• A DRAFT of next season's race schedule in Excel format is available.  This is a very early draft version only!
• Information on the physical assessments for athletes on the Regional team has been posted.  Jarod Roberts will be conducting testing in Missoula at the new Toby Chapman athletic training center on June 17th.  Email Jarod for details if you are interested.  
• In addition to the Northern Division Summer Race Camp at Red Lodge, there is also another camp being offered at a later date at Red Lodge.  Information about that camp is here.  See the full brochure for complete information on this camp.
• The USSA is now accepting registrations for the 2009-10 season.  The early alpine FIS registration deadline is May 31, 2009.  This deadline applies to all alpine athletes who wish to make the first FIS list and athletes who are competing in the Southern Hemisphere this summer.  The USSA encourages alpine athletes to renew early to ensure that you make the first FIS list.
• The Red Lodge Summer Race Camp info has been posted.  The registration and release forms are there as well.  Deposit and paperwork is due May 15.
• A picture of the racers competing at the J3 JO's/J4 Festival has been posted.  Thanks to Jeremy Ueland for providing all the names!
• The season's awards are now complete and posted.
• The latest version of Internet Explorer is causing problems for the menuing system.   Go to the Site Map to navigate the site if you are having issues.   OR, DON'T UPGRADE to version 8!   I had to go into Add or Remove Programs and find Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 and remove it.  Removing it restored version 7.  Fortunately, Firefox is now working with the calendar!  By the way, with IE 8 on my PC, even Firefox wasn't working although another PC with IE7 had no problems.
• MISSING SKIS.  The wrong pair of skis was taken at the Big Sky YSL Championships.  The missing skis are Blizzard slalom skis, 146 cm, with Marker bindings with a DIN of 12.  The skis left behind are Blizzard slalom skis, also146 cm, with Marker bindings with a DIN of 10.  The racer missing the skis has the skis that were left behind.  Please contact Libby Kasmer (cooperkasmer@theglobal.net)if you've got her skis.  
• The season list of TD's is now posted in the Race Info section.
• NOTE:  Unless you happen to read the minutes of our meetings or the Northern Division Comp Guide, you might not know that new travel policies and race entry refund rules were approved at the Fall Meeting:
  • We have officially adopted the Western Region Travel Policy as our own.  All fees associated with participation in divisionally-conducted training and/or Northern Division competition projects are due prior to the start (travel day if applicable) of the project in the divisional office.  No services will be rendered to athletes who have not made payment prior to the beginning of any project.  Applicable fees are announced at the time of the selection list or quota is announced.  
  • If an athlete chooses not to participate in team lodging, then that athlete must notify the divisional manager at the time that selections are announced and confirmation is made.
  • Athletes not in good standing with Northern as of travel day of all divisional quota events are subject to immediate sanctioning.   Good standing is defined as current USSA and Northern Division membership and no outstanding debts owed the division.
  • Refunds will be granted for withdrawal from projects or competition trips or for partial attendance for injury, illness or family emergency on the following schedule:
    • 100% -- 14 days prior to the first day of the project (includes travel day)
    • 75% -- 7 days prior to the first day of the project
    • 50% -- 0 to 6 days prior to the first day of the project
    • $? -- Recoverable costs only after the beginning of the project.
    • Also, with regard to Northern Division race entries, entry fees will only be refundable (except in the case of injury, illness, or family emergency) if the athlete is pulled from the Northern event by 5 p.m. the previous day.  
  • One other important note:  Only athletes who have all forms (medical release, code of conduct, and financial agreement) turned in to the divisional office will appear on any selection board.  This includes JO boards.  Reminder:  these are due to Sherri Hale at the address below by December 1st.
• Parents are urged to review the USSA rules updates, including the latest equipment rules.
• There have been changes to the alpine equipment rules.  Here is a chart showing those changes.   When you buy new equipment, please refer to this guide.  
• Information on quotas for National and International races is here, along with information on restrictions and procedures for foreign athletes.
• Policy reminder:  Under-18 athletes cannot ride in the vehicles driven by other athletes.  Athlete drivers turn in their car keys to the head coach when they arrive at an event.  Only written parental consent may override this policy.
• Teams providing "comps" to selected racers will need to send in the Division Head Tax form, located here.

2009 - 2010 USSA Deadlines and Form

It's time to get your racing license for next season!  To compete in a USSA Sanctioned Event, an athlete must be a member of USSA.  This year you can apply for your license ONLINE.  Membership information can also be sent by mail by downloading the application form and mailing it to:

Attn: USSA Member Services
Box 100
Park City, UT 84060

Or via facsimile to:

Attn: USSA Member Services
Fax: 435-647-2052

Please note completed applications will only be processed with proper payment.  USSA accepts Visa, Mastercard, personal and cashiers checks.  The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association prefers Visa.

The deadline to be included on the first alpine FIS points lists is May 31st.  To assure that your membership is processed for inclusion on any list, your membership materials must be received by USSA at least seven days prior to the closing date for that list.  Registrations are not considered received until they are complete.  It is the athlete's responsibility to ensure that his or her USSA and/or FIS membership registration is received.  You can contact USSA member services (435-647-2666) to check the status of your application.  Click here for the USSA registration form.  Remember to include your Northern Division fees.

Please note:  USSA and FIS points are not continually being updated they are recalculated for each new list.  For more information on how points are calculated, see chapter 3 of your USSA Alpine Competition Guide.

FIS License Applications

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association alpine competitors registering for FIS who have not sent in their FIS registration by August 15, 2009 will have to pay $150.  To complete registration USSA must have a completed USSA Alpine Competitor application or renewal form, a completed FIS declaration and payment for USSA, FIS and any other applicable division or state dues.  This year, you can register online.  Or click here to go and download the Adobe registration application.

The FIS and USSA hardcopy forms require the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free here.

Northern Division Handbook 2009

Download this useful guide to racing rules for the Northern Division.  

Payment

Payments for racing fees can be made to the following.  If you are using credit card payment, please note that we only accept American Express, Visa, and MasterCard.

Sherri Hale


Northern Division USSA Manager
P.O. Box 217
Whitefish, MT  59937
(Home) 406-863-9350
(FAX) 406-863-9350
(Cell) (406) 871-7429
nodivmanager@northernussa.org

Northern ACC Chairman Roger Bay Bridger Ski Foundation 406-581-6480 acc-chair@northernussa.org	Northern Division President Craig Krueger P.O. Box 1135 119 Lakeside Blvd. Whitefish, MT 59937 406-862-7781 pres@northernussa.org
Join our mailing list to learn more about upcoming events and racing results from the Northern Division USSA! Contact Sherri Hale to get on the E-mail list.