*Rule or information change for 2008

Michigan Cup Basics

1. What is the Michigan Cup Series?
2. How many races are in the the Series?
3. Does the Michigan Cup put on races?
4. Who are the Michigan Cup teams?
5. Do I have to join a team?
6. How does an individual register for the Michigan Cup?
7. How does a team register for the Michigan Cup?
8. What's the deadline for joining the Michigan Cup?

Scoring Points

1. How do individuals get Michigan Cup Points?
2. How do teams get Michigan Cup Points?
3. *How are Team Time Trial points scored?
4. How is the Michigan Cup Relay Race scored?
5. How many races do I have to do?
6. What are the age classes?
7. What can I win?
8. What happens if a race is cancelled?
9. Do races ever get rescheduled?

Michigan Cup Race Rules

1. What  the difference between classic & freestyle races?
2. What happens if someone skates in a classic race?

Related Race Series

1. What's the Great Lakes Marathon Series?
2. What's CXC, GLD, JO, and JOQ?

Michigan Cup Basics

1. What is the Michigan Cup Series?
   Organized by the racing clubs of Michigan, the Michigan Cup is a series of Michigan races selected on quality, location, scheduling, race technique (classic or freestyle), race length, and start type (interval and mass). The Series is supported by the numerous cross country ski racing clubs and teams in the state of Michigan and Ohio. Racers can compete individually, in age groups, and in team competitions. All ages and abilities are welcome. The season takes place from December through March.
   
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2. How many races are in the Series?
   Twenty or more races are generally scheduled as part of the Michigan Cup each year.
   
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3. Does the Michigan Cup put on races?
   No. The Michigan Cup Series does not put on or sponsor races. Generally, resorts, individual member ski teams, ski shops, or other organizations put on the event. The Michigan Cup tabulates the results from those races to determine Michigan Cup scores.
   
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4. Who are the Michigan Cup teams?
   There are eight teams currently active in the Michigan Cup:

• Cross Country Ski Headquarters
• Cross Country Ski Shop
• Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team
• Straits Striders
• Team NordicSkiRacer.com
• Traverse Nordic Ski Club
• White Line Racing
• Ohio Nordic Ski Team

Members of other clubs or teams also participate in the Michigan Cup races. Additional information about each team - including contact information - can be found on the "Club and Team" page.

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5. Do I have to join a team?
   No, but it's highly recommended. Part of the fun of the Michigan Cup is team camaraderie. A list of teams is found on the "Club and Team" page.
   
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6. How does an individual register for the Michigan Cup?
   If you're part of a team, your team generally registers you for the Michigan cup. If you are an independent, the Michigan Cup is open to any Michigan resident and any non-resident who notifies the Committee of their desire to participate and sends $6, plus their name, address and age as of December 31 to:
     Michigan Cup Committee
   11029 Crooked Lake Road
   Rockford MI 49341

   Registrations and payment must be postmarked no later than January 31!

   Registered skiers will receive a copy of the Michigan Cup results during the summer following the race season.
   
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7. How does a team register for the Michigan Cup?
   Teams should send their largely-complete team roster and payment by December 31. This allows us to get a jump start on scoring races. Additional skiers may be added until the end of January. A list of all additional skiers and payment must be postmarked no later than January 31. The fee is $6 per skier. Members may be any Michigan resident or non-resident.

   Send $6 per member, plus their name, address and age as of December 31 to:

   Michigan Cup Committee
   11029 Crooked Lake Road
   Rockford MI 49341

   Also send your early and final team roster to the official Michigan Cup points keeper:

   Ken Dawson
   32479 Dohony
   Farmington Hills, MI 48336

   Final registrations and payment must be postmarked no later than January 31!

   Each registered skier on a team will receive a copy of the Michigan Cup results during the summer following the race season.

    

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8. What's the deadline for joining the Michigan Cup?
   Registrations and payment must be postmarked no later than January 31!
   
