Administrative Rules for Alaska Division

AK Divisional Head Tax / Entry Fees for 2023-2024 Season

Age Groups

Alaska Division alpine competition follows the USSS grouping system. Classification ages are based upon the age of the racer as of December 31 of the current season. Some restrictions apply to specific age groups.  

2023-2024 Alpine Season Age Classes

Entry Deadlines

The host club must receive race entries, accompanied by entry fees, by the entry deadline as listed
 on Race Announcement.  Late entries may be accepted depending on the sponsoring club’s published policy.

FIS Points List

Here is the FIS Points List Deadlines for the 2022-23 Season

Finances

An athlete’s divisional and national financial obligations must be paid prior to the athlete’s departure for any out-of-division or championship competition.

Membership

All competitors are required to hold a current US Ski and Snowboard Alpine competitor 
license with an “Active” status in order to compete in US Ski and Snowboard sanctioned events.

Out-of-Division Travel

No one (competitor, coach, parent, legal guardian) may enter an athlete in a race in another division/region without prior approval from the Alaska Division office. The philosophy of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard is to discourage unnecessary out-of-division travel. The following policy will apply:

1. All requests must be made by the athlete’s coach
2. All requests must be submitted to the Alaska Division Administrator, by email (admin@alaskaalpine.com), at least three weeks (21 days) prior to the race
3. Racers must meet all qualifications of the host division/region
4. If a request is granted, entries and fees must be submitted to the race organizer before the established deadline

Out-of-Division Athletes Competing in the Alaska Division

Out-of-division athletes are welcome and invited to participate in all AK Division races at all age levels.  For all State Championship events (Alyeska Cup and U12/14 State Champs), only Alaska Division registered athletes are eligible for State Championship awards.

Parent Code of Conduct

The purpose of a code of conduct for parents/guardians is to establish consistent expectations for behavior by parents/guardians when their child is participating in any U.S. Ski & Snowboard activity. We expect parents/guardians to conduct themselves according to U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s core values of Grit, Excellence, Team, Fun, and Integrity, and abide by the spirit and dictates of this Parent Code of Conduct.

All parents/guardians must comport themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and are responsible and accountable for their actions while attending or participating in all U.S. Ski & Snowboard activities. Sportsmanlike conduct is defined as but is not limited to: respect for competition officials, resort employees, U.S. Ski & Snowboard members, and the skiing and snowboarding public, respect for facilities, privileges, and operating procedures, the use of courtesy and good manners, acting responsibly and maturely, and refraining from the use of profane or abusive language. Additionally, it is essential that parents/guardians provide coaching staff with respect and the authority to coach the team. We should all seek to support a sport experience that is transformational for each child in developing as an athlete and as a person. During any activity associated with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, parents/guardians agree that their conduct will follow:

Setting the right example for children by demonstrating sportsmanship and showing respect and common courtesy at all times to all athletes, team members, coaches, competitors, officials, parents, and all facilities.

• Honoring the health and well-being of their child as well as their competitors.
• Getting involved by volunteering, observing practices and cheering on all athletes.
• Refraining from coaching their child and any other athlete from the stands or sidelines during training and competitions.
• Understanding that criticizing, name-calling, use of abusive language or gestures directed toward coaches, officials, administrative staff, any athlete, volunteers, and/or any participant will not be tolerated.
• Respecting the integrity of staff, coaches officials, and administrative staff, including when at competitions; allowing them to focus on their athletes.
• Treating staff, coaches, officials, and all athletes with respect and dignity.

Not harassing or making inappropriate requests of staff or coaches, including but not limited to asking for special support or treatment for their child outside of medical or mental health needs. All parents/guardians must follow the SafeSport Code, the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP), and U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Athlete Safety Policies when participating in any activity associated with U.S. Ski & Snowboard or a member club (see https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/safesportathletesafety ). U.S. Ski & Snowboard reserves the right to restrict access to the “field of play” at a competition by anyone that has disruptive behavior during the competition.

Download the Parent Code of Conduct [PDF] here.

Race Announcements

All host clubs will be responsible for sending out pertinent race information such as the schedule, field size limits, lift fees and area releases to all USSS Alpine clubs within Alaska, no less than 30 days prior to the scheduled event.  Each race organizer is required to email a Race Announcement to the AK Division office – admin@alaskaalpine.com.  Announcements should be sent out 30 days prior to the entry deadline.  Sample Race Announcements can be found in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Master Packet of Forms.

Racing Bibs

The host club will issue racing bibs. The host club may charge a bib deposit at race registration or a fee for a lost bib or a bib returned late.

Race Results

Host clubs of divisional qualifiers will generate overall results that include the age group and second run times for each racer. Overall results will be posted to the Alaska Division web site within 72 hours of the completion of that event or series.

U12 Slalom Setting Rules

Selection Procedures for Western Region Quotas

FIS  / Elite FIS Series

Racers will be selected to attend these events according to the policy for out-of-division travel.   Selection is based on the National Team Selection Board (NTSB) using U.S. Ski and Snowboard seed points from the most current list on the selection date. The NTSB method is described in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Alpine competition guide. Western Region automatics will not appear on the board. For Speed Series a modified NTSB board will be used, in that GS will always be the last pick on any line. Athletes must meet Alaska eligibility rules. Selection Boards will include only the events to be held at the Series, with the exception that Speed Events Series boards will also include GS.

