United States Ski Mountaineering Association
2010 Andorra ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Championship selection for team USA
Submitted by admin on February 18, 2009 - 10:35pm2010 Andorra ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Championship selection for team USA
US team selection will be determined by results at the 2009 US National Championship and two events in 2010. The women’s team will also allow for selection based on World Cup results.
March 21st, 2009 Jackson Hole Wy. National Championship: top two finishers are automatic selections.
January 9th, 2010 Grand Targhee Wy. Ski Mountaineering Classic: the top three finishers that have not already qualified in 2009 are automatic selections.
January 16th, 2010 Sunlight Mt. Co., Heathen Challenge: the top three finishers that have not already qualified in the previous two events, are automatic selections.
In the event a qualified racer does not wish to participate in the World Championships, the finish order at the January 16th event will determine the next selection.
To encourage racers to travel to all of the selection races, and to determine who races what World Championship events, points will be awarded to the top 10 finishers at the three races. The team member with the highest point total will pick two races of choice (there are four events), then the second-placed team member, until all 8 team members have selected their two races. The remaining “third race start” selections will again begin with the team member with the highest points total.
1st-15, 2nd-12, 3rd-10, 4th-7, 5th-6, 6th-5, 7th-4, 8th-3, 9th-2, 10th-1
Mens and womens teams will include a maximum of 8, with all team members racing at least two events in Andorra - some will race three. As of February 2009, team members are responsible for all of their travel, lodging and race costs. The USSMA will offset costs for the team if any funding develops.
The two highest-ranked US women in the 2008 World Cup standings are automatic selections
Selection criteria rewards athletes that perform at a high level at a specific event vs. accumulating points. This system makes competition for the National team competitive but also accessible - on January 16th, the three fastest skiers in the US (who haven’t yet made the team) will make the team based on their result.
Please email any questions to USSMA Competition Director Pete Swenson at ussmaski@gmail.com
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| Andorra_Selection.pdf | 31.66 KB |
Crested Butte Rando Series
Submitted by admin on February 17, 2009 - 3:33pmCrested Butte Announces New Randonnee Race Series
Crested Butte, CO, February 20, 2009 – Crested Butte Mountain Resort announces a new rando race series this winter. With the popularity and demand from regional and local participants from the COSMIC series, Crested Butte Mountain Resort created a series of its own to satiate the hunger for randonnee racing in the Gunnison Valley. “We heard from quite a few people that really wanted to expand on the randonnee series here in Crested Butte,” says Crested Butte Mountain Resorts Director of Operations, Ethan Mueller. “With the Elk Mountain Traverse starting here, the amount of people that skin up the mountain every day, and this being part of the real culture of our area, we know it’s a great complement to the season.”
Race dates are February 26th and March 5th. Registration is day-of at Thin Air Sports in Mountaineer Square beginning at 4pm. Race starts at 4:45pm and entry fee is $10 per person. There will be specials and awards at Butte 66 after the race, so be there as a supporter or a racer to enjoy the fun!
For more information, contact Thin Air Sports at 970-349-4045. Special thanks to Bryan Wickenhauser and Team Salomon / Crested Butte for helping make this happen.
Snow King Resort / Heather Paul Thursday Night Hillclimb Series in Jackson Hole
Submitted by admin on February 4, 2009 - 10:04pmSnow King Resort in Jackson Hole, Wy. is hosting a four-race Thursday night hillclimb series on February 26th, March 5th, March 12th and March 19th.
See attached pdf for complete info.
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| Race Flyer.pdf | 1.14 MB |
February 7th and 8th racing East and West
Submitted by admin on February 2, 2009 - 10:56amThe high season of the ski mountaineering calendar begins this weekend.
February 7th - Crested Butte Colorado, the Crested Butte Rando Race starts at 8 am Saturday morning. The ski off the top Mt. Crested Butte/Peel may open for the first time today (monday) and is looking likely for race day. For info: cosmicski.com.
