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Event Organizers Guide to running a race This is a brief guide to help you run a safe, fun
well organized event. All events should be run in accordance with the rules
of USSA the national governing body. Publications on rules and guides
for our sport are available by contacting U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association,
Box 100,1500 Kearns Blvd., Park City, UT 84060. Phone:
435.649.9090 Fax: 435.649.3613 web site: www.ussa.org
¥
Membership: All
event organizers must be members of NYSSRA Nordic. Volunteers, and
competitors do not need to be members. Please note: Only nyssra members
will count for points in an esg qualifier. ¥
Sanctioning Deadline: All
ESGQ and JOQ races must be scheduled by the NYSSRA spring Meeting, which is
usually held the last Sunday in april of each year. Sanction forms and
fees are then due by the fall meeting prior to the start of the season. ¥
Forms to Use: You
must fill out and sign the Sanction agreement which can be found on the
previous page send to address listed on form ¥
Race Fee
Obligations: If a
skier is not a member of nyssra, nensa, or ussa there is an additional $5 fee
collected at registration this fee is sent to nyssra along with the below
stated fees
Empire State Games
Qualifier
Citizen
Race/Ski Clinic/Ski Camp
Send Fees
Payable: NYSSRA Nordic, Inc. to: Include
a break down of fees Lee
Mahood 4
Thomas Ave Woodstock,
VT 05091 |
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General requirements and information ¥
Pre-registration is
defined as sending a entry form, not an entry fee, unless
"pre-registration must include entry fee" is specifically noted in
the race listing in the manual. ¥
Late registration for all
ESG/JO races occurs after the Wednesday before the race. ¥
Late registration fee is set
by the race organizer and must be noted in the race listing of the manual. ¥
Day of race registration can
mean an additional late fee if so stated in the race listing in the manual ¥
Set a time to stop day of race
registration so that a complete start list can be printed for
the starters prior to the start of the race. 30 min is recommended. Pre
registered racers can continue to pick up there bibs as they are already on
the start list. ¥
Competitors do not have to be members of
nyssra to compete However, there is an additional $5 fee for non-members.
NENSA members are treated as NYSSRA members ¥
NYSSRA Points Series. You
must be a current NYSSRA member to receive points in an ESG race. Non-members
will be displaced prior to awarding points. you may not join after the fact
to receive points. ¥
Accepting membership.
Race organizers are asked not to accept membership forms. The skier is
responsible to fill out and send the membership form to the correct address
given on the form. Race organizers should either have copies of nyssra
membership forms available or provide the interested skier with the NYSSRA
web site address www.nyssranordic.com. Non members will be
charged the extra $5 and can deduct the $5 from the membership fee when they
send it in. Please write NON in place of their nyssra number on
the results. They will not be scored until the membership is received.
It must be received within four days of the race for the skier to receive
points for that race.
Have nordic entry forms available
for day of race registration ¥
Results Must be computerized. They
should be posted immediately following the race. If the results are not
contested with in 45 min they are official. ¥
¥
Results and fees should be sent to
Larry Wilkinson, 7 Ramblewod Drive South, Utica, NY 13502 immediately
following the race. ¥
Please email the results
following the race to nordic@roadrunner.com ¥
Awards must be
given at a minimum to scholastic men, scholastic women, open men, open women,
master men and masters women. Awards should be given to the top three in each
class. The type award ribbon/medal/certificate/other is determined by the
race organize ¥
Cancellation/changes Race
organizers must contact Larry Wilkinson, 315-797-9341 or nordic@roadrunner.com
no later that 4pm on Thursday for a Saturday race and by 1pm on Friday for a
Sunday race. timely notification is necessary so that details can be
posted to the nyssra web site. |
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Race Site/Course:
In choosing a location to hold your race keep in mind that you must meet the
following criteria. ¥
Parking - the location should
have plenty of room for parking. If on road parking is required you
should to contact the local police or sheriffs in advance to inform them to
avoid problems on the day of the race. ¥
Facilities - the
location should have at least a warming hut and rest rooms. If it does
not you must provide port-a-johns. ¥
Grooming - The course must be
machine groomed. ¥
Distance - The course should be
measured for an accurate distance. This is best done with a measuring
wheel but as not everyone has access to one a mountain bike will do. ¥
Course markings - the
course must be well marked with flags, ribbons, signs or cones (please use
colors that are highly visible). The start and finish line need to be well
marked and a line in the snow defining the actual start and finish line with
a pole, cone, or sign defining each end of the line . This line can be made
with colored water, chalk or spray paint( (dark colored water is most
common). ¥
Course Map - A
course map must be provided at the registration area. This map can be hand
drawn. The start, finish and lap area along with the direction of
travel and number of laps for different age groups must be marked on
the map. If groups will be racing different courses or laps they should
be highlighted on the map in different colors or use separate maps. ¥
Course Safety - The
complete course must be inspected prior to the race for safety issues. Any
hazards should be removed, snow should be added to areas of thin cover,
