para-alpine Guide Manual Version no. 2 - June 2016
SKI & snowboard australia PARTNERS Principal Partners International Governing Bodies High Performance Partners Resort Partners SSA Initiatives Participation and Industry Development Partners Page 2
table OF CONTENTS Para-alpine guide manual Sport Summary 4 Events and Disciplines 4 Vision Impairment Classifications 4 What is Guiding? 5 Required Skiing Ability 5 Desired Skill Set 5 Support and Benefits 6 Time Commitments 6 Guide Requirements 6 Process and Pathway 7 How to Register Your Interest 7 SSA Athlete Pathway 8 AWE Athlete Categorisation 9 Page 3
sport summary para-alpine skiing Two alpine skiing events (slalom and giant slalom) were introduced at the first Paralympic Winter Games in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. Downhill was added in 1984, and super-g was added in 1994. Until 1998, alpine events were only for standing classes athletes with a vision impairment, limb loss, cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury etc. Mono-skiing, for seated skiers, became a medal event at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games. Paralympic competition accommodates male and female athletes with a physical impairment such as spinal cord or nerve damage, cerebral palsy, limb loss or deficiency and vision impairments. Athletes compete in three categories based on their functional ability and a times factoring system allows athletes with different impairments to compete against each other. The rules of the International Ski Federation (FIS) are used with only a few modifications. Skiers with a vision impairment are guided through the course by sighted guides using voice signals to indicate the course to follow. Athletes with a physical impairment use equipment that is adapted to their needs including single skis, sit-skis or orthopaedic aids. Events & Disciplines There are five traditional alpine skiing events on the Paralympic : Downhill Super-G Slalom Giant slalom Super combined Vision Impairment (VI) Classifications The classification of athletes in this sport is performed by authorised classifiers according to the classification rules of the sport, which are determined by the International Federation (IPC Alpine Skiing). There are 3 classes within the VI category. All 3 Classes race against each other using a Time Factor (Handicap) Formula. Class Guide Example of impairment B1 (completely blind) Athletes with a Vision Impairment Standing classes (all athletes use a guide skier) Loud speaker B2 Bluetooth communication B3 Bluetooth communication From no light perception in either eye to light perception, but inability to recognise the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction. Ability to recognise objects up to a distance of 2 metres i.e. below 2/60 and/ or visual field of less than five (5) degrees. Can recognise contours between 2 and 6 metres away i.e. 2/60 6/60 and visual field of more than five (5) degrees and less than twenty (20) degrees. Page 4
what is guiding? required skill set What is Guiding? Skiers who are blind or with a visual impairment are guided through the course by sighted guides using verbal signals to indicate the course to follow. The Guide skis ahead of the athlete wearing a distinctly coloured bib in order to help VI athletes with some sight (B2,B3) negotiate the course. There are rules that VI pairings must follow. These include, a maximum distance apart, all gates must be passed through correctly, guide and athlete must be from the same country. Guides will learn the rules as they progress through the sport and are matched appropriately with a VI athlete. Ski lengths are an adaption of the FIS rules and are dependent on discipline, disability and gender. Required Skiing Ability B3 Guides should come from an alpine ski racing background. Desired performance standard: Women: Sub 80 FIS points or equivalent Men: Sub 100 FIS points or equivalent) B2 Guides preferably come from an alpine ski racing background. Desired performance standard: Women: Sub 120 FIS points or equivalent Men: Sub 140 FIS points or equivalent) B1Guides need not to have a racing background, however they should be advanced skiers. It is however, imperative they be trusted by the athlete and preferably loquacious while skiing. Desired Skill Set Personality Traits - Independent, Patient, Perceptive, Motivated Work Ethic Diligent, Professional, Hard Working Core Competencies - Innovative, collaborative, strong communication skills, flexible, attention to detail Guides should be passionate, hard-working alpine ski racers that can function well in a team environment and have an appreciation for the assistance all Para athletes may require outside of skiing from time to time. Page 5