February 8th - Mad River Valley Vermont, the Mountain Hardwear Ski Mountaineering race course takes racers up Mad River Glen ski area, across the Long Trail to Sugarbush ski area. The Long Trail received some snow in the past five days - reports are the trail is skiing "sporty". For more information on the Mad River event click here: ussma.org.
Wasatch Powder Keg is ON for March 14th
Submitted by admin on December 4, 2008 - 5:24pmThe Wasatch Powder Keg info is now posted: wasatchpowderkeg.com
Colorado Avalanche Information Center Bash (and COSMIC Saturday 7:30 am skin)
Submitted by admin on October 23, 2008 - 3:27pm
Come up to Breckenridge on Saturday, November 8th to support the CAIC. Any time you're heading into the backcountry the CAIC avi report is essential reading - CAIC helps keep us on top of the snow when we're not skiing at COSMIC races. Tickets are available here:
https://www.choicesecure01.net/mainapp/eventschedule.aspx?clientID=riverwalk
We'll be skinning up the ski area that morning at 7:30 am (one, maybe two laps). I will post a meeting place the week prior, it depends on where the skinning/skiing is best. Also, if there's snow we'll head off to Peak 6 or similar for some early season powder turns.
Hope to see you early Saturday morning and at the CAIC Bash. It's guaranteed skiing - and three beers come along with your Bash ticket. - PS
Your first rando/ski mountaineering race - what to expect and what you need:
Submitted by admin on October 19, 2008 - 9:13pmEvents are similar to local mountain bike race or fun run. Once the start gun goes off, the race spreads out and everyone goes their own pace. There’s nobody in the woods or on the mountain early in morning to see how slow (or fast) you’re going - so don’t worry about “how I’ll do”. Just look forward to powder skiing and getting in some good exercise.
For all you need to know click here: First Race Info
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| First Rando Race.pdf | 33.46 KB |
Point System
Submitted by admin on October 10, 2008 - 9:14pmThe Goals of the National Points Rankings/ Skin to Win:
- Encourage people to attend more events and lower their points
- Competitors in different regions of the country can accurately compare points (results) in a season
- Better courses: events wishing for a B, C or H classification must have minimum vertical, number of transitions and contact the USSMA to include their event on the calendar
- Picking US National teams for World Cup and World Championship events will be based on these rankings. Note that for World Championship selection there will always be one or more "automatic qualifier" races.
- A "Skin to Win" Prize fund: On May 1st, we'll know who the top 5 men and women in the country are. The USSMA is seeking a prize $ sponsor for the Skin To Win Nation's Best Award
2008 Points have been configured as baseline handicap points for 2009. Races used in 2008 include: Sunlight, Snowmass, Whitefish, Mad River Valley, Crested Butte, Loveland, Alta, Jackson and A Basin.
Link to: 2008 Points
Points explained - For an outline of how points systems work, go to ussa.org and read on nordic points. (Alpine is also illustrative. Bode's FIS DH points are 00.06!) The rando system is based on the Nordic Points formula for F values and formulas. As 2009 is the first year for the rankings, the F values and race handicaps may be adjusted if points aren't accurately reflecting competitor's results/difficulty of course/competition. After a full year and using 08 points as a baseline we'll have a good indicator of the accuracy of the points system.
- Race Points formula: Points = ((racers time in seconds/time of winner) - 1) x F + Pn
- Pn - Penalty formula: Sum of top 5 points (200 are assigned for '08 results through Crested Butte), eliminating highest and lowest, then dividing by 3.75.
- F Values: A - (800) National Championship and US World Cup events, B - (1200) COSMIC, Powder Keg, Mad River Glen and other established events, C - (1400) new events with minimum of 2,500 vertical and four transitions, H - (1500) hillclimbs, team events and new events not meeting C certifications
- Competitors' two best results of the 2008 season (with a Feb. 25th update) counted in the 'baseline' rankings. Competitors with a top five result and no other are penalized 22%.
Updated Points List - 2009 Points will be re-calculated on February 15th, March 15th and May 1st. A racer's best three points finishes will detemine his or her ranking on May 1st.
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