dangerous areas or down hills that cannot be fixed must be removed from the
race course and the trail rerouted. Attendants should be placed in
trouble areas to warn the racers of the problem and keep the area safe by
shoveling snow. If the race course cannot be made safe for the
competitor and there equipment the race must be canceled. Consider
running the race course backward if it will be safer in the opposite
direction ¥
Feed Stations -
Because cross country skiing is an endurance sport, competitors need access
to water and or feeds. Specifically water and/or sport drinks
should be available at the finish line of all races. In Events over 15k
feed stations should be located at least every 8 to 12 k. Feed stations
should include food that is easy chew and swallow such as pre-cut bananas or
oranges, soft cookies, figs, fruit bars ( hard dry or snacks with crumbs
should be avoided as they can cause a racer to choke). All fluids should be
served at normal temperatures. Not hot or ice cold. ¥
Phone - You need to have
quick access to a phone or cell phone for emergencies. ¥
First Aid/ Medical:
You need to have a volunteer on hand that is at least certified in first aid
to deal with any emergency that may arise. You also might want to
contact the local fire or ambulance service to inform them of the time and
location of your event and how to contact them in case they are
needed. You will also need to have a toboggan or rescue sled
along with blankets in case someone is injured on the course and can't ski
out on their own. ¥
Radios - Radios are not
needed, but, if they are available, they can make running a race a whole lot
easier. |
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Race officials/ Volunteers: the
following is a suggested list of race officials and volunteers that you will
need to run a race it is possible for one person to hold one or more
positions. ¥
Chief of race ¥
Chief of course ¥
Chief of timing and calculations ¥
Chief of medical ¥
Race Secretary plus helpers for
registration ¥
Starters(2) ¥
Finishers(2 teams, official and backup) ◦
Timer ◦
Time recorder ◦
Bib order of finish recorder ◦
Bib collector ¥
course officials - such as; lap checker,
course controllers for keeping the course clear in the start/finish/stadium
areas and controlling intersections, feed station workers, PA announcer,
parking, ski marking, course checkers for skating in a classical race, etc.. ¥
Jury - name 5 people to include the Chief
of race plus another race official and three other members that are
knowledgeable on the rules of xc skiing such as coaches or upper level
athletes. If there is a TD this person would chair the jury. |
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Basic Rules you and your staff should know ¥
The Racer is responsible to know the
course, their bib number and their start time. However, the race
organizer is responsible to provide a well marked course, start and finish
line, to post a well marked course map, to post a start list and to start bib
numbers in consecutive order. There should be no way that a skier can
get off course unless they go through a barrier or off the groomed course. ¥
Each racer must start/finish and wear their
correct bib through out the entire race. Due to extenuating
circumstances prior to the start of a race a racer may be given a new start
time and bib. however, this cannot be done to benefit the racers chance
of performing better. This would have to be approved by the race jury. ¥
In electronic timing a racer may start up
to three seconds prior to their posted start time. ¥
In hand timing a racer may not start until
the starter gives the signal ¥
The finish time is recorded when the
leading foot crosses the finish line. ¥
In a false start situation the competitor
must return to the start gate and start again with out interfering with the
next competitor. The original start time is counted ¥
If a racer misses their start the clock is
running. They must report to the starter prior to entering the course.
The starter will note the late start on the start list, however, their
original start time is counted and may not be changed. ¥
If a racer goes off course they must return
to the spot where they left the course before continuing or they are
disqualified ¥
A racer must give way to a faster skier
upon the first request. If there are two sets of tracks this rule does not
necessarily apply. In a freestyle race if the trail is to narrow to ski side
by side the overtaking skier has right of way and the slower skier must yield
long enough for the faster skier to get by. if the track is wide enough
the faster skier goes around. ¥
In the final 200 meters prior to the finish
line the leading skier has the right of way. however they must hold there
line, they cannot deliberately block a passing skier. ¥
In the final 50 meters there should be at
least two defined finish lanes or corridors. once a skier enters a
corridor they must stay in that corridor to the finish ¥
In an individual race a skier may not
exchange or replace a ski during the course of the race and must finish with
both skis that they started with. Broken poles may be replaced. In a
relay a broken ski may be replaced. However, this is not enforced in
nyssra events. If a race organizer wishes to enforce this rule the skis
have to be marked prior to the start. ¥
A racer must follow the course from start
to finish. ¥
If a skier skis the wrong distance such as
completing only one lap of two they are disqualified. however, if they
ski an extra lap their official time is not counted until they cross the
finish line. ¥
If a skier skis outside the Finnish line
such as finishing in the lap lane, their time does not count until they ski
back to where they left the finish lane an then continue through the finish
line. ¥
Rules governing Ski length and pole length
do not apply at our level of competition |