Minutes of the Northern Division USSA
held January 15, 2005,
at the Chamber of Commerce building,
Red Lodge, MT

Meeting called to order 7:15 pm.

Present:  Betty Anne Shores, Chad Pavlick, Caryn Jones, Rick Jacobs, Jen Stielow, JC Knaub, Susan Krueger, Fritz Wood, Eric Hamilton, Mike Megerth, Tammy Wolf, Jeff Pickering.

Old Business

• Season summary by JC Knaub.
• The minutes of the October 2004 meeting were distributed, and have been posted on the Northern Division website.  There were no comments concerning the minutes.
• Caryn collected membership dues from several teams.  BSF reminds the treasurer that they need to be sent a bill any time after September 1 in order to send out payments.

New Business

• Ski Team reports.
• Jeff Pickering reported on success of the Big Mtn J4-J6 Qualifier race.

Big Sky Downhill

• Caryn Jones:  Jeff Kai is planning on holding a wave track/jump camp during the training days and first race day at the Terrain park, prior to the Downhill.  Younger kids run first, then regular starts.  Monday skiing/training will be allowed.
• Payment must be made by the Tuesday athletes/coaches meeting, or the athlete will be sent home.

Showdown Super G

• Rick Jacobs reports that the snow is holding at Showdown for the SuperG speed training/racing series.

Red Lodge A-J3 Qualifier (current event)

• Athletes were observed skiing, not slipping, through the lower section of the race course during inspection.  Coaches need to remind their athletes they cannot ski in a race course during inspection.

Donation to Northern Division

• Erik Hamilton has received a pledge from Karl Tyler Chevy trucks for $10,000.  This needs to be used by the Northern Division, not a local team.  The money  is available for 05-06 season.  The Sponsor is interested in exposure through bibs, but any form of sponsorship that gives them wide exposure will be give serious consideration.  The problem with a ND traveling bib is that many teams already have their own sponsored bibs.  ND coats would give wide visibility.

Spring 05 Goals:

• Scheduling our kids in NCSSA and/or NCAA events.  Western Region and college races are set 1-2 yrs in advance.  Invite college reps to our meetings.  15-20 point racers are typical at these events.
• Discussion followed addressing the need for a balance between the needs of the YSL racers and Junior racers.  YSL kids need home races, and these races need to rotate around the Division equitably over a 2-3 year cycle.  The Junior level racers need events with the point profile of the college racers.
• Devo races need to remain at the Development level.  Concerns were raised over the presence of college-level racers at the Mammoth race, a developmental race. This race was initially intended for 1st and 2nd year Juniors [J2's].  With this race drawing elite racers, it pushes out younger racers.  A suggestion was made to try to create an all-J2 (ND) entry level (ENL) FIS with PNSA.  PNSA would include some low-point racers.  There are typically no college draws at their Devo FIS race.  Fritz Wood recommends that the ACC discuss ENL race issues.
• Teams are requested to please update the ND website contact information page by contacting Betty Ann Shores.  Use the 'webmaster' link to send this information to her.

Big Sky Downhill

• Since all athletes that stated an interest in attending the Big Sky DH were entered, Caryn Jones makes a motion to change the Big Sky SG and DH to the Northern Division's J1, J2 speed qualifier for Western Region National Championships.  Jeff Pickering seconds the motion.  The motion passes.  This race is now an alternative to the Bogus Basin Qualifier.  Bogus Basin still counts as a Super G start.
• Caryn will accept the registration of any kids that have a FIS provisional # so they can get into the Big Sky DH.  This is a one-time exception to the month-in-advance intent to compete.

Other

• Wink Jordan, at-large, is resigning from the ACC.  He will be replaced in the spring.

Spring meeting:

• Eric suggests that clubs arrive with a tentative schedule available and black-out dates, and the ND sets up the schedule earlier.
• Jeff Pickering notes that the NorAms don't finalize their schedule until December.
• The membership will consider moving the June meeting to an April meeting.

Submitted by  Susan Krueger