A new dawn, a new era

So the 2011 Grand Prix and Celtic Cup series have drawn to a close. These were the last series in their current form. What is the future for summer ski racing? Is this the end of an era or the start of an exciting new era?

I like to think the latter. Why? Well in the last few years summer ski racing in the UK has moved on. Gone are the days that dry slope racing attracted large numbers of participants. In 2011 there are now five indoor slopes that host ski races; the number of dry slopes that are either open or able to host quality racing is decreasing each month. Currently Pontypool is closed for the summer, Sunderland has recently been closed due to health issues and Rossendale is also closed pending further news! In short people want to ski on the surface that is closest to the real thing and that is the Indoor slopes. From the Regional races to the Club National races, these races attract racers and this is one reason why the future is Indoor for the racers looking to progress as far as they can in the sport of ski racing.

Numbers on the plastic races have been decreasing for a number of years. This is a fact. Ten years ago when Racer Ready started, Grand Prix's attracted big fields, fields of over 150 racers all throwing themselves down a dry slope. It was a big social occasion and families rocked up with BBQ's, picnics and a great day was had by all. The restrictions placed on slopes by Health and Safety operatives removing BBQ's from the slopes and other "ideas" certainly helped to detract people from attending the races at all levels.

Racing is now an event and to attract people to the sport, either to take part or spectate is vital for the future of the sport. It is not just the standard of race that has to appeal but added attractions need to be in place. Whether this is trade stands, added attractions or the price of nearby hotels, the appeal has to be worked on.

One thing that has been noticeable in 2011 has been the poor planning in terms of the race diary: Having two big races on the same day in the nearby vicinity is ludicrous (WGC & Bromley Club Nationals on the same weekend as the Milton Keynes British Indoor Grand Prix Series and also holding the Ipswich Club National on the same day as the last Celtic Cup weekend in Gloucester are just two examples).

The future is exciting as events like the recent race in Landgraaf showed there is interest in racing amongst the UK racers. Maybe an international team race at Landgraaf next year could be the way forward?

Dry slope racing is not going to disappear even if the Celtic Cup and GP series will be combining. The best parts of both series will be brought together: The GS in Pontypool and the Dual Slalom in Gloucester will be in the new British Outdoor Series. The news that Pendle will be extended to 180 metres means that they may be able to host top level mat races there for a few more years yet.

Indoor racing will now be its own series. Hopefully the organisers will bring news ideas like giving the winners of the series a prize of entry to the alpine races? This would give more winter snow racers an incentive to race in the summer and raise numbers and thus income.

So if you used to race and are thinking of the good times that you had and maybe are over 30 (ie a Master now) then relive the times and meet up with some of the old names and faces and go and race at the Master's Race at Chill Factore in September. It is not just a sport for the kids, the oldies can still have fun as well.

British Championships

Is the 2015 World Cup Finals going to Meribel good for British ski racing?

So FIS have announced that the 2015 World Cup Finals are going to the current location (and for more years than most British ski racers and their parents care to remember), Meribel, France. What are the implications for the British racers of this or should we even care? In many ways this could be great news for the FIS aged racers. Why do I say this?

1. Will this encourage more international racers to attend the GB Chgampionships?

This could very well happen as it has been a long time since the premier World Cup racers attended top level races in Meribel and many will need to learn the intricacies of the slopes. The Olympics in 1992 being the most obvious last big race. In 2009, the Swedish girls team attended the English Championships in Bormio just prior to the World Cup Finals there. Frida Hansdottir, Maria Pietiliae Holmner and one other all raced thus giving the girls a much improved penalty and showing them how far they had to go.

While the men have not had much problem in attracting good racers, the top racers, those in the top 25 in the world in their disciplines may now also be encouraged to race in Meribel giving an even lower penalty.

The downside of this is that this may limit the number of GB racers that can race in their own National Championships. The 2012 and 2013 championships may not be affected but you can be assured that a lot of top racers will be wanting to race in 2014....if the GB Championships are still there.

2. Expect the French Championships to move to Meribel for at least one year before 2015.

Will this mean that the GB Champs will be bumped? More than likely as the French will show the loyalty to their own national team rather than the country that has pumped more into the local economy than most football club chairman in the UK.

You can also expect that more French officials will available to officiate and help over the next few years as the resort look to ensure that they have all the officials trained up and ready to do a good job. Will this be to the detriment of British officials?

