2026 Alpine Competition Guide

Sharka Fabian | Member Service Representative 435.647.2099 sharka.fabian@ Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Anders Johnson | Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Program Director 435.640.8419 anders.johnson@ Snowboard and Freeski Rick Bower | Snowboard Program Director rick.bower@ Skogen Sprang | Freeski Program Director skogen.sprang@ Ashley Deibold | Sport Development Director 970.846.4906 ashley.deibold@ Sport Education David McCann | Director Sport Education david.mccann@ Anna Hosmer | Sport Education Coordinator 435.647.2050 anna.hosmer@ Julie Glusker | Club Development Manager julie.glusker@ Spencer Dirats | Sport Education Administrative Assistant spencer.dirats Sport Science Gillian Bower | Sr. V.P. of High Performance 435.647.2619 gillian.bower@ 6 ALPINE FIELD CONTACTS Field contacts are the closest service point for members. Contact them for information on alpine programs. Email addresses are a combination of first name dot last name followed by @usskiandsnowboard.org - e.g. first.last@usskiandsnowboard.org National Chip Knight | Alpine Development Director 435.531.6325 chip.knight@ Eastern Region usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/regions-divisions/eastern-alpine-region Martin Guyer | Regional Director 435.962.3204 martin.guyer@ Spencer Hess | Regional Manager 435.962.4854 spencer.hess@ Roger Kimball | Women’s Regional Coach 435.962.2672 roger.kimball@ Daniel Sanz | Men’s Regional Coach 435.919.2501 daniel.sanz@ Rocky/Central Region usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/regions-divisions/rocky-central-alpine-region Darlene Nolting | Regional Director 435.640.8510 darlene.nolting@ Ali Holum | Regional Manager 435.938.2657 ali.holum@ Patrick Mich | Central Divisional Manager 435.602.2614 patrick.mich@ Pat Duran | Women’s Regional Coach 970.343.2586 pat.duran@ Matt Underhill | Men’s Regional Coach 435.714.9656 matt.underhill@ Western Region usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/regions-divisions/western-alpine-region Bill Gunesch | Regional Director 435.602.2759 bill.gunesch@ Ali Holum | Regional Manager 435.938.2657 ali.holum@ Seth McCadam | Women’s Regional Coach 541.944.8827 seth.mccadam@ Brad Saxe | Men’s Regional Coach 541.645.5641 bradford.saxe@ Randy Pelkey | PG Regional Coach 541.490.1270 randy.pelkey@ Jeff Pickering | Youth Regional Coach 435.602.2866 jeff.pickering@ ALPINE IMPORTANT DATES April 15 Deadline for injury protection application (no exceptions are possible) July 1 - June 30 U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership season Aug. 15 FIS registration - late fee applies after this date Oct. 15 U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership renewal - late fee applies after this date Nov. 30 Schedule agreements due - late fee applies after this date 7 2025-26 Alpine Points List Schedule List Close Valid 1 FIS only 30 June 3 July 1 U.S. Ski & Snowboard (NAT) only 15 July 15 July 2 Both FIS and NAT 13 July 17 July 3 Both FIS and NAT 27 July 31 July 4 Both FIS and NAT 10 Aug. 14 Aug. 5 Both FIS and NAT 24 Aug. 28 Aug. 6 Both FIS and NAT 7 Sept. 11 Sept. 7 Both FIS and NAT 21 Sept. 25 Sept. 8 Both FIS and NAT 5 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Both FIS and NAT 19 Oct. 23 Oct. 10 Both FIS and NAT 2 Nov. 6 Nov. 11 Both FIS and NAT 16 Nov. 20 Nov. 12 Both FIS and NAT 30 Nov. 4 Dec. 13 Both FIS and NAT 14 Dec. 18 Dec. 14 Both FIS and NAT 28 Dec. 1 Jan. 15 Both FIS and NAT 11 Jan. 15 Jan. 16 Both FIS and NAT 25 Jan. 29 Jan. 17 Both FIS and NAT 1 Feb. 5 Feb. 18 Both FIS and NAT 22 Feb. 26 Feb. 19 Both FIS and NAT 8 Mar. 12 Mar. 20 Both FIS and NAT 22 Mar. 26 Mar. 21 Both FIS and NAT 5 Apr. 9 Apr. 22 Both FIS and NAT 19 Apr. 23 Apr. 23 NAT only 1 June 1 June Lists close on a Sunday and are valid the following Thursday. For FIS, to have results included on the next list, they must be processed and validated by Monday evening after the closing so the list can be run Tuesday in Europe. For U.S. Ski & Snowboard, to have results included on the next list, they must be processed by Tuesday at noon MST after the closing. Late results will be published to the next valid list after they are processed and validated. Results should be submitted within 24 hours after the completion of the event to allow time for processing and corrections if necessary. Important information on list dates and registrations To assure that your membership is processed before any list, membership materials must be received by U.S. Ski & Snowboard at least seven days prior to any closing date. Registrations are not considered received until they are complete. Be sure to allow time to complete background screening, SafeSport education, and avalanche education. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is not responsible for late, lost or misdirected mail. It is the athlete’s responsibility to ensure that his or her U.S. Ski & Snowboard and/or FIS membership/registration is received; contact member service to check the status of your application 435.647.2666 or membership@usskiandsnowboard.org. Athletes 16 years and older (by competition season age), with a valid competitor membership, may register for FIS at any time during the season. Athletes will appear on the next FIS list after their registration is processed. Athletes must maintain membership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and with FIS as applicable, to maintain points, even when not competing due to injury or other reasons. 8 Thank You to our Suppliers and Licensees for supporting the athletes of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Atomic Auclair Dalbello DJO Global Dynastar Fischer Giro Global Rescue Head Hestra HKD Snowmakers ID One Khombu Knockaround Lange Leitner-Poma Look Madshus Marker Nordica Outdoor Master POC Prinoth Rayus Reusch Rossignol Salomon SKIDA SkyTechSport SMITH Stockli Sweet Protection Swix Toko Völkl Wildhorn Wintersteiger World Cup Supply 9 CHAPTER 1 GETTING STARTED 10 U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic national governing body for ski and snowboard sports in the USA, providing leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. Thank you for your participation in U.S. Ski & Snowboard programs. These athletic programs in alpine, cross country, freestyle, ski jumping, nordic combined, snowboarding and freeskiing provide opportunities for athletes to develop skiing or snowboarding skills in a competitive and educational environment, from grassroots club programs up through national teams and the Olympics. This competition guide is a roadmap for various programs, rules and rankings. U.S. Ski & Snowboard clubs include approximately 350 professional coaching outlets for athletes and logistical support for competitions. These clubs, with both professional staff and volunteers, comprised of nearly 39,000 U.S. Ski & Snowboard members, are the foundation of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, supporting individual athletes and managing most of the organization’s domestic competitions. Annually more than 3,100 domestic competitions with more than 171,000 athlete starts are held across the U.S., thanks to the incredible efforts of our resort partners, clubs, officials and volunteers. Services provided by U.S. Ski & Snowboard are based around the three “R’s”: rules, races and rankings. Rules are established to ensure a consistent and fair playing field for all athletes. Races, or competitions, are the backbone of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s programs, providing competitive opportunities for athletes. Rankings are a means of evaluating performance in competitions to determine advancement along the athlete development pipeline, or to assist in determining start positions in specific competitions. U.S. Ski & Snowboard provides educational resources to key constituent groups through the USANA Center of Excellence, the organization’s national training and education facility. Education is provided to athletes, parents, officials, coaches and clubs in areas such as sport technique, fitness and exercise, sport science and sports medicine. U.S. Ski & Snowboard also partners with both the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. Center for SafeSport on education related to athlete safety. U.S. Ski & Snowboard regions and divisions are volunteer-run programs which implement programs within small, multi-state geographic areas, including scheduling of divisional competitions, selection of divisional teams and training of competition officials. Athletic Advancement Now that you are a U.S. Ski & Snowboard member, you have access to compete in sports in your home area, regionally and nationally. The following are steps you can take to make the most out of your competitive experience. Join a Club - Linking up with a club will allow you access to the best professional coaching and logistical support. A complete club directory is available at usskiandsnowboard.org/public-tools. Compete - Pick the proper competition programs for your age and ability. Contact the event organizer or your local club for entry information. U.S. Ski & Snowboard programs offer both introductory non-scored events for youth athletes to promote skill development and fun, and scored competitions to improve ranking. Ranking - Compete in U.S. Ski & Snowboard scored competitions to gain a ranking, which will be used for advancement up the athlete development pipeline. You can monitor your ranking at usskiandsnowboard.org/public-tools/ranking. FIS Competition - As you advance up the pipeline with your U.S. Ski & Snowboard ranking, you may be eligible for ranking on the International Ski Federation (FIS) ranking list. Check 11 with your club coach or divisional contact for more information. FIS registration is managed through U.S. Ski & Snowboard. You can monitor your FIS ranking and register for some USA FIS events at usskiandsnowboard.org. Team Selection - As you continue to advance, your ranking may qualify you for a regional or divisional team. This includes the Junior Championships, U.S. Championships and all the way up to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. Each U.S. Ski & Snowboard sport has a specific development pipeline (usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/pipeline) with defined action tips designed to educate athletes in every age group as they progress in their sport. Find More Information As you continue competitive skiing or snowboarding, you might have questions along the way. The following are helpful resources to guide you on your path to success. Website - usskiandsnowboard.org is the best source of member information. Here you will find contact information, criteria and advancement protocol on your sport as well as the latest in national news from your sport. You can also search the Knowledge Base at usskiandsnowboard.org/membership for answers to many of our member’s most common questions. Competition Guide - This handbook is a guide for athletes, parents, coaches and officials that provides a roadmap to U.S. Ski & Snowboard programs, including information on rules and rankings for your sport. Local Club - Clubs are the heart of the sport. These organizations have the background and knowledge to help answer most of your questions. Check your local club for information on schedules and qualifying procedures within your division. Regional/Divisional Contact - Each region and division for your sport has a contact person who can help you answer questions. Contact information appears in the front of this competition guide and at usskiandsnowboard.org. National Office - Every sport has full-time support staff in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s