2017-18 Alpine Equipment Regulations are Now Finalized

Major changes to the GS radius and ski length requirements are in place for U19’s and U16’s. These 2017-18 Alpine Equipment Regulations were approved in May 2017 at the FIS/USSA Spring Congress.

2017-18 U21, U19, U16, U14 USSA RULES FOR GS:
The new 2017-18 USSA GS rules are deregulated. What this means is that USSA rules for GS require skis 17 meters or greater in radius, with no ski length requirement. What this means is that for GS, any appropriate length ski for an athlete’s development with a radius over 17 meters is legal for all GS racing in the United States.

This is a big departure from the 2016-17 regulations that required women to be on skis greater than 25 meter and men to ski 30 meter or greater skis. With the new rules you should keep in mind that when choosing skis, you should pick the skis with the length and radius most appropriate for the individual athlete’s ability level.

2017-18 U21 and U19 FIS GS RULES:
The new 2017-18 FIS rules governing ski radius and length dictate 193cm (+/- 5cm) (>30 m radius) skis for men, and 188cm (+/- 5cm) (>30 m radius) skis for ladies. These sizes are required to compete in FIS races for athletes U19 and older.

2017-18 U16 and U14 FIS GS RULES:
For younger FIS athletes, the new 2017-18 rules dictate 188cm max (+/- 1cm) length skis with a 17 meter or greater radius for both ladies and men.

Stand height (ski+plate+binding) for all FIS athletes remains at 50mm maximum. There is no standing height rule for USSA athletes. We expect the boot height requirement to remain at 43mm – from the boot sole to the top of the footbed.

Click HERE to compare the new rules to last year’s rules.

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Click this link below to print out a copy of the complete 2017-18 Alpine Equipment Regulations.

2017-2018-Alpine Equipment Regulations

For more information, please visit the USSA.org or FIS-Ski.com websites.

2017 Ski Rules – Important Updates

For the 2016-17 ski race season there have been some updates to the ski rules that affect USSA and FIS racers.

For FIS U19 and older athletes, the ski regulations have stayed the same with GS – requiring 183cm or longer 30m radius skis for women, and for men 190cm or longer 35m radius skis. Super G regulations have stayed the same – women 200cm or longer with a 40m or greater radius, and for men 205cm or longer with a 45m or greater radius. NOTE: For 2017-18 the Men’s GS regulations will change to skis that have a radius of greater than 30m.

USSA rules for 2016-17 have had the most change, moving USSA GS regulations more in line with the coming FIS regulations of next year.

USSA U19 Women: GS skis will need to be greater than 25m radius with the proper sticker on the skis. There are no length restrictions or requirements. What this means is that the Head 181, Fischer 183, Dynastar 182, Nordica 184, Blizzard 184, Atomic 187, Rossignol 182 and Volkl 183 will the the first sizes that will be legal for U19 USSA GS female athletes.

USSA U19 Men: GS skis will need to be greater than 30m radius with the proper sticker on the skis. There are no length restrictions or requirements. So the Head 183 or 188, Fischer 188, Dynastar 183 or 188, Nordica 183 or 188, Blizzard 183 or 188, Rossignol 183 or 188 and Volkl 183 or 188 will be the first sizes that will be legal for U19 USSA GS men. These skis are the FIS women’s lengths, so used skis should be available in these sizes if needed. When buying used skis, make sure they are stickered >30m radius.

U19 Men and Women: Super G skis will need to be 200cm or longer with a 40m radius. If you are purchasing used skis, make certain that they are stickered at greater than 40m.

U19 Men and Women: Rules for SL skis are unchanged – 155cm or longer for both men and women.

U16 Men and Women: Rules have stayed the same for GS and SL. GS skis must be greater than 17m which means that just about all JR GS skis 156cm and longer will comply. SL skis need to be 130cm or longer.

U16 Men and Women: There has been a change to the Super G regulations. All JR SG skis for both men and women need to be 183cm or longer with a 30m or greater radius. The skis must be stickered with these specs.

