2012/2013
CHILDREN’S COMPETITION – U10/12/14 (1999 and Younger)
CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE
The Children’s Committee is made up of representative coaches from ski clubs and ski areas which sponsor children’s racing programs. The committee oversees USSA Children’s ski races in Maine and works to promote positive development through the USSA pipeline. The MARA Children’s Committee administers the criteria which are established to select U14/12 to represent Maine in regional events. All recommendations of the Children’s Committee are voted on by the full MARA Board of Directors.
The Chair of the Committee is Allan Lobozzo. A note from the Chairman: The rules governing MARA children’s racing can be confusing! Please don’t hesitate to contact a coach or program head if you have questions. Furthermore, please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or for clarification. Tel: 207-841-4282, e-mail: lobozzo@megalink.net

RACE ENTRY PROCEDURES
USSA Alpine Entry Timing Cards or the equivalent registration on-line should be used for registration for all MARA races. This registration, along with full payment, should be received by the race organizers 3 days before the event. Late entries for MARA are defined as any entry received less than 48 hours before the scheduled start time of that event. Phone entries, faxed and e-mailed entries may be accepted with a Credit Card. Those received without full payment prior to race day will be considered late unless noted by the event organizer and may be changed a $10 late fee.
Entry cards must be complete with the following information: name as it appears on USSA license, USSA number, address, sex, club, YOB, class, phone number, and name and date of race. It is best to include a separate check with each mailed entry and for each day of racing. Please check MARA web site under Enter a Race as to how each mountain would like to receive their entries.

U10 born 2003 & 2004 or younger
MARA encourages U10 athletes to focus on skill development and all terrain skiing. U 10 athletes are eligible to race in all MARA USSA Children’s races, unless otherwise noted on the race schedule. In particular, U10 athletes are eligible to compete in the Feb 10 and Feb 17, U12 Qualifiers. MARA does not recognize U8 athletes as a separate age class, but rather welcomes appropriately skilled younger athletes to participate in the U10 category.
New this year, Sunday River will be hosting a 3 day festival open to all U12 and younger athletes, March 8-10. This will be a fun event specifically geared toward young athletes and will be comprised of an optional skills/training day on Friday and GS and SL on Saturday/Sunday.
U 12 athletes born in 2001 and 2002

U12 athletes are eligible to compete in all MARA USSA Children’s races, unless otherwise noted on the race schedule. The State Qualifying Series for the U12 age group consists of three (3) GS races, each consisting of two (2) runs; Feb 10 at Mt. Abram, Feb 17 at Sugarloaf and March 3 at Sunday River (also a U14 Qualifier). At U12 Qualifiers the start order for the first run will by random draw. Any racers entering after the start list has been printed will start at the end of their class. The start order for the second run will be the complete reverse order of the first run, within each class, regardless of first run results. Awards at the end of the day will be based on the combined times of the 2 runs.
MARA will select a team of 6 girls and 6 boys from the U12 Qualifier series to compete at the Francis Piche Memorial on March 15-17 at Gunstock, NH. Selections for the Francis Piche will be based on the best 2 RUN finishes of a possible 6 runs (2 runs at each of the 3 qualifier races). Ties will be broken by the next best run finish. In the event that 2 athletes are tied based on all of their runs, the first run of the qualifying season will be placed head to head. The athlete with the lower place will win the tie. In a shortened season, the number of State Qualifier Series results counted toward qualifying will equal thirty-three percent (33%) of the total results hosted at the end of the qualifying season, rounded to the nearest whole number.
New this year will be a U12 SG Camp and Super G race, held in conjunction with the U14 SG Camp at Sunday River on Jan 28-29. The goal of this U14 & U12 camp is to integrate SG elements of ski racing at a younger age for capable athletes. There will be a Super- G race on the second day. Please see your program director for feedback about whether your ability level meets the requirements for these camps. There is a limit of 60 U14/12 racers to attend this camp, so get your entry in early.
Also new this year, Sunday River will be hosting a 3 day festival open to all U12 and younger athletes, March 8-10. This will be a fun event specifically geared toward young athletes and will be comprised of an optional skills/training day on Friday and GS and SL on Saturday/Sunday.
U14 athletes born in 1999 and 2000
U14 athletes are eligible to compete in all MARA USSA Children’s races, unless otherwise noted on the race schedule. The State Qualifier Series for theU14 age group consists of two (2) Slaloms and two (2) Giant Slaloms, each consisting of two (2) runs: Feb 3 at Titcomb, Feb 23 and 24 at Sugarloaf and March 3 at Sunday River. At U14 Qualifiers the start order of the first run will be by random draw. Any racer entering the race after the start list has been printed will start at the end of the appropriate class. The start order for the second run will be the complete reverse order of the first run, within each class, regardless of first run results. Awards at the end of the day will be based on the combined times of the 2 runs.
This year U12 will be integrated in with the U14 SG Camp at Sunday River on Jan 28-29. The goal of this U14 & U12 camp is to integrate SG elements of ski racing at a younger age for capable athletes. There will be a Super- G race on the second day. Please see your program director for feedback about whether your ability level meets the requirements for these camps. There is a limit of 60 U14/12 racers to attend this camp, so get your entry in early.

