Pacific Northwest Ski Association A Division of USSA 2016-2017 PNSA ACC Minutes and Motions Fall Meeting Oct 14, 2016 Mt. Hood Meadows Meeting called to Order 1:20pm Roll Call: Bill Brooks, Jeff Kray, Dan Henry, Gillian Esson, Ryan Shorter, Billy Farwig, Mike Graves, Jamie Landwehr, Ron Bonneau, Rob Cravens, Shana Sweitzer, Roger Root, Kurt Westman, Alan Lauba, Dave Lyon, Matt Morrell, Seth McCadam, Brad Saxe Absent: Jeff Kray, Nils Eriksson, Chuck Holcomb, Pat Robson, 2016-2017 ACC Motion #1: To approve the agenda. Maker: Bill Brooks, second by Roger Root. Motion PASSED. 2016-2017 ACC Motion #2: To approve the minutes from the June 4th, 2016 meeting of the ACC. Maker: Alan Lauba, second by Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED. Presidents Report: Bill Brooks had no report for this meeting Alpine Directors Report: Dan Henry a. AAC member update: The ASC has decided (effective today Oct 14 th ) that a training run for U14 s in SG will be required. Programs planning a SG for U14 s will need to take this into account in their race planning. Calendar: reminder to clubs if you make a change to your sanctioning agreement you must contact the PNSA office for ACC approval (date, discipline, published calendar changes) Western Region is funding a Skills Quest event for U12 and/or U14, can be added to an existing event. Can BWC tolerate adding the event to the three days? This is a question for the organizers this year if the ACC thinks it is a good item to add. To be motioned later in the meeting under new business. Skills Quest will be at the U14 and U16 regional events this year.
b. Motion Review board update report on PNSA board meeting from June and what items the ACC sent to the board for approval that were not passed at the board level. Motion #22 to remove the modified double board from U16 qualification and move to a double board for both U16 and U19/U21. This occurred because the members of the ACC bringing the information to the board were not united in their presentation and because Paul Mahre did not support the motion as he talked through it at the board level. It was presented that the modified board did a better job of identifying the all-around skier Note: Bill Brooks made it very clear that the board fully supports the work the ACC does and values its information and expertise. Motion #27 The motion to use National points for the Category cut offs This was not passed because the board felt that there was a need to get two years of empirical data to be able to give a strong presentation to USSA for the positive uses for the category system. Executive Directors Report: Claudia Yamamoto will be working in the PNSA office again this year. Claudia has taken on Elite Passes this year and will continue with travel and championship events There is a small bit of work to be done on the Ability class lists, there are three athletes that need to have their PNSA points reviewed, all other athletes are correct. All athletes will start the 2017 season with ½ the PNSA points from last year. The Ability Class lists will be ready for the first Evergreen Cup race at Schweitzer, November 28 th. Competition manual being revised, waiting for final additions from USSA and Western region, such as the change made this morning by the ASC. Calendar update: SSRA had to adjust the first NWC event to Fri Jan 6 th thru Sun Jan 8 th. Confirming that PNSA voted in the spring to have the ACC/PNSA control the calendar within division. USSA affirmed that PNSA has authority to control calendar. This means that clubs must notify PNSA office (so that the ACC can ratify) if there is a change to the sanctioning agreement discipline or date. Sub-committee Working Groups U14/YSL chair Billy Farwig (new to position, Dan Henry elaborated where needed) Quota for U14 regional event 13 girls and 13 boys Alpine Meadows