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Scoring Points

1. How do individuals get Michigan Cup Points?
   Michigan Cup points are earned by skiing in the Michigan Cup designated races. Scoring is as follows:

The scoring system starts at 200 points each for the overall winners in the Men's, Women's, and Junior classes. All Senior and Master racers are combined on one scoring scale with no separate system for age classes.

Because the great majority of competitors are Senior and Master Men, the scoring starts at 200 points for first, then drops by one point for each subsequent place, i.e., 199 for second, 198 for third, all the way down to 1 point for 200th place.

In the Women's classes, the scoring drops by 4 points for each subsequent place, i.e., 200 for first, 196 for second, down to 4 points for 51st place.

In the Juniors' classes, the scoring drops by 5 points for each subsequent place, i.e., 200 for first, 195 for second, down to 5 points for 40th place.

Each skier's points are totaled for their 5 best races to determine their final overall ranking. Rankings are determined as follows:

Individual: The skier's best 5 race scores are added to determine their Michigan Cup Ranking. This ranking determines a skier's overall and age group placing in the Michigan Cup Series. Pins are awarded based on these rankings.

Classical, Freestyle and Combined:

• Classical Rankings are determined by a skier's best three classical races.

• Freestyle Rankings are determined by a skier's best four freestyle races.

• Combined Rankings are determined by a skier's best classical, freestyle and marathon race.

Marathons are the designated age group race at the Noquemanon,  White Pine Stampede and Vasa. Marathons count only as "marathons," not classical or freestyle categories. There are no awards in Classical, Freestyle, or Combined ranking. Final results are distributed to the clubs, posted on the website and mailed to registered Michigan Cup racers.

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2. How do teams get Michigan Cup Points?
   Team rankings are determined as follows: The ranking scores of a team's top 38 skiers in any age class are first added to determine team rankings. An additional 1 point is awarded for each race entered, up to 5 points per racer, for the remaining, non-top 38 skiers on a team.

In addition, all points earned by the team in the Michigan Cup Relay Race are added to the total team points.

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3. How are Team Time Trial points scored?
   Only team points are awarded for the Team Time Trial - there are no individual points. The top team in each division (Men, Women, and Co-Ed)each receive 200 points. The other teams receive points based on how many teams are in the category. for example, if there are 10 teams, the second place finishers would receive 200-(200/number of teams) or 180 points. Third would get 160 points, etc.
   
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4. How is the Michigan Cup Relay Race scored?
   Relay teams consist of three skiers skiing one classical leg (1st) and two freestyle legs (2nd and 3rd). Relays count for team points only. There will be no individual points awarded for skiers participating on relay teams.

There are three gender categories for relay teams - Men, Women and Coed. Coed teams must include at least one women and one man.

There are four age groups for relay teams, determined by the total age of all three participants on the relay team: 0-59, 60-119, 120-164, and 165 & over.

Thus there are twelve divisions in which relay teams can be entered - Men 59 and Under, Men 60-119, Men 120 - 164, Men 165& Over, and so on - as shown below:

Twelve Relay Divisions: Add the ages of the team members to determine division
Men	Women	Coed
59 and Under	59 and Under	59 and Under
60-119	60-119	60-119
120-164	120-164	120-164
165 and Over	165 and Over	165 and Over

Scoring begins with 400 points for first place in each of the nine relay divisions. Scoring for subsequent places will take place by the following formula: The number of teams in that division will be divided into 500 giving the number of points that each subsequent place will receive. For example: a division with two teams will be scored (400/2 = 200), 1st = 400, 2nd = 200. A division with 20 teams will be scored (400/20 = 20), 1st = 400, 2nd = 480, 20th = 20.

Where fractions occur the number will be to rounded up if the decimal is 0.50 or higher and down is the decimal is below 0.50. for example 49.57 would be 50 and 49.49995 would be 49. There may be a small discrepancy in the number of points for last place based on removing the decimal. 