The U14 MARA State Championships will be Feb 23 and 24 at Sugarloaf. The overall best girl and best boy will be recognized as MARA U14 Champs. The award will be decided based on the combined result place within their class from each day. Ties will be broken be using total TIMES from both races.

The post-season events for this age group are the U14 Eastern Championships and the Francis Piche Memorial. Selections for the U14 Eastern Championships and the Francis Piche will be based on the best four (4) results of a possible twelve (12) in the State Qualifier Series. Each race will offer an opportunity for 3 results; 1st run, 2nd run and combined time results. Ties will be broken by the next best result. In the event that 2 athletes are tied based on all of their runs, the first run of the qualifying season will be placed head to head. The athlete with the lower place will win the tie. Any combination of results may be used, using either or both disciplines. In a shortened season, the number of State Qualifier Series results counted toward qualifying will equal thirty-three percent (33%) of the total results hosted at the end of the qualifying season, rounded to the nearest whole number.

U14 Eastern Championships March 15-17 Sunday River
MARA quota of 22 will be selected from the Maine State Qualifier Series. Gender allocation for the MARA quota to the U14 Eastern Championships will be equal to the percentage of U14 boy and girl MARA members as of January 1, 2013. The quota allocations will be confirmed by the Children’s Committee and published on the MARA website prior to the first qualifier of the state race series. A flex pole standard of 25-27 mm diameter and a minimum height of 54 inches from snow surface to the top of the gate will be used at this event.
U14 & U12 Francis Piche Memorial Gunstock, NH
MARA quota of 6 girls and 6 boys will be selected from the Maine State Qualifier Series following the selection of the U14 Eastern Championships quota.
3/14 Optional training day
3/15 Piche’s Training day
3/16 Piche’s GS
3/17 Piche’s SL (optional, does not count toward State team results)

U14 Can- Am’s Tremblant March 29 -31, 2013
Eastern quota of 30 boys and 30 girls will be selected from the U14 Eastern Championships. Selections will be based on the best two (2) of six (6) possible RUN and RESULT (1st run, 2nd run and combined time) finishes from the U14 Championships Slalom and GS races. Ties will be broken internally, if a tie still exists then the next best result will be used.

Definition of internal tie-breaker: Ties broken internally are when you look at the BEST result of the scores that are being counted vs an “external” tie break where you go to the NEXT best result. Internal tie breaks are generally used when there are not very many results being contested.
For example in a best 2 out of 6 results (U14 Championships) with internal tie breaker:
Athlete 1 has a 2,4,3,4,2 for a best 2 (2 and 2) equaling 4
Athlete 2 has a 1,3,6,4 for a best 2 (1 and 3) equaling 4
Athlete 2 would be ranked higher because of the 1st place
If using external tie breaker in the same scenario Athlete 1 would be ranked higher because the next best 3rd is better than the next best 4th of athlete 2.

Eastern Region U14 Fundamentals Camp
Eastern USSA has scheduled a U14 Fundamentals Camp, which is to be held Dec 15-17 at Sunday River, Maine. There is a quota of 2 from Maine, one boy and one girl selected from last year’s qualifier results. Additional slots Maine receives will be filled by going further down the 2012 qualifier results list; selecting first one from the gender with the greater U14 membership as of Jan 1, 2012, next the other gender.
Eastern Region U14 Elite Speed Camp
This is to be held February 7-8 at Sunday River. Selections will be made by the USSA Eastern Office. Coaches may submit discretionary nominations to the MARA Children’s Committee Chair by 1/15, DUE 1/21 to the USSA Eastern Competition Manager.