zonal quota = 8 West, 3 East, 2 South, using the published list #13. Due to the late date of BWC and the publish dates for USSA list #13 it is suggested that PNSA use list #14 from previous year to establish quotas for the coming year. PNSA uses the group of first year U14 from the previous year. Events to be used for U14 qualifying races in each zone 2 GS, 2 SL, and the option for 1 or 2 sg. To be motioned later in the meeting under new business U16 chair Mike Graves (new to position) Quota for U16 regional event 16 girls and 16 boys Big Sky, Montana CanAm event will not happen in 2017. PNSA may need to look for something appropriate for the second tier group of athletes that have gone to CanAms for the past 4 years. Shana stated the event has been an excellent event for retention and excitement with the selected population. U19/U21 chair Jamie Landwehr Quota for U19/U21 regional event 18 girls and 22 boys Schweitzer, Idaho There has been a request for feedback from Western region regarding the proposed USSA scored National Championship event for 2018. Email communication from Bill Gunesh and Gywnn Watson. Discussion in ACC meeting what is the goal of National event and how will division or region select athletes. There will still be a regional FIS championships with the idea that a USSA level championships will broaden the grass roots level, potentially bridging the gap between National level elite and Nastar Nationals. Suggestions from the floor: A. not have restrictions so that an athlete could choose to attend USSA level or FIS level championships. B. Ask USSA to define what is goal of event so that the division can help to select the appropriate athletes. Fitness Testing is back with levels and suggested tests from USSA (similar to the medals tests). Jamie presented that this was a positive move from USSA and he felt that the division should encourage/require zonal testing weekends in the fall to build comradery, divisional awareness and competition. Jamie asked members to think about this for discussion in the spring. College chair Ron Bonneau Race schedule posted on the PNSA website. NWCSC has its own website with schools listed and the whats after high school for ski racers matrix posted. The 2016-17 season USCSA races will not be USSA scored events. USCSA National has adopted masters rules for ski length in GS. PNSA and individual members can contact USSA to encourage the conversation with USSA about moving USCSA back under the USSA banner in a manner that is
financially manageable for both parties. Conversations with Tiger Shaw, the development committee, membership committee and at the trustee level should be encouraged. Roger Root suggested that the college working group revise its proposal to USSA with language to suggest that USSA racing be allowed for a test season in 2017 with the proposed membership levels for the athletes and colleges. Masters Rob Cravens (written notes attached) USSA is working to encourage masters racers and any member that holds a coach or other competitor license and is 21 or older can get a free addition of masters competitor. The Masters subcommittee is now properly under PNSA with financial management under the PNSA umbrella. The PNSA masters provide a $400 scholarship for training to a male and female PNSA athlete. They would like to raise this scholarship. At the national level there are surveys at the Nastar level to encourage more masters race participation. The committee has completely reviewed the masters ICR with special attention on how to hold an effective team captains meeting Masters do not have team captains. Lisa Densmore (a masters national champion, life coach and active volunteer) will run a women s race training group at Stevens Pass with Friday night racing and Sat ski improvement. Coaches Chair report Shana Sweitzer PNSA summer SL camp was a success Aug Mt Hood 24 athletes/4 coaches It was a benefit to the athletes both technically and socially within PNSA. There will be a coaches symposium following the ACC meeting which will give the USSA coaches in the room continuing education credit. Matt Morell reported that Speed camp 2017 is set for May 11 to 14 at White Pass. Discussion of South American project in Aug 2017 there were concerns and discussion of interest levels within clubs represented in the room and a straw poll indicated there was not support to pursue this project at the PNSA level. PNSA approved course setters list for Evergreen and Northwest Cup races discussion: Alan Lauba west, Jamie Landwehr east, Brad Saxe south are the course setting zonal representative. Clubs are encouraged to work with new and young coaches to give them training and practice then contact their zonal representative to be added to the approved list when experienced. Race Organizers will manage and assign course setters and course setters are encouraged to listen to the local wisdom regarding hill terrain and setting suggestions to keep courses both interesting, fun, manageable and legal. Use hill wisely, learn from locals and use advice for gate counts or directions if needed.