2024 Western Region Junior Championships (U18, U21)

Approved by the AK Division ACC on October 18, 2023.  Published on October 20, 2023. 

The 2024 AK Divisional Quota for U18 WRJC is 7 women and 5 men.

For the 2024 season, for the head-to-head, we will use the best 2 out of 4 finishes in SL and GS from the following races:

• Devo 2 GS / 2 SL Palisade/Sugar Bowl (January)
  – In the event that the Palisade/Sugar Bowl is cancelled, the Devo Jackson Hole 2SL 2GS in December will be used instead.
• Alyeska Cup – 2 GS / 2 SL (February 18-19, 2024)
• Alyeska Cup Speed Events – 2 SG (February 2, 2023)

For the 2024 WRJC U18 selections, naming the team shall be accomplished by utilizing a five-column selection board. Each column shall be comprised of eligible athlete names ranked first to last. The first ranked athlete shall be placed at the top of the column; the last ranked athlete shall be placed at the bottom of the column. LEFT COLUMNS will be comprised of athlete names ranked by each individual athlete’s current FIS points for SL, GS and SG. RIGHT COLUMNS will be comprised of athlete names ranked by each individual athlete’s best two (out of four) SL and best two (out of four) GS race, and best one out of two SG finishes at the qualifying race series. Finishes shall be scored using new World Cup points. Ties shall be broken using the next best result.

SELECTION is accomplished by taking the top name in the FIS SL Points. column, then the FIS GS Points column, followed by the top name in the FIS SL Race column, then the FIS GS Race column. Selection continues by going to the second name in the left columns, and then the second name in the right columns, etc and by following the procedure described in the previous sentence until the team is filled. If a name comes up a second time it is skipped. Always skip across from left to right, not down for repeats.

In the event that we are unable to hold less than two (2) Slalom or (2) Giant Slalom races in the qualifying series, only the single best finish in each discipline will be used for selections. We will be using FIS List #17, and final selections will be announced after List #17 has been published on February 15, 2024.

Any Alaska Division athlete who has been invited, accepted and participated in a Regional or National quota competition conflicting with Alaska Divisional qualifying races will be an automatic on Divisional quotas for their respective regional championship event for the current season.

Example Boards

Selection Ranking

1. Joe Smith
2. Adam Jones
3. John Anderson
4. Fred Easter
5. Tommy Goal

2024 U16 Western Region Junior Championships Selection Rules

Approved by the AK Divison ACC on October 18, 2023.  Posted on October 20, 2023.

The Alaska Division quota for the 2024 Western Region U16 Championships is 6 women and 4 men. The quota is determined by the Corrock Method which factors each Divisions’ population and team results at the regional championship from the prior year.

For the 2024 season the following series will be used:

• Coca Cola Classic – 2 SL / 2 GS
  January 14-15, 2024
• Alyeska Cup Speed – 2 SG
  February 2, 2024
• Alyeska Cup – 2 SL / 2 GS
  February 18-19, 2024

All races listed above will be used on the selection boards.

In the event that we are unable to hold four (4) Slalom or four (4) Giant Slalom races, due to circumstances, qualification will be done using each “run” vs. “race.”  In qualifying GS and SL races, racers that are not ranked after the first run (DNF’s or DQ’s) will be allowed to run at the end of the field, in reverse bib order during the second run. This is to insure that if qualification races are lost each competitor will have had the opportunity to complete each run if qualification reverts to “by run” versus “by race” results.

For purposes of the selection board, the racer with the highest number of points based on their five best race/competition finishes (with no more than three “races” or “runs” used in any discipline), will be ranked first. Each racer thereafter will be ranked in accordance with the number of total points accumulated in the best five “races”, with no more than three “races” or “runs” used in any single discipline. Ties in ranking will be broken by using the next best race finish per discipline, not to exceed using more than three “races or runs” in any single discipline.

Selections will be made by the ACC. Programs or independent athletes will be notified of team selections no more than 48 hours after they are determined. Athletes must notify their club of their intent to participate and submit a trip deposit payment, within 48 hours after selections are announced. Selections will be made as described above until each quota, including alternates, is filled.

Any Alaska Division athlete who has been invited, accepted and participated in a Regional or National quota competition conflicting with Alaska Divisional qualifying races will be an automatic on a WR quotas.

2024 U14 Regional Championships Selection Rules

Approved by the AK Division ACC on October 18, 2023.  Posted on October 20, 2023.

The Alaska Division quota for the Western Region U14 Championships is subject to change annually. The quota is determined by each Division’s population from U14 USSS license holders who are current on the November points list. The Alaska Division has a minimum quota of 4 women and 4 men for the 2024 U14 WR Championships.

The qualifying races contested will always include two Super G races, four Giant Slalom races, and four Slalom races.

