their children to participate in our programs. The Heights racing programs will support and supply extensive staff training. Our staff will be Certified and Licensed. Our coaches/instructors will stay current to NEW and diverse coaching methodologies. 4 Page

5 7 PHASES FOR ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT as described by Canadian Sport for Life GLIDING START SKIERS ESSENTIALS Phase 1 Igniting the Spark (ages 0-5) Phase 2 Forming the foundations (ages 6-9) Snow School Programs Recreational Race Programs House League Programs Recreational Programs Snow School Programs Competitive Sport Programs Community Sport Initiation Programs (recreational) learn to play on skis learn FUNdamental movements and link them into play increase confidence, develop sense of sliding Snow Stars Levels 1-3 Initiate the game of ski racing Learn to move and develop movement skills LEARN TO TRAIN LEARN TO RACE Phase 3 Learning the Sport (ages 9-12) Phase 4 Building the Ski Racer (ages ) Competitive Sport Programs Competition Stream- Introduction SOD Cup Programs Competitive Sport Programs Competition Stream- Development SOD Cup Programs O Cup Programs Snow Stars Levels 3-5 Consolidate and refine the basic skiing skills to play ski racing Development of sport specific motor skills and co-ordination Snow Stars Levels 4-7 Train start to finish, as fast as possible, without falling Train without supervision Operate excellent skiing skills TRAIN TO RACE Phase 5 Optimising the Engine (ages 15-23) Competitive Sport Programs Competition Stream- High Performance Intro O Cup Programs FIS Card Racing U16 SOD Team Optimise the engine for ski racing tactics Master event specific ski racing skills Learn winning strategies TRAIN TO WIN Phase 6 Professional (ages 18+) Competitive Sport Programs Competition Stream- High Performance O Cup Programs FIS Card Racing -Provincial Team Realisation of winning strategies Podium performance at the Elite level Excel at any performance SKIING FOR LIFE Phase 7 Skiing for Life (all ages) Competition Stream- Instructor/Coach Coaching Recreational Skier Volunteer Instructing Official Alumni 5 Page

6 The Heights Strategy Let s face it - we don t have the highest vertical in Canada. So, how does a club like ours remain competitive against the escarpment clubs or the academy s? We need to be MORE creative. Time on Snow is what creates great skiers and that does not necessarily mean Time in Gates. Our programs utilise the Alpine Canada Snow Stars development program to efficiently benchmark and develop all components of ski technique. You can find more information on the 7 levels of Snow Stars at Where do we differentiate from other clubs? 1) Great coaching delivered by people who are passionate about the sport and motivated to see athletes progress through their Snowsports careers. 2) Senior Coaches that have raced, have coached and have great experience with kids. 3) Attitude we coach to build a winning attitude one that can persist through unfamiliar terrain, ice, bad weather and all the harsh conditions that ski racing presents. 4) Program consistency with Alpine Ontario and Alpine Canada - We follow the Alpine Canada pathway called Aim2Win which helps us establish the focus of our programs for long term skier development and passion for the sport based on the following 7 phases of development. More information can be found on 6 Page

7 2018/19 IMPORTANT DATES September 15 th Nov. 24 The Heights Dry Land program, Various Locations. Included in the price for enhanced athletes. October 20/21 AOA Fitness Testing U12 to U21, York University, Toronto October 20 - The Heights AGM 12:00 pm November 2-4 th AOA Coaches Conference Collingwood, Ontario November 24-Dec. 6 U14/U16 OCUP Western Camp to Sun Peaks December 2 nd AOA Officials Update (For level 1 or 2 officials) December 9-14 th - AOA Mont Tremblant Camp (U10/U12) please contact Head Coach for more information btaylor@theheightsofhorseshoe.com December th - Christmas Camp #1 December Christmas Camp #2 January 2-4 Christmas Camp 3# January 5 th ALL Programs Begin Parents Meeting at 10:30am in the lodge (TBD) January 11 th Friday Training Begins contact admin@theheightsofhorseshoe.com for details January 26 AUDI Skier Cross WORLD CUP Blue Mountain, Ontario February 2-3 rd - Snow Stars Skills Day and BBQ, The Heights February Last Day of 8 Week programs Awards and BBQ March 2 nd - Club Championships March 3 rd Last Day of 9 Week program. Snow Stars Reports for athletes available March 12th - 16 th - March Break Camp March 14th - 15 th - Mastermind U12 at Devil s Glen SC April U16 Whistler Cup - Whistler, BC April 27 th Year end fitness testing The Heights 10:00 am. 7 Page

