Children’s Information
2011/2012
CHILDREN’S COMPETITION – JUNIOR III, IV, V (1997 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 Junior 3, 4, and 5 racers 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
YOUTH SKI LEAGUE RACING
Youth Ski League is a United States Ski Association sponsored program of training and racing at local mountains. YSL stresses the teaching of good skiing fundamentals and friendly competition. The YSL program culminates in 2012 with a statewide training competition to be held at Shawnee Peak on March 11. It will be a Kombi format which is an event combining the technical and tactical skills of both a slalom and GS course in one. Slalom skis should be used. This event is open to J3s who did not qualify for the J3 Championships.(formerly known as J3 Olympics) or the J3 Eastern Finals (formerly known as J3 Finals), and J4s who did not qualify for J4 Eastern Championships (formerly known as Future Stars Festival) or Francis Piche, and J5s who did not qualify for Francis Piche (Thompson Trophy).
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, and those sent without full payment will be considered late unless noted by the event organizer.
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.
JUNIOR V (also called JV and J 5), born in 2001 or younger
J5 Maine State Qualifying Series: Seeding, Awards, Qualifying and Selection
There will be two (2) J5 qualifiers. Each J5 qualifier will consist of three (3) runs of Giant Slalom. The post-season event at this age level is the Francis Piche event held each year at Gunstock, N.H. Selections for the Francis Piche will be based on the best two RUN finishes of a possible six (6) of the State Qualifier Series (three runs at each qualifier). Ties will be broken by the next best run finish. Entry level J4 racers will be encouraged to race in these events, but they will not be counted in the qualifying points.
At J5 Qualifiers, the start order for the 1st run will be by random draw. Any racers entering the race after the start list has been printed will start at the end of the appropriate class for the first run.. The starting order for the 2nd run will be the complete reverse of the first run order, regardless of 1st run results. The 3rd run start order will be a different random draw. All three starting orders will be distributed prior to the race. Entry-level J5’s racing will always start after the J5’s in each of the three runs. End of day awards will go to the J5 racers based on combined times of the first two runs. If there are any awards for J4’s, they will be separate from the J5’s and will be provided by race organizers.
Note: MARA does not recognize J6 athletes as a separate age category when they race at J5 qualifier events. However, many areas in their sole discretion do recognize J6s purely for purposes of awards for that day’s event. However, for purposes of qualifying and designation on the running order, birth-year J6s will race as J5s and will be designated as such.
Francis Piche Memorial Gunstock, NH
MARA JV quota of 6 boys 6 girls will be selected from the Maine Qualifying Series.
Schedule:
3/15 Optional training day
3/16 Piche’s Training day
3/17 Piche’s GS
J5 racers are encouraged to participate in their local races and are welcome to attend other non-qualifier races listed in the MARA J5 Schedule.
J5’s participating in MARA races will race on the same course as the J6 athletes (25mm, “3/4” gate for slalom).
JUNIOR IV (also called JIV and J 4), athletes born in 1999 and 2000
J4 Maine State Qualifying Series: Seeding, Qualifying and Selection
The State Qualifier Series for the J4 age group consists of two (2) slaloms and two (2) Giant Slaloms. Each slalom and each giant slalom will consist of two (2) runs. The post-season events for this age group are the J4 Eastern Championships (formerly known as Future Stars) and the Francis Piche. Selections for the J4 Eastern Championships and the Francis Piche will be based on the best three (3) RUN finishes of a possible eight (8) in the State Qualifier Series. Ties will be broken by the next best run finish. 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
At J4 Qualifiers the start order of the 1st run will be by random draw. Any racers entering the race after the start list has been printed will start at the end of the appropriate class. The starting order for the second run will be the complete reverse order of the first run, regardless of first run results.
J4 Eastern Championships (Future Stars), Sunday River 3/25-27
MARA quota of 22 will be selected from the Maine State Qualifier Series. Gender allocation for the MARA quota to the J4 Eastern Championships will be equal to the percentage of J4 boy and girl MARA members as of January 1, 2012. 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. 25mm slalom gates will be used at this event.
Note: Entry level J4 racers are encouraged to race in the J5 State Qualifiers at Sunday River. The terrain and course length will be more suited to entry-level athletes. These J5 races will NOT be counted as J4 Qualifiers.
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 J4 Eastern Championships quota.
3/15 Optional training day
3/16 Piche’s Training day
3/17 Piche’s GS
J4 AM CAN Sugarloaf March 31 -April 2, 2012
Eastern quota of 30 boys and 30 girls will be selected from the J4 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 J4 Eastern 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 (J4 Easterns) 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.
25mm ¾ Gates
MARA will use 25mm “3/4” gates for MARA J4 slalom races. Non-USSA J4 events may elect to use “stubbie” gates; check with the host area to find out which gates are being used.
J4 Speed Camp
There will be a J4 SG camp at Sunday River Jan 30 -31. There is a limit of 40 J4 racers to attend this camp, so get your entry in early. The goal of this J4 camp is to integrate speed elements of ski racing at a younger age for capable athletes. Please see your program director for feedback about whether your ability level meets the requirements for these camps.
Eastern Region J4 Elite Fundamentals Camp
Eastern USSA has scheduled a J4 Elite Fundamentals Camp, which is to be held Dec 16-19 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 J4 membership as of Jan 1, 2012, next the other gender.