3. To ensure officials are all up to speed, four more years in Meribel for GB Champs.

Is this what British parents and racers want? The races have been there 6 years already, another four will make ten and that means that most racers will not have raced the GB Champs at any other resort in their careers? Can that be right? If you are a racer that likes the Stade then all well and good but many racers will have only done one downhill in their career, Meribel. This is hardly the most exciting or challenging one.

4. How many of the British racers will this benefit?

Currently only one racer may benefit from the knowledge gained over the years from racing in Meribel. Chemmy Alcott it is hoped will be at the 2015 World Cup Finals and with four more years of experience hopefully some of the men will be challenging for places at the World Cup Finals. The bigger picture is that the benefit to the British racers will be of more top line international racers attending the British Championships.

So would now be a a good time for British Ski & Snowboard to leave Meribel. Is it time to jump before they are pushed out? There are many reasons for going and many reasons for staying! What do GB racers and their parents think about this. Should one person hold sway as to staying in a resort for so long? Do we stay for the right or wrong reasons? A sponsors wish or the benefit of the racers? Is there a right or wrong answer....?

BARTS Seeding - Is it in chaos?

A huge problem appears to currently exist with calculating BARTS seed points by mixing indoor snow race results and outdoor results. Huge inconsistencies appear to have been introduced as a result of changes introduced, and of which few are aware.

In plastic races you can only earn points if you finish both runs in a two run race or as appropriate in a Club National.

In indoor snow races two systems are being used to calculate BARTS points.

Club National indoor races are seeded using each run as a separate calculation for all age categories.

GP and Nationals calculate seed points only for those finishing both runs, as on plastic.

Furthermore, the average of two runs, on the same day, on the same slope, using a different running order, is being used to produce BARTS points for those racers taking part in indoor races. Consequently, different systems are being used on different surfaces, to produce one set of points that grade all the skiers whether or not they contest races on only one type of surface or both. Examination of start lists show that the majority of top racers taking part on plastic do not regularly contest indoor snow races and vice versa.

To further complicate the issue, in plastic races, a racer has to officially finish the race to earn points, whereas this is not the case on Club National indoor races. So, why should a racer who cannot officially finish a two run race, qualify for BARTS seed points that could qualify them for, potentially, a top ten UK ranking? Surely this is grossly unfair.

The two slope rule, previously used on plastic, has been modified to allow more than one result to be used from one slope providing the races were graded as 5 or 10 minimum point races. However if both, or more than two are a mixture of 0 or 5 minimum point graded races then only one point from that slope can be used. This means that if someone won a 5 and 10 point race at the same slope, then another won a 0 and 5 point race at the same slope, the person winning the lower graded races could emerge with 7.5 BARTS points, whereas the person winning a 0 and 5 point race would generate a 10 BARTS points.

Please note it is not the actual race penalty point that is being used for the above purpose, but the designated minimum penalty that can be applied

The separate run seeding was introduced, I believe, to assist those in the Children categories have a better opportunity to improve start positions in outdoor snow races under very variable conditions. Why is it being used for all age category racers to seed indoor snow races and where, within the current published rules is this allowed?

It appears that a two year trial period has been introduced during which the results will be studied. However, quite incorrectly, the new system is being used to produce the actual results whereas it should have been run in parallel with the existing system to prove its suitability.

These facts have been brought to the notice of those in control but the priority appears to be to protect the authority of those who make the rules and not the avoidance of anomalies and unfairness towards the racers. Concerns have been raised and a request to delay the end of season points calculation until a study of the published results has been made to see if the correct written down rules have been applied, or that the rules breach expected ways in which data should be analysed to calculate fair and consistent results. I fear this will fall upon deaf years if there is insufficient support in requesting an immediate review, prior to finally calculating and publishing the end of season BARTS list.

Anyone with suggestions, opinions or concerns is welcome to respond to this blog. You may want to amalgamate the plastic and indoor race seeding systems, keep them separate or use the alternative BISS system which has fundamental differences. We must remember this is about the athletes and put politics to one side and collectively act for the good of the sport.

The current BARTS system is obviously flawed as it has the known potential to produce anomalies, which is currently happening, and should have been avoided.

Grand Prix Series 2009

In 2009 the Snowsport England Grand Prix Series has been extended to seven races. This year two indoor GP's will take place at the new Hemel Snowdome and at Milton Keynes. Let's hope they can get rid of the ice and produce good snow after the poor conditions experienced at the BUISC finals in MK.