8 Equipment What do I need for my athlete? General Recommendations There are only a few rules when it comes to finding the right equipment, and Rule One is hand me downs rarely work well since they were intended for someone else, and unless the person receiving the hand me down is identical to the original user, then a compromise is being made. Boots The most important item of equipment is the boots. They must be a correct fit and style for the user. It is strongly recommended that athletes seek professional advice from both their Certified Coach and a Certified Boot fitter at your local ski shop. For racing kids, boots need to be snug when they put them on, and when the buckles are done up the boot must tighten up slightly not so tight that the feet go numb but tight enough that their shins do not rotate in the cuff of the boot and that their heel stays on the sole of the boot when they flex (bend) forward. The toes should not cram up against the front of the boot at any time. Leave room at the toes and ensure the ankle is secure in the boot. Do not get boots which are too stiff. This is the most common fault that young racers make when they purchase new boots. The boot may flex a little in the store, but outside when the temperature is well below zero, if the boot is too stiff it will prevent the child from making the correct move forward which will result in sitting back while skiing. This is poor technique and can also contribute to knee and ankle injuries. The boot is the child s connection to the ski and the snow; if the fit is not right then it will be difficult for the child to progress. Helmets Helmets are mandatory for all members of The Heights Race Programs.. At all times during training and racing, all participants must wear a crash helmet specifically designed and labeled for alpine skiing it must have a smooth surface with no spoilers, protrusions or attachments (including camera mounts) other than a slalom face guard attached to the front of the helmet as per the helmet manufacturer s instructions. (only used during slalom training and racing). With the exception of helmets manufactured specifically for U14 to U18 slalom events, which may have soft ear covering, all ski crash helmets must have a hard shell over the ears. To be effective a helmet must be a perfect fit. A helmet should fit snuggly and have no pressure points. It should not droop down over the eyes, and at the back it should not extend below the bottom of the skull where it meets the neck (the occipital bone). The helmet must allow for goggles to fit inside the face frame, and it must have a functional chin-strap. 8 Page

9 Skis For U10 and U12 racers one pair of skis is preferable. Generally a GS or Sport Race ski is the most versatile choice. The length of the ski depends entirely upon the height, weight and current ski ability of the child. Do not get skis that they will grow into, long skis are harder to turn and a child will make slow progress if the skis are too long. The side cut of the skis also greatly determines the ease of turning. Skis with a narrow waist (center) and a wide tip and tail will turn and carve more easily. As kids approach the U14, U16 and U19 age groups many of them need to have GS and Slalom skis. The difference is in length and side-cut. Slalom skis will be between 130 and 165 cm while GS skis will be between 150 and 185cm depending upon height and weight. Poles For younger kids one set of poles is all that is necessary and a Slalom (straight shaft) pole is preferable as it is most versatile. Proper pole length is very important. If the pole is too long the child has to swing it excessively and pop up in order to make a correct pole plant, and if it is too short then they have to lean too far forward to plant the pole. Both of these situations contribute to poor technique and slow progress. The proper length is to have the child stand straight, in a pair of street shoes, and measure from the ground to half way between their navel and their sternum. This is the correct length for poles. Children should not have slalom blocking guards on their poles until they are strong enough skiers to cross block. These guards tend to encourage young skiers to reach across their body in order to hit the pole which causes excessive rotation and actually makes it harder to learn how to cross block. Junior poles are relatively inexpensive and need to be changed frequently as the child grows. Once the kids have GS and Slalom skis, then they also need GS and Slalom poles. Use the method above to determine length for the slalom pole and add 5+ cm for a GS pole. Equipment-General Summary While there are no rules, here are the rules: 1. No hand me downs 2. No long skis for U8 & U10 racers 3. No stiff boots 4. No long poles 5. No pole guards for U8, U10 and U12 6. No free ride helmets 9 Page