SUPPT AND BENEFITS SSA Para-alpine Guides Guides are considered by SSA and the broader high performance sports system in the same way that athletes are and with respect to the athlete in which they are paired with. Guides receive the same honours as athletes during medal ceremonies at IPCAS and Paralympic events. Guides who are offered a contract with SSA have all their program costs including their airfares, accommodation, lift tickets and transport covered during SSA-Para-alpine domestic and international training camps and competition. SSA provides an honorarium to contracted Guides when during approved SSA Para-alpine training camps and competition. Whilst Guides remain as volunteers, this honorarium is to help offset time away with limited ability to earn an income and with respect to the additional tasks that Guides are asked to perform in support of the coaching staff and the team logistics. Guides receive the same level of coaching, sports science sports medicine, strength and conditioning, nutrition, sport psychology, personal excellence and other athlete support services as the athlete they are paired with. Depending on the athlete the Guides is paired with, Guides may receive Australia s Winning Edge Athlete Categorisation and the associated support of being categorised with the AIS. If an athlete that a Guide is paired with achieves the performance standard required for consideration of receiving Direct Athlete Investment Support (dais) from the AIS, the Guide will also be eligible to receive direct funding. Funding through the dais scheme ranges from approximatly $5,000 per year to $32,000 per year for Gold medal winners at a Benchmark event Time Commitments High Performance (World Cup Team) 2-4 Year Commitment 7 Weeks between May and October 4-5 Months Internationally 10 Days of Fitness Testing and Inductions between March and October Guide Requirements Emerging 2-4 Year Commitment 4 Weeks between May and September 3-4 Months Internationally 10 Days of Fitness Testing and Inductions between March and October SSA contracted Guides are required to meet the obligations as outlined in their Guide contract. This may include such things as the following: Complete, submit and follow an Individual Performance Plan (IPP), detailing their annual training and competition plan Assist with team travel logistics, facility and course training setup, equipment preparation and other tasks as required by the coaching and program support staff and/ or the individual athlete in which they are guiding for Comply with all SSA polices including codes of conduct, member protection, social media, anti-doping and any others as listed in the Policies section of the SSA website Undertake SSA conducted or approved medical screening, muscular-skeletal screening, electrocardiogram and any other screening required by the SSA Chief Medical Officer Undertake fitness assessment procedure designed to assess components of athletes (Guide) physical capacity Reasonable requests to promote SSA during competitions, training, when being photographed, filmed, interviewed or when participating in SSA program activities Wear the supplied Team uniform as required Guide Mentoring New Guides will have the opportunity to spend time with current, experienced guides to develop their skills and be mentored to assist in their learning. Existing Guides will make time to share experiences and knowledge regarding calling techniques, guide line, the individuality of the various Visual Impairments, expectations and more. Page 6
process and pathway identifying suitable team pairings Once a Guide is identified, they will be invited to attend a training camp for a trial period. During this trial period, Guides will not be contracted to SSA and will not receive an honorarium. Support to attend a training camp as part of this trial period will be worked out on a case by case basis. During the trial period, the Guide will be mentored by existing program Guides and assessed by coaching and program support staff. If the Guide is successful in being selected to be part of the program they will begin a trial period to identify which available SSA para-alpine athlete they are will be best paired with. Once an athlete and Guide are paired, should they be eligible for AWE Categorisation and/or offered an SSA Athlete Contract, the team pairing is set. Any changes to the pairing is only possible in consultation with coaching staff and program support staff. IS THERE A SPECIFIC ATHLETE YES NO IS THE PAIRING THE BEST MATCH? NO MIX, MATCH & TEST PAIRINGS YES ATHLETE/ GUIDE TEAM PAIRING How to Register your Interest To register your interest in becoming a guide or to find out more information, please contact SSA Para-alpine coaching staff as per the following details. Christian Geiger - Para-alpine Head Coach e) cgeiger@skiandsnowboard.org.au m) 0498 001 644 Chris McKnight - Para-alpine Development Coach e) cmcknight@skiandsnowboard.org.au m) 0419 388 425 Page 7