BARTS points will be awarded for the indoor snow races which may prove interesting and possibly controversial. Those living close to the snowdomes will certainly benefit enormously.

The best five results from the seven races for each racer, will count towards the Series overall awards. Last year many awards were won on just three race scores which probably won't happen this time. Whatever happens it looks like another exciting series of races even though it is a shame that SSE were unable to secure a major sponsor for 2009. Possibly persuading some local or regional TV coverage might encourage a sponsor to come forward for 2010.

Why not post your opinions on this blog particularly if you can bring forward some good ideas or opinions?

Dry Slope Grand Prix Series 2008

All five Grand Prix races have now come and gone. After the lack of any challenging courses at Norwich, a trio of races at Pendle, Sunderland and Rossendale yielded courses worthy of Grand Prix status to sort out the talented technical skiers from the blasters. If these were motoring Grand Prix races then the track would be littered with wrecked cars which would not reflect too well on the drivers. A Grand Prix or International race is not just a test of speed, it needs to test ability and speed and any winner needs to have the right balance of both vital elements.

Ipswich yielded two good courses that had balanced on the verge of being inappropriate. Some last minute tweaking saved the day but they could well have taken more advantage of the natural challenges of the Ipswich terrain.

Full marks to the lads from up North in having the conviction to set great challenging courses and not wimp out as has happened too many times before. Some may well crticise these courses whereas they should reflect on where they went wrong and work hard at addressing their weaknesses and be up to the challenge of exciting courses that hold the attention of the spectators from start to finish.

Let's hope the International races live up to the standard and test our greatest skiers to entertain us with their skills in rising to the challenge.

European Championships

As another "plastic"season draws to a close those that failed to turn up for the Europeans because they are intimidated by the Pontypool terrain and are not up to the challenge, were starting their first week at Uni or just could not fit the weekend in for various reasons missed a weekend of varied and excellent courses set by Robin Kellen, Dave Berry and Hedley Beavis.

The male race had a quality entry but missed a few desirable competitors from the north and east. it was good to see the Scottish and Irish camps make the long journey to Wales. Once again several of the top ladies failed to enter.

Saturday saw some good close racing over fairly good and fast courses which, surprisingly a few top names failed to finish. The Belgians brought colour to the event with cowbells echoing through the Pontypool Park as their skiers, in their catsuits, brought colour to the event.

Sunday opened with another fast, but good first course which, once again saw the demise of several top names. The second course, set by Robin Kellen was a challenge for all to see. It was fair and skiable but some chose to give the key gate little more than a cursory glance or not inspect at all. Hey guy's and gall's this was the Europeans and it was obvious that anyone with less than a perfect line would bite the dust, or rather mat. Sure enough, as in the British last year and the All England this year the ones who would not make it down were all very predictable with few surprises. Some never learn!

The good skiers survived but few had clean runs and several were very fast. However, all that came had invaluable experience towards next year's British Champs. If you want to be a British Champ next year you will have to be up to the Pontypool challenge.

The atmosphere amongst the spectators and athletes was like it was many years ago. Good challenging courses make for good racing and good entertainment.

What did you think of the Europeans?

British Champs 2007

What a great weekend of ski racing but it did have its ups and downs. It is clear that there is a great depth of talent amongst the male racers but sadly very little depth within the female ranks. Andy Roose clearly stamped his authority on the weekend with three fastest times out of the four runs.

The Sunday courses appeared to go down well with all the racers but what about the Saturday courses? I heard most of the racers comments and they were not very flattering. What did you think about them and were they appropriate for the level of the event? Unless your voice is heard then your opinion will not be counted.

What were the race organisers thinking about on Sunday? Did they come to the race looking to confront the racers and if so, Why? Why was the commentator "WARNING" the racers time and time again? Why did the organisers want to throw EVERY racer out of the gate, almost before the first racer had crossed the finish line. This was unnecessary, upsetting many of the racers and spoiling the enjoyment and tension for the spectators. Didn't they realize that this is a dangerous sport, racers need to concentrate and focus in the start gate, not to be thrown out of it or hassled. Were some of the officials appropriate for the event as they did not appear to understand the rule book? One top official did not even know that they were discussing the problems with one of the most senior racers who was the current zero point racer!!!! This would make one think that they were sadly lacking in experience of artificial dry slope ski racing run under modified FIS rules.

Let's have your thoughts and opinions on the weekend.