10 Equipment - Summary by Age Groups U10 Equipment 1. All participants must wear a helmet at all times see notes above. 2. Participants are not permitted to wear speed suits not necessary at this age. 3. Only one pair of skis required 4. A Racer s Boot Bag that can store boots and helmet very helpful for any away event. There are knapsack styles available which keeps hands free for carrying skis and poles. U12 Equipment 1. All participants must wear a helmet at all times see notes above. 2. Participants are encouraged to wear speed suits 3. Only one pair of skis required 4. A Racer s Boot Bag that can store boots and helmet very helpful for any away event. There are knapsack styles available which keeps hands free for carrying skis and poles. 5. Side zipped ski pants or shorts that can easily be removed just before the racer starts. U14 Equipment 1. All athletes must wear an FIS approved helmet at all times see notes above. 2. Athletes are permitted to wear speed suits. 3. At U14 many athletes have both slalom and GS specific skis this is recommended 4. Many athletes as well have separate GS and Slalom poles. 5. Athletes need slalom shin guards and slalom pole guards for slalom training and racing and it is highly recommended that they have a face guard on their slalom helmet and a mouth guard which they wear to protect their teeth. 6. Slalom face guards may not be worn on helmets for GS or SG training or racing. 7. Slalom Pole guards may not be worn for GS or SG training or racing. 8. Boot bag/knapsack and side zipped warm up pants/shorts. 9. You may find it more convenient to have two helmets (Slalom and GS) to avoid having to install or remove the slalom face guard depending upon the training and/or racing schedule very often both events are trained/raced on the same weekend. 10. For Super G training and racing athletes must use Super G specific skis many athletes do not purchase Super G skis but rather rent of borrow them for the few days that they require them please consult the Head Coach for details U16/U19 Equipment 1. All athletes must wear an FIS approved helmet at all times see notes above. 2. Athletes are permitted to wear speed suits. 3. At U16/U19 athletes need to have both slalom and GS specific skis. Many athletes must have separate GS and Slalom poles. 10 Page

11 4. Athletes need slalom shin guards and slalom pole guards for slalom training and racing and it is highly recommended that they have a face guard on their slalom helmet and a mouth guard which they wear to protect their teeth. 5. Slalom face guards may not be worn on helmets for GS or SG training or racing. Slalom Pole guards may not be worn for GS or SG training or racing. 6. Boot bag/knapsack and side zipped warm up pants/shorts. 7. You may find it more convenient to have two helmets (Slalom and GS) to avoid having to install or remove the slalom face guard depending upon the training and/or racing schedule very often both events are trained/raced on the same weekend. 8. For Super G training and racing athletes must use Super G specific skis see the ski selection charts above many athletes do not purchase Super G skis but rather rent of borrow them for the few days that they require them please consult the Head Coach for details. Race Day 101 U10- U18 Race day preparation begins with the publication of the race announcement. You will receive notice of the overall race schedule at the beginning of the season from Alpine Ontario. By the end of the day Tuesday before the race, your manager or the Heights Race Staff will send a Race Announcement which will detail the time of the race, exact location and any club specific rules. ( ie; where to change, where to park, what hill the race will be on etc.) Tips for Race Day Ensure all your equipment is operational, tuned and ready for race/event day! Car pool - it s fun for the kids and adults and good for the environment! Arrive early, especially if you are not familiar with the resort (The coach will set a time to be on hill ready to ski ) Bring water and snacks to the hill for your racer. Be positive and supportive to your racer- be prepared for every outcome. Remember that times posted to the scoreboard are provisional. This means that the results are not official until you see the printed or online version. If you believe a mistake has been made, contact your racer s coach; NEVER confront a volunteer. 11 Page