Rules and Tech chair Kurt Westman Update as of Oct 14 th ASC has stated that U14 level SG will require a training run. This can be a training run or an opportunity to ski the hill. The equipment matrix is available and is updated. For the 2017-18 season USSA expects to align the equipment matrix to match FIS for all levels children included. A u14 athlete could use a 17m ski for GS, SG and DH as per the matrix 2016-17 Attach matrix as appendix. New Business 2016-2017 ACC Motion #3: Motion to define the U14 qualifying races for each zone as 2 GS and 2 SL with the option to include one or two SG. Maker: Billy Farwig, second by Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED 2016-2017 ACC Motion #4: Motion to use list #14 from season 2016 for setting quotas by zone for U14 regional event (population distribution) for the 2017 season. Maker: Billy Farwig, seconded by: Dave Lyon. Motion PASSED 2016-2017 ACC Motion #5: Motion to refer to a committee lead by Mike Graves to work to find an appropriate event for the second tier U16 s now that the CanAm event has been discontinued by BC and Alberta. Maker: Dave Lyon, second by: Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED Discussion: Committee tasked to find an event that has what has made the special for those selected athletes working to promote retention and inclusivity within this age group (if possible appropriate competitive level) 2016-2017 ACC Motion #6: Motion to include Skills Quest competition to the Buddy Werner Championships within the three-day format. Maker: Billy Farwig, second by: Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED Discussion: Will not be scored as part of the team competition or individual standing as per the PNSA competition guide. 2016-2017 ACC Motion #7: Motion to Adjourn Maker: Billy Farwig, second by, Mike Graves. Motion PASSED 4:40pm
Pacific Northwest Ski Association A Division of USSA 2015-2016 PNSA ACC Minutes and Motions Spring Meeting June 4 th, 2016 Hood River Motions passed by electronically May 2016 2015-2016 ACC Motion #11: To combine the PNSA U16 Series with the Northwest Cup Series into a single U16 NW Cup qualification series with a U16-NW Cup Championship at the end of the season. Maker: Mike Graves, second by Nils Eriksson. Motion passed. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #12: To utilize PNSA s authority, as a USSA Affiliate, to control and approve the calendaring of all USSA sanctioned scored events in PNSA. Maker: Dave Lyon, second by Mike Graves. Motion passed. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #13: To restrict entry into Zonal Evergreen Cups races to athletes whose clubs are in that zone. Athletes, not affiliated with a club, will have their zonal affiliation determined by their home residence. Maker: Jamie Landwehr, second by Dave Lyon. Motion passed. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #14: To continue ability Class racing for all scored USSA races within PNSA. Maker: Roger Root, second by Gillian Esson. Motion passed. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #15: To replace Cat 1 awards with Overall awards. Maker: Roger Root, second by Shana Sweitzer. Motion passed. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #16: To discontinue Cat 5 awards after February of each season. Maker Roger Root, second by Shna Sweitzer. Motion passed. Voting results - appendix A Meeting called to order 8:50 am, June 4 th, 2016
PNSA Welcome Bill Brooks PNSA should be very proud of its work to develop Vision, Value and Mission statements 2 years ago. USSA undertook a similar process this year and presented those at congress. While one vision remains the same to be the best in the world there are additional visions now that encompass the entire USSA population and include the clubs, divisions and regions. USSA is looking to define core values of fun and grit. Congress this year was more collaborative and more welcoming. Western region presentation (WR) Bill Gunesch sharing of information from USSA congress and Western region spring meetings Chip Knight feels that western region athletes are well prepared for the rigors of ski racing and travel than some in other parts of the country Continue to be aware of the high performers, they deserve to feel special too Summary of congress ski length matrix discussions GS ski for U16 will stay at 17m min U14 gates will continue to be required at 60 off snow as max length U14 nationals will occur but criteria to qualify will be more challenging athlete must win at least one race and podium in another Western Region and USSA have given permission to continue with Ability Class racing and are looking at PNSA as a model for other divisions throughout the country There is a new course setting matrix that Paul Mahre will share with the division 120 USSA point requirement has been eliminated for out of country racing, 100 point