U14 Boys and Girls: Rules have stayed the same except that all GS skis must be at 17m or greater radius. This means that the Atomic 151, Blizzard 156, Dynastar 158, Fischer 155, Head 152, Nordica 156, Rossignol 158 and Volkl 156 are the smallest GS ski sizes that will be legal.

The chart below outlines the current season’s rules. That staff at Peak Performance will be happy to assist you with questions you have regarding the 2016-17 changes, and make sure that your athlete gets to the starting gate with the right equipment under their feet.

New Race Ski Prep Work

Every new race ski needs prep work

You have taken the time to insure that you or your child has the proper race skis to give them the best shot at a successful ski racing season, but what do you do about tuning? Forget what some ski company rep or even your coach has told you – from the factory every new race ski needs prep work before racing. Some companies prepare skis to a higher standard than others. We check every single race ski that we sell. This is what we have found:

Junior Race Skis come from the factory at a 1 degree base bevel and the side angle listed on the chart above, except Fischer Jr race skis— which come at .5 degree base angle for SL skis, .7 degree base angle for GS skis and 3 degree side angle for both.

Universally, Ski Company Race Departments and Peak Performance Ski Shop recommendations for base angles on race skis for advanced to high level racers (USSA and FIS) is:

SL Skis: .5—.7 degree base, 3 degree side

GS Skis: .7 degree base, 3 degree side

Super G Skis: 1 degree base, 3 degree side

To reduce base bevel on skis from the factory setting requires grinding the base to flatten the ski. At Peak Ski Shop, once the ski base is flat we install a race specific event structure to the ski and set the base edge angle so that your ski is ready to race.

Peak Performance Ski Shop has 3 levels of service that is applicable for previously used or new race ski prep:

Premium Race Prep involves removing sidewall, installing 3 degree side angle and checking and polishing the base angle that the ski came from the factory with, and waxing the ski. This is used for most (U12 and younger) junior race skis and some adult skis where changing the base angle from the factory setting is not needed.

Elite Race Prep is used when we are reducing the base bevel of the skis. This is the minimum prep required to reduce base bevel. We remove sidewall, refinish the base, install event specific structure, install the correct base angle, install 3 degree side angle and one coat of wax. This is used for adult and junior race skis where we are changing the base angle and installing an event specific race grind.

World Cup Race Prep is our highest level of race ski tuning. We remove sidewall, refinish the base and install event specific structure, install correct base angle, install 3 degree side angle, sand sidewalls, shape top sheet on tips and tails and apply one coat of wax. World Cup Race Ski Prep is our most advanced race ski preparation. This is used for race skis that require a specialized ski prep that will allow the ski to glide and edge to its maximum ability. This prep contains all the steps of the Elite Race Ski Prep with the addition of sanding the sidewalls smooth and shaping of the tips and tails of the skis.

Once the new race ski prep is done to the base and sides, we offer 1 to 3 Hot Box cycles for SL, GS and speed event skis to further ensure your race skis are sliding on snow their best.

Give your ski racer all the tools they need to do the job right. Invest a small amount of money in new race ski prep and then follow-up with routine maintenance throughout the season to insure those new race skis ski their best from the day you buy them until you move them on to a new owner.

5 Reasons to buy new junior race skis

Should you buy new junior race skis?

Your child is returning from summer ski camp. If you haven’t decided already, now is the time to decide whether to keep the skis they are bringing home from camp or buy new junior race skis. But how do you know when it is time to move on from a pair of skis?

Plan ahead to buy new junior race skis for your child when they need them. — Peak Ski Shop customer Amanda J.

