VPA -Alpine Guide

2007 - 2008 Alpine SkiGuide

Regular Season Guide
Tournament Season Guide
Forms

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL SKI COACHES PARTICIPATING IN STATE COMPETITION:

1. The boys' and girls' district and state ski meets will include two separate championships; Alpine and Nordic. Please see appropriate sections for detailed information.

2. Rules and Regulations will conform to the Vermont Principals' Association Alpine Procedure Ski Rules. If anyone needs a copy of the alpine ski rules, contact the VPA office.

3. Participants must have participated in 50% of the INTERSCHOLASTIC school meets (exclusive of injury) which the school participates in prior to entering the Districts. (If a student does not meet the 50% rule due to extenuating circumstances, a waiver can be requested through the VPA office). . Hardship Waiver: If a racer has competed all season and consistently placed in top 15 finishes. Due to illness or family emergency, this racer cannot compete at the district meet. If his/her team does not qualify to go to the state meet, this racer is out. To be voted on by the ski committee, with recommendation of the VPA coach representatives.

4. All courses shall be prepared according to the current USSA guide. Gate widths and vertical gate distances will conform to current USSA standards. The referee will oversee and approve all course settings.

5. a. Protective headgear (manufactured ski helmet) is required for all giant slalom and all slalom for both practices and competition.

6. Any events beyond the State Meets, the VPA has no affiliation.
a. Please note that Eastern Championships are not endorsed by the VPA.
b. If a New England Championship is approved, it would be endorsed by the VPA.

7. The VPA Alpine Ski rules are based on and parallel many USSA Ski guide regulations.

8. The VPA Ski Committee has adopted an Adaptive Skier policy and procedures. The VPA will follow guidelines and procedures established by the FIS/USSA/IPC Committees. Schools with adaptive skiers need to contact the VPA if the skier plans on participating in interscholastic meets.

DIRECTIONS FOR GIRLS' AND BOYS' DISTRICT AND STATE SKI MEETS

Application blanks for district and state meets are enclosed. Please read all directions prior to filling out an application. ADMINISTRATOR OR DESIGNEE, FROM THE HOST SCHOOL, SHALL BE PRESENT AT DISTRICT AND STATE MEETS.
General Directions for District and State Meets:

1. Schools entering a district meet shall enter the district in which they compete (NVAL or SVL). If a school does not compete in either the NVAL or SVL, call the VPA office for an assignment. Schools should declare their intentions (in Spring) for district competition for a two year period. 50% of the schools schedule will be within their district.
2. In order to qualify, a school must have at least four racers for a full team. If someone is injured during the competition, they remain a team and assume a dummy score.

3. Individuals enrolled in a VPA member school or independent may compete in events, but their score will not count.

4. The top twenty finishers from each district championship event (whose team does not qualify) will qualify to go to the State Meet. If a student qualifies in one district event, then he/she qualifies for both state events.

5. 50% of the number of teams (full) in the districts will qualify for the State Meet. (Odd number of teams, round up to next highest number).

6. Each school may enter six (6) names for each event with FOUR TO COUNT FOR SCORE.
a. In the spirit of high school sports, students are expected to practice/ participate with the team on a regular basis. Students enrolled in tutorial programs to enhance their ski skills are not allowed in high school programs. (Bylaws Section 3(L).

7. On the application blank in each event, list the entrants in order you want them to run. PRINT OR TYPE THE FIRST AND LAST NAME OF EACH ENTRANT.

8. Substitutes will be allowed from your original list of entries, but order may not be changed.

9.In 2007-2008, each school will be responsible for securing two qualified, gate keepers (strongly recommend adults) for Districts and for the State Championships. These names are to be submitted on the application in advance of the competition. Failure to provide a qualified gatekeeper will result in a fine of $50 per gatekeeper.

10. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DISTRICT MEETS, STATE MEET INFORMATION SHOULD BE FAXED TO THE FOLLOWING HOST SCHOOLS:
BOYS STATE MEET - ALPINE – Lyndon-Burke Mountain
GIRLS STATE MEET - ALPINE – Burr & Burton Academy – Bromley Mountain
PLEASE FAX APPLICATIONS AND BRING COPY) IMMEDIATELY AFTER DISTRICT MEETS TO STATE MEET DIRECTORS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE DISTRICT MEET. CALL IN THE INFORMATION FIRST, BEFORE 4 PM. DISTRICT MEET DIRECTORS MUST NOTIFY STATE MEET DIRECTORS AS SOON AS THE DISTRICT MEET IS CONCLUDED. Coaches, please bring a copy of your application with you to the State meet.

11. All events will be started on time in so far as weather conditions will permit. Each contestant is expected to start on time and in order of their number.

Alpine ski guide rules for districts and state ski meets:
1. Meet Organization – All Meet Officials must be qualified adults. These Officials are to wear pinnies or armbands .
a. Technical Delegate - helps race organizers and assures that the meet is run according to the rules and guide (represents the VPA Ski Committee); is responsible for jury, and race scoring; is not the organizer of the race.
b. Meet Director - Coordinate all aspects of race.
c. Chief Gate Keeper - Record, post and organize gate keepers.
d. Finish Referee - To be at the finish at all times to observe finish area.
e. Start Referee - May be the starter to determine if a racer has missed a start and to organize racers in race order.
f. Chief of Course - May be the course setter, if not will observe the setting and marking of courses.
g. Chief of Timing & Scoring - To oversee or run timing equipment and score the race.
h. Jury - To meet to resolve any protests that may arise during the competition.
Jury selection for state meet:
2 coaches from the north
2 coaches from the south
1 technical delegate
Jury selection for district meets:
4 coaches
1 technical delegate.
i. A Referee as a meet official (appointed by the Tech Director) is to inspect course settings, safety and gate distances. Is responsible to post or delegate postings of dsq’s may use chief as gatekeeper assistant of designee. And is not part of the jury.
2. Use of video is not allowed in a jury meeting to determine if a racer is disqualified or missed a gate.

3. Scoring a race: The top four skiers on a team score in each event. Slalom and giant slalom are scored separately, the scores are added together to determine the winner, low score wins. If after the final event of the meet teams are tied for first or runners up, the fifth place skiers in both events will be used to break the tie.
(Reminder: remove independent skiers from team scoring.)
To be considered a team, a team must start 4 racers in the event for scoring. Others are considered independents and care must be taken to not score them in the event. If a team starts with 4 or more racers and finishes with less than 4, the scoring will go as follows. Take 1 more point than the last starting team skier in the event and add that to the team for scoring. This same point or number will be used for any team needing a "dummy" point for scoring.
In the scoring of a race all 6 team racers actually enter into the scoring. While the top 4 skiers score points the 5th and 6th team skiers displace or keep other team skiers from scoring a lower place. However, these may be scored as a tiebreaker. The Final Scoring results must show the four scoring places of the team skiers in each event, with two event/team totals indicating the final standings. Independent skiers must be removed from the team scoring. It is recommended to include a set of results that show team skiers only, to easily reference the place points of the team skiers in each event.

Note: Whenever possible, when time allows, the Jury will meet after each run.

4. Gatekeepers: Prior to the race the chief gatekeeper will give a general description of what the gatekeeper's job is: stating that he/she will chart DNF's and DSQ's. The gatekeeper will only respond when asked to by the racer, and will only say "GO" or "BACK".
It should be noted that any racer or coach must NEVER go to the gatekeeper to ask about a run in question. The gatekeepers need to concentrate on their job and must not be disturbed.
The start gate is a gate and the same gate keeping rules for responding to a racer also pertain to the gate. (Gate Keepers must be clearly identified by a “bib” or “pinny”).

5. Skis: A racer must start the race with 2 skis and finish with 2 skis, unless a ski falls off within 3 gates of the finish in slalom and 2 gates in the giant slalom. In both events, the finish counts as one gate. In that case he/she may finish on 1 ski. A racer may put a ski or skis back on during a race to continue, however if the racer is overtaken by the next skier they must give way and will be considered a DNF. Both the tip of the ski and the boot must pass through the gate and the ski must be on the foot. While both the tip of the ski and the boot must pass through the gate, the gate must be in an upright or vertical position. In other words, the skier can not "step" on the gate or push it out of the way to pass through it.