U16 athletes born in 1997 and 1998
U16 athletes are eligible to race in all USSA seeded (U21/18) races, regardless of qualifier designation. U16 athletes will be seeded by their USSA points in all seeded races. Any racer entering a seeded race after the start list is printed will start at the appropriate place according to USSA points. The start order for the second run will be according to USSA rules and those U16. Prior to March 1st all U16 racers who DNF & DSQ the first run, in a MARA event, will receive a second run racing at the end of the field (DNFs and DSQs running at the end of the order). After March 1 it is at the discretion of the ROC “Race Organizing committee” to grant U16′s a second run or not.

U16 Maine State Qualifying Series: Seeding, Qualifying and Selection
The State Qualifier Series for the U16 age group consists of two (2) Slaloms, two (2) Giant Slaloms, and two (2) Super Gs. The post-season events for this age group are the U16 Eastern Championship and the U16 Finals. Selections for U16 Eastern Championships and U16 Finals will be based on the best five (5) of a possible fourteen (14) results from the State Qualifier Series using place points, counting only MARA U16 athletes (ie, a U16 athletes finishing 10th overall in the run, but with the 2nd fastest U16 time would score a 2 for that result). Each technical event (Slalom or GS) will be considered for three (3) results: first run, second run and combined time result. Non-MARA license holders will not displace MARA members in the point calculations. Ties will be broken by the next best result(s) regardless of discipline. In the event that 2 athletes are tied based on all of their runs, the first run of the qualifying season will be placed head to head. The athlete with the lower place will win the tie. In a shortened season, the number of State Qualifier Series results counted toward qualifying will equal thirty-three percent (33%) of the total results hosted at the end of the qualifying season, rounded to the nearest whole number. If more than one SG is hosted at a site, the first race will be the designated qualifier.
The U16 MARA State Championships will be Feb 23 and 24 at Sugarloaf. The overall best girl and best boy will be recognized as MARA U16 Champs. The award will be decided based on the combined result place within their class from each day. Ties will be broken be using total TIMES from both races. At the U16 State Champs the start order will be by random draw. Any racer entering the U16 State Champs after the start list is printed will start at the end of the appropriate class. The start order for the second run will be the complete reverse order of the first run, within each class, regardless of first run results. Awards at the end of the day will be based on the combined times of the 2 runs.
U16 Post-Season events and quotas:
Gender allocation for the MARA quotas to the U16 Eastern Championships and Finals will be equal to the percentage of U16 boy and girl MARA members as of January 1, 2013. The quota allocations will be confirmed by the Children’s Committee and published on the MARA website prior to the first qualifier of the state race series.
Eastern U16 Championships at Sugarloaf, ME March 7–11, 2013 SL, GS, SG: MARA quota of 13 total. This will be a seeded event. There will be no training run prior to the Super G race.
Eastern U16 Finals at Attitash, NH, March 7-10, 2013 SG, GS, SL: MARA quota of 23 total. This will be a non-scored event. There will be a training run prior to the Super G race.
U16 Am-Cam at Sugarloaf, March 21-24, 2013: no MARA quota, Eastern selection only
EASTERN U16 Fundamentals Camp
This is to be held December 9 – 11 at Burke Mt, VT, and selections will be made by the USSA Eastern Office. Coaches may submit written discretionary nominations to the USSA Eastern Competition Manager
U16 Speed Training and Racing
U16 Super G events no longer require a SG training run prior to the competition. MARA strongly encourages mountains to host a training run. Training times are not to be posted. U16 racers registered for SG races must be represented at the Team Captain’s meetings.
As in prior years, MARA recommends that any U16 who qualifies for the U16 Championships or Finals, compete in a USSA SG prior to competing in one at a championship event.
EASTERN U16 Elite Speed Camp
This is to be held February 11-12 at Sugarloaf. Selections will be made by the USSA Eastern Office. Coaches may submit discretionary nominations to the MARA Children’s Committee Chair by 1/18, DUE 1/24 to the USSA Eastern Competition Manager.