12 Race Day Program Racers will meet coaches to collect their bibs and tickets at the prescribed meeting area. Parents wishing to volunteer to help run the race will normally receive a free lift ticket. Should you wish to volunteer, please proceed to the administration desk or arrange through your coach who will advise the host ROC at the coaches meeting. The start order for a race is either random, at younger ages, or it follows Alpine Canada s Competition Rules procedures. Participating athletes are ranked in order of their National points ( There is a random draw for the top 15 starting positions to be allotted to the top 15 points participants. The rest of the field starts according to their ranking, with unranked athletes drawn randomly for their position following the ranked athletes. In each instance, the full field of female racers run, followed by the full field of male racers. Start lists may be available for spectators in the finish area or visibly posted. Watch the race not just your racer. Racers meet their coach at the top of the race course for inspection. During this inspection, the coach will discuss the tactical approach the racers should take. Racers may only side slip the course they are NOT to go through the gates. After inspection, racers go back to the top of the course to get ready for the race. Depending on discipline and style of race, each racer runs the course twice. Racers are ranked based on the combined times of 2 runs. If racers do not successfully complete the first run, they are disqualified from the result competition, but may receive a 2 nd run at the discression of the Chief of Race. (DNS Did Not Start; DNF - Did Not Finish & DQ - Disqualified based on taking an incorrect pathway through the course) After the first run, coaches may or may not reset the course for the second run. (In younger age groups, the race may only have a single run.) For a complete set of competition rules. Please visit Alpine Canada or follow this link; Provisional times are recorded on a scoreboard at the bottom of the course. Results are not official until the Technical Delegate (TD) (official in charge of the race) has signed off on them, at which point they will be published as official results. You can review the race results using the Live Timing application through the Alpine Ontario Website. The awards ceremony takes place as soon as possible after the completion of the race, or in the case of a race series, at the end of the final day of competition. Irrespective of whether your racer has achieved a place on the podium, it shows good sportsmanship and team support for ALL Heights athletes and coaches to stay for the ceremony to recognize and show respect for the successful athletes and the race organizers. Delay s often occur in getting results finalized. This is usually due to 12 Page

13 systematic glitches the people managing the race are working as fast as they can to produce an accurate result list. Who Puts on a Race? A lot of work goes into staging a race, much of which happens off the hill before race day. Calendars are set, agreements are made between clubs and Alpine Ontario, lists are created, start lists, team captains meetings, score boards, bib allotments and so on. Staff does a lot of this, but volunteers are a vital part of the organization parents like you! Without volunteer support, there would be no ski racing. Below is a list of positions involved in hosting a ski race: Race Committee/ Race Crew - we are always looking for individuals to work Chief of Race responsible for making sure everyone on the hill is communicating, keeping the race safe. Must be a qualified official. Technical Delegate responsible for keeping the race course safe and fair. Must be a qualified official. Chief Gate Judge coordinates the reports of all gate judges, who stand alongside the course to ensure racers navigate the course correctly. May be a parent volunteer. Race Administrator prepares all entries and compiles results. Works for the Race club Starter Ensures accurate course entry. May be a parent volunteer. Volunteer Positions - Are detailed in another section. 13 Page

14 Race Manager The Race Group Manager (RGM) role is in place at The Heights to ensure effective communication between the coaches, racers and parents. The below should be viewed as a guide to get you started or if you are an experienced group manager, update your capabilities! Once the RGM has been confirmed, the Heights Race staff will provide Group Managers with the group list, parent s and the group s race schedule. Once the is enabled, the RGM should review the appropriate race calendar and ensure each parent is aware of the dates and is committing to have their racer on the hill and ready on race days. If a racer is not able to attend any given race, the coach should be made aware by the Sunday prior to the race. It might be a good idea to send your phone number(s) and the coach(es) phone numbers and addresses to the parents in your Group so if they can t get to a race, they can call easily. Every away race, the Host Club will send Host Notes to our Race Office. The race administrator will, in turn, send these out via to the appropriate managers. This communication includes things like directions to the Club, location of the race on the hill, any club specific rules such as parking/lunches and times for course inspection and race start. The RGM will then add any additional information after conferring with the group s coach (ie will there be training before or after the race at the race location or elsewhere) and then send an to the parents. Be patient with these communications Host Notes can arrive at the Heights racing between Monday and Friday during the week. Race staff will get them to you as soon as possible. Part of your communication as RGM should be to solicit volunteers: For Away Races you will need: Coat running (2-3 parents) General start organisation - Top of hill person to help coach with race capes and race order etc. Bib and ticket organization in the visiting race room. After the coach picks up tickets and bibs at the Team Captain s meeting. General rule is any extra allocated tickets go to parents committed to helping and any additional tickets required for those helping should be purchased and the cost split evenly by all parents who are skiing. Cheering Enjoy the day! Be respectful to all athletes and coaches. For Home Races you will need: One parent to arrive at the hill by 8 am to greet visiting racers and direct them to the visiting race room downstairs and let them know the race start times, location of facilities, etc Club Greeter! 14 Page