6. Rapid Gates or Flex Gates: Rapid Gates must be used for the turning pole in Slalom competition and exit pole of combination gates. It is required that panels are used for Giant Slalom.

7. Course Marking: The inside gates must be marked with dye to assist the gatekeepers in replacing gates. The finish line may also be marked with dye. The outside gates should also be numbered to assist in placing gatekeepers.

8. Missed Starts: If a racer misses his/her start the racer will run at the end of that run. If a lift malfunction was the cause of the missed start, then the racer may run when they arrive at the start. The chief of race or start referee will determine the cause of the missed start. The same rule holds true for when using the bibo system.

9. Obstructions in Course: If a racer is interfered with during the progress of a run, due to another skier, gatekeeper, gate obstruction, loose or dislodged ski gate, he/she must immediately ski out of the course and report to the closest gatekeeper. The gatekeeper should record the obstruction and the skier should report to the finish referee and ask for a rerun. The provisional rerun should be allowed as soon as the racer is at the start and ready to ski. If in the event the skier who was obstructed had been disqualified prior to the obstruction, his provisional run will not stand. *Gatekeepers must be aware of these possible reruns and be instructed how to record each run.

10. Timing : Electric timing must be used for district and state ski meets, and must meet current USSA Standards. Occasionally a timing problem requires a skier to take a rerun. This time will stand as long as the skier did not disqualify on the original run and had completed the original run. Backup timing must also be used for district and state meets.
11. Course Lengths: Distances for vertical drops and number of gates could be established for high school racing. However, due to various snow conditions and slopes available this would not always be practical to do. For championship events challenging courses should be set for the best skiers in the field. The Slalom event must always be 2 run combined time and the Giant Slalom may be 2 runs if appropriate. This must be announced prior to the start of the event.

12. Course Inspection: Prior to each race, or each run of a race, sufficient time must be allowed for course inspection. If the chief of the course feels it is necessary, side slipping and snowplowing may be allowed to help prepare the course, or for general inspection. Inspection otherwise will be from the side of the course or by climbing up through the gates. "Shadowing" or skiing parallel and close to the course, is not allowed and can result in a disqualification. Bibs must be on the racer at all times while inspecting courses.

13. Course Safety: The chief of course and referee are ultimately responsible for course safety and are to oversee the course setting. If a coach or coaches feel that part or a section of a course is dangerous, they should go to the chief of course to express their concerns.
Race Protocols-Start Commands, sl. Ready Go, gs 10 seconds, 5,4,3,2,1……5 seconds to leave start.
14. District and State Meet Seeding Guidelines:
For the district events:
Each seed will contain one racer from each team. Within each seed a separate draw will occur. Separate draws will be made for each event at the districts and state meets. The first seed is for team skiers, with the second seed going to independent skiers. (see below)

Skiers on teams, that may not be complete (less than four skiers) will be seeded in with the regular team skiers. Definition of team skiers: Skiers who's school has a recognized program. Independent skiers are those who affiliate and or train with another school, a recognized team.

State Meet Seeding-Independent skiers will be seeded based on the following: after the first seed of team skiers, there will be a seed of 10 (max) independent skiers. Based on their district finish, (still need a top 20 result) a top 5 result finish would earn a spot in the top seed. Five skiers from the north (max) and 5 skiers from the south (max). Next would be the second seed of team skiers. Then a second seed of independent skiers (10 max) based on a district finish between 6 and 10.Next would be the third seed of team skiers. Then a third seed of independent skiers (10 max) based on a district finish between 11 and 15. Next would be the fourth seed of team skiers. Then a fourth seed of independent skiers who finished between 16 and 20th.

For State Meets:

Duty of host district schools: Results must be sent to state host schools asap, to assist in seeding independent skiers (see above). Everything remains the same with the exception that any skier whose team did not qualify for the meet are now considered independents.
15. Forerunners: Tracks should be inspected by the Referee following the last forerunner. Final approval of the course is the responsibility of the Referee The recommended number of forerunners is 3, based on the Referee ‘s discretion and forerunners should be of comparable ability to the racers.
16. If a school is hosting the State Meet and did not qualify as a team,they are eligible to enter their team in that meet.

