A Guide to Competing in Club National Competitions

This guide has been produced specifically for athletes (and their parents) competing in their first Club National (CN) race. It also serves as a useful reminder to some of our experienced CN racers!

There are many rules and procedures to be followed at a CN so the purpose of this guide is to explain – in the simplest way possible - the most important things you need to know.

For more in-depth information about racing and the rules/regulations, you should speak to one of the MSC’s coaches (Roger Crombleholme, Guy Hornsby or Jane Lee) or to one of our ‘experienced racer parents’ (Nigel Dawes, Sally Phelps or Carron Thorley).

If you really want to know about all the finer points, then have a read of the British Artificial Competition Rules (BACR) that can be found on www.gbski.com And, if you’d like to learn even more, then you should consider attending the Level 1 Race Officials course run by Snowsport England – check for courses on www.snowsportengland.org.uk

Snowsport England has also produced ‘A Guide to the Rules of Ski Races’ and this is a must read for all athletes. A copy can be accessed on www.britski.org (see section entitled ‘Other’).

A CN is nationally-ranked artificial surface competition run under the auspices of Snowsport England. There are usually around 10 to 12 CNs each season (held on plastic and indoor snow surfaces) and any racer who’s registered with their governing home nation (England, Wales Scotland or Ireland) to race can compete in these events.

Registered racers can also apply to enter Celtic Cups (run by Snowsport Wales), Grand Prix events (run by Snowsport England) and National Championships (run by Snowsport England, Snowsport Wales, Snowsport Scotland and Snowsport Ireland). There are, however, minimum entry criteria for Grand Prix events and National Championships that will need to be achieved via your results in CNs.

A racer’s performance at a CN (and at any of the other ’approved’ events) counts towards him/her being allocated seed points. See section 7 entitled Seed Points.

Athletes can register with their chosen home nation when they are aged 6 years and over. However, until they are aged 10 years, they will be classed as a Mini and cannot enter a GP or gain seed points. See section 4 entitled Age Categories.

Minis can, however, compete in their own races that are run in conjunction with CNs – they take their runs before the competitors of the CN race with the start order being drawn randomly. Although no seed points can be allocated, Minis gain invaluable race experience for when they can enter CNs.

Registering to race with your home nation governing body is relatively simple.

Go on to www.britski.org and look for Performer Registration Forms. Click on either English, Welsh or Scottish and follow the instructions.

In the case of Snowsport England (SSE), first-time performer registration forms have to be downloaded, completed and posted to the SSE office. However, performer renewals can be done online.

The SSE year runs from 1st November and any renewals after 1st January will be subject to a surcharge.

It is possible to enter for a CN or a Minis race without having to be registered as a racer. This can be done by completing a Day Registration form that can be obtained from www.gbski.com Go to the Forms page and look for the Race Entry (Day Registration) form. This has to be sent back to the Race Secretary of the competition you wish to enter before the published closing date. Details of the Race Secretaries can be found on www.britski.org in the Summer Race Calendar.

Day Registration allows an unregistered race to compete in only one CN per season - but you can day-register for one Celtic Cup (Welsh) race as well.

Accepted entrants are eligible to win age category and overall position medals and their results will be included in the official results published on www.britski.org However, they will not be allocated a registration number and their results will not be processed for seed points. See section 7 entitled Seed Points.

The age categories are determined by year of birth and, for races in 2010, they are as follows:

Mini 2000 to 2003

Children 1 1998 to 1999

Children 2 1996 to 1997

Junior 1 1994 to 1995

Junior 2 1992 to 1993

Senior 1981 to 1991

Master to 1980

All racers must have public liability insurance. You will be covered for this provided you are a paid-up member of the MSC (because of its affiliation to Snowsport England).

Unlike when competing in alpine events, there are no ski length/width or turn radius specifications for artificial surface events.

The tips of your ski poles must be fitted with rubber or plastic tip protectors (bungs).

You will need a helmet designed and approved for skiing - preferable one with a chin guard although this is not a definitive requirement.

You must wear gloves, long trousers and a long-sleeved garment (which also covers the midriff) at all times whilst on the slope (including open practice, course inspection and the race itself).

Results from all races approved for seeding purposes (such as a CN) are collated and processed at intervals during the season to produce seed lists – otherwise known as BARTS (British ARTificial Seeding) system.

The BARTS seed list is an ongoing list of registered competitors with their current seed points, calculated on the basis of their performance in artificial surface races compared with other registered athletes competing in each race. Separate lists are maintained for female and male competitors and the lowest seed points indicate the best level of performance.