15 Parents to act as gate judges (the number required will depend on if it is GS or SL race). It s a pretty straightforward role, the Technical Delegate will brief the judges before the race and answer any questions. 2 parents to collect bibs at the end of the race, put them in order and in the bin provided and return them to the Race Office. Coat running (2-3) parents Top of hill person to help coach with race capes and race order NOTE: Race Staff has been collecting names & contact info for all parents interested in volunteering at Home Races. The list is maintained and updated by Race staff and our Race Crew Chief will be in touch with parents via during the week prior to the home race. Please send volunteer information to admin@theheightsofhorseshoe.com and Race staff will ensure that the master list is updated. Social Events: Depending on the Group, the parents and athletes may wish to get together for at least one social event or fun event sometimes this is a stay over dinner (ie Huntsville) or a party at someone s chalet or hotel room or even an après ski party at the club. If your Group is planning an event at the club, please make sure that you work with Heights staff to organize food and space, etc but, please, do not involve Heights staff to work it these events are run by and paid for by the parents in the Group. Remember much of the fun over the years is the kids and parents building strong friendships on and off the hill! Fundraising: The Race Program needs funding and while the Parking Lot Auction raises a ton of money, racing equipment is expensive and is continually having to be updated or replaced. To that end, it is traditional for Groups to put together baskets (one per U group) which will be auctioned off during the Race Banquet (held this year on March 5th). Last of all, the RGM role should be viewed as an opportunity to learn and engage with Racing at the Heights. It is a vibrant program with motivated racers and parents alike. Enjoy it and have fun! 15 Page

16 Volunteer Guide If you have a child who is racing, you will be expected to help out in some capacity. This is a fun way to meet other parents and to watch your child perform while keeping busy with your own same-age peers. A number of volunteer positions (both on and off the hill) are available that best suit your interests and abilities. The volunteer coordinator will help match your talents and availability with the club expectations and in so doing will track your volunteer time to ensure that all members are contributing equitably. The weekend before the race gets under way is usually a safety setup weekend. Parents are required to help put up the safety nets. We organize into crews of typically four to six lead by a more experienced crew. Volunteers on, and sometimes before, race day are organized by crews or groups. Sign up takes place several weeks before the race and will be announced through the racing newsletter. The following gives you some idea of the volunteer opportunities. However, if you aren t sure of the best position to take, please contact admin@theheightsofhorseshoe.com. Course Crew Under the direction of the chief of course, the course crew is responsible for the preparation of the course and its maintenance throughout the race. This requires being responsible for the course marking, including direction marking and marking pole positions as well as providing the course setter with assistance and all the necessary equipment in order to be productive. The course crews also takes care of the preparation of the start and finish areas and make sure that the course is well prepared and maintained while the race is underway. Some members of the course crew are positioned in key places along the course and use rakes and shovels to ensure that the course is kept in a good condition. Other members of the course crew are positioned at the top of the course and used to run equipment down to places where it may be required during the race. Yet other members of the course crew may act as slippers in which they side-slip the course to minimize the ruts and berms. Gate Judges A gate judge is responsible for judging the passage of each competitor through the gates and deciding whether the passage is correct. Gate judges are assigned a certain number of gates to watch by the chief of gates. They stand to the side of the course and watch each competitor pass through their designated gates. If a competitor does not have the correct passage through the gates the gate judge marks this down on a gate judge card. Start Crew The start area is overseen by the start referee. Volunteer positions at the start include the starter, assistant starter(s), and two timers. The starter wears a headset and is in communication with timing. The race is started on the signal from the starter. The assistant starter organizes the racers according to their start order. The manual timers work in pairs using a stopwatch and a recording sheet to record a manual time at which each racer starts. This forms a backup time for all the electronic timing 16 Page