national office in Park City, Utah. Contact the office at 435.647.2666 with national membership or ranking questions. For a quicker response, please send an email to the contact links found at usskiandsnowboard.org. Alpine Memberships U.S. Ski & Snowboard offers a variety of membership opportunities depending on your area of interest. You can join online at usskiandsnowboard.org/public-tools. You will be issued a U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership number immediately following membership registration. FIS membership may take up to one week. Keep in mind that most adult memberships are placed on pending status until all requirements have been completed. Those requirements include periodic background screening and annual SafeSport training. Those turning 18 within the season will also be required to complete membership requirements prior to their membership being activated. Screening and SafeSport training are not required for short term members and alpine masters who are not in regular contact with minor athletes. Alpine General Non-Competitor (17 & under) $41 - (Does not include access to U.S. Ski & Snowboard points list) The General membership is designed for an individual at the club level who is a non-U.S. Ski & Snowboard competitor participating in activities such as training, Buddy Werner, high school competition, community events and forerunning U.S. Ski & Snowboard and non-U.S. Ski & Snowboard events. *If any of the events listed above are sanctioned by U.S. Ski & Snowboard then a competitor or short-term membership is required - with the exception of forerunning. Alpine Non-Scored Athlete (14-24) $103 - (Does not include access to U.S. Ski & 12 Snowboard points list) Provides access to all levels of U.S. Ski & Snowboard scored and non-scored competitions at the local, divisional, regional and national level. However, as the name implies, it does not include access to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard points list. Non-Scored Athlete members who are 18-24 may participate in Alpine Master’s events, excluding regional and national championship events where they must possess an Alpine Master’s membership. Alpine Competitor - The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Competitor membership provides access to all levels of U.S. Ski & Snowboard scored and non-scored competitions at the local, divisional, regional and national level. Competitor memberships include scoring on national ranking lists as well as International Ski Federation ranking lists where appropriate (with additional FIS license). This membership is required for FIS registration and FIS level competitions. • Alpine Competitor U12 and under (11 & under) $108 • Alpine Competitor U14 (12-13) $133 • Alpine Competitor U16 and over (14 & over) $226 (Required for all FIS registrations excluding Telemark and Adaptive Alpine) Alpine Adaptive Competitor $82 - An adaptive athlete with physical or vision impairments, can compete in U.S. Ski & Snowboard Adaptive Alpine events as well as able-bodied Alpine events both scored and non-scored. An adaptive alpine FIS license is required for adaptive FIS sanctioned events and an able-bodied alpine FIS license is required for able-bodied FIS sanctioned events. Short-Term Alpine (17 & under) $36 per day - (Does not include access to U.S. Ski & Snowboard points list) May be used for one event per season. Events may not span more than five consecutive days. Alpine FIS License (Must be born in 2009 or prior) Required for participation in FIS events. You must hold an Alpine Competitor U16 & Over to purchase an Alpine FIS license. Short- Term members, general members and Non-Scored Athletes are not eligible for FIS. • $85 prior to Aug. 15 • $155 after Aug. 15 Adaptive Alpine FIS License $35 - (Must be born in 2009 or prior) Required for participation in FIS events. You must hold an Adaptive Alpine Competitor membership to purchase an Adaptive Alpine FIS license. Alpine Master’s FIS License $50 - (Must be born in 1996 or prior) Required for participation in FIS events. To hold an Alpine Master’s FIS license, you must also hold an Alpine Master’s with Requirements or Alpine Master’s membership. Short-Term Alpine Master’s are not eligible for FIS. Alpine Master (18 & over) $144 - The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Masters membership gives alpine athletes over the age of 18 access to alpine master’s events, including Master’s Championships and its qualifying events. This membership is perfect for adult athletes who are interested in competing with other adults domestically. International competition requires a FIS Masters License. Alpine Master w/Requirements (18 & over) $159 - An athlete participating in U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Masters events and/or FIS Masters events who is in regular contact with minor athletes. Applicable for those in a position of authority over athletes or in regular contact with athletes. International competition requires a FIS Masters License. Requirements include periodic background screening and SafeSport training. Check with your club to determine if this is the correct Master’s membership prior to purchase. Alpine Coach w/Official (18 & over) $154 - An individual coaching athletes at any level from club coaches up to those coaching at U.S. Ski & Snowboard/FIS Alpine events any beyound (see guidelines for appropriate levels of U.S. Ski & Snowboard coach certifications). Required to access Level 100 clinics and materials. Alpine Junior Coach (15-17 years of age) $77 - The junior coach membership is a great way for athletes to become involved in coaching programs. Junior coaches are required to 13 complete annual SafeSport training. Alpine Official (18 & over) $82 - An individual involved in officiating U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine and/or FIS competitions. Required for official’s certifications (see guidelines for appropriate levels of official’s certifications). Alpine Volunteer (18 & over) $67 - (NOT permitted for use in place of an athlete membership) The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club Volunteer membership is designed for Board of Directors, club administrative staff, parents and club volunteers who undertake a leadership role in U.S. Ski & Snowboard clubs, divisions, regions and at competitions and club training sessions. Not eligible for coach or official’s certifications. Applicable for those in a position of authority over or in regular contact with athletes. CODE OF CONDUCT Membership in U.S. Ski & Snowboard is a privilege, not a right. All U.S. Ski & Snowboard members, board members, officers, directors, committee members, task force members, employees, coaches, independent contractors, officials, and volunteers, and anyone else participating in any U.S. Ski & Snowboard activity or event (collectively, “Affiliated Individuals”) must agree to conduct themselves according to U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s core values of Grit, Excellence, Team, Fun, and Integrity, and read, understand, and abide by this Code of Conduct and all other applicable policies, including those of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, as well as the competitions and events in which they participate. Affiliated Individuals must agree to comport themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and are responsible for their behavior and actions while attending or participating in all U.S. Ski & Snowboard activities (including but not limited to camps, competitions, and projects). Sportsmanlike conduct is defined as but is not limited to: respect for competition officials, resort employees, fellow members, and the skiing and snowboarding public, respect for facilities, privileges, and operating procedures, the use of courtesy, civility, and consideration, acting responsibly and maturely, refraining from the use of profane or abusive language, and abstinence from illegal or immoderate use of alcohol and use of illegal or banned drugs. While participating in any U.S. Ski & Snowboard activity: 1. Affiliated Individuals shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Statutes, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Bylaws, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Bylaws, and this U.S. Ski & Snowboard Code of Conduct. 2. Affiliated Individuals must abide by United States federal, state and local law as applicable, including the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act; and foreign law as applicable. 3. Affiliated Individuals shall conduct themselves at all times and in all places as befit worthy representatives of the United States of America, the USOPC, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, their region, division, state or club and in accordance with the best traditions of national and international competition. 4. Affiliated Individuals are responsible for knowledge of and adherence to competition rules and procedures. Affiliated Individuals are also responsible for knowledge of and adherence to the rules, policies, and procedures of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard national teams, camps, other projects when participating in such, and of the facilities and accommodations in which they train and live at and/or use. 5. Affiliated Individuals shall maintain high standards of moral and ethical conduct, which includes self-control and responsible behavior, consideration for the physical and emotional well-being of others, and courtesy and good manners. Affiliated Individuals shall not cause physical, emotional, or other harm to members or reputational harm to U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Affiliated Individuals shall not disparage other members or U.S. Ski & Snowboard. 14 6. Affiliated Individuals shall abide by U.S. Ski & Snowboard rules and procedures while traveling to and from and participating in all U.S. Ski & Snowboard activities. 7. Affiliated Individuals shall abstain from illegal and/or immoderate consumption of alcohol. absolutely no consumption of alcohol is permitted for those individuals under the age of 21, regardless of local alcohol laws. Members under 21 years of age shall not participate in gatherings involving consumption of alcohol unless it is an official U.S. Ski & Snowboard or event organizer function. Members under the age of 18 shall not use any form of nicotine including but not limited to cigarettes, vaping, chewing tobacco, gum, and patches. 8. No Affiliated Individual shall violate the customs, travel or currency regulations of a country while traveling with a U.S. Ski & Snowboard group or on a U.S. Ski & Snowboard ticket. 9. No Affiliated Individual shall commit a criminal act. 10. No Affiliated Individual shall engage in any conduct that could be perceived as harassment based upon gender, gender identity, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. 11. Affiliated Individuals will avoid profane or abusive language and disruptive behavior. Members agree that they will not use or tolerate any racist, xenophobic, homophobic, or transphobic language or gestures. 12. Affiliated Individuals understand and agree that they may be drug tested at any time, that they are subject to and will abide by the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, its Annexes, and the USOPC National Anti-Doping Policies, and that any dispute related to the foregoing will be resolved exclusively in arbitration pursuant to the USADA Protocol. Before taking any medications, members must check the prohibited status at GlobalDRO.com. Also, they must be sure to download the Supplement 411 app, or visit Supplement411.org to learn how to recognize and reduce the risks related to supplement use. Any anti-doping questions can be directed to Athlete Express at 866.601.2632. 