This weekend, I attended USSA’s annual congress. Representatives from every discipline came to Park City to discuss finances, rules and development within their sports.
Day One featured discussions led by US Ski Team coaches and directors.
+ Pete Vordenberg reviewed the 2006 season and discussed the upcoming campaign. He was realistic about last season’s results, and mentioned that, “I went into the Olympics with hope. In the future, I will only go in with 100% confidence.” Despite a less impressive Olympics than expected, he did point out that USST scored more FIS points in 2005-06 than in the previous nine seasons combined. He also stressed that the USST is building upon three things: fitness, continuity within programs and partnerships within USSA and the ski community.
+ Matt Whitcomb, one of two new development coaches (with Pat Casey), presented the new development program — the Continental Cup Team. The gender inequity USST has experienced in the past (many men, few women) will be addressed with this program: if USST has five men and two women, the Continental Cup Team will have two men and five women. Many of the members named are attending university, but they will be going to Europe for early season racing. Those who do not have collegiate commitments will race overseas on a schedule that will allow Continental Cup members who are racing well to compete in World Cup events, as well as allow World Cup skiers to have less stressful racing opportunities.
+ Luke Bodensteiner presented the Elite Performance Model — a 209-page document breaking down every facet of what the USST needs to do to be more successful in coming years. This was an extremely thorough indication that USST has a plan — everything from ensuring that they have fast skis to developing young athletes to monitoring athletes’ health during the World Cup season was addressed. Each topic was presented as it currently is, where it ideally could be, the tasks needed to get to a more ideal status and where we are in terms of funding. I personally was very encouraged — I would guess that 80% of the tasks already have funding, and to see that there is a structured plan based on reality, hindsight and optimism exists is great. I will contact Luke to get copies of this plan and/or link to it — this really is a clear indication that both USSA and USST are committed to getting results. [NOW UPLOADED -- download at Information/Forms, under "Skiing/Racing/Training Documents" near the bottom of the page.]
Day Two, coaches’ subcommittee:
+ Luke Bodensteiner reviewed team selection principles. Nothing has changed from last year for World Cup/Championships, World Junior, J1 Scando or U23 standards.
+ Minimum and maximum penalties for regional events and Nationals were set. Last year, very low points were available at some regional races; combined with juniors ranking in the top-five at Nationals, this made it possible for small, regional events to be more valuable than Nationals. Now, the minimum penalty at regional events (i.e. the lowest and best points available) will be 60.00 for men and 110.00 for women. This penalty makes it difficult to enter the top-15 on the National Ranking List without attending national events (SuperTours and Nationals). The maximum penalty at Nationals (i.e. the highest and worst points available) will be 50.00 for men and 95.00 for women. These numbers are based on what the penalty would be if the top-five men or women on the NRL placed in the top-five.
+ J2-only events will no longer be scored (with the exception of at Junior Nationals). In races with combined fields (e.g. J2s race 5km with J1/OJs), J2s will be scored. In the past, artificially low points profiles were possible through J2-only scored events; with other racers who have legitimate profiles, they will develop their own.
+ Athletes will need to have submitted their USSA license applications by October 15 in order to appear on the first NRL list.
+ There was some discussion on how to score sprint events. As far as I recollect, it was decided that certain races will be scored based on final, overall results (as they are now), while others will be based on qualifying times. The idea is to put an emphasis on developing fast skiers who are capable of qualifying in World Cup events vs. skiers who barely qualify for rounds but have the endurance to last several heats (but would have no chance of qualifying on the World Cup).
+ A national events calendar was discussed. Short-distance Nationals will be held January 3–7 in Houghton, Mich. this year. Day one will be a 5/10km classic, day two a 10/15km freestyle, day four a classic sprint, day five a freestyle team sprint. Long-distance Nationals will take place in late March, early April, possibly in Presque Isle, Maine. A similar program will take place in the same locations in 2008.
+ Junior Nationals were discussed, and a number of rules/situations discussed:
a) The pursuit was eliminated from the rotation — no pursuits at JOs for now.
b) J1/OJ relay fields will remain together.
c) A new seeding method for relays was discussed, primarily to address the current system where 20 lanes are required. The new plan will take stadium width into consideration.
d) Trail work to homologate courses at Soldier Hollow (2007) and Anchorage (2008) was discussed.
e) Sprint rounds will match qualifying rounds — instead of J2b, J2g, J1b, J1g, OJb, OJg as it was this year, heats will mirror the way qualification is run: J2b, J2g, J1b, OJb, J1g, OJg.
f) Free coaches credential were increased for large teams. >30 athletes: five free; 31–35: six free; 36–42: seven free; 43 or more: eight free
g) Identification bibs were increased for all teams, from 10 to 12. Red (all-access) bibs increased from two to three, with the remaining nine bibs Green.
h) Credentials for teams must be approved by the region’s team leader, and some areas (specifically wax rooms) will require accreditation.
i) J1/OJ sprints will remain separate, and 24 athletes will continue to qualify.
j) All-American status will remain as it currently is, but organizers will be instructed to clearly identify qualifying athletes and recognize them at awards ceremonies.
+ USST staff will continue to attended Regional Elite Group camps
+ USSA and USST are developing educational programs which can be completed online. A 14-level coaching certification program is being developed with Central. Current coaches will be recognized based on their experience and results — everyone will not be starting at the same point. This addressed the main issue which was brought up at the National Coaches’ Conference last September in Lake Placid.
+ A National Coaches’ Conference will take place on a two-year rotation — tentatively in Vancouver (to take advantage of the USST camp which will be taking place there) in 2007.
+ Presque Isle, Maine was confirmed at the host of 2009 Junior Nationals.
+ Staff for U23/World Juniors and J1 Scando Cup will be selected based on application. On October 10, 2006 there will be a press release asking for resumes and cover letters, with staff announced by November 1. Scando will need a wax technician and an assistant trip leader (trip leader will be Gary York). U23/World Juniors will need three staffers (Matt Whitcomb, Pat Casey and Randy Gibbs already on-board).
Day three:
+ Rule changes from the coaches’ subcommittee were confirmed by the officials’ committee.
+ The dates for the 2007 Congress were announced: May 9–13.
— Jason Cork