Although often used to measure individual performance, seed lists are officially used to check eligibility against race entry criteria, to determine start order, and help governing bodies in the selection of their national teams.

The calculation of seed points is somewhat complicated! However, it is very useful to understand the principles (if not all of the detail). The seeding rules can be found on www.gbski.com BACR Book III Seeding.

The competition year (for seeding purposes) is 1st May to 30th April of the following year. However, any artificial surface competitions taking place in April are normally considered to be part of the new competition year.

Details of seeded artificial surface races can be found on www.britski.org

Registered racers can enter a race (and pay the entry fee - typically £17) via the online entry system – which, again, can be found on www.britski.org

Non-registered athletes can enter a CN via a Day Registration entry. See section 3 entitled Day Registration.

Entrants with no seed points are given first priority. Priority for entrants with points is given to those with the higher points and, if a race is oversubscribed, then entrants with the best (i.e. lowest) seeds points will be rejected.

Accepted entries are published on www.britski.org usually about one week before the race.

On plastic (dendix) slopes you will get 3 runs though the same course – you will not be given the opportunity to practice through the course.

The best time of run 1 or run 2 is added to the time of run 3 to calculate your overall time. This means that you must successfully complete either run 1 or run 2 and then run 3 to be placed.

On artificial snow you get 2 runs through 2 different courses and the times added together.

A typical race programme is as follows:

08.30 Race office opens for registration and bib issue

08.45 Open practice

09.00 Race officials meeting

09.45 Course setting

10.15 Course inspection for Minis and Females

10.25 Course inspection for Males

10.35 Minis and Females finish course inspection

10.45 Males finish course inspection

11.00 First and second runs

14.00 Third run

16.00 Prize giving

Indoor snow races tend to start about an hour earlier and finish by 2pm as there is no third run.

Make sure you arrive at the ski centre with plenty of time to spare – and, yes, that will often mean a very early start from home! Look out for the other MSC racers who will have formed a ‘base camp’ somewhere around the slope. Most racers/clubs are creatures of habit and try to base themselves at the same place every year at each slope!

Go to the race office and complete the race commentator’s sheet – this asks for things like your name, bib number (which will be against your name on the published start list), best recent result and a couple of questions (such as ‘what film character would you like to be and why?’). Then hand in your sheet and you will be given your race bib.

It can be a great help if a parent/guardian/coach hands in the commentator's sheet and collects your bib. This will allow you to get ready for your warm up in the open practice session on the slope. Open practice usually lasts one hour. You shouldn’t aim to be on the slope for the whole of this period as you don’t want to wear yourself out before racing! However, this is your opportunity to get a feel for the slope and its matting as it will differ from The Ackers.

There will often be a queue during the first 30 minutes of open practice, although this will depend on the lift facilities and the number of racers. Don’t panic – you will get time to warm up and the number of racers on the lifts/slope often reduces significantly during the last 15 minutes.

The course will not be set and so you will not be able to practice through it.

Tips:

• Use the open practice time constructively to familiarise yourself with the surroundings, surface changes, slope angles and weather conditions (the matting is a lot quicker when it’s wet!).

• After your initial warm up, practice the type of turns you may expect in the race on any special features of the slope such as bumps, dips, flats, steeps and ridges.

• Practice the expected number of turns and rhythm changes that are likely to be set: ask your coach or the experienced MSC racers for their advice.

• Wear your full race kit (helmet, leg-guards, etc.) when practicing.

• Take on plenty of fluid and bring plenty of food/snacks to keep you going all day: it will be a long one!

• Bring suitable clothing for all weather conditions.

You will be given a period of time to inspect the course so listen out for the commentator who will announce when you can start inspecting and when you have to stop. Usually, minis (girls and boys) and females inspect first followed by the males.

Your bib has to be visible during inspection and you must be wearing skis or (correctly leashed) snowblades - you can’t inspect on foot.

During inspection, you’re not allowed to ski the course at speed or shadow its characteristics from the side. You can, however, snowplough or sideslip slowly through the course. You can’t practice starts (although you can view the course from the start gate).

Ultimately, the race jury will decide the method of inspection and, depending on the circumstances, may forbid snowploughing or sliding the course. In such circumstances, you must inspect the course from the side.

Tips:

• Look at the start, plan how you want to feel as you enter the start area and what you want to feel as you enter the start gate.

• Plan carefully your exit from the start gate and the first 2 to 3 gates.

• Look at the course, taking careful note of entrances and exits from combinations, plan how you need to exit these combinations to achieve a smooth transition to the next gate.