13. Affiliated Individuals agree to abide by the policies and procedures established by the U.S. Center for SafeSport as well as U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP). 14. Affiliated Individuals agree to comply with the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions and the IPC Code of Ethics and commit to promote sport free from manipulation, corrupt conduct, or using or disclosing inside information for any purpose. 15. Affiliated Individuals agree to comply with the laws of the state and/or country in which they are training, traveling, or competing, including but not limited to, laws governing the possession and use of drugs and alcohol, and providing of drugs to any person and of alcohol to minors. Failure to comply with any of the above provisions may lead to disciplinary action by the appropriate team or competition leader. Disciplinary action may include: • Removal from the team trip or training camp • Suspension from training and/or competition • Elimination of coaching, travel, and other benefits • Forfeiture of U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership Specifically, failure of an officer or employee of U.S. Ski & Snowboard to comply with any of the above provisions may result in termination of employment at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Affiliated Individuals have an obligation to report potential or actual violations of this Code of Conduct to legal@usskiandsnowboard.org. U.S. Ski & Snowboard has zero tolerance for retaliatory conduct by any Affiliated Individual against any person who comes forward with a good faith complaint or issue. 15 Retaliation for reporting in good faith an alleged violation of this Code of Conduct will itself constitute a violation of this Code of Conduct. For more information about the definition of retaliation and U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s zero tolerance approach to retaliation, please see the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Whistleblower & Anti-Retaliation Policy. U.S. Ski & Snowboard takes its obligation to investigate potential violations of the Code seriously and is committed to principles of fairness, due process, and equal opportunity. All properly filed complaints regarding the violation of the Code will be investigated in accordance with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Bylaws, as published and available on U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s website. Affiliated Individuals are entitled to be treated fairly and in compliance with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Bylaws, policies, and procedures. Athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators are entitled to notice and an opportunity for a hearing, in accordance with the requirements of the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and the USOPC Bylaws, before being denied, or being threatened of being denied, from participating in protected or amateur athletic competition as those terms are defined by the USOPC Bylaws. Information on the processes for grievances, suspensions, and appeals is available at usskiandsnowboard.org. Nothing in this Code of Conduct shall be deemed to restrict the individual freedom of a U.S. Ski & Snowboard member in matters not involving activities in which one could not be perceived as representing U.S. Ski & Snowboard. In choices of appearance, lifestyle, behavior, and speech while not representing U.S. Ski & Snowboard, competitors shall have complete freedom, provided their statements and actions do not adversely affect the name and reputation of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. However, in those events where one is representing or could be perceived as representing U.S. Ski & Snowboard, U.S. Ski & Snowboard demands that its members understand and agree to behave in a manner consistent with the best traditions of sportsmanship and U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s core values. For U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Trials, please see the USOPC’s Participant Rules for Racial and Social Demonstrations available at teamusa.org. Affiliated Individuals may contact U.S. Ski & Snowboard at legal@usskiandsnowboard.org with questions or complaints. Athlete members also may contact the athlete representative(s) to the Board of Directors as well as the Athletes Advisory Council Representative. Team USA athletes may contact the Athlete Ombuds for independent and confidential advice on a variety of sport related matters, including their rights, applicable rules, policies or processes, and questions related to resolving disputes and grievances. The Athlete Ombuds can also help Team USA athletes connect with legal counsel or mental health resources if needed. All other U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes (i.e., athletes competing domestically at the masters or youth level, recreational athletes, foreign athletes), are welcome to visit the Athlete Ombuds website to review informational resources and should work directly with U.S. Ski & Snowboard to understand additional resources and options available to them. • EMAIL: ombudsman@usathlete.org • WEBSITE: www.usathlete.org Individuals who wish to report concerns related to this Code of Conduct as it relates to involvement in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement may also submit a report using the USOPC Integrity Portal. The Integrity Portal allows individuals to submit concerns to the USOPC confidentially and/or anonymously. Reports may be made online or by telephone. Last revised May 16, 2025 16 ATHLETE SAFETY U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to athlete health, welfare and safety, and adheres to the requirements of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the U.S. Center for SafeSport in their efforts to promote a safe and secure environment for athletes. The SafeSport Code & Athlete Safety requirements, including the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP), apply from the grassroots level with U.S. Ski & Snowboard member clubs, and extend to all areas of the organization, including the USANA Center of Excellence. All employees of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, interns, volunteers, and contractors who have access to the Center of Excellence, or who have regular contact or are in a position of authority over athletes, and those who have access to confidential U.S. Ski & Snowboard information related to the organization or athletes, must complete SafeSport training and background screening before their first day of employment, interning, volunteering, or beginning contract work. U.S. Ski & Snowboard member clubs are also required to implement SafeSport training and background screening as well as the MAAPP for all of their adult participants in sports and those who work at or with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and at all U.S. Ski & Snowboard or FIS-sanctioned events in the United States, excluding alpine masters who are not in regular contact with or in a position of authority over athletes. These mandatory requirements include: • Criminal background screening once every two seasons for all employees, coaches, officials, board members, interns, contractors, and volunteers who are in regular contact with athletes, or in positions of authority over athletes • All required training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which includes core and refresher courses, with training required every year • The adoption of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s MAAPP, to limit one-on-one interactions with athletes at all times • Implementation and enforcement of policies, and preparation for and quick response to random audits for compliance by the U.S. Center for SafeSport These policies apply to all levels of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s member programs. More details regarding SafeSport and Athlete Safety are available on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard website at usskiandsnowboard.org/safesport-athlete-safety. Any U.S. Ski & Snowboard member club hosting a U.S. Ski & Snowboard sanctioned event, must follow the Event Quality Control System Protocols for Athlete Safety 2025-26 Season available at usskiandsnowboard.org/safesport-athlete-safety/safesport-resources to ensure compliance with required athlete safety at the event. PARENTS Your child is on their way to growing their career in skiing or snowboarding. Supporting them in their endeavors is the number one way to help them achieve success. There are also other ways to participate along the way to enhance the experience of competitive skiing and snowboarding. Become a volunteer - The club system exists because of the help and dedication of volunteers, including parents and guardians of competitive athletes. A great way to be a part of the team is to become an official. Parents may attend official’s clinics and work out-of-town competitions so that they can better help with competitions at their own venues. Parents can also serve on steering committees and competition committees for a sport. Contact your child’s club for more information. 17 Education - U.S. Ski & Snowboard provides a variety of educational opportunities for parents. Through usskiandsnowboard.org, local clubs and U.S. Ski & Snowboard-produced educational resources, parents can gather information to help support their child. The U.S. Center for SafeSport also offers education and training resources for SafeSport and the MAAPP directed at minors, which are available on the Center’s website (uscenterforsafesport.org) and parents may take free courses through the Center (safesporttrained.org/#/public-dashboard). Parents will need to create an account to access the courses and there are age-appropriate options for minors available too. Stay involved in your child’s club - Ask questions to club leaders, look at annual reports and attend orientation if offered. These activities will help you better understand your child’s club and the sport development pipeline. Confirm that your club is meeting athlete safety requirements and is in good standing with U.S. Ski & Snowboard - usskiandsnowboard.org/public-tools. Follow the Parent Code of Conduct - We expect parents/guardians to conduct themselves according to U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s core values of Grit, Excellence, Team, Fun, Integrity, and abide by the spirit and dictates of the Parent Code of Conduct available on the website by searching Parent Code of Conduct. INSURANCE COVERAGE U.S. Ski & Snowboard requires members to have valid and sufficient primary medical/ accident insurance coverage and to accept full responsibility for understanding the provisions of such coverage as a condition of becoming a member and participating in official U.S. Ski & Snowboard training and competition. Such primary coverage must be in effect for the entire term of the membership year in order for the member to have coverage under U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s excess accident medical policy. Members must carry proof of primary insurance and such proof must be available at each event so that prompt medical/hospital care can be authorized, if needed. U.S. Ski & Snowboard provides properly registered members with excess accident medical coverage, as follows: Excess Accident Medical Insurance for Members Current U.S. Ski & Snowboard members of a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Member Club have excess accident medical coverage during sanctioned or registered events including official training (as defined by the policy) at such events. Please see usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/club-development/club-insurance for a detailed description of coverage and limits. Excess Accident Medical Insurance for Members of a CLIP Member Club Current U.S. Ski & Snowboard members of a U.S. Ski & Snowboard CLIP Member Club have excess accident medical coverage during skiing and snowboarding competition, while training to compete and conditioning to compete in ski and snowboard competition that is supervised by a U.S. Ski & Snowboard representative and/or representative of a CLIP Member Club, and during club activities that are supervised by a representative of a CLIP Member Club. Please see usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/club-development/club-insurance for a detailed description of coverage and limits including a list of activities that are excluded from the policy. Liability Insurance Coverage U.S. Ski & Snowboard will provide liability coverage for: • Event Organizers with respect to their ordinary negligence if such is alleged to have arisen in connection with competition in or conduct of sanctioned events (meaning a Schedule Agreement has been executed) and/or activities conducted or approved by U.S. Ski & Snowboard (including official training at such event as defined by the policy). Please see usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/club-development/club-insurance for a detailed description of coverage. 