17 system. The assistant starter and manual timers are appropriate volunteer positions for inexperienced volunteers. Finish Crew The finish area is overseen by the finish referee. The finish crew consists of the finish spotter, two manual timers, scoreboard, and bib collector. The finish spotter has a headset and informs timing of the bib number of racers as they cross the finish line. The manual timers, as with start manual timers, work in pairs using a stopwatch and a recording sheet to record a manual time at which each racer finishes. The volunteer on scoreboard has either a headset connected to timing or can visually see an electronic scoreboard on which times are displayed. He or she manually records these times on the scoreboard so the racers can quickly see their times. The bib collector collects the bibs from racers after their final race. The finish spotter, two manual timers, scoreboard, and bib collector are appropriate volunteer positions for inexperienced volunteers. Timing Crew Under the supervision of the Chief of Timing, the timing crew is responsible for the electronic timing systems of the race. There are usually two independent electronic timing systems. Each requires two pairs of wire to be in place from the start to the finish to carry both the timing signal and communications between the areas; the start wand, finish beam, and a timing unit to receive and process the start and finish signals. Regardless of how the system is set up, the principles of timing are the same. The starter gives the start signal. When the racer opens the start wand, the circuit is broken and the start signal is sent to the timing machine. When the racer breaks the light beam at the finish the circuit is again broken and the finish signal is sent to the machine which calculates the elapsed time of the racer and prints it out. Members of the timing crew work together as a team to ensure the systems are in place and functioning correctly. Any volunteers with electrical know how would be welcomed as part of this team. 17 Page

18 Frequently Asked Questions How are ski teams/groups selected? It has been proven that skiers of like ability should train and race together within their age group. We will utilise Snow Stars skill attribute bench marks to determine skills and abilities within each age group up to U12. Time trials will ONLY be used as a skill attribute NOT as a time benchmark for U10 athletes. Do we have to attend all the races, even the ones that are far away? Yes! Every team member is expected to attend all of the races on their team s schedule. This is part of the responsibility of membership in SOD. How do we know where to go once we arrive at the race? Your Team Manager will supply you with full details for the season, including race schedules, maps, and particulars about the clubs you will be visiting. Can the coach drive my child to the race? No. Heights coaches are not permitted to transport athletes for any purpose. Should the need so arise for a coach to transport an athlete, specific written permission must be given by The Heights General Manager prior to the event. Why aren t my kids doing more gate training? Generally speaking young racers should only spend 25% of the season training time in gates including practice and racing. It is very difficult to learn basic skiing skills when skiing gates. Young skiers will progress much more quickly when they spend time perfecting their skiing skills. As they get older (14+ years of age) they will gradually spend more time doing gate training and race simulations up to but not in excess of 50% over the entire season. Why are other clubs training in gates more than us? This is only a perception. Most clubs do their free skiing skill development (up to 25 days) in the early season in fall camps before a lot of other clubs start their programs. When they get to the competition season (January to March) the training focus turns to race preparation in courses. Why do coaches stand around so much, shouldn t they be skiing with the kids more? Taking a position at the top, side or bottom of the training run enables the coach to speak individually to each racer as they arrive or leave the training hill. The emphasis is on the racer s skiing and the feedback that the coach is able to provide based on their direction and observation of the racer s performance. Young athletes learn much more by doing than they do by the more passive forms of listening and viewing. What can I do as a parent to help my child s team? You can volunteer to be a Team Manager, volunteer to help host your child s at home races, take the time to get to know your child s coaches and speak to them about what they are doing. Come to all your child s races and special events and perhaps help to organize one. 18 Page