• Plan how you intend to go from one combination to the next.

• Don’t look at gates individually one at a time: visualise your descent from previous gates and your approach into the next set. Try and remember them in overlapping patterns and decide your tactics. Use these patterns to re-visualise over and over what you are going to do later before you race.

• Talk to your coach and other experienced MSC racers about the course but, most importantly, YOU decide how you want to ski the course.

The start order for the first two runs is determined by the BARTS points of each competitor. Anyone with no points will be drawn randomly and start first. The remainder – up to the best 15 – will run in descending seed points order. The best 15 will be drawn randomly and start last.

The order for the third run is based on your fastest time from run 1 and run 2 with the slowest time going first irrespective of your bib number. You keep the same bib for all three runs

Minis do not have seed points and their start order is drawn randomly.

The overall start order is as follows: minis (girls), minis (boys), all others (females), all others (males).

The draw for the start order can take place at any time after the closing date for entries but before race day. The start list is usually published on www.britski.org with entries accepted after the draw being added to the top of the start list in the order the entries were received.

Skis may be carried in to the start gate/start hut. It’s recommended that this be done by a parent/guardian/coach to make things easier for the racer.

All ski preparation (including waxing, applying slip gel or spraying) must be completed outside of the immediate start area/start hut. This is principally to protect the start officials from inhaling potentially harmful substances.

Check that you are wearing your bib, have on your protective leg guards and haven’t forgotten your helmet or gloves. And, on plastic slopes ensure that the ‘bungs’ on the end of your ski poles are securely in place.

Remember – you may be denied a start if you have illegal equipment (usually this means a missing ‘bung’) or if you behave in an unsportsmanlike manner in the start area.

Tips:

• Review your race plan.

• Mentally rehearse your racing line through the gates.

• Be positive and committed!

Check the start order (carefully) as you need to be up at the start well before it’s your turn to race. This gives you time to get ready and prepare your equipment and make sure that your boots are properly done up and helmet fastened securely. It will also give you time to prepare mentally and physically without being distracted by a last-minute rush to make the start!

Remember – the start order for the third run is based on your best time from run 1 or run 2 (and not on your bib number). If you have any doubts there will be a marshal at the start who will be able to help you.

If you do turn up late you may be given a provisional start – the start referee will make this decision and race jury will determine whether the time counts. It’s much easier and far less hassle to be ready on time!

You must be ready to enter the start gate as soon as the racer before you has started. You will be called into the gate and be given a reasonable (but limited) amount of time to put on your skis and get ready. The starter will say ‘ready’. This is not a question: it’s information to you that the course is clear. The starter will then say ‘go’ and you must start no more than 10 seconds after this order or you will have committed a false start. Similarly, if you start before the word ‘go’ you will have committed a false start.

Tips:

• Stay warm and keep muscles (legs and hips especially) lose.

• Focus on the first 2 to 3 gates and look down the hill and not at the starter (who may be someone you know).

• Remain positive – this is where all your hard training has taken you!

• ‘Explode’ out of the start gate with a powerful exhale of breath and use cue words such as YES, NOW, GO, PUSH.

• Make sure your starts are consistent by using your same cue word.

When you race down the course you can go through the gates in any order and in any direction but there’s obviously a best route that passes through all the gates in the shortest time. “Single Pole” courses have been introduce in 2010 and you always need to go around the outside of each gate marked only with a single pole.

If you miss a gate you can go back and take it again – although going back several gates sometimes is inadvisable since your time will be very poor and the race will be delayed. If you unfortunately decide that you cannot finish the course you can signal that you have retired from the run that you are on by holding your ski poles in the air in the form of a X.

If you fall you can continue the race as long as you have not accepted help from anyone. This is why officials do not rush to help you pick up your poles and skis if you fall – they are not being unkind but simply aware that if they help you then you cannot continue with your run and will be disqualified.

If you make a mistake, you can ask gate judges for information but they can only say ‘go’ or ‘back’. However, irrespective of the advice that you receive, you alone are responsible for your actions and cannot hold the official responsible if you were to be disqualified.

If you retire or knowingly commit a fault (e.g. miss a gate) and do not stop and go back, you are not allowed to go through any more gates and must leave the course as soon as you safely can.

Once you have left the course, you may not re-enter it and nor should you cross the finish line. If you do, then you could be sanctioned. If, however, you commit a fault very close to the finish it may be impossible to leave the course safely without crossing the finish line. In such circumstances it would be unreasonable to sanction you (racer safety is paramount but the jury will decide).