18 • CLIP Member Clubs and the members and supervisory staff of such clubs and member coaches and officials while acting in their capacity as such on behalf of CLIP Member Clubs. Such coverage applies during (1) ski and snowboard competition, (2) while training to compete and conditioning to compete in ski and snowboard competition that is supervised by a U.S. Ski & Snowboard representative and/or representative of a CLIP Member Club, and (3) during club activities that are supervised by a representative of a CLIP Member Club. Please see usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-development/club-development/club-insurance for a detailed description of coverage, as certain club activities are not automatically covered. Note: This summary provides a general overview of insurance coverage that applies to U.S. Ski & Snowboard members. It is not a complete explanation of all policy provisions or specifics of the policy benefits. No coverage is extended, and no representations are made, other than what is stated in the actual insurance policies. 19 ALPINE PROGRAM INFORMATION U.S. Ski & Snowboard alpine competitions are organized into general program categories based on the needs of athletes at every level. Programs may overlap or be identified differently in some divisions. Details can be found in the Regional and Divisional Programs chapter and at usskiandsnowboard.org, as well as in regional and divisional handbooks. Alpine Development Pyramid Athletic development in Alpine Skiing is a long-term process that starts in clubs at the local level across the country. Emphasis throughout must be placed on free skiing, fundamental skill development, and the successful execution of SkillsQuest content. Competition levels progress from local to divisional, regional, national, and international as an athlete meets performance benchmarks. Championships are held at the regional, national, and international levels at the U14 age group and older. Invitations to elite-level development projects occur as top-level athletes emerge in regional competition and above. More detailed information on competition recommendations can be found in the Alpine Training System matrix at usskiandsnowboard.org. The Training Systems provide an optimal developmental blueprint for ski racers. They have been designed to ensure that all athlete, coach, and parent members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard have the best possible opportunity to fulfill their athletic dreams and talent. They are based on a long-term athlete development model (LTAD) that emphasizes age-appropriate training and competition. 20 Competition Categories Masters Racing (non-scored) Ages 18 and up* FIS Competitor (scored to national and to FIS lists) Ages 16 and older Competitor (scored to national lists) Ages 12 and older Competitor (non-scored) Ages 13 and younger * An athlete born 2006 or earlier may compete in either masters or seeded competition or both, depending on the rules of a specific region. He or she must have a competitor or a non-scored athlete, and a masters membership to participate in both programs. Age Classes SR Ages 21 and older (born 2004 or earlier) U21 Ages 18-20 (born 2005, 2006 or 2007) U18 Ages 16 and 17 (born 2008 or 2009) U16 Ages 14 and 15 (born 2010 or 2011) U14 Ages 12 and 13 (born 2012 or 2013) U12 Ages 10 and 11 (born 2014 or 2015) U10 Ages 8 and 9 (born 2016 or 2017) U8 Ages 7 and younger (born 2018 and later) NOTE: Age classes are determined by year of birth, in other words, by the racers age on Dec. 31 of the competition season. Racers should check with their local program, or with their local office regarding details or exceptions that may apply. Some regions and divisions may recognize other age categories below the U8 class for awards. Regional and Divisional Rules and Procedures Each region and division have additional rules and procedures that apply in its respective geographic area. An introduction to those areas can be found in the Regional and Divisional Programs chapter and at usskiandsnowboard.org. More detailed information is available in regional and divisional handbooks, at usskiandsnowboard.org and on regional and divisional websites. Particularly note membership requirements in divisional organizations and participation requirements for selection to regional and divisional teams and quotas. Alpine Ski Racing Events In the early days of alpine ski racing, athletes competed in only two events: downhill and slalom. Giant slalom was added in 1950 and super G in 1983. Downhill and super G are generally grouped together as “speed” events, with slalom and giant slalom grouped as “technical” events. Masters racers compete primarily in technical events but also have opportunities to race in speed events throughout the season. All race courses must meet strict standards established and monitored by officials of the FIS and U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Following is a brief outline of the alpine ski racing events. For complete and specific rules, see the rules chapter of this guide and/or the various FIS rule books. Slalom (SL): Slalom is a timed event requiring the execution of many short, quick turns through two different courses. Slalom is typically staged in two runs (occasionally three) with times added together to determine the final finish order. The competitors are required to pass around all the gates (poles), which alternate red/blue in color. The course is made up of various gate combinations designed to test a skier’s skill and strategy. Giant Slalom (GS): Giant Slalom is characterized as the event that is the easiest to finish but requires the most technical skill to do well. Skiers race down the mountain through a faster and more open course than in SL. Giant slalom is staged in two runs with the times added together to determine the final finish order. Downhill (DH): Perhaps the most exciting event in alpine ski racing is the DH. Racers attempt to record the fastest time typically during a single run (occasionally two) on a course 21 with a minimum number of control gates. Speeds in masters DH sometimes exceed 70 mph. Participation in a minimum of one timed DH practice run on the course is required prior to the race. With the exception of U12 and U14 SG, DH is the only event that requires practice runs prior to participation in the competition. Super G (SG): Super G is the newest of the alpine events combining the elements of speed as in DH while integrating high-speed technical turns as in GS. Super G is contested in a single run format; courses are set utilizing terrain variations. U12 and U14 SG must include at least one SG training run prior to the first competition. Alpine Combined (AC): The Alpine Combined is a one-day event which adds the times from one SL run and one speed run (usually SG) to determine the results. Parallel (P): In a parallel competition athlete races side by side in an elimination format. TAKING PART IN A COMPETITION To participate in a competition, a racer must be eligible for competition as defined by FIS and U.S. Ski & Snowboard and either be a member of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and FIS, or be a member of a foreign federation and FIS. You can join online at usskiandsnowboard.org. A fully valid U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership is required to be eligible to compete. The sanction of events (official calendaring by FIS and/or U.S. Ski & Snowboard) is the only assurance that events will be run according to the rules. The responsibility for confirming the organizer’s acceptance of an entry belongs to the entrant. Organizers should, but are not required, to notify racers whose entries have not been accepted. Many alpine events have qualification criteria that must be achieved for entry eligibility. Refer to specific national, regional and divisional rules. Event Entry Procedure Entry Materials Entry to all sanctioned competitions should be made according to the organizer’s specific instructions. Most organizers use online entry systems, and some ask for registration in a form specific to their needs, such as a team roster. Check with your coach or the organizer if you are not sure how to enter the event you are interested in. Entry Fees Entry fees must accompany entries. Entry fees for scored competitions include a head tax, which is collected on behalf of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and its regions and divisions, and forwarded by the organizers. Entry Limits, Conditions, and Invitational Events To control and organize the sport, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, regional and divisional competition committees may impose entry restrictions and requirements on various events; see the Series section later in this Guide for more information. Organizers and competition juries may limit the number of entries in the interest of fairness, as is provided for in the rules. Foreign Competitors in USA Events FIS Competitions According to the FIS rules governing competitor license (FIS ICR), a competitor may represent only one country – that of his or her citizenship (or primary residence, in the case of those with dual citizenship). Therefore, foreign competitors living in or attending school in the U.S. and racing here must be licensed by their own nation. These competitors may participate in FIS competitions in the USA to the degree 22 permitted by their license (different nations allow for different access), subject to FIS rules on quotas, point cutoffs, and entry procedures, and subject to written notification by their own federation. Foreign racers entering FIS events in the USA must plan with their own national federation for entry into such events as the U.S. Alpine Championships, NorAms and Junior Championships. Suitable documents must be on file with U.S. Ski & Snowboard in the national office authorizing entry into other USA FIS competitions. U.S. Ski & Snowboard Competitions The entry of foreign racers into non-FIS sanctioned events is subject to approval by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, regional, divisional, and local organizations, and may be on an individual or quota basis, or as special guests. Foreign racers must be members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard