Event: WR FIS Open Sun Valley, ID
Races contested: 2 open SL, 2 open GS, 1 NJR Slalom
Dates: March 7-11, 2020 
Response/Reg open: Feb 20, 2020
Response/Reg close: Feb 22, 2020 at 11pm

Coaches complete the response process, athletes must complete the registration via US Ski and Snowboard Event Online registration by Feb 22nd for all selections. Athlete reg remember to choose the Intermountain Division to find the race series.

No waiver for racing in Sun Valley.
Link to Mens
Link to Womens

There has been an update to the Sunshine Cup Tentative Schedule:

SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 21, 2020 – Men SG / Ladies SG / Men SG
Saturday, February 22, 2020 – Ladies SG / Men SG / Ladies SG
Sunday, February 23, 2020 – Ladies & Men SL

** Schedules are subject to change

TEAM CAPTAIN’S MEETINGS:
SG - Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 5:00 P.M. in the “Team HQ” located on the west side of the Broadway Express (Chair #1).
SL – Saturday, February 22, 2020 – Time TBA

U12 and Younger Equipment Rules -
Background and Enforcement

U12 and younger athletes should limit skis based upon the recommendations in the Alpine Training System and the Course Setting matrix.

• U12 - two pairs (SL, GS), length ski/size appropriate. Can only use one pair per race (inspection and competition).
• ​U10 - one pair (multi-event), length ski/size appropriate.
• No waxing solution can be applied at a competition venue.
• ​The use of ski preparation benches is not allowed at a competition venue.

Further, each division was requested to host two races during the season where speed suits would not be allowed.

There have been questions on the implementation of and reasons behind the new rules for U12 and younger athletes noted above. These rules were suggested by the Alpine Athlete Representatives and approved by the Alpine Sport Committee during the 2019 Congress.

Following is some background from the athlete representatives on
why they made these suggestions.

From our perspective, alpine skiing at young ages (U12 and younger) has been moving in the wrong direction. Having multiple pairs of skis, expensive wax, and generally more gear that might make an athlete faster, without improving their skills, takes away from the core value of youth racing: having fun while learning the fundamentals of the sport. Therefore, the athlete representatives of the Alpine Sport Committee came forward with these rule changes:

"Only allow one pair of skis per event day at race events." This is to make the sport less of an arms race and bring the focus back from "what you ski on" to "how well you ski on it". This rule applies only to runs taken within the race venue and as such only pertains to inspection and race runs.

"No fluorinated wax." Fluorinated waxes are expensive, they are hazardous to your health and the environment, and unnecessary at all age levels. Next season fluorinated wax will be banned from all FIS racing for similar reasons.

"No ski benches at the start venue." They clutter the start and make the environment unnecessarily stressful for athletes, coaches and parents alike.

Perform two "test races" where athletes wear normal ski clothes rather than race suits to allow kids to stay warmer and lower the pressure of racing.*

We believe ski racing is hugely beneficial for personal growth and want to keep as many athletes racing for as long as possible. For this reason, we created these rules to level the playing field and lay out a clear direction in which the sport should be moving. The belief is, if you focus on the athlete's development and remove financial barriers more kids will participate and raise the entire level of the sport. Let's make it about skiing and having fun so this next generation has the same opportunities in the sport as we did.

Warner Nickerson, Andrew Weibrecht, Breezy Johnson, and Jessica Kelly
 

* the Far West Division is not participating in this

Attention Far West U12 Families!

Have you received your Far West Development Initiative athlete book? If you are a new Far West U12 Family you should have received one during the first few weeks of team. If you have not received yours then please reach out to your head coach or program director immediatley. 

If you are a Far West Family with athletes in a different age class this book is still extremely helpful to you and your athlete and is available to you to order too.

Want to know a little bit more about the Development Initiative? Take a moment to check out this short clip on what it is, why it is important and how to use it in the development of your athlete for years to come! Click here to see what it's all about!

Still have questions? Please check out the FWDI section of the Far West Skiing Webpage or give us a call in the Far West Office!

Cheers to a great season!
Far West Skiing
PO Box 2664
Truckee, Ca 96160
530.559.4130

There is a love hate relationship with liability waivers, more hate than love. We love it when we are not on 'The List' of missing waivers and we hate having to sign them all the time. Unfortunatley there is nothing our Orgazing Commitees can do to make them go away and trust me it's not their favorite part of ski racing either!

Every race in the Far West Division, except those held at Mammoth, has a liability waiver and some areas are lucky enouth to have two liabilty waivers required to participate in the race! The Liability waiver is attached to the race announcement on the Far West Skiing website on each age class schedule and results page. The race announcement provides information about race venue, ticket prices, location of registration, and where to email in the waiver.

So here are some hints on how to successfully work with the race organizer on waivers:
1. Email it in by the registration deadline (the Sunday or Monday that on time registration closes). 
2. Check Live-Timing.com Wednesday or Thursday prior to the race as many Organizing Commitees are posting athlete lists and missing waiver links.
3. Bring your physical waiver with you the first day of the races.
4. If you turn your waiver in via the email address posted the day of the team captains meeting and beyond there is no guarantee that the Race Administrator will have time to check their email in the midst of all their duties in preparing for coaches, athletes and families for the weekend. This is an extremely important time to bring your waiver with you the morning of registration.