rule still stands for entering Nor-Ams and Continental cups There will not be a U19 National championship in 2016-17, U19 will have a 2 race series at the end of Senior Nationals. USSA philosophy for change is less racing and less cost. In 2017-18 U21/U19 National Championships will be a USSA race only New graphs and pyramids that are a better example of the development pathways are coming out from USSA. Western region presentation (WR) - Gwynn Watkins on line registration presentation how it can be very helpful for race administrators and division. That the system will generate the head tax and has an athlete registration component Presented the USSA and WR organizational chart. WR mission to promote elite level racing supporting the divisions and feeding national. Responsible for competition, criteria and compliance. Gwynn goals for WR are to improve communication, write a parent handbook, streamline the financials (how to spend funds and how to collect head tax), a conditioning program, promote skills quest. ACC general meeting Dan welcome ACC members and audience to the ACC general session, he defined the structure of the meetings, gave a brief summary of the coach s forums that were held during the season and spoke to the importance of the working group meeting that was held on Friday June 3, 2016 and that all were welcome and encouraged to attend the working group. ACC Roll call absent Jeff Kray, vacant athlete representatives male and female
2015-2016 ACC Motion #17: To approve the agenda. Maker: Ryan Shorter second by Bill Brooks. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #18: To approve the minutes from the October 2, 2015 meeting of the ACC. Maker: Ryan Shorter, second by Dave Lyon. Motion PASSED. Subcommittee Reports ACC chair Dan Henry 1. USSA Congress report (summary of observations) there is still evidence of early ID going on U14 Nationals USSA will hold the event, no movement on discussion of discontinuing U14 regionals split opinion in western region, event will occur in 2017 If the regional did not occur or if there was no nationals would allow races that are used for qualifying to move later in the calendar and would allow BWC to move up calendar 2. Thank you to all members of ACC for work and collaboration in the 2015-16 season Coaches Report Jim Stevens 1. Education component a presentation by Jeff Pickering did occur in conjunction with the fall meetings and was well attended 2. Dan Henry helped with setting of coaches for PNSA projects, thank you Dan for that assistance 3. Speed Camp, White Pass PNSA project for athletes and coaches education, staff working well together 4. Thank you to Kevin McCarthy (white pass) for the commitment of resources 5. New to PNSA for 2016 summer a divisional SL camp at Mt Hood, proposed for 4 days Aug 1 4, 2016 6. Proposal for 2017 summer Masters Report Rob Cravens 1. Written report attached Appendix B 2. Snow in the division made for happy masters racers College Report Ron Bonneau 1. Written report attached in Appendix B following the Masters report 2. USSA presented grid for where to ski after high school at congress grid was developed by three parents in our division
U19 Committee Jamie Landwehr 1. NWC (northwest cup) is a good series it is not the elite level in the region but is the elite level in PNSA nice to see athletes come home to race in series 2. Big trips (Western regions and FIS) thank you to Claudia and Paul f U16 Committee Chuck Holcomb 1. Thank you to Paul and Claudia for trip coordination for U16 regionals 2. Field sizes were low in 2015-16 which is the reason that motion #11 was presented, motion passed June 2016 (NWC and U16 will be merged) 3. Thank you to host areas for U16 races 2015-16 Mt Spokane, Ski bowl and Mt Bachelor 4. Written report attached in Appendix B following the U14 report U14 committee Mike Graves 1. Report attached in appendix B following the officials report U14 regional event, BWC at Mt Bachelor 2. It is important to be consistent zone to zone with respect to the qualifying races for U14 regional champs it is still optional to hold a SG for qualifying 3. The scoring system for the U14 regional qualification has been cleaned up a bit Officials subcommittee Roger Root 1. Report attached in Appendix B following College report 2. Getting more skilled at Vola 3. Need to pick dates for three officials clinics in three zones for fall 4. Thank you to all volunteers 2015-2016 ACC Motion #19: To adopt the draft calendar as presented. Maker: Dave Lyon, second by Pat Robson. Motion PASSED/failed. (Secretary s note: This motion approved the calendar with only dates and zones, locations was presented later in the meeting and approved calendar dates and locations attached as Appendix C) 2015-2016 ACC Motion #20: FIS race travel will be conducted and managed by individual clubs at all FIS events except Championships. PNSA will continue to name a head coach for each project. For non-championship travel, it will be the responsibility of each club and/or individual athlete(s) to keep the head coach