There are several reasons to buy new junior race skis:

USSA/FIS rules change. There are different rules for each age category that dictate ski length and ski radius. These rules can change from season to season. They are determined at the USSA Congress in April each year. Keep up-to-date on the USSA ski racing rules matrix so you know if the rules have changes for the category your child skis in and whether you have to buy new skis. We’ve summed up the 2015-16 ski rule changes in our blog post Race Ski Rules 2015-16 for USSA and FIS Alpine Racers.
USSA/FIS Category change. If your child changes racing category (ie; goes from a U12 to a U14) they will probably need a new pair of skis as well as some other new equipment (helmet, shin guards, etc.) Refer to your local ski racing club website or the USSA Alpine Athlete Rules (this will not be completely updated for the up-coming season until September) to determine what equipment you will need to replace. We summed up the helmet rule changes in our blog post USSA Ski Racing Helmet Rules for 2015-16. We think the Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association (PARA) did a nice job summarizing the 2015-16 rule changes on their website with their page USSA Updates for 2015/16 Season.
Growth spurt. Where do your child’s skis measure up to them? Recommended length for SL skis is between the mouth and forehead. Recommended length for GS skis is 10 – 20cm longer than their SL skis (this varies/changes as the child gets older). Minimum length for junior GS skis should be head height, and the more skillful junior skiers should be skiing on GS skis that are over head height. If your child’s current SL or GS skis are already too short or very close to being too short, it is time to move on.
Performance Issues. Does the ski your child is currently using work for your child? Can they turn the ski they are using effectively? Or do they need a softer or stiffer ski? Talk to your child’s coaches and determine if you should buy new junior race skis that will work better for your child.
Quality Issues. How do the bases look? How do the edges look? How many times has the ski been tuned? When you have watched your child ski does it seem to perform as it should? Does your child have any feedback on how they feel it is performing? We feel a junior race ski in its 2nd season of use can still be a good race ski. A junior race ski in its 3rd season of use should be used as a trainer only. A junior race ski in its 4th season of use should be replaced. If the skis your child is currently using have been handed down several times, or was purchased used and is starting to look pretty bad, it’s probably time to replace it.

Peak Ski Shop customer Kyle B. with an appropriate length GS ski for his age. — Peak Ski Shop customer Kyle B.

Ski racing is an expensive sport. Don’t become a ski collector. Make a decision to get new skis in spring or summer and sell off the skis you are replacing as soon as possible to fund the next pair of skis. Selection is best for buying new skis in summer and fall. Many places hold used ski swaps in the fall. New Englanders can usually find a list of used ski swaps on Boston.com, or skimaven.com does a nice comprehensive list each year. We feel the best time and place to sell off used race gear in Vermont is at the Pico Ski Swap or the Killington Ski Club Ski Swap on Columbus Day weekend at the Snowshed Base Lodge at Killington Resort. The Killington Swap is one of the largest used ski swaps on the east coast and typically has a lot of race skis, gear and race suits.

So when your kids get back from summer ski camp, take some time and determine if now is the time to buy new junior race skis. The sooner you do it the better the chance of getting what you want and need. You don’t need to pre-order your race skis or wait for a special day to buy them – manufacturer’s sponsored race pricing is available every day of the year for USSA and FIS racers at Peak Performance Ski Shop and on peakskishop.com.

Wax for Mt Hood ski camp

Wondering what the proper wax for Mt Hood summer ski camp is?

Conditions

Skiing on the Palmer Glacier in summer is a lot like late spring skiing conditions at most American ski resorts: dirty and very variable. Therefore, to get the best performance out of your skis it is important to take the proper ski wax for Mt Hood with you to camp. When skiing on the Palmer Glacier at Mt Hood you need to protect your skis from abrasion. Dirt and dust particles attach to the glacier snow pack and very sharp ice crystals form from the salt used to keep the surface hard. The snow is very dirty and cycles every day from very hard to very soft and back again.

At summer ski camp, the ski racers are waxing and tuning their own skis daily under the guidance of their coaches. Waxing their skis every day at ski camp is important to keep the bases clean and gliding well in a variety of temperatures and on chemically treated snow. The temperature on the glacier changes every day from air temperatures 20°F – 30°F first thing in the morning to 60°F – 70°F by 11am or noon.

Wax

CH7X (Swix) (purple/violet) is the best all-around wax for Mt Hood summer ski camp. It is hard enough to protect the skis in the morning on the cold and chemically treated snow, yet still gives good glide later in the day when the temperature gets warm with strong sun.

