The U16 and U18 programs are for 14 to 17 year old athletes, focuses on the Train to Race phase of the athlete development as alpine racers. In addition, the program does have a mixture of athletes with differing goals including those who are involved in FIS sanctioned race events, the Quebec Championnat Junior Provincial (CJP) series and similar events, and those who simply want to continue to enjoy a race experience by participating in the local events.
Eligibility
To participate in the NCD-OSZ Series events and to qualify for medals and awards, an athlete must
Age: U16- 15 years & U18- 17 years of age as of December 31 of the current race season.
Membership: have a current ACA or FIS competitor card, and be a member of an NCD or OSZ club team, other than the NCO team.
Athletes who do not qualify for the NCD-OSZ Series may participate in scheduled events, but not qualify for medals. To register as non-Series participants, the athlete must:
Age: be 15 years of age or older as of December 31 of the current race season
Membership: have a current ACA or FIS competitor card.
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) – 45mm
Bindings: Maximum standing height (the distance between the bottom of the ski‟s running surface and the ski boot sole) – 50mm.
Clothing: Downhill and other suits designed for alpine racing are permitted.
Race Format
JR 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
Series and non-Series athletes wishing to 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.
A list of the racers who are eligible to participate in the OSZ-NCD Series is published on the Outaouais Ski Zone Web site (www.skioutaouais.qc.ca) and updated, as necessary, beginning in early January. The racers on the list will not be automatically entered in every OSZ-NCD Series race. Coaches and athletes 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 reported to Jim Coflin ( jcoflin@ca.inter.net) immediately.
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 JR 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 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.)
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 warranted, the race jury may order that the second run be based on a reverse 15.
Female competitors race before male competitors in each run.
Note: Normally, 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, providing the jury is satisfied that the race can be completed in a timely manner and without reducing the quality of the event for the racers who completed the first run. The DNF‟s and DSQ‟s will be seeded after the group that finished the first 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 will be awarded to the top three OSZ-NCD Series Junior female and male finishers at each race.
The results for each race 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.
In addition, series points 6 for each age category will be calculated for each race 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 and Series Results. The calculation of series points will be based on each racer‟s placement in the entire field, rather than on the placements within the J1/J2 categories, but the categories will be reported separately.
NCD-OSZ Championships
The NCD-OSZ Junior championships will be held at the end of the season and will consist of one slalom and one giant slalom race. Medals will be awarded for each race.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will also be awarded based on each athlete’s combined series points for the two races.