Tips:

• Remain focussed and do not be distracted by the noise of other racers or supporters.

• Be aware of your race plan and where you are on the course.

• Stay positive, aggressive and co-ordinate your breathing through the turns.

• The run has not finished until you cross the line, so think of there being one more gate after the actual finish.

• When you’ve finished, be positive about your run and think where you may have lost time and where you could have gained time.

• Ask for feedback from your coach or from any of the experienced MSC

racers who may have watched your run.

A gate has been passed correctly when both ski tips and both feet have passed through the gate line (or around the pole in the case of single-poled courses). If you lose a ski without committing a fault and straddling the gate pole, then the tip of the remaining ski and both feet will need to pass the gate line. This rule is also valid when you have to climb back to a gate.

In the event that you knock out a gate pole from its upright position before both ski tips and both feet have passed the gate line, then the ski tips and both feet must pass the original gate line.

On a single-pole course, if you fall/miss the gate and stop, you must go back up and all the way around the pole (either direction) to count as succesfully negotiating the gate.

The finish line is different to all other gates in that you can go through it on both skis, or on one ski or with no skis at all. For example, if you lose both skis in a fall close to the finish without committing a fault, the momentum of your fall must carry across the finish line. You are not allowed to stop, get up and cross the line on foot.

If someone (e.g. an official) or something (e.g. an animal) is in the way as you ski your run then you must stop immediately (but safely) and go to the nearest official and tell him/her what happened. You will then be sent to the Finish Referee (do NOT cross the finish line) who will contact the Jury for consideration of a re-run.

On no account should you ski through the finish gate if you have been obstructed, as you are not allowed to be given a re-run if you do this.

If you are given a re-run then get back to the start as soon as you can. You will be given time to prepare yourself and be slotted into the running order at the earliest opportunity.

After each run, the officials will collate all the information and the Referee will publish a report – otherwise known as the Protocol. This list those who didn’t start (DNS), those who didn’t finish (DNF) and those who committed a fault leading to their disqualification (DSQ).

The Protocol will normally be read out over the PA and a copy will be placed on the official notice board.

If you think there is a mistake in the Protocol about you, discuss this with your parent/guardian/coach. If you have clear evidence (e.g. video) that you completed the course correctly, you may protest to an official about the decision by handing in an official protest form accompanied by a fee of £25. You must do this within 15 minutes of the Protocol being posted.

Usually, you will know if you’ve made a mistake. Go through in your own mind the way you skied the gate/s where you allegedly made a mistake to be sure that you were not at fault.

The Jury will look at the incident and consider all the evidence including any statement that you make. You will be able to have your parent, guardian or coach with you when you speak to the Jury. State your case clearly, do not contradict yourself, be polite at all times, and make sure that you know the number and colour of the gate/s where you were disqualified (gate number/s are on the Protocol).

There’s no need to be nervous as it’s simply the Jury’s job to hear evidence separately from the people concerned and come to a fair decision. If the Jury is uncertain as to whether you committed a fault, the racer will normally be given the benefit of doubt and the decision should be made in your favour.

If your protest is upheld this means that you are back in the race and your fee of £25 will be returned. If the protest is not upheld then the decision is as stated in the Protocol and your £25 is not returned.

If you are a DSQ or DNF you may be allowed a further run on the course and this will take place before all the racers with a valid run. You are no longer in the competition but all rules still apply and you MUST treat this run in exactly the same way that you would any other.

Despite the pressure of competitive racing it’s extremely important that you behave at all times with utmost respect for your fellow racers and the race officials

Unsportsmanlike behaviour at races usually displayed following gate faults (such as going back into the course, crossing the finish line, swearing and pole abuse) can lead to sanctions and, ultimately, suspension from events.

Remember to be a good representative of your sport and have fun!

Provisional times for each run by competitor are recorded and displayed on a board during race day.

Official times will not be available until after the completion of the race and the Jury has approved the results.

You can sometimes see a copy of the full and final results at the end of the race day but, in most cases, you will have to wait until these are posted on www.britski.org

Should you be amongst the prize winners, please make sure that are present at the prize-giving ceremony at the end of the race day. It’s courteous and you may forfeit the award if you do not attend.

You can be asked for a dope test after you have completed a race. More information on this will be supplied to you when you register with your governing home nation.

Please remember that this guide is to help you with any problems you may encounter in your first few races. In all probability, you will not be involved in late starts, re-runs or protests. But, if you are, always try to stay calm and polite and ask for help if you need it. The main aim of everyone is for you to enjoy your racing!