Ski & Snowboard Australia Athlete Pathway Framework High Performance Partners SSA LTAD STAGE FUNDAMENTALS LEARN TO TRAIN TRAIN TO TRAIN TRAIN TO COMPETE TRAIN TO WIN AIS FTEM STAGE NON ELITE (Foundation Movement) PRE ELITE (Potential to be Elite) ELITE (Senior International) Learning and Aquisition of Basic Movement Foundations Extension and Refinement of Basic Movement Foundations Sport Specific Commitment and/or Competition Demonstration of Talent Verification Practicing and Achieving Potential Breakthrough and Reward Senior National Representation Podium Success Sustained Success at E2 AIS FTEM PHASE AWE ATHLETE CATEGY LEVEL 5 (A) Emerging (A) LEVEL 4 (A) Developing (A) LEVEL 2 (B) Podium Potential (B) LEVEL 2 (A) Podium Potential (A) LEVEL 1 Podium AWE DEFINITION Individual athlete in an Olympic or Paralympic discipline, who is considered capable of progressing to at least Level 4(A) Developing in the next two years. Individual athlete in an Olympic or Paralympic discipline, who is considered capable of progressing to at least Level 2B Podium Potential in the next two years. Individual athlete in an Olympic or Paralympic discipline, who is considered capable of progressing to at least Level 2A Podium Potential in the next four years. Individual athlete in an Olympic or Paralympic discipline, who placed fourth to eighth at the most recent BME and considered capable of progressing to Level 1 Podium. Individual athlete in an Olympic or Paralympic discipline, who has a medal performance at the most recent BME and considered capable of a medal at the next Olympic Winter Games or Paralympic Games. AERIAL SKIING Elite Gymnastics Elite Gymnastics VIS Aerials OWIA Aerials OWIA Aerials MOGUL SKIING PARK & PIPE SNOWBOARD CROSS / DWA/ Talent Transfer NSWIS Mogul Skiing NSWIS Park & Pipe NSWIS Snowboard Cross OWIA Mogul Skiing OWIA Snowboard Cross OWIA Mogul Skiing OWIA Pro Athlete Contract OWIA Snowboard Cross PARA-ALPINE / DWA/ Talent Transfer SSA Para-alpine Emerging SSA Para-alpine TIER 1 - FOUNDATION SPTS / DWA/ Talent Transfer / DWA/ Talent Transfer / DWA/ Talent Transfer SSA Para-alpine SSA Para-snowboard PARA-SNOWBOARD / DWA/ Talent Transfer SSA Para-snowboard Emerging SSA Para-snowboard SKI CROSS NSWIS Ski Cross OWIA Ski Cross OWIA Ski Cross ALPINE SKIING SSA NAST OWIA Individual Athlete Support CROSS COUNTRY SSA Junior NXCST SSA NXCST SSA NXCST SNOWBOARD PARALLEL
Ski & Snowboard Australia Athlete Pathway Framework High Performance Partners Australia s Winning Edge - Athlete Categories TIER 1 - FOUNDATION SPTS AERIAL SKIING MOGUL SKIING PARK & PIPE SNOWBOARD CROSS PARA- ALPINE PARA- SNOWBOARD SKI CROSS ALPINE SKIING CROSS COUNTRY SNOWBOARD PARALLEL LEVEL 1 Podium 1 3 BME 1 3 BME 1 3 BME 1 3 BME 1-3 BME 1-3 BME 1 3 BME 1 3 BME 1 3 BME 1 3 BME LEVEL 2 (A) Podium Potential (A) 4 8 BME 4 8 BME 4 8 BME 4 8 BME 4-8 BME 4-8 BME 4 8 BME 4 8 BME 4 8 BME 4 8 BME LEVEL 2 (B) Podium Potential (B) WC 1 x Top 3 WC 2 x Top 8 WC 1 x Top 3 WC 2 x Top 8 LEVEL 4 (A) Developing OWG / WCH / WC 1 x top-20 NAC 1 x Top 6 Skills: blt or blf OWG / WCH / WC 1 x Top 20 NAC / US Selections / WJC 1 x Top 6 NC 1 x Top 3 OWG / WCH / WC 1 x Top 20 NAC/ WJC 1 x Top 6 Minimum Tier 3 of SSA National Team Criteria OWG / WCH / WC 1 x Top 20 NAC/ EC/ WJC 1 x Top 6 Qualified for World Cup Competition AND SSA Para-winter Generic Selection Qualified for World Cup Competition AND SSA Para-winter Generic Selection LEVEL 5 (A) Emerging NAC 1 x Top 16 Selected to VIS SSA Generic Selection NAC/ WJC 1 x Top 16 NC 1 x Top 6 Selected to NSWIS SSA Generic Selection NAC/ WJC 1 x Top 16 Selected to NSWIS SSA Generic Selection NAC/ EC/ WJC 1 x Top 10 NC 1 x Top 3 Selected to NSWIS SSA Generic Selection International IPCAS Classification AND SSA Para-winter Generic Selection International IPCAS Classification AND SSA Para-winter Generic Selection Notes: 1. All performances must be within the top 50% of the field to be considered 2. Park & Pipe refers to Ski Halfpipe, Ski Slopestyle, Snowboard Halfpipe, Snowboard Slopestyle 3. Australia s Winning Edge Athlete Categories applies only to athletes in Tier 1 - Foundation Sports. All others are by special consideration and subject to approval by the AIS 4. Athletes are categorised according to the most recent BME result 5. Medal results at the OWG, PWG and WCH may stand for up to 24 months, provided the athlete maintains potential to medal at a future BME 6. For Levels 4A. & 5A, results from the preceding 12 month period will be considered when applying this criteria 7. Athlete categorisation does not automatically qualify an athlete for selection to any SSA named team, event, athlete contract or scholarship opportunity offered via the SIS/SAS network and the OWIA 8. Naming to the Australia s Winning Edge Athlete Categorisation list occurs with respect to the AWE Athlete Categories Nomination Guidelines for Winter Sports 9. Results in non-olympic disciplines, for Tier 1 Foundation Sports will not be considered for categorisation in Levels 4A. & 5A. For example Dual Moguls, SBX Team, Aerial Team.
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