17. Home Study Students: For independent skiers - refer to guidelines.

18. SPORTSMANSHIP –
A racer may b e warned or disqualified from an event or meet for vulgar language, misconduct or poor sportsmanship. A warning or a disqualification may b e issued upon arrival at the meet through departure. Violations may b e reported by gatekeepers or meet officials to the Technical Delegate, protestable through the jury. The jury may warn the racer with no penalty, disqualify the racer or take no action on the reported violation. A second warned offense at the same meet results in disqualification from that meet and the next meet. If a skier is disqualified, his result in that event will not count. If a racer is disqualified after the first event has been completed, the results of that event stand. The rules apply during the regular season, districts and states.

NOTICE TO MEET DIRECTORS:

1. District Meet Directors shall contact the State Meet Directors immediately upon conclusion of district meets as to the top six or eight teams and individuals who might compete in the state meet.

2. District and State Meet Directors: Please send a copy of results to:
Bob Johnson , Director of Student Activities
Vt. Principals' Assoc.
2 Prospect Street
Montpelier, VT 05602, and to all coaches involved.

3. BOYS NORTHERN DISTRICT MEET
Date: Thursday, February 21, 2008
Host: BFA-St. Albans
Entry Date to Host School By Mail, Fax or Walk-In: Friday, February 15, 2008
Location: Smugglers Notch

GIRLS NORTHERN DISTRICT MEET
Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Host: Essex High School
Entry Date to Host School By Mail, Fax or Walk-In: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Location: Smuggler’s Notch
Meet Director: Ed Hockenbury
Technical Delegate: Steve Skilton

GIRLS' AND BOYS' SOUTHERN DISTRICT MEET
Date: February 11, 2008 (Giant Slalom)
Host: Rutland
Entry Date to Host School By Mail, Fax or Walk-In: February 5, 2008
Location: Pico
Meet Director: Mike Norman
Technical Delegate: Peter MacNealus

Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 (Slalom)
Host: Woodstock
Entry Date to Host School By Mail, Fax or Walk-In: February 5, 2008
Location: Suicide 6
Meet Director: Wendy Wannop
Technical Director: Greg McCallan

GIRLS' STATE MEET
Date:Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Host: Burr & Burton
Site: Bromley
Meet Director: Kathi Bierwirth
Email kbierwith@burrburton.org
Technical Delegate: TBA

BOYS' STATE MEET:
Date: Monday, March 3, 2008
Site: Burke Mountain
Meet Director: Paul Wheeler (Lyndon Institute)
Fax# 802-626-9164
Phone# 802-626-3112
Email paul.wheeler@lyndoninstitute.org
Technical Delegate: TBA

4. For Districts - Top two teams girls/boys receive a plaque or trophy, top 10 individuals in each event receives a metal or ribbon. Total cost is paid for by schools participating. Host school is responsible to order and charge award fee.

State Meets - VPA will provide plaques for top two teams, boys/girls. Patches are also provided for members of the championship and runner-up teams. Individual medals/ribbons will be given out to the top ten skiers in each event. This cost will be charged to the teams participating. The host school is responsible to order these awards.
5. All other costs involved will be borne by the participating schools. Any school hosting a district or state meet must ascertain what costs may be involved in the meet (timing, race officials, sewage pumping, etc.) and then notify the participating schools of these charges and bill each school their equalized share. If lift fees are to be charged by the mountain, participating schools should be made aware of this before the scheduled meet.
Ski Committee:
Sumner Erbe, Otter Valley HS Leigh Mallory, Colchester HS
Sean Farrell, Middlebury Union HS
Paul Wheeler, Lyndon Institute
Advisory Members:
Marty Maher, Burr & Burton Seminary
Greg McClellan, Rutland High School
Steve Skilton, Harwood Union High School
Technical Delegates - Alpine
Steve Skilton
Greg McClellan
John Kresser
Peter McNealus
David Williams

ALPINE PROCEDURAL HANDBOOK
STANDARD PROCEDURES, AND FORMS

I. Job Outline for Gatekeepers
A. Be at your assigned location on time, ready to officiate.
B. Wear your bib or other provided identification.
C. Be alert - always.
D. Be off your skis under most conditions.

