• Selections for WR Champs will be announced shortly after the Bridger qualifers. (with ACC approval)  There will not be a lot of time between those qualifiers and the Championships in Schweitzer.  Sherri will try to have a price estimate out prior to the team announcement.
• A $1000 scholarship is being awarded by Ski Racing Development (SRD) and World Cup Supply (WCS).  The 2nd Annual “Fast Skier” Junior Alpine Scholarship Fund provides monetary assistance to a deserving junior alpine ski racer who exhibits the personal characteristics required for success both on and off the hill.  This scholarship will be awarded in May and will recognize dedication, talent, integrity, and a passion for ski racing.  The application deadline is March 31, 2010.  To apply, download the application form here.
• Information on the Snow King Tech Elite series has been posted.  Registration and payment is due by January 30.  We are still waiting on word from Western Region on some athletes.  If listed as an alternate, please wait for word that you have been added from your coach or Sherri Hale.  Some names may not even show up on this alternate list.  (J2's primarily)  College athletes are responsible for their own lodging, etc. and payment of all entry and lift fees.
• The Gold Point Leaders list for the Jim Barrier Cup has been posted.
• ONCE AGAIN:  Helmets with soft ear protection are only allowed in Slalom and all forerunners must wear helmets as well.  Several racers showed up at the YSL apparently unaware of this, in spite of this notice having been posted back in NOVEMBER!  Attached is the exact wording for helmet use from the Fall update.  TD's and start referees should be well informed of this as well.  Please spread the word to your athletes and personnel.

807 Crash Helmet -- All competitors and forerunners are obliged to wear a crash helmet that conforms to the competition equipment specifications.  This is valid for the official training as well as for the race.  Helmets used in FIS Snowsports must be specifically designed and manufactured for the particular event and must bear a CE mark and conform to recognized and appropriate standards such as CEE 1077 or US 2040, ASTM F2040, SNELL S98 or RS98, etc.  Soft ear protection is only allowed in Slalom.

• A nice graphic showing the ins and outs of gate judging for single pole slalom has been posted.
• The Whitefish SL race that was canceled due to weather has been moved to Bridger.  See the schedule for changes.
• More Coaching News:  Coaches can receive continuing education credit by becoming certified in the next level of coaching, or simply by participating in an on-snow clinic.  In the Western Region, there are clinics offered as follows:

Level 200 Combined	Diamond Peak	Feb. 20-24
Level 300 Speed	Mt. Bachelor	April 16-17

For any questions on any level of certification or for further information on coaches clinics, please contact USSA Sport Education at education@ussa.org or call 435.647.2050.

• Coaches:  USSA Education will be offering speed event-specific coach training for advanced coaches through the new Level 300 Speed Technique and Tactics on-snow clinic series.  These 2-day clinics are all held in true speed environments for hands-on training and assessment that coaches can apply directly to their own teaching of speed.  Coaches will learn proper technique and progressions for jumping, terrain adaptation, gliding and aerodynamics, stance and balance, carving and transitions, and tactics.  In most clinics, coaches will interact with upper level athletes in a speed environment, guided by top instructors, creating a forum for relevant and valuable discussions about coaching juniors and relating it to the techniques of the world's best speed skiers.  The curriculum is developed from the newly released USSA Speed Technique and Tactics DVD set, available at the USSA Education Shop.  Any Level 200 certified coach, and any coach who achieved Regional, National, or International status under the previous system is encouraged to participate in these clinics.  For coaches who already have a Level 300 designation, this clinic satisfies your continuing education requirement, and it is a great opportunity to gain some excellent new information and help reinforce your speed coaching.  Advanced coaches looking to update their slalom coaching skills should also check out the Level 300 Slalom Technique and Tactics clinic series.  This clinic also is held over two days and features hands-on instruction with upper level athletes as demonstrators, giving participants practical information and feedback that can be applied to coaching juniors at all levels and a better knowledge of cutting-edge slalom evolutions at the elite level.  For the full schedule of Level 300 clinics, go to www.ussa.org > members > coaches > clinics/seminars.  (Note: the Level 300 Giant Slalom Technique & Tactics clinic series is scheduled to debut in the 2010/2011 ski season.)  For any questions about the Level 300 series coach clinics, please contact USSA Sport Education at education@ussa.org or call 435-647-2050.
• Intents for February races were due January 1, including Soldier Mountain.  Quotas are 4 men and four women for Tech Elite races.  Devo quotas will be 10 men and 10 women.  "Automatics" will NOT be included in the Speed Devo races unless they are submitted to Lester as possible pacesetters.  Autos WILL be part of the other Devo races, including the Open series.  Selection procedures will be in the Handbook.  Here is the Intent form to be used this season.  For regional races (NorAms, FISU's, Canadian FIS, Out of Region FIS, etc.) send the form to Lester and Stacy Brown, copying Roger Bay and Sherri Hale.  All other races, just send to Sherri and Roger.  Roger and Sherri also get out of division USSA intents and FIS series IN OUR REGION.  Do not combine the two different sets of races, copying everyone!  A sample intent form is here for those who have questions.  It is okay to list men and women on one page.
• The new Northern Division Handbook is available.
• TD assignments for the races have been posted.  Please do not make changes without going through Sherri Hale.
• Design Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Helmet.  Info here.
• The Points List Dates for the coming season have been posted.
• The USSA Alpine Competition Guide is now available online.
• Mammoth will be hosting some Fall training opportunities in SL and GS.   And, great news, Horizon has started offering flights into Mammoth, ending that horrendous drive!
• Northern now has a Facebook page.  Check it out!  
• RACE OFFICIAL CREDENTIALS.   Clubs and Coaches are asked to compare this spreadsheet from Spud to the USSA records of officials' certifications to identify where there are differences in the list of whose credentials are current and who needs to be re-certified.  It is suggested that you pull the records for Northern both 2009 and 2010 from the USSA site when doing your search as many have not yet renewed for this season.  Spud had apparently sent in some information to USSA that have not processed yet and Sherri would like to get this all straightened out before the season begins.  She would like a representative from each club to sit down with her after the Fall meeting at Right Now to go over the discrepancies.   So, please do some homework before the meeting and find out if your club officials plan to stay active and if their credential information is correct.   New this year is a test for Chief of Course.   In addition, Timing and Race Administrators need to go through updates every two years like other officials for their credentials to stay current.   Update sessions are shorter and they will not have to be re-tested unless they miss getting their update.  
• The USSA Summer update is available here.
• Information on the physical assessments for athletes on the Regional team has been 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. Safari and Chrome do not seem to be having any issues with the site.  If you find any, let me know.  I wish I could say I have fixed this problem, it is something wrong with the Java code being generated by the program which creates the menus.  
• 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.
• 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 - 2010

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.

Northern ACC Chairman Roger Bay Bridger Ski Foundation 406-581-6480 acc-chair@northernussa.org	Northern Division President Rick Duncan 810 West River Rd Deer Lodge, MT 59722 406-846-9631 (H) 406-846-2757, ext. 26 (W) 406-560-5021 (C) pres@northernussa.org
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