informed of their travel and lodging plans. Maker: Jamie Landwehr, second by Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED/failed.13 for/2 against Discussion: championships will still be managed by office where numbers are easier to set for housing and food, concerns for unintended consequences the impact on the office and loss of revenue, office and region would still be responsible for intents and green sheets 2015-2016 ACC Motion #21: PNSA Championship team jackets (or other championship memorabilia) shall not exceed $100.00 per athlete. Maker: Jamie Landwehr, second by Ryan Shorter. Motion passed/failed. 2 for / 13 against Discussion: should this be a policy or a governance discussion, items brought to table as more and more teams have coats the members are required to wear the team jacket is a challenge to wear once athlete is back home, jacket for recognition should it be more of a school casual wearing coat or rain coat, needs to be consistent, cost in 2016 was high 2015-2016 ACC Motion #22: To use the PNSA double board system for WR U16 Championship selections. Maker: Chuck Holcomb, second by Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #23: U16 Can-Am selections will be the alternate list for the WR U16 Championships. No athlete who declines an invitation to the WR U16 Championships may attend the U16 Can-Am. Maker: Chuck Holcomb, second by Dave Lyon. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #24: The PNSA U14 Buddy Werner Championships will be sanctioned as a USSA scored event. Maker: Mike Graves, second by Chuck Holcomb. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #25: The PNSA U14 Buddy Werner Championships will not award PNSA Ability Class place points. Maker: Mike Graves, second by Chuck Holcomb. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #26: PNSA s WR U14 Championship quota will be filled using four zonal Evergreen Cup races over a two weekends as identified on the PNSA calendar. Maker: Mike Graves, second by Shana Sweitzer. Motion amended. Amendment #1 to 2015-2016 Motion #26: To replace the first sentence in the original motion with the follow: PNSA s WR U14 Championship quota will
be filled using a minimum 4 (four) zonal Evergreen Cup races. Maker: Maker Mike Graves, second by Ryan Shorter. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #26 (Amended): PNSA s WR U14 Championship quota will be filled using a minimum 4 (four) zonal Evergreen Cup races. Maker: Mike Graves, second by Shana Sweitzer. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #27: To base the point cut-offs, for the PNSA Ability Class system, on the U14-U21 USSA population, using the most current list number 14. Maker: Jamie Landwehr, second by Matt Morrell. Motion amended. Amendment #1 to 2015-2016 ACC Motion #27: To revise the motion by adding plus the adders for the next season to the end of the first sentence. Maker: Ryan Shorter, second by Nils Eriksson. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #27 (Amended): To base the point cut-offs, for the PNSA Ability Class system, on the U14-U21 USSA population, using the most current list number 14 plus the adders for the next season. Maker: Jamie Landwehr, second by Matt Morrell. Motion PASSED. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #28: To revise the PNSA Ability Class system by eliminating PNSA place points. Maker: Jamie Landwehr, second by Chuck Holcomb. Motion TABLED. Discussion: Ability class is new, important to gather a significant amount of data before making adjustments, suggested to discuss and/or stay the course, head to head racing by ability class was idea behind move to ability class, athletes need to feel successful in appropriate class, move to refer to committee for further evaluation. 2015-2016 ACC Motion #29: To refer any changes to the PNSA Ability Class System (not previously passed by the ACC) to an ACC Committee to be appointed by the Director of Alpine. Maker: Bill Brooks, second by Pat Robson Motion PASSED 2015-2016 ACC Motion #30: To change the PNSA U14 zonal quota rules for the WR U14 Champions as follows: each zone s quota will be determined by their proportion of 1 st year U14 athletes holding a current USSA Membership on List 13 of the season prior to the Championship season. Maker: Ryan Shorter, second by Nils Eriksson. Motion PASSED Discussion: encourage U12 athletes to join USSA at least at general membership level
2015-2016 ACC Motion #31: To approve the calendar site selections proposed by the ACC Calendar Committee. Maker: Ryan Shorter, second by Dave Lyon. Motion PASSED. (Secretary s note: Calendar identified as Version 4, appendix C). 2015-2016 ACC Motion #32: To adjourn. Maker: Bill Brooks, second by Dave Lyon. Motion PASSED.