We ask that everyone is patient as it is not the favorite part of racing, but a requirement. Whether you are speaking with a volunteer or a race department employee, everyone has the same goal of creating a successful race day  As an RA I have been yelled at more about waivers than any other aspect of a ski race!

Be kind, submit your waiver early and bring the phsyical copy with you....no one ever turns down an extra waiver!

Cheers to a positive 2020 race, and waiver, season!

Far West Skiing
PO Box 2664
Truckee, Ca 96160

Happy New Year from Far West Skiing!
As we head down the path of competition season the Far West Skiing Board of Directors would like to remind all parents of their role in this sport too.

Parent Code of Conduct

Far West and participating ski teams and clubs strive to make the sport of ski racing a positive experience for athletes, coaches and family members alike. 

All athletes, coaches, and alpine officials who are members of Far West Skiing and U.S. Ski & Snowboard are subject to codes of conduct. Within the code of conduct, membership and participation is a privilege and not a right. The following represents the Far West Skiing’s Parental Code of Conduct.

-Parents, guardians, and others who have athletes competing in Far West Skiing sanctioned events are expected and required to conduct themselves in a sportsman-like manner. Adults are expected to act as positive role models for children.

-Sportsman-like conduct includes, but is not limited to, showing respect for all athletes, race officials, volunteers, resort employees, spectators, skiers and snowboarders.

-Parents are expected to familiarize themselves with the rules of the sport.

-Specifically, parents and spectators must refrain from criticizing, name-calling, or use of abusive language or gestures directed toward the coaches, officials, athletes or other spectators.

Home Ski Team or Club may impose sanction against any parent determined to be violating this Code of Conduct, including the following:
-Suspension for a day from spectating or participating in any race or training event
-Suspension for multiple days from one or more races or training events
-Permanent suspension from races or training events
-Disqualification of child from one or multiple races

Any parent who is sanctioned may appeal the sanctions decision according to the following procedure:

The Parental Sanction Appeals Board for the Far West shall consist of five members: one senior official, two coaches, one current member of the FWS ACC and the FWS President (who shall chair the parental sanction appeals board). The Far West ACC Chair shall make recommendations to the FWS Board of Directors. The FWBOD shall make the final selection of members to the Parental Sanction Appeals Board. If a conflict of interest arises, that Parental Sanction Appeals Board member(s) is/are required to disqualify him/herself from the case.

Members of the home team or club that levied the parental sanction may not be included in the appeals board.

The parent appealing a sanction shall deliver notice of appeal in writing, with a $150 appeals board fee, to the FWBOD President and FW ACC Chair within three business days after the sanction was levied.

If the appeal is successful, the appeals filing fee shall be refunded.

The hearing group must restrict its examination to consideration of whether or not protocol was followed, rules were applied properly, the parent was offered rebuttal opportunity, etc. The hearing group must not “retry” the case in terms of the facts found by team that levied the sanction at the time. However, the hearing group can find that the facts were clearly disregarded in issuing the sanction.

The determination of any parental sanction appeal shall be considered final.

Please note that Far West Skiing has moved to the use of US Ski and Snowboards Event Online Registration system for all race entries this season. Following the directions on the attached will help you walk through the process in your myussa account.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you.
Far West Skiing
PO Box 2664
Truckee, Ca 96160
530.559.4130

There are no changes to the Far West pricing structure for the 2020 season. The National Membership pricing structure is increasing after many years due to fees for safesport training and background screening for all that are 18 years of age and older. 
 

During the Holiday Training Block all U12 families should have received their own copy of the Far West Development Initiative book from their Program Director or Head Coach. 

What is the Far West Development Initiative?
Mission: Support collaboration of divisional programs and coaches in the development of successful Far West ski racers, with the goal of being the best Division in the Nation.

The purpose of the Far West Development Initiation book is to be a valuable resource for each athlete/parent/coach. In it are the fundamentals of ski racing - the absolute basics that even the best World Cup racers come back to refine. It is a visual guide to see how the fundamentals are executed at the highest level. The guide is desgned to be used by the athlete and parent. At the rear of the manual are key concepts that are illustrated by photos.  A seperate 'Coaches Pocket Guide' was also developed to allow the coaches to use these key concepts and visuals on the hill, too!

The guide is designed to help the athlete, and includes a 'Parent's Corner' too.  A section devoted to parents on 'How to support your athlete', information on equipment needs, plus the National/Regional and Divisional Structure. A glossary of terms that the programs of the Far West agree will help all coaches, athletes and families speak in the same terms as athletes develop.

The book is a colaboration of Far West Program Directors and Head Coaches along with experts in the field to bring the best Development Initiative Book to each and everyone of you!

Is it avaialbe and usable by age classes outside of U12? Absolutely!
The Far West Development Initiative book is a valuable resource for all age classes and can be purchased on the Far West website by either visiting the FWDI tab across the top bar of the Far West website, or by clicking on this FWDI link.

This Development Initiative provided to each U12 family and U12 coach was funded by private donations as a valuable resource in the progress of each athletes journey in ski racing. If you would like to donate towards the Far West Development Initiative please click here.
Far West Skiing is a 501c3 California not for profit organization and all donations are tax deductable.

Questions about the Development Initiative? Contact the Far West Skiing Office, [email protected]