Nordic updates from the USSA & FIS Congress

Mon, Jun  13, 2011 - By USSA

At the USSA Congress in May, the Cross Country Sport Committee approved the following:

Adjust the USSA NRL points to match FIS points more accurately by taking the average of the:

1. Top 10 U.S. athletes differentials (difference between USSA & FIS points) for each list, to create a modifier for both distance points lists (men’s and women’s), and the
2. Top 5 U.S. athletes differentials to create a modifier for the sprint points lists.

The plan involves adjusting the USSA NRL points list annually at minimum (each summer), but it was the wish of the committee to adjust each points list throughout the season. 

A Technical Committee was named to oversee this process with the USSA Competition Services Dept annually: August Teague (Chair), Pat Cote, John Estle, Ernie Page and the USSA Nordic Director.

By the 4th USSA points list, athletes' overall points will be calculated by using a minimum of two (2) races from the current season of the total of 4 races used to calculate their overall points.  Currently an athlete could be ranked 1st place on the USSA NRL from races in late Jan, Feb and Mar of the previous season, and having not raced at all in the current season. This would aim to mitigate that scenario. It will be tested in 2012, with results to be reviewed at the 2012 USSA Congress.

If a foreign or U.S. athlete ends up in the penalty (top 5) in a FIS/USSA race and does not have points (Active, but no points) the USSA may use their last known FIS points to calculate the USSA (not FIS) penalty for the benefit of the USSA field. Only if the last known FIS points were from the current or previous season. As per the USSA Nordic Comp Guide (page 22), they are not permitted to receive any prize money.

Nordic Comp Guide clarification:
Use Regional USSA penalty minimums except for: USSA SuperTour/U.S. Championships/NCAA Championships/Birkie.

Added Guidelines for USSA SuperTour Finals that includes increasing the entry fee to be on par with U.S. Championships, no free lodging for USSA SuperTour Leaders or USST, free entry to Overall SuperTour leaders (4 + 4), USST (A & B), and some low point foreign athletes, and the events in principle should include the 30k/50k U.S. Championships, a Sprint, a 10/15k mass start & a Hill Climb pursuit start.  A prologue can be added if possible/desired.

Dropped the U23 Sprint brackets from the U.S. Championships sprint events. 

Junior World Championship Team Selection Criteria – Objective criteria modified to include results achieved at the NorAm Continental Cups being held in December 2011.

U23 Championship Team Selection Criteria - Objective criteria modified to include results achieved at the NorAm Continental Cups being held in December 2011, and to lower the women's FIS point result from 60 to 55.

Approved moving towards a permanent coaches' bib system, whereby licensed and certified USSA (Level 100 or above) coaches are issued a bib with a number that corresponds with their USSA license.  This bib will afford the coach all coaches’ privileges at Junior Nationals, U.S. Championships and USSA SuperTour Finals.  Coaches will be required to bring their bibs to these events, the Bibs are non-transferrable, and one day bibs will be available for rental for licensed, non-certified coaches from the OC at these events.

Ski exchanges will be allowed during the 30/50K U.S. Championships. Limit to one change per athlete in the 30k and 2 changes per athlete in a 50k in exchange boxes to be provided by the OC.

Junior National Championship rule changes/updates:

• Agreed to move JN's 2013 back one week to March 11-16 as per Fairbanks OC request;
• Approved the use of a Sprint Relay at JN's of +/-1.5k to replace the distance relay (same 3 person design and AK pts) when venue is considered suitable to host;
• Approved the change of the J1 Mass start distance at JN's to 10k (from 15k);
• Approved changing the seeding of the JN distance races by USSA Distance pts (not overall);
• Approved the removal of rule 83.3.10 from the JN rules.

2014 Junior National Championships provisional bid has gone to Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT.  Progress towards preparations will be reviewed at the 2012 USSA Congress to confirm the selection.

The Assistant TD will receive room, meal reimbursement, and travel expenses for USSA SuperTour events.

Approved the Trail Homologation Procedures for USSA document Download here

To allow for a limited number of USSA SuperTour events that are not scored to FIS when there is a strategic purpose for being at the site. 2012: West Yellowstone (distance race), Owl Creek Chase, Birkie

National event calendar draft can be downloaded below, and will be updated asap at: http://www.ussa.org/magnoliaPublic/ussa/en/sports/crosscountry/events.html