to compete in non-FIS sanctioned events. Submission of all items and payment is the responsibility of the athlete. Foreign athletes must join as ‘X-number’ members; this categorizes them as foreign. ‘X-number’ members are subject to all national, regional and divisional rules. Those who have FIS points shall be given initial national points equal to their valid FIS points. Athletes who do not appear on the FIS points list shall be assigned maximum national points. At a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Scored competition, foreign athletes who are not current members may have their current FIS points used for seeding and to determine the race penalty as long as all membership requirements have been met, including membership form, proof of insurance, signature(s) and payment of money due; the athlete must join as an Alpine Competitor to be able to use their FIS points as national points. Note: Competition Services must be notified if FIS points are used in the calculation of a national penalty. Foreign competitors who have current national points, and either appear on the current national points list or have been given a points confirmation from national staff, must be seeded with those points and those points must be used in the penalty calculation. Note: No competitor may enter FIS events on an international license or represent a nation other than the USA and enter national competitions on a non-“x-number” competitor membership. Foreign National Team Status - Waiver of Fees Competitors entering FIS events in the USA as members of national teams must be prepared to show evidence of such membership; a valid international license does not automatically give national team status and privilege. U.S. Ski & Snowboard reserves the right to allow organizers to charge entry fees and lift tickets to foreign athletes in sanctioned competitions in the USA subject to minimum personal qualifications based on FIS points and/or rankings. Generally, members of foreign national teams who are properly entered by their national federation, and who are ranked in the top 200 world rank in one of the events being contested should be provided with waived lifts and entries; no head tax will be due for these athletes. Foreign athletes attending U.S. universities/colleges/schools or training with U.S. clubs and who have a world rank of 100 or better in one of the events being contested should be provided with waived lifts and entries; no head tax will be due for these athletes. Regardless of national affiliation or national team status, athletes ranked in the top 100 world rank in one of the events being contested should be provided with waived lifts and entries; no head tax will be due for these athletes. Some organizers may not be able to provide waived lift tickets as they are passing along costs from the host resort. USA Athletes Competing in Another Country According to the FIS ICR, to be eligible to enter and compete in international ski events, a competitor must have a specific ‘license’ issued by his or her own national association. In the USA, this is referred to as an ‘international license.’ The procedure for competing in Canada is slightly different than for competing outside of North America. See Canadian FIS competitions in the next section. 23 Except for U.S. Ski Team athletes, USA racers must submit intents for international licensing and entry to FIS competitions outside of the USA using the intent section of the website. Itineraries must be sent to Chip Knight | Alpine National Development Director | chip.knight@usskiandsnowboard.org, for review to avoid conflicts. Participation in international competitions outside the United States is a privilege subject to athletic achievement and consideration of current and future appropriateness of an individual’s representation of the USA in such competition(s). USA competitors without a valid international license who enter, or attempt to enter, events under conditions where such permission is required are subject to disciplinary sanction including revocation of membership and forfeiture of results for points scoring, ranking for team selection, etc. Further, such competitors will not be registered by U.S. Ski & Snowboard with the FIS for a period of one full season. Eligibility Procedures and Considerations Access and Eligibility • Officially named U.S. Ski Team A, B, and C team athletes are ‘internationally licensed’ and have protected status in all international competitions, they can race whenever and wherever they want. No athlete ranked higher than 1,000 may replace an athlete ranked under 350 in the event being contested. • Athletes must be alpine competitor members in good standing. • Athletes must be FIS inscribed and appear on the valid FIS list during the period of selection and competition. • First year age eligible athletes (Year of Birth 2009) are not allowed to participate until the start of the North American season. • Entries for Olympic Winter Games, World Ski Championships, World Junior Ski Championships, World University Games, World Cup, Europa Cup and World Junior Championships are managed by the U.S. Ski Team and are exempt from these procedures. Procedures • Athletes wishing to compete outside of the USA must submit an online intent between the first day of the month preceding the event and 8 days prior to the first team captains meeting. • Athletes can only be intended for one event on a given competition date. If athletes are double intended, they will be pulled from all conflicting events. • Athletes who submit an intent after the 8-day deadline, or who change their intent between two different events on the same date, will be ranked in order of FIS points after those athletes who are already intended for the event. • All intents will be considered final 4 days prior to the first team captain’s meeting, after which time the entry will be submitted. • Named U.S. Ski Team members have priority at any time and will be entered ahead of any non-USST athlete who has been intended. • Every effort is made to communicate with groups competing outside of the USA to keep them informed of conflicts and changes to protected projects. - In the case that an event is over-subscribed, priority is based on the following: • U.S. Ski Team A, B, C, and Regional team members • Top-250 World Rank athletes in the contested event • National Development Project athletes • Regional Development Project athletes • Intended athletes, ranked by an NTSM of FIS points in the event(s) to be contested • National staff will enter USA athletes in all foreign competitions subject to FIS rules. • The USA’s FIS quotas can be expanded by the authority of FIS upon request from the 24 Alpine Director within rules for making such requests. • USA competitors residing in Europe can apply for race and they may receive protected status. If those athletes do not apply, they will have secondary status for entry access when teams and projects on approved itineraries are in attendance. • The Alpine Development Director may make modifications to these procedures based on circumstances that effect ‘high potential’ athletes where such modifications favor a long- range development strategy. Under extraordinary conditions, the Alpine Development Director may exercise discretionary placement or replacement of up to 10% of any quota. • USA Team Captains (TC) will be assigned based on the project level (National Team, national or regional development, Club/Academy). The TC will facilitate the above procedures. National staff acting in the capacity of TC may use discretionary entry designation for up to 10% of any quota for any team or group member (other than national team A, B, and C who are otherwise inscribed). Additionally, team captains may agree on alternative methods if they have the unanimous consent of the attending USA coaches. Canadian FIS Competitions Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) and its provincial partners organize FIS competitions in Canada. Travel to, and competition in, Canadian events as a matter of common practice is not encouraged. A calendar of Canadian events can be found at fis-ski.com. Access and entries for U.S. athletes to Canadian events is through the regional staff. The Eastern Region staff will coordinate and confirm entries for competitions in Eastern Canada and Ontario. The Rocky/Central Region and Western Region staff will coordinate and confirm entries for competitions in Western Canada. Current FIS registration is required; there are no point restrictions for access to Canadian competitions. Athletes wishing to compete outside of the USA must submit an online intent between the first day of the month preceding the event and 21 days prior to the first team captains meeting. Confirmations are due 16 days in advance of the first team captains meeting in the itinerary. Access to Canadian FIS competition projects will be managed for athlete development; selection of interested athletes will be both objective and subjective. Generally, the U.S. may enter a quota of up to 15 women and 15 men in Canadian competitions subject to the approval of the Canadian officials involved. By agreement with ACA, certain FIS events in each country may be subject to more rigorous, objective qualifications even if this results in quotas not being fully utilized. Development selections by national and regional directors may be possible per the agreement with ACA. In general, athletes who have not qualified for a series in their own country will not be eligible to participate in the equivalent series across the border if these events have been identified for higher objective qualification standards. (Examples: the USA and Canadian spring series). Should more USA racers wish to enter a Canadian FIS competition than can be accommodated, racers will be ranked as follows: 1. U.S. Ski Team, 2. Regional Teams, 3. By NTSM of FIS point rankings in the contested events, 4. 20% of the available slots may be reserved for development selections. Racers entered in Canadian FIS competitions must be properly represented at all team captains’ meetings, or otherwise accounted for according to the FIS ICR, or they will be pulled from the board. Racers entered in Canadian FIS competitions who fail to withdraw in a timely manner, and/or who fail to start in events to which they have been entered, are subject to sanction, including prohibition from entry into future Canadian FIS events. 