Generally, in the U14 program, 12 and 13 year old athletes focus on the Train to Train phase of their development as alpine racers. In addition to the continued development of basic skiing and racing skills, strength and endurance training become a more significant part of training. U14 athletes are increasing challenged to adapt and refine the skiing and racing skills they have learned, while learning to pattern and perceive new skills. Consistent with their growing skills and physical capacities, most K2 racers will train for and race all events – Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super-G, Super Combined and, where appropriate, Downhill.
Eligibility
Age: 12 or 13 years of age as of December 31 of the current race season.
Membership: To race in NCD-OSZ Series and Championship events, U14 athletes must have a Canadian card and be listed on the at Alpine Canada Alpin database that is located at www.acapoints.ca/e/html/results/e_natpoints.asp.
Notes:
Disabled skiers are eligible to participate in U14 events. For further information about disabled ski racing please see section 2.6 below; and
U16 and U18 racers are eligible to participate in U14 Series events on dates when there are no OSZ-NCD Junior events scheduled.
Equipment Standards
Racers who are not properly equipped will not be permitted to start a race. Parents and racers are encouraged to discuss equipment selection with the racer’s coach to ensure that athlete has the appropriate items:
Skis: There are no restrictions regarding ski length and radius for NCD-OSZ events. The racer‟s physical development, ability and skills must be considered in selecting appropriate and safe equipment.
Helmets: At all events, competitors must wear full hard-shell helmets specifically designed and manufactured for the particular event.
Boots: Maximum boot height (distance between the ski boot sole and the base of the heel including all hard and soft parts) – 43 mm
Bindings: Maximum standing height (the distance between the bottom of the ski‟s running surface and the ski boot sole) – 50 mm.
Clothing: Downhill and other suits designed for alpine racing are permitted.
Race Format
U14 Slalom and GS events in the regular OSZ-NCD series consist of one race of two runs. Super-G races consist of one run. Super combined events will consist of one Super-G run and one Slalom run.
Race Entries
All registered U14 and disabled racers are automatically entered in every OSZ-NCD Series race. The list of these racers is published on the Outaouais Ski Zone Web site (www.skioutaouais.qc.ca) and updated, as necessary, beginning in early January. Coaches and parents are encouraged to consult the published lists to verify that the entry list is complete and that the information for each racer is accurate. Any errors or omissions should be immediately reported to Jim Coflin ( jcoflin@ca.inter.net) or the club’s U14 coordinator.
U16 &U18 racers wishing participate in a race must arrange for their coaches to submit the appropriate entry forms in accordance with instructions included in the race notice for that event. Late entries will be seeded at the end of the start order.
Race Fee
The entry fee for each race is $30.00 per competitor payable to the host club the morning of the race. The entry fee covers the cost of the athlete‟s lift ticket.
Start Order
First run: The first run start order for all OSZ-NCD K2 events will be determined in accordance with FIS rules using national points. The FIS rules require that the first run start order be determined by placing the (U14 and U16/18) competitors in order of their points from lowest to highest, then randomly drawing the order of the 15 racers with the lowest points. The balance of the field starts in ascending order of their points, provided that where racers that have the same points, their start order is also determined by a random draw. (Note: The random draws are done by computer.)
Disabled athletes competing in a U14 event will be seeded in special groups as described in the section 2.6 of this manual and will start before the female seed.
Second run: For Slalom and GS races, the start order for the second run of each race is determined by the racers‟ finish times in the first run of the race – fastest to slower – with the order of the top 30 inverted: the racer with the best time starts in 30th place, the second best time in 29th position and so on down, with the racer who posted the 30th best time starting in first position. Where safety considerations warrant, the race jury may order that the second run order be based on a reverse 15.
Racers who did not finish (DNF) or were disqualified (DSQ) in the first run of a race will be permitted to participate in the second run of that race, recognizing that overall series results and the selection criteria for provincial events are based on the racer‟s results for every individual run. They will be seeded after the group that finished the first run.
Female competitors race before male competitors in each run.
Safety
The safety of competitors, officials, and spectators is of paramount importance. At each race, the Jury is charged with the responsibility of taking all reasonable steps to ensure that safety and, to that end, has the authority to cancel, postpone or annul a run or race if necessary.
Course Tear Down
All competitors and coaches are required to report to the start area after the last run of the day to assist with course tear down – failure to so may result in sanctions for both competitors and coaches.
Race Results
Medals are awarded to U14 competitors only at each race and are determined by the combined times for the first and second run. If a racer is disqualified (DSQ) or does not finish (DNF) one of the runs, his or her combined time is not calculated.
If two racers tie in their combined times, the tie stands and medals are awarded as follows:
- a tie for first place – two gold medals and a bronze
- a tie the second position – a gold medal and two silver; and
- a tie for third place – one gold, one silver, and two bronze.
Reporting Results
The results of each race are reported to ACA for the purposes of calculating national points. ACA posts these results on the national website at www.acapoints.ca. (Please note that a copy of the results will be posted on the OSZ website.)
In addition, series points (see Section 4) will be calculated for the U14 athletes each run and the results posted on the Outaouais Ski Zone Web site by Thursday following a race. The series points are used for the determining year-end awards for OSZ and NCD Series Results, as well as serving as the basis for selecting the athletes who will participate in provincial championship events.
NCD-OSZ Championships
The NCD-OSZ U14 championships will be held at the end of the season and will consist of one slalom and one giant slalom race. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded based on each athlete‟s combined series points for the two races. One set of medals will be awarded for 13 year olds and another for 14 year olds. Note: For the combined medals, each age category will be scored independently and racers awarded series points according to finishes within their age group.
Ontario Provincial U14 Events
Each year AOA sanctions provincial-level events for 13 and 14 year old racers. The details about these events (dates, fees, quotas, etc) and the criteria that will be used for team selection can be obtained from the NCD club U14 coordinators.