Junior MARA Cup (“JMC”)
This is a season long series for all J4 skiers who are current members of USSA and MARA. The series will consist of all scheduled USSA J4 races designated as “JMC”. There is no minimum start requirement. Points will be accumulated by using
“Old” World Cup point system:
1. 60 6. 30 11. 15 16. 5
2. 50 7. 27 12. 13 17. 4
3. 45 8. 24 13. 11 18. 3
4. 40 9. 21 14. 9 19. 2
5. 35 10.18 15. 7 20. 1
Ties will average the place points. For example, a tie for 12th place would average 13 + 11, so each racer would receive 12 points. The series begins at Sugarloaf on 12/29 and ends at Sugarloaf on 3/27. Series standings will be available on the MARA web site. End of season prizes based on total accumulated JMC points will be given to the top 10 in each gender.
JUNIOR III (also called JIII and J 3), athletes born in 1997 and 1998
J3 Maine State Qualifying Series: Seeding, Qualifying and Selection
The State Qualifier Series for the J3 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 J3 Eastern Championship, the J3 Eastern Finals, and the Francis Piche. Selections for J3 Jr. Olympics, J3 Finals and J3 Francis Piche will be based on the best five (5) of a possible fourteen (14) results from the State Qualifier Series using place points. A 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 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.
At J3 State Qualifiers the start order for the 1st run will be by random draw. Any racer entering the race 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, regardless of first run results.
Gender allocation for the MARA quotas to the J3 Finals and Junior Olympics will be equal to the percentage of J3 boy and girl MARA members as of January 1, 2012. 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 J3 Championships Sugarloaf, ME March 15 – 19 SL, GS, SG 14 total
Eastern J3 Finals Killington, VT March 8-11 SG, GS, SL 22 total
Francis Piche Memorial Gunstock, NH 6 boys 6 girls
3/15 Optional Training day
3/16 Piche’s Training day
3/17 Piche’s GS
EASTERN J3 Elite Fundamentals Camp
This is to be held December 11 – 13 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 (deadline for nominations is Nov. 12th).
EASTERN Regional J3 Series (ERS)
Philosophy: The Eastern USSA Children’s Committee has scheduled a regional series for elite J3 athletes. There will be a two (2) event series; SL and GS, held January 21–22 at Lake Placid, NY. The events are intended to bring the best regional J3 athletes together to compete outside the pressure of the Junior Olympics. The events are not mandatory nor will they be used as a basis for selection. Because this series is designed for elite athletes, if the Maine quota is unfilled the Children’s Committee will not go down the qualifier selection standings to find the next athlete in the rankings just to fill the quota.
Selection Criteria: The Maine quota to the Eastern Regional J3 Series shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of its J.O. quota of 14 athletes, rounded up, equaling 10 athletes to be selected from Maine. Gender allocation for the MARA ERS quota to will be equal to the percentage of J3 boy and girl MARA members as of January 1, 2012. The quota allocations will be confirmed by the Children’s Committee and published on the MARA website prior to 1/8. Selections for this series will be determined as follows: the racer with the SINGLE BEST RESULT (each individual run as well as the combined may count as a result) from the 1/8 MJC at Shawnee and the 1/15 MJC at Sunday River be ranked number one. Selections will be made as described above until the quotas are filled. Ties will be broken by the next best single run not already used to calculate standings.
Discretionary nominations for deserving athletes (ie previous results placing them in the top 5) not selected via MARA quota may be submitted to the MARA Children’s Committee Chair by 1/17, for submission to USSA by 1/18 and announced by USSA on 1/19.
J3 Speed Training and Racing
Per USSA rule U1256.3 official training for a J3 Super G will encompass at least one SG training run prior to the competition. Training times are not to be posted. Official training for USSA Children’s SG events is an integral part of the competition, and all entrants are required to participate according to the competition Jury’s decision. J3 racers registered for SG races must be represented at the team captain’s meetings. On January 26, official training will be held prior to the Sugarloaf Schuss to be held January 27. On February 2nd official training will be held prior to the SG races scheduled for February 3rd at Sunday River.
As required in prior years, MARA is recommending that any J3 who qualifies for the JO’s or Finals, compete and train in a USSA SG prior to competing in one at a championship event.
EASTERN J3 Elite Speed Camp
This is to be held February 6-7 at Sugarloaf, and 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 1/18 to the USSA Eastern Competition Manager and announced by USSA on 1/25.
Junior MARA Cup (“JMC”)
This is a season long series for all J3 skiers who are current members of USSA and MARA. The series will consist of all scheduled USSA JIII races designated as “JMC”. There is no minimum start requirement. Points will be accumulated by using
“Old” World Cup point system:
1. 60 6. 30 11. 15 16. 5
2. 50 7. 27 12. 13 17. 4
3. 45 8. 24 13. 11 18. 3
4. 40 9. 21 14. 9 19. 2
5. 35 10.18 15. 7 20. 1
Ties will average the place points. For example, a tie for 12th place would average 13 + 11, so each racer would receive 12 points. The series begins at Sugarloaf on 12/29 and ends at Sugarloaf on 3/27. Series standings will be available on the MARA web site. End of season prizes based on total accumulated JMC points will be given to the top 10 in each gender.