If you are going to ski camp at Mt Hood for 2 weeks you will need a minimum of one (1) 180 gram bar of Swix CH7X. Two (2) 180gm bars of Swix CH7X wax should get you through 10 days of skiing SL and GS at Mt Hood. Make sure you seal the wax up in a ziplock bag when you put it in your gear bag to fly to camp. If your luggage and/or plane sits on the tarmac and things heat up the wax may melt. Proper packing before flying will save you the time, effort and expense of trying to find wax at camp and a lot of clean up later.

After Camp

Despite daily waxing at camp, the salt and abrasive conditions can still dry the ski bases out. We recommend thoroughly cleaning the bases and tuning and waxing your skis after any summer ski camp. Subscribe to our blog to read our upcoming post that talks about cleaning your skis and what to do with your skis after summer ski camp.

Race Ski Rules 2015-16 for USSA and FIS Alpine Racers

Need help determining the 2015-16 race ski rules?

Every year the USSA Congress meets in May to review (and revise) the standards for FIS and USSA ski racing. Watch this short video: Alpine – Sport Committee Recap- USSA Congress for a brief overview of all changes to the race ski rules for alpine ski racing. After the meeting they distribute a new equipment matrix that details the alpine race ski rules for the upcoming ski racing season. The USSA and FIS Alpine Equipment Rules Matrix 2015-16 (ver 6) shows the ski length and radius rules for each age category for the 2015-16 season. As you can see from the image below, this matrix can get pretty confusing, so we have interpreted the chart for you.

U14 Racers (racers age 12 and 13 years old)

Race ski rules for ski length and radius have not changed for U14 athletes 2015-16 season.

U14 athletes SL and GS there is no ski radius or ski length requirement.
U14 Super G there is no length or radius rule but the recommendation is to use a GS or SG ski that is 10 – 20 cm longer than your GS ski.

U16 Racers (racers age 15 and 14 years old)

Race ski rules for ski length and radius have not changed for U16 athletes 2015-16 season.

U16 athletes SL there is no ski radius or ski length ski requirement. Most athletes this age should be skiing 150cm or longer slalom ski.
U16 athletes GS there is a radius requirement of 17m or greater. This enables the U16 athlete to use most skis manufactured from 160cm on up (with some companies having a 155cm ski that is greater than 17m for GS). That being said, most athletes this age should be starting to look to adult skis 175cm – 188cm with a radius of 23m are greater for GS. This will make their transition to U19 much easier.
U16 Super G skis will need to be 183cm or longer and have a radius greater than 27m. All Super G specific skis on the market today that are 183cm or longer conform to this regulation of 27m or greater. In many cases athletes use GS skis for Super G and most GS skis will have a radius greater than 27m, but you need to double-check the ski.

U19 Racers (formerly called U18 – racers age 16 years and older)

For the new age designation – U19, which replaces U18 for athletes age 16 – 17 and 18 years old, there are different requirements for men and women. These race ski rules are different from last year.

U19 Mens SL regulation is to have a ski 155cm or longer. Full sized males will probably be faster on a 165cm SL ski and should probably move to this as soon as possible.
U19 Womens SL require a ski that is 155cm or longer.
U19 Mens GS USSA requirement is for GS skis that are 180cm or longer and greater than 23m. (If they are racing any FIS races, follow FIS rule.)
U19 Womens GS USSA requirement is for GS skis that are 175cm or longer and greater than 23m. (If they are racing any FIS races, follow FIS rule.)
U19 Mens Super G ski requirement is 200cm or longer and greater than 33m radius skis. What this means is that all SG skis that have been produced in the last 10 yrs 200cm or longer are legal – none of these Super G skis are FIS legal though, only USSA legal.
U19 Women Super G ski requirement is 195cm or longer and greater than 33m radius skis. What this means is that all adult SG skis that have been produced in the last 10 yrs 195cm or longer are legal – none of these Super G skis are FIS legal though, only USSA legal. Be aware, there are some Junior Super G skis on the market that are 195cm that have 27 – 30 meter radius. These skis are not legal for USSA U19 ski racing.