25 CHAPTER 2 POINTS AND RANKINGS 26 POINTS AND THE POINTS LISTS Ski racers are: 1) scored by total points for each seeded competition in which they finish without disqualification, 2) ranked nationally and internationally according to their earned total points, and 3) seeded in subsequent competitions according to their total points earned in previous events. Thus, in ski racing, things are done “by the numbers”. Points are used in ski racing because of the unique character of the sport: there is no precisely defined standard field, track, or course for the competition. To compensate for courses of different length, on widely varying terrain, and on snow surfaces that can differ considerably, the FIS legislated 1) guidelines, such as minimum vertical drop, minimum and maximum number of gates, and gate dimensions, for the setting of courses, and 2) formulas for assigning points by relating a racer’s time to the winner’s time. FIS (International) and U.S. Ski & Snowboard (National) Points There are two related systems used to ‘score’ alpine races, rank competitors, and establish start orders. The FIS maintains a system that includes racers registered internationally and competing in FIS-calendared events. The FIS points list includes all racers who are properly registered prior to the deadline for that list and assigns the top World Cup skiers to the first places on the lists, adjusting all other competitors accordingly. Only FIS calendared events are scored to the FIS list. The national points list ranks athletes with a valid competitor membership who compete in a sanctioned event that is scored in the system; this includes most races for ages 12 and up. The national and the FIS points systems are based on the same formula for scoring. The top national racers will be ranked as the top USA racers in the FIS lists, as well. However, the two point lists do differ. The most important difference is that the minimum penalties are lower for higher-level FIS races like National Championships, NorAm Cup and World Cup races. Nonetheless, in both systems lower points reflect better results. Competitors who should be concerned with FIS points are those who will be competing in a significant number of FIS events in the current season. For these racers, progress on the FIS points list is important. For racers who are not yet ranked at the top of their age group in their geographic region, FIS points mean little more than national points. In either system, the good ski racer will show points progress parallel to achievement, while the less-accomplished competitor can only progress points-wise with the development of improved skiing skills. How Points are Scored Race Points + Penalty = Racer’s Result While the winner of any seeded race is given zero (0.00) ‘race points,’ a penalty is calculated for every event and added to each racer’s points to produce the racer’s results for that event. The magnitude of the penalty depends upon 1) the seed points of the best five racers who start, 2) the seed points of the best five racers among the top ten finishers and 3) whether the times of those five racers are clustered near the winner’s time or relatively widely dispersed. This procedure allows the scoring of different races on different slopes and different days, each with different levels of competition, to be based on a common scale. In theory, every racer in a seeded event can compare themselves against Mikaela Shiffrin or Ryan Cochran- Siegle and against the best racer in the region, as well as other competitors in each event. The average of a racer’s two best results in each of the scored events becomes the basis for that racer’s ranking among other racers. Published lists of such rankings, ‘seed lists’, provide the data by which race organizers and race juries can seed or establish the start order for 27 subsequent events. Thus, the circle continues: from seed list to race result to seed list; with one aim being lower points, and better start positions, and better results. To gain better start positions by lower seeding points, competitors also must improve their skills, strength, and tactics and then prove this on the hill. It is a basic concept of the sport that skiers must ski well to improve their points. Calculation of ‘Race points’ The FIS point system of scoring ski race results was developed to recognize the better performance of finishing fourth in one race with a time one second behind the winner, as opposed to finishing second in another race with a time two seconds behind the winner. Race points are determined by comparing the winner’s time and the individual racer’s time. The formula for points makes this comparison and produces points in each event according to the ratio of the racer’s time to the winner’s time. The formulas for the determination of points can be worked easily on a calculator. The formulas incorporate changes in the CM values (constants based on the average spread of race results, excluding ‘stragglers’) to make the points earned in the various events more equal for purposes of combined event scoring and team selections. The formula can be stated as follows: P = (( Tr / Tw ) - 1 ) x F Where: P is race points Tr is the racer’s time, in seconds Tw is the winner’s time, in seconds F is a constant, different for each event, based on the CM according to the equation: F = 60 / (CM - 1) ‘F’ values as set by FIS are: Downhill - 1250 Super G - 1190 Giant Slalom - 1010 Slalom - 730 Alpine Combined - 1360 For example, if the winning time in SL (F = 730) were 98.36 seconds (Tw), a racer with a time of 102.58 seconds (Tr) would receive 31.32 race points (P). These same times produce race points of 53.63 in DH, 43.33 in GS, 51.06 in SG and 58.35 in AC. Calculation of ‘Penalty Points’ In calculating penalty points for a race, the results (times) are listed in ascending order for every one of the same gender who competed on the same race course. Even if competitors of different ability or age classes participated, ranking of race results must always be used to calculate FIS and/or national race points and penalty points. Penalty points are calculated for each race as follows: 1. Using the most recent seed list, (either FIS or national as is appropriate for the event) determine which five racers who started the race have the best seed points in the event. Add the seed points of these five racers (see “B” below). Best five at the start from current points list Seed Points Race Result CHODOUNSKY, David 4.57 DNF2 KASPER, Nolan 4.83 DNF1 BRANDENBURG, Will 7.05 DNF2 FORD, Tommy 10.32 2 GREGORAK, Will 10.35 6 37.12 = B 2. Again, using the most recent seed list, determine which five of the top ten placing racers have the best points in the event. Add the seed points of these five racers (see “A” below). 28 Add together the race points of these five racers then subtract the best points of those racers finishing in the top ten (see “C” below). Best ten finishers Seed points Best five Race points current list seed points of these five 1. GRANSTROM, Colby 10.88 10.88 0.00 2. FORD, Tommy 10.32 10.32 7.90 3. STIEGLER, Seppi 14.32 14.32 9.68 4. ANKENY, Michael 17.20 5. JITLOFF, Tim 15.57 15.57 11.11 6. GREGORAK, Will 10.35 10.35 12.89 7. TRIENDL, Armin 20.49 8. PENTTINEN, Juho-Pekka17.94 9. TARBERRY, Ace 22.93 10. WUNSCH, Taylor 20.16 61.44 = A 41.58 = C 3. Add the total of A and B, then subtract C; divide the result by ten, rounding to 100th of a point (0-4 down, 5-9 up) - (A + B - C) / 10 = Penalty So, in this example… (61.44 + 37.12 - 41.58) / 10 = 5.698; the calculated race penalty = 5.70. The applied penalty, however, is dependent on the minimum penalty for the category of the event. FIS Points Rules FIS rules for penalty calculations are in the ‘Rules of the FIS Alpine Points’ available on the FIS website, fis-ski.com. Rules for National Race Penalty Calculations The following rules apply to the calculation of U.S. Ski & Snowboard (national) race penalties. Fewer than Ten Racers Finishing When fewer than ten racers finish a sanctioned event and their results are submitted for scoring, the minimum race penalty shall be DH - 180 points, SG - 135, GS - 110, SL - 100, AC - 125, regardless of the mathematically calculated penalty. Example: a DH with eight finishers and a calculated penalty of 142.17 would have an official penalty - 180.00. Racers in First Five have National Points in Excess of Event Max When at least five racers finish and have valid national points, but one or more of the five best racers by national points has points over the maximum (DH - 820, SG - 660, GS - 530, SL - 360, AC - 660), first determine the racers with the five best (lowest) valid national points. Then assign points at the maximum for the event to all those racers whose points exceed the maximum. Next, calculate the penalty according to the formula using these values. Fewer than Five Racers Finish When fewer than five racers finish a sanctioned event and their results are submitted for scoring, the race penalty shall be calculated as follows: 1. Insert ‘ghost’ racers as necessary to bring the total of actual finishers and ‘ghost’ racers to 5. 2. Assign each ‘ghost’ racer seed points of DH - 820, SG - 660, GS - 530, SL - 360, AC - 660. 3. Assign each ‘ghost’ racer race points equal to those of the lowest ranked (worst time) finisher. 4. Calculate the penalty according to the formula using these assigned values. 5. No race penalty can be calculated when there are fewer than three finishers. 29 Fewer than Five Racers in First Ten with Valid Seed Points When there are fewer than five racers with valid points who finish in the first ten - or in the first nine, eight, etc. when there are nine, eight, etc. finishers - the race penalty shall be calculated as follows: 1. Assign points of DH - 820, SG - 660, GS - 530, SL - 360, AC - 660 to the worst ranked competitor(s), finishing in the first ten - or nine, eight, etc., to bring the total of racers with points to five including both those with valid points and those with assigned points. 2. Calculate the penalty according to the formula using these values. Two or more Competitors are Ranked 10th In the event where two or more competitors are ranked 10th in the race, they shall all be taken into consideration for the penalty calculation, if they are included in the five with the best points. Two or more Competitors have the Fifth Best Points If two or more competitors have the fifth best points, which should be taken into consideration for the penalty calculation, the competitor with the higher race points will be considered for the penalty calculation. Reason: Better penalty. Application of Vertical Drop, Minimum Time and Minimum Penalty When a U.S. Ski & Snowboard (national) sanctioned event is submitted for scoring: A. The minimum penalty for a non-FIS national race is 40.00. If the calculated penalty is lower than 40.00 the applied penalty shall be 40.00, B. If the minimum vertical drop requirement is met, then the minimum time requirement does not apply, C. If the minimum vertical drop requirement is not met, then the greater of the calculated or minimum penalty of 60.00 shall be applied, D. If the minimum vertical drop requirement is not met, but the minimum time requirement is, the greater of the calculated or minimum penalty of 60.00 shall be applied, E. If the minimum vertical drop requirement and the minimum time requirement are not met, then the greater of the calculated penalty plus the additional penalty or the minimum penalty shall be applied. Data by Event Event Min VD Alternate Minimum Time Add Penalty DH 400 m 60 seconds combined/max 2 runs (U706.2.1.1) 26.00 SL 100 m 50 seconds combined for 2 runs (U801.1) 12.00 GS 200 m 50 seconds combined for 2 runs (U901.1.1) 17.00 SG 300 m 40 seconds for 1 run (U1001.1) 21.00 Examples 1. A GS meets VD requirements, has a total time of 49.98 seconds, and has a calculated penalty of 34.35, the applied penalty is 40.00 (minimum penalty). 2. A GS does not meet VD requirements, has a total time of 65.28 seconds, and has a calculated penalty of 83.90: the applied penalty is 83.90 (calculated penalty). 3. A SG does not meet VD requirements, has a total time of 38.12 seconds, and a calculated penalty of 65.45: the applied penalty is 86.45 (calculated penalty plus additional SG penalty for races that meet neither VD nor total time). 4. A DH does not meet VD requirements, has a 2 run total time of 64.98 seconds, and a calculated penalty of 58.95: the applied penalty is 60.00 (minimum penalty for races not meeting VD requirement). Technical standards (start and finish elevation) must be entered accurately in the electronic version of the results submitted to U.S. Ski & Snowboard to ensure that races are scored properly. 