2004-2005 USSA/FIS Equipment Rules

[John_H]

USSA has posted the 2004-2005 USSA and FIS Equipment Regulations as of 20 Sept 2004. (This is no longer a 'draft' document.) The rules can be downloaded from the USSA website at: http://www.ussa.org/PublishingFolder/588.htm

[Greg Leeds]

John,
Regarding the equipment regulations for 2004-2005, what ramifications does this have for Tri State J1-2 races this season? Are we really going to adhere to these minimum ski length and turn radius rules? How does Tri State plan to enforce these?
In my many years as a coach and official, I have never seen a racer disqualified based upon an equipment issue. This would represent a significant change in practice from how TS races have operated for many years.

[John_H]

I think the 2004/5 USSA Alpine Competition Regulations rule 1.3.1.1 is clear:

"A competitor may only take part in a USSA competition with equipment that conforms to USSA Regulations. Competitors are responsible for the equipment they use (skis, bindings, ski boots, suit, etc). It is their duty to check that the equipment conforms to the USSA specifications and general safety requirements and is in working order."

There have been a couple of communications on the USSA website reinforcing compliance with the FIS and USSA Equipment Regulations. (See http://www.ussa.org/PublishingFolder/42_5113.htm and http://www.ussa.org/PublishingFolder/42_5294.htm )

Equipment rules violations are generally dealt with on a protest basis (2.5.1.1). You may also want to keep in mind that USSA has indicated that, at major events (Regional Championships, Junior Olympics), juries may choose to control equipment at the start or finish to insure compliance.

The new USSA equipment regulations are impacting racers in all the regions in the same way. I am aware of no provisions for granting exceptions to individuals or regions.

[Greg Leeds]

Thanks for the additional information, John. I now understand the rationale behind the new equipment regulations.
But, while I understand that USSA now has now implemented these new rules for USSA events (as opposed to in the past when the rules applied only to FIS events, on a protest basis), what does this mean for our J1-2 athletes in Tri State? Will race juries now be charged with checking equipment at the start, and disqualify athletes on skis that are too short or don't meet the other criteria? Or, does it only become an issue if a coach, parent, other athlete, etc. files a protest against a competitor after noticing an equipment infraction? Who can file a protest, and what procedure must they follow (standard fee)? How will race juries be instructed to rule on these infractions so that there is a consistent response?

This issue seems to be a big one, one that we need to discuss at the upcoming officials clinics. This website message board probably isn't the best means for this "discussion," but I wanted to raise these questions in a public forum so that fellow coaches and Tri State athletes would be alerted about this very significant change from past policy.

[John_H]

Greg, here's a cut at your questions:

Although race juries may choose to control equipment at the start or finish, I would expect that this intention would be announced at the Team Captains Meeting. Obviously it would be very difficult to measure each competitor's skis at the start, but the jury could much more easily check that the ski length and/or radius is marked on the ski as required by the equipment regulations. Keep in mind, that should a jury choose to control equipment at the start, a competitor that violates the equipment rules is subject to 2.3.7, 2.3.7.2 (not permitted to start). Personally, I expect that most juries will choose to address ski length and radius type issues on a protest basis only.

All of section 2.5 Protests should be reviewed for more specifics but 2.5.5 authorizes participating organizations, trainers, and team captains to submit protests while 2.5.4.1 states that protests are, as a rule, submitted in writing. The standard protest fee is $50 (2.5.4.4), but there is a recommendation that equipment protests require a $100 fee. Protest fees should be clarified in the race announcements and reviewed at the Team Captains Meeting.

Race juries will make all possible decisions on site regarding equipment compliance. In cases where the measurement cannot be made on site, the TD will send the equipment to USSA (or FIS as appropriate) for testing. Competitors found to have violated the equipment rules will be sanctioned. Section 1.4 Sanctions describes the various penalties available to the jury. The AO clinics will be a good forum to review possible penalties a race jury could choose to impose depending upon the violation.

I think that there are many more rules that could come into play depending on specific circumstances. We will take the time necessary to work through some of the "what if" scenarios at the AO clinics. Hopefully the new equipment rules have been communicated widely and frequently enough that they should pose few problems for both competitors and race juries during the upcoming season.

[John_H]

Attached is a file I received today from USSA: Instructions to coaches and officials regarding equipment rules