E. Take a position above your gates, so that you can move down to make repairs or to check a skier's tracks.
F. Observe and mark legal passes.
G. Observe, mark and diagram disqualifications as observed.
H. Note when racers fail to pass your gates, so that a missing number on your card is not interpreted as an error.
I. Observe and mark passage of any reruns - identified separately from the original passage.
J. Observe and document any interference in your gates (the racer must exit the course immediately after interference in order to be awarded a rerun).
K. Prepare scoreboard in advance including sample diagrams.
L. Reply promptly and properly to a racer when asked.
M. Maintain your gates between each racer, as needed.
N. Do not interfere with other officials, or ski through gates including the Finish gate when going to and from position.

II. Responsibilities Under the Rules
A. Determine that each racer has passed legally and indicate such clearly on the control card, or)
B. Record an illegal pass (disqualification) on the card with a clear diagram of the racer's path.
C. Personally review all disqualifications with the Chief of Gatekeepers.
D. Remain available for Jury meetings should you show any disqualifications.
E. See that gate poles are promptly reset in the dye markers in a vertical position whenever they are dislodged.
F. Replace broken gate poles and torn flags.
G. Maintain the Track through your gates when possible.
H. Do not discuss disqualifications with coaches, racers, or spectators, only with Jury members and the Chief of Gatekeepers.
I. However, notice of all disqualifications and racers not completing the Course should be communicated to the Finish (radio or verbal, or by messenger/runner).

III. Legal Passage
A. Racers must pass through every gate on the Course, and both tip and feet must cross the gate line - an imaginary line connecting the bases of the innermost poles of each gate.
B. Gates may be taken in any direction and in any order as long as both feet cross the gate line.
C. Feet and skis may be off the snow, but in this case both feet must pass through the plane defined by the gate line and the gate poles in their vertical position.
D. In the event that the gate poles have been deflected from the vertical before the racer's feet have passed, then the feet must pass where the gate pole(s) had been when vertical.
E. Racers may legally enter and exit a gate from the same side, as long as both feet cross the gate line.
F. Gatekeeper should be assigned a maximum of four gates.

IV. Other Disqualifications
Gatekeepers must watch for and report disqualifications for reasons other than gate passage:
1. The racer must not receive outside assistance.
2. The racer may not use the gate poles for aid, nor move them in any manner except when passing through the gate in normal ski racing action.
3. Slow or fallen racers must yield to overtaking racers.
4. Racers may not obstruct or interfere with other racers or with officials performing their duties.
5. Racers must respect the directions of officials (i.e. "move back from the Course").
6. Racers must respect the rules for Course Inspection including wearing the bib in proper fashion and not skiing through gates of the Course.
V. Scorecard or Control Card
A. Each gatekeeper must have a suitable scorecard. (samples are included later in this chapter)
B. Gatekeepers should prepare the Scoreboard in advance:
1. Date, race, run number, men or women, etc.,
2. Numbers of the gates assigned,
3. Name, and relief or assistant's name, and school,
4. Sample diagrams of the gates drawn in advance, which are later used to document disqualifications. The gates immediately above and below a Gatekeeper's area of responsibility should be shown, too.
C. See the sample cards and instructions for Gatekeepers which appear later in this chapter.
VI. Gatekeeper's Role as a Critical Observer
Although a gatekeeper has no immediate responsibility for any gates other than those assigned, he should observe activity above and below his gates in the normal passage of the racer, noting any evidence which may be corroborating in later discussions.

PROPER PROCEDURES IN RUNNING A JURY

After each event the jury needs to meet to resolve any protests that may have been filed for that event. Protests need to be written with a brief description of the protest; the number of the racer involved and the run (i.e. first or second run) needs to be listed as well.

A. The jury should hear from the gatekeeper and/or race official involved with the protest to understand the disqualification.
B. Next the jury (without the gatekeeper present) should listen to the protest.
This can be in either order and sometimes the gatekeeper or race personnel may need to be called back in for further questioning. They should not be questioned (the gatekeeper and racer) together.
C. The jury now (with both parties absent) make their decision. The coach and racer will then be notified of the results.