30 Penalty Manipulation U.S. Ski & Snowboard staff can withhold from processing, or adjust results after processing, any race that has the appearance of deliberate distortion or produces results outside of statistical norms. Staff and the Classification Working Group will review exceptional races and provide recommended sanctions to the Alpine Sport Committee at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress for action, including adjusting the penalty or invalidating the competition completely. Any competitor, official or coach clearly involved in artificially affecting penalty points may be disqualified or sanctioned following review by staff, the Classification Working Group, and the Alpine Sport Committee. Points List The basic purposes of the points list are: 1. Measure the relative performances of all competitors in the classification system 2. Serve as a tool to seed (organize) the start order of a race 3 Provide a method of team selection. As noted earlier, there are two seeding lists that concern U.S. Ski & Snowboard racers, the National Points Lists and the FIS (international) Points Lists. The National Points List is published regularly during the season (see schedule earlier in this Guide). To assist race administrators, all valid Competitor members appear on the national points list - even those not eligible to earn points due to their age. Only Competitor members are eligible for national points and for FIS points (with the addition of a FIS license). An athlete is listed with 999.99 until they earn better (lower) points. Only competitions that are scheduled as Scored competitions have points available. Some divisions restrict the number of competitions where an athlete can earn points during the season, and at what age an athlete is eligible for scored competitions. How the Points List Works In most cases, the average of the best two results in the current season, in each scored event constitute the seed list points. As previously stated, the total points of a race are figured by adding the race points of the racer to the penalty points for the race. National points, as published in the Summer List (Summer points) are used as a competitor’s current seed points (or as one of his or her best results) until two races produce average points lower than the Summer points. When this happens, Summer points are no longer used to calculate current seed points. In the case of a new competitor with no Summer points, a double penalty is added to the first result to arrive at current seed points. For example, a new competitor earns a first result of 193.00 points in a GS race. The penalty in this case is 20 points, doubled is 40 points. 193.00 points plus 40.00 points gives current seed points of 233.00. When a second result is obtained the average of the two (with the penalty removed) will then appear as the current points even if the average is greater than the best result plus penalty. End of Season There are five calculations to determine the points at the end of the season: 1) if there are at least two results, the two best results from the season* are averaged; or 2) if there is one result, a double penalty is added to that result; or 3) if there are no results, a double penalty is added to the previous Summer points; or 4) points per 1, 2, and 3 are compared to select the better of ‘normally’ calculated points, or, previous Summer points plus double penalty, or 5) a competitor is credited with the better of their FIS or national points for national ranking. 31 Zeroing of the National list to FIS - Summer Adders National points are ‘zeroed’ each summer to bring them in line with the FIS points list so that FIS and national points for a competitor appearing on both lists are roughly equivalent. This is done by comparing the FIS and national points of the top USA-FIS racers in each gender/event. The zeroing factors shall be such that the average of the national points of these representative competitors after the factors have been added, approaches the average of the FIS points of these competitors. The adders are applied to every racer’s points. Base Points The End up Season points, plus the Summer Adders become the new Base Points. Results of Non-USA Races Results of non-USA FIS races are entered into the Athlete Points System with the release of each FIS list. PENALIZATION OF POINTS “Non-activity” Adders and Point Penalization There is no such thing as a “point freeze”. The rules of the FIS and national points apply adders or penalties on ‘old’ points regardless of injury situations, calendar opportunities, etc., so that rankings do not remain static when point holders do not compete and thereby protect or do not ‘expose’ their points to others. The rules for FIS and for national points are different. For the specific rules relating to FIS see the Rules for the FIS Alpine Points at fis-ski.com. There are different levels of adders with single penalization possible in case of injury or other specific situations when athletes have been prevented from competing; or double penalization when no such situation exists. Single or Double Penalties At the end of the season, the points earned from a single result in an event are subject to a double penalty, unless a single penalty is requested and approved. Likewise, in the absence of any results in an event, a double penalty is applied to that season’s base or Summer points, unless a single penalty is requested and approved. Determining National Penalty Adders The formula for determining the single adder (or ‘non-activity’ penalty) is based on a set percentage of the previous points, with minimum and maximum adders according to events. Except for single penalties, this adder is then doubled. Event Minimum Percentage Maximum Downhill 4 22% 26 Slalom 4 22% 14 Giant Slalom 4 22% 20 Super G 4 22% 20 Alpine Combined 4 22% 18 Examples of ‘double penalties’: 1. Single result of 45.00 points, 22% of 45.00, twice, equals 64.80 2. Base points of 12.57, plus minimum of 4.00, twice, equals 20.57 3. Base GS points of 123.45, plus 20.00 (maximum adder) twice, equals 163.45 32 Single Penalization Situations (sickness, injury, other obligations) Competitors who are unable to compete because of injury or illness, studies, military obligations, or church commitments may protect their points through single penalization. Single penalization cannot be requested for lack of calendar opportunities. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and FIS membership must be renewed every year to maintain points, even when an athlete has single penalty protection. FIS membership must be renewed by June 15 to appear on the first FIS list and maintain FIS points. Application forms and medical certificates must be submitted by the dates listed earlier in this book under Alpine Important Dates - there are no exceptions to the deadlines. Injury or Illness Single penalization is determined at the end of the season. Documentation of injury with inability to compete information should be submitted immediately to U.S. Ski & Snowboard Competition Services staff. For a competitor to obtain a single penalty, he or she must apply using the FIS online system and/or completing the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Single Penalty Request form. A separate Medical Certificate (letter) from the athlete’s physician detailing the injury and length of inability to compete is also required. This letter must include the date of the injury. Inability to compete for more than one year, due to injury or illness, will result in a single penalty each year if requested by the athlete. Single penalization will be in addition to any general zeroing adders or other adjustments to the list. Professional, Educational, Military, or Religious Obligations Applications for single penalization due to professional obligations must be submitted prior to the beginning of the period indicated. Later applications will not be considered. Approval of Single Penalty Requests - national points Single penalty applications are not automatically approved. Approval depends on the timing of injury or illness, duration of inability to compete, and the number of starts and/or results made (three starts or two finishes in DH or SG, or five starts in SL or GS disqualify single penalty requests). Consideration and approval of national single penalty requests and forwarding of FIS requests is the responsibility of the Competition Services staff, whose decisions are subject to appeal in writing to the chairman of the Alpine Classification Working Group. Approval of Single Penalty Requests - FIS points FIS rules for single penalty can be found in the Rules for the FIS Alpine Points at fis-ski.com. 33 POINTS LIST DISTRIBUTION Both FIS and national lists are available for download at usskiandsnowboard.org. Individual points records may be viewed, and ranking lists may be requested by various parameters including divisional affiliation and year of birth on the website as well. Lists are posted as soon as possible, generally one to two days prior to the valid date. Schedule The schedule of list closing and valid dates is located earlier in this guide. Race Organizers and the Points Lists Results and the List Closing Dates Every effort is made to include all eligible races on the points list, up to and including those run on the closing date, however, complete and valid results must be received to be able to include them. Results must be uploaded electronically in the FIS/U.S. Ski & Snowboard approved XML format within 24 hours of the event completion. Using the same portal as the XML upload, a pdf packet of required documentation may also be uploaded electronically. If electronic upload is not an option, a pdf hard copy of the documentation must be sent to resultpackets@usskiandsnowboard.org or a physical hard copy must be mailed to Competition Services after the event. For a list of required documentation see the master packet of forms. Results received after the deadline, and results that cannot be promptly processed because they contain errors, will be processed as time permits. Any results not included will be processed and reflected only in the next list published after completion of the result package and processing. Applicable head taxes must be submitted in a timely manner. Organizers who fail to submit head taxes risk loss of Club Certification and the ability to host other competitions until coming into compliance. Results and the FIS List Closing Dates Race organizers and TDs are responsible to ensure that electronic results are submitted, and the online Timing & Data Technical Report (TDTR), and TD report are certified after each day’s events. Late results will be included in the next published list. Racers who register with FIS through U.S. Ski & Snowboard will be inscribed to the next list, and results after registration will be credited to the next published list. ALTERNATE SEEDING SYSTEMS Instead of using the national or FIS ranking list, Non-Scored and some Scored races are seeded using approved Alternate Seeding Systems. These alternate systems must be presented to and approved by the Alpine Sport Committee on a quadrennial basis. Approved systems include, but are not limited to: random, team seeding, TRS, Golden Rule, eastern modified bibbo and the Turton system. Check with your regional/divisional staff for a list of the approved Alternate Seeding Systems being used in your area. 34 PLACE POINT SCALES World Cup & Continental Cup Points Scale World Cup points are referred to frequently in ranking/selection procedures. According to the scale adopted by the FIS, points are awarded by place to the first thirty finishers according to the following scale. In case of a tie (identical times), each tied racer receives the points for that place, according to the schedule. Following racers receive points according to their place. Note: Ties will result in one, or more, vacant place(s). For example, a two-way tie for third means no 4th place points are awarded; next points go to fifth place. A three-way