For the 2024 season, the following races will be used:

• Coca Cola Classic – 1 GS / 1 SL
  January 12-13, 2024
• Alyeska Cup Speed – 2 SG
  February 1, 2024
• Alyeska Cup Tech – First GS / First SL
  February 16-17, 2024
• Arctic Valley Cup – 1 GS / 1 SL
  February 10-11, 2024
• Juneau Glacier Auto Parts / Napa Tech Series – 1 GS / 1 SL
  February 24-25, 2024

Each race will be a qualifying event for the selection boards.

For purposes of the selection board, the racer with the highest number of points based on their five best race/competition finishes (with no more than three GS events, no more than three SL, and one speed event being used), will be ranked first.

For the Alyeska Cup Series, the first GS and the first SL events will be used, in case of not getting the second races off.

In the event that we are unable to hold three (3) Slalom or (3) Giant Slalom races, due to circumstances, qualification will be done using each “run” vs. “race.”   In qualifying GS and SL races, racers that are not ranked after the first run (DNF’s or DQ’s) will be allowed to run at the end of the field, in reverse bib order during the second run (if the butterfly seeding was not used). This is to insure that if qualification races are lost each competitor will have had the opportunity to complete each run if qualification reverts to “by run” versus “by race” results.

Ties in ranking will be broken by using the next best run finish, not to exceed using more than four in any single discipline.

Selections will be made as described above until each quota, including alternates, is filled. Selections will be made by the ACC. Programs or independent athletes will be notified of team selections no more than 48 hours after they are determined. Athletes must notify their club of their intent to participate and submit a trip deposit payment, within 48 hours after selections are announced.

Any Alaska Division athlete who has been invited, accepted and participated in a Regional or National quota competition conflicting with Alaska Divisional qualifying races will be an automatic on Divisional quotas for their respective regional championship event for the current season.

Alaska State Championships

The winner of the first event in each discipline at the Alyeska Cup for the U16 and U19 age classifications, will be designated the Alaska state champion in that discipline. The first race of each discipline is used for the Alyeska Cup. WC points are awarded for each of three races (1SG, 1GS, 1SL), and only athletes that finish all three events will be eligible to win.

Discretionary Selections

Up to 20 percent or 1 quota spot (whichever is greater) of any Alaska divisional quota may be allocated to discretionary selections. The use of this discretionary quota shall be the decision of the ACC. Petitions for exceptions must be made in writing, including supporting documentation, to the Coaches Working Group by the protest period of the final selection race. Approval of exception and inclusion into the quota shall be made by a majority vote of the ACC.

U12/U14 Alaska State Championships

Governing Rules: The competition is conducted in accordance with current U.S. Ski and Snowboard competition rules and as modified by the following rules and host club modifications not in conflict with these rules.

Dates:
This event is held in March or early April.  Dates shall be determined at an ACC scheduled meeting in the fall prior to the event.

Rotation:  The event will rotate throughout the Alaska Division.  This rotation is voted on by the ACC.  Exceptions and changes can be made to the rotational schedule due to weather or other circumstances and any changes will be voted on by the ACC.

• • 2022 –Fairbanks
  • 2023 – Hilltop
  • 2024 – Arctic Valley
  • 2025 – JSC
  • 2026 – Alyeska
  • 2027 – Fairbanks
  • 2028 – Hilltop
  • 2029 – Arctic Valley
  • 2030 – JSC
  • 2031 – Alyeska

Events:
The Championship will consist of two runs of Giant Slalom and two runs of Slalom, (1 GS, 1 SL) and shall be U.S. Ski and Snowboard sanctioned non-scored events conducted on Saturday and Sunday.

Seeding:
Competitors shall be seeded separately by gender and class. In GS, U14 competitors will start before U12 competitors. Random draw will determine the first run start order. Second run is in reverse order. All competitors are allowed to start the second run, in their appropriate start order per run.

Course Specifications:
Course sets shall be in accordance with the current USSA competition rules.

Field Size & Quotas: If competitor field size surpasses 150 total athletes in a given year than the ACC will set field size maximums and allocate regional club quotas in the following year.

Eligibility: The events are open to competitors in the U14 and U12 race classes. Each competitor must have a USSA license. Request for participation by an out-of-Division competitor shall be submitted to the ACC Divisional Administrator at least two weeks prior to the competition for eligibility determination. Out-of-Division competitors are not eligible for any awards.

Entry Procedure: Each regional club will send entries to the organizer no less than 7 days prior to the start of competition. Entry information will include: name, sex, year of birth, USSA registration number, and club affiliation. Entry form should indicate which competitors need housing (if offered by the club). Names of coaches should be included on the entry form.

Awards:

• A minimum of first through fifth place awards shall be given for each gender and class for each race.
• First through fifth place overall awards shall be given for each gender and class and will be based on the total points accumulated for each run of both events.
• Scoring will be based on the New World Cup Points method, with each finisher awarded at least 1 point. In the case of a tie for the overall scores, the lowest combined finish placing will break the tie. If there is still a tie, the lowest combined race time will be used.

Rules Interpretation: The current U.S. Ski and Snowboard Alpine Competition Guide (ACR) shall govern resolution of rules and conflicts.