19 Do the kids have to wear their helmet all the time? Yes. We require all race participants, including coaches, to wear a helmet whenever they are free skiing, gate training, or racing. Does my child need pole guards and shin guards? Young racers should not have pole guards or shin guards until such time as they are ready to cross block slalom gates. This rarely happens before U14. If they have this equipment before they are technically ready it will cause them to reach across their body to hit the poles and this results in them developing poor technique. Consult the coaching staff before you get this equipment for your child. Do my kids need two pairs of skis? It is not until U14 that young racers start to train and compete in specifically different events - Slalom & Giant Slalom. At U14 and older it is difficult and could be at times dangerous for young racers to be training or racing on the wrong size and shape of skis. Slalom skis are shorter and turn much quicker than GS skis which are intended for larger and faster turns. What is Snow Stars Skills day? Skills day consists of various stations that are set up by the coaches for the athletes to ski through. Some include moguls, brushes, stubbies, full gates and timing. All the stations challenge the athletes in a safe environment. Athletes will be benchmarked against the Alpine Canada Snow Stars skill attributes. 19 Page

20 Important year end events Race Banquet The Race Banquet is held the Saturday evening following the last weekend of race. (Usually first weekend of March), and is open to all families of U10 U18 racers. It is a great opportunity for racers and their families to celebrate their season together. Evening events include dinner, awards for kids, coaches and volunteers, and music for all to enjoy. Gift baskets are assembled in advance by each race team that are put up for auction at this event. This is a great fund-raising opportunity for our race program, with proceeds used to buy new race equipment including gates, safety fencing and timing equipment. Banquet tickets are to be purchased in advance. Please follow the weekly Race newsletter for details. Club Championship The Club Championship is open to all members of the Heights, and is held the first weekend of March. Each participant gets 2 runs through a giant slalom course, typically set up on the Chalet Schuss (front hill). The best of the 2 times is counted. Racers are divided by sex, age and include traditional ski race, snow board, double tip and back-ward ski race. The winners of each category (and the next best overall male and female) are entered into the overall club champions race immediately following the club race. Sign-up notification and details will be provided in February by way of to the membership. All participants of the children s race program are automatically entered. 20 Page

21 Useful Links: Heights Ski and Country Club Race Website ( Heights Race Crew Website ( Flying Squirrels!) ( Live Timing Website ( Alpine Ontario ( Alpine Canada ( Ski Racing 101 ( Education & Ski Racing A Resource Guide for Ontario Athletes ( Coaching Code of Conduct ( _updated_2016.pdf) Everything you wanted to know about Ski Gear ( 21 Page

22 Alpine Ski Racing Vocabulary A-Net B-Net Base grind Bevel Bibbo Booster straps Boot canting Brushes Diamond stone First seed FIS Flush Gummi Hairpin Homologation Suspension net 4 to 6 meters tall installed in hazardous zones on alpine courses Safety nets used on the sides of courses for protection, supported by poles. The pattern that is ground into the base of the ski depending on the snow type. The angle that is applied to the side edge relative to the base of the ski. The start order of the top 30 finishers in SL and GS: 30th fastest goes 1st. Velcro straps applied to the cuff of ski boots to increase the stiffness. An adjustment made to boots to achieve a neutral stance. Nylon brush markers used alone or with gates in training courses to set the line. One of many different tuning tools used to sharpen and polish ski edges. The top 15 ranked racers in an event. Federation Internationale de Ski: international governing body of ski racing. A single combination of gates set in SL to change the rhythm or move across hill. Different grits of gummi stones are used to buff ski edges. A double combination of gates set in SL to change the rhythm or move across hill. Certification of a race course meeting FIS standards. Intent to compete Coaches intend their racers for an event; entry is dependent on quota Lifter Make the flip Plomb A thin plastic platform attached to the binding to lift the boot higher off the ski. To finish in the top 30 in the 1st run. Racer start position is "flipped" for 2nd run. The seal affixed to speed suits to testify they comply with FIS standards 22 Page

23 QRP ROC Sanction Side cut/radius Stealth Stubby TD Qualification Race Points: the system used to select elite athletes to teams. Race Organizing Committee 1.Approve a race 2. Penalize an athlete. The regulated shape of the ski which determines the arc of the turn it can make. A protective, padded shirt worn under the speed suit. Short gates used in training runs. Technical Delegate: the representative of the FIS overseeing the race. 23 Page