tie for first would mean next place points awarded are for fourth place. There may be departures from this point scale but following the same general principles. Place Points Place Points Place Points 1st 100 11th 24 21st 10 2nd 80 12th 22 22nd 9 3rd 60 13th 20 23rd 8 4th 50 14th 18 24th 7 5th 45 15th 16 25th 6 6th 40 16th 15 26th 5 7th 36 17th 14 27th 4 8th 32 18th 13 28th 3 9th 29 19th 12 29th 2 10th 26 20th 11 30th 1 Alternate Points Scale This scale is like to the World Cup scale and is used in some Regional selections. Points from 25 down to 1 are awarded by place from the winner to 15th as follows: Place Points Place Points Place Points 1st 25 6th 10 11th 5 2nd 20 7th 9 12th 4 3rd 15 8th 8 13th 3 4th 12 9th 7 14th 2 5th 11 10th 6 15th 1 35 COMMON SELECTION SYSTEMS Selection boards will not be re-ranked to reflect athletes purged due to scratches, illness, injury, etc. Points from alpine combined are not typically included in selections. National Team Selection Method (NTSM) Names of competitors in contention are organized by appropriate points or rankings, FIS or national, but not mixed, in each event of the meet or series for which a team is to be selected (or according to national/regional/divisional policies). Each event is ranked in a separate vertical column, lowest points or best ranking on top to higher points or worst ranking on the bottom. Duplications of the same athlete in more than one column are listed. Selection is accomplished by proceeding across each horizontal row, choosing the lowest points/ranking in the first row, second lowest points/ranking in that row, third and fourth, if appropriate, before moving down all columns to the next row. As racers are selected in one column they are crossed out in all columns; however, lower listed racers do not move up in their columns when duplicated names are crossed out. Example, for three-event selection, using points in DH, SL, and GS: DH SL GS NTSM Ranking A - 2.50 B - 17.12 C - 5.21 A C - 23.40 C - 23.75 B - 17.12 C B - 24.87 D - 28.95 E - 25.93 B F - 25.33 A - 42.74 A - 26.66 E D - 32.00 G - 43.14 D - 30.04 D E - 35.70 F - 44.00 G - 32.75 F G - 38.95 H - 46.55 H - 33.40 G If the selections were for SL and GS only, then the ranking order would be: C, B, E, D, A, G, F. Or if for GS and DH only, then: A, C, B, E, F, D, G. If selections included SG, then a SG column would be included in the same fashion. International Team Selection (ITS) ITS differs slightly from NTSM in that the order of selection from each row is fixed, determined by the order of columns, rather than according to lower/lowest points or ranking in the row. The order of each event is arranged into separate vertical columns, best on top, last on the bottom. The columns are arranged normally from left to right: DH, SL, GS, SG. Selection is accomplished by taking the top row of names (DH, SL, GS, SG) then going to the second person in the first column. Continue across columns. If a name comes up a second (or more times) it is skipped. Always skip across from left to right, not down for repeats. DH SL GS SG ITS Ranking A E D C A B A B B E C B C A D D C E E C E D A D B International Team Selection Method can be expanded to columns ordered by points, by event ranking, and by a combination of results and points and/or ranking, as well (see Regional Selection Board Method following). 36 Regional Selection Board Method Some Regions use the Regional Selection Board Method. It is like the NTSM and ITS methods, except that it uses both place points and seeding points to build its selection tables. Details may vary for each team or series entry selection. Setting up the Boards Two selection boards are used, as follows: 1. One board is composed of ranking by place points earned in specified races/series in each event involved. A column is established in each event with the ranking racer in that event at the top of the column. The columns shall be arranged as prescribed by the policy for each event, division or region. 2. The second board is setup using the valid points list, FIS or national. A column is established for each event with the low point athlete in that event at the top of that column. The columns shall be arranged as prescribed by the policy for each event, division, or region, and considered in order. Selection Procedures Selection will be made by going across both boards choosing the best-ranked racer in every column of each row of both boards before moving on to the next row. When a competitor appears, who has already been selected in a previous row, selection continues across the same row, but skipping that competitor, until the end of the row is reached, before moving to the next row. For example: Downhill standings in order: A, G, R, T Slalom standings: B, D, Z, Q Giant slalom standings: E, Q, D, B Super G standings: D, E, Q, M Downhill points: A, F, Z, T Slalom Points: X, E, M, D Giant slalom points: D, X, Q, L Super G points: C, Z, D, Q World Cup Point Board Seed Point Board DH SL GS SG DH SL GS SG A B E D A X D C G D Q E F E X Z R Z D Q Z M Q D T Q B M T D L Q Selection for a 12 person, four-event team would be: A, B, E, D, X, C, G, Q, F, Z, R, M, T, L Selection for a SL, GS Team would be: B, E, X, D, Q, Z, M, L More information on specific selection procedures used in your region or division appears in the Regional and Divisional Programs section of this Guide or in your regional or divisional handbook. 37 CHAPTER 3 SERIES AND SELECTIONS 38 This chapter provides general information on the major events and series, many of which are invitational or only open to skiers qualifying by previous performance. More details on the programs organized below the international and championship level may be found in the regional section of the Competition Guide or on regional or divisional websites and handbooks. For events and series where particular qualifications apply, the entry criteria, field size and design of the programs themselves have been designed to encourage involvement by many skiers and to provide opportunities for talented racers to reach their full athletic potential in alpine ski racing. Coaches and competitors are advised to check regional and divisional rules. OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be in Milan, Italy. Selection criteria will be available at usskiandsnowboard.org in the fall of 2025. ALPINE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are held every odd-numbered year. The next World Championships will be in Saalbach, AUT. Selection criteria will be available at usskiandsnowboard.org in the fall of 2026. ALPINE WORLD CUP In contrast to the many sports where an Olympic medal serves as the only symbol of achievement, international alpine ski racers also look to the FIS Alpine World Cup as the measure for determining the best over a full season of racing. World Cup winners are named at the end of every season and are determined by the number of points accumulated in World Cup events in all alpine events and combined. In addition to overall and event awards, a Nations’ Cup is awarded to the national team that accumulates the most points over the course of the season, counting individual point totals of all team members. Schedule information for the FIS Alpine World Cup can be found at fis-ski.com. WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS The annual FIS Alpine World Junior Championships provide a unique opportunity for the best 16-20 year-olds of the skiing world to compete together. The 2026 World Junior Championships will be held in Narvik, NOR. The World Junior Championships are important competitions in the development of future World Cup contenders, and World Cup skiers are usually found on the official entry lists. Selection criteria will be available at usskiandsnowboard.org in the fall of 2025. FIS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S COMPETITIONS U.S. Ski & Snowboard may field teams of U16 and U14 athletes to compete in FIS International Children’s competitions only through approved regional and national projects. Projects and selection criteria will be available at usskiandsnowboard.org in the fall of 2025. 39 NORAM CUP The NorAm Cup is the most prestigious and important North American series. The ‘original’ Continental Cup and parallel to the European Cup, only a notch below the competition of the World Cup circuit, this series has proven to be an excellent training and testing ground for both top national racers and for developing U.S. and Canadian athletes. The U.S. and Canadian Ski Teams are represented at all NorAm events. Foreign racers, including World Cup contenders, often compete in these events raising the level of competition even more. The remainder of the participants are the best competitors from the regions and colleges of Canada and the U.S. NorAm Cup winners are named in each of the individual events based on points accumulated over the season according to the World Cup point scale. The overall winners are determined by adding the points scored in all events. End of season event winners and second-place finishers become individually qualified for World Cup participation in that event in the following season and are entitled to special start positions in other Continental Cup competitions in that event. Current NorAm calendars can be found at fis-ski.com. Eligibility For consideration to NorAms, racers must be registered to appear on the FIS points list and must be current Competitor members in good standing with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and their home region. For SL, GS, SG, and AC/SG events, athletes must have fewer than 100.00 FIS points in any event in order to apply for selection. For DH and AC/DH events, athletes must have fewer than 100.00 FIS points in either DH or SG, or must have been selected to and attended a National Development Speed project prior to the DH event. Development nominations are exempt from these limitations. Selection Procedures Selection Procedures Athletes wishing to compete in NorAm competitions must submit an online intent between the first day of the month preceding the event and 21 days prior to the first team captains meeting (where both men and women are competing in a combined series on different days, the first team captains meeting will be considered the first meeting of that series). Participation, and payment of entry fees, must be confirmed at least 16 days prior to the first team captains meeting of the competition series in question. All athletes submitted will be ranked by NTSM in the event(s) to be contested (except AC), using the most current FIS points list at the intent deadline. Selection is according to the specific steps outlined below. Canadian and other foreign entries in USA NorAms: Foreign competitors, properly entered by their own national federations, may compete in the NorAm Cup according to the FIS rules for Continental Cups. Development quota: The Alpine Development Director and the regional coaches will select athletes for the development quota. Objective rankings, advancement history, and other discretionary factors will be considered. Development quota selections will be made irrespective of program affiliation. Quotas The USA and Canada each have a quota of 60 women and 60 men for all NorAm competitions. If either the USA or CAN does not fill its national quota, the other nation may use those unfilled spots; quotas are not always filled. 40 Women and Men U.S. Ski Team 20 NTSM of eligible intended athletes 20 Development 20 If the men’s and/or women’s quotas are not filled above, additional athletes will be selected in order from the NTSM of all athletes intended. U.S. ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS The U.S. Alpine Championships have long been a premier ev