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4. How many races do I have to do?
   As few or as many as you want. To get maximum points, you must do at least five races, since your best five races count for your overall ranking.
   
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5. What are the age classes?
   Men and Women's age classes consist of:

• Juniors: 13-19 years;

• Seniors: 20-29 and 30-39;

• Masters: 40-49 and 50-59;

• Super Masters: 60-69, 70-79, 80 & over.

Age classes are determined by your age on Dec. 31.

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6. What can I win?
   The top 100 skiers will receive the coveted Michigan Cup pin, which are apportioned to each class based on the number of skiers in each class in the final standings. For example, if 10% of the skiers are in the Men's 20-29 age class, then the top ten (10% of 100 pins) in that class will get pins. 

Top three places in each class will also receive a Michigan Cup medal. 

The overall Men's and Women's winners receive the traditional cup signifying a state championship. 

The winning team or club is presented with the coveted traveling silver trophy called "The Michigan Cup."

Category	Award
Top 100 Skiers Based on Age Class (Top 10% of each age classes)	Pin
Age Group: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Places	Medal
Overall Winner	Silver Mug
Winning Team	Traveling Michigan Cup
Most Total Points Earned in a Season for M/W Senior Classes	Medal

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7. What happens if a race is cancelled?
   If cancellations occur, then the maximum number of races counted may drop. If possible a cancelled race will be moved to a site with snow or rescheduled for later in the season.
   
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8. Do races ever get rescheduled?
   Yes! It is not uncommon for a Michigan Cup race to be postponed to an alternative date because of  poor weather or snow conditions. The race organizer calling the Michigan Cup Committee first (at 616-691-7437) will receive their choice of an open make-up date. Races moved to dates other than the the officially allowed make-up dates will not count for points.
   
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Michigan Cup Race Rules

1. What the difference between classic & freestyle races?
   Classic races limit the ski techniques to traditional, pre-skating techniques as defined by FIS Rule 314.1.1. Freestyle races allow you to use any ski technique, classic or skating.
   
   Extensive details about skating and classic race rules can be found in Classic Skiing Technique Rules.
   
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2. What happens if someone skates in a classic race?
   Skiers caught skating in Michigan Cup classic race will be disqualified from the race. As this is a recreational race series for the benefit of all, skiers that do use skate technique in a classical race are asked to disqualify themselves by notifying the race organizers.
   
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Related Race Series

1. What's the Great Lakes Marathon Series?
   The Great Lakes Marathon Series is a series of  marathons, two in the upper peninsula, two in the lower peninsula, sponsored by the Michigan Cup Series. Skiers completing 3 of the 4 marathon distances receive a gold pin. Skiers completing any combination of 3 long and short distances receive a silver pin. Look for a Great Lakes Marathon Series Log Sheet in your race packet.  
   
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2. What are CXC, GLD, JO, and JOQ?
   CXC stands for "Central Cross Country" and is the designated body for the development of cross country skiers in the 10-state Central Region of the United States. CXC Skiing is part of the "United States Ski and Snowboard Association" (USSA) and is the Midwest pipeline to the US Ski Team.

   CXC is divided into Midwest (MW: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota & Wisconsin) and Great Lakes ( GLD: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan & Ohio) Divisions. Each Division sponsors a series a junior races each year (Junior Olympic Qualifiers or JOQ). Results from the races are used to select members for each Division's Junior Olympic (JO) Team. The Junior Olympic Team gets to compete in the spring Junior Olympics. Skiers must be ages 13-19 to compete in the Junior Olympics.

   Several of the Junior Olympic Qualifier races are also Michigan Cup races.

   Nick Biac in Boyne City is Head Coach for the GLD. For more information, contact Nick at 231-535-2718 or baicn@freeway.net. More information on the GLD can also be found at http://www.cxcskiing.org/great_lakes_division.htm.
    
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