The 2015-16 race ski rules explained above apply to athletes who are only participating in USSA races. All U14 and U16 athletes ski USSA races only. These athletes should concentrate on the USSA ski regulations. At the U19 level athletes have a choice; they can ski USSA races only, they can ski FIS races only or they can ski both USSA and FIS races. Some U19 athletes opt to ski USSA races only, these athletes should use the USSA U19 ski regulations. Some U19 athletes opt to ski in both USSA and FIS – it is recommended for these athletes both men and women conform to the FIS regulations for both training and racing USSA and FIS events. The above mentioned rules do not apply to U19 racers skiing in FIS races only.

FIS Racers (racers age 16 and older)

FIS race ski rules, which apply to athletes 16 yrs and older that are skiing FIS races have not changed. These race ski rules apply to all athletes skiing any FIS races.

FIS Mens SL requires skis that are 165cm or longer – all FIS men use a 165cm ski.
FIS Womens SL requires skis that are 155cm or longer. SL skis are available in 155cm, 156cm, 157cm, and 158cm (length varies by manufacturer) – which are all suitable sizes for women.
FIS Mens GS skis required are 190cm or longer with a radius greater than 35m. (Most male athletes use the 195cm GS ski.)
FIS Womens GS skis required are 183cm or longer with a radius greater than 30m. (Most female athletes use the 188cm ski.)
FIS Mens Super G skis are required to be 205cm or longer with a 45m radius. (Which means Super G skis that have been produced within the last 3 years.)
FIS Womens Super G skis are required to be 200cm or longer with a 40 m radius. (Which means SG skis that have been produced within the last 3 years.)

The race ski rules can get pretty confusing. If you are unsure which skis your kids need to ski, give us a call at 802-422-9447.

Advantages of Junior ski racing

There are many advantages of junior ski racing.

Some might say the ultimate of the advantages of junior ski racing is the freedom it affords the parent! You’ve “done your time” – teaching your kids to ski, slogging down the bunny slopes, riding the poma all day and dealing with their temper tantrums. You’re thrilled that you child finally loves skiing as much as you do, and now wants to race – but what specifically are the advantages of junior ski racing for the child/athlete?

Good physical activity.
Instills good organizational skills – requires the athlete to organize their time appropriately to get schoolwork, training and racing in regularly.
Teaches discipline and how to deal with authority and constructive criticism.
Encourages social interaction and levels the playing field between males and females thereby fostering peer groups of equals instead of cliques and dating scenes (in the older groups).
Promotes teamwork through sharing tasks related to racecourse set up in training and on race day.
Builds confidence through good work ethic, persistence and follow through – they get to see their hard work produce results. They learn that their result is THEIR result and that they can’t always win, but they should not give up, after much failure there will be success.
Helps them learn self-assessment skills and enables them to visualize success.
Increases awareness of their environment and surroundings and its effect on their performance, as well as how to assess a situation and plan accordingly.
Encourages independence and responsibility – In their younger years the parent takes care of equipment and race entries, but the older the athlete gets the more this evolves. By about J3/J4 (15-16-17 years old) – the athlete is capable and self-sufficient. At this point the burden of the work transfers from the parent to the athlete.

Clearly there are no disadvantages to sports participation for youth. The social benefits alone are almost too numerous to count. How can you possibly measure the value and satisfaction derived from working hard and mastering a skill? We’ve all done it, and the feeling is exhilarating, regardless of age. With sports and exercise, a child has the opportunity to experience this on almost a daily basis. Proficient skill acquisition allows children to value the accomplishments of their body and mind, making further challenges less daunting. These are attributes that simply can’t be measured. Nor can the sense of community created through sports, bonding with new friends and teammates, building healthy relationships between males and females and improving relationships with adults. Ski racing also allows children to take on leadership roles, handle adversity, and improve their time management. Let us not forget the potential for athletic scholarships too!

According to researchers at the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, kids that play sports actually do better in school and have enhanced social skills. Sports also help prevent drug and alcohol abuse and children that participate in sports are less likely to start smoking and, if they do smoke, are more likely to quit. Research on the benefits of sports and exercise for girls in particular has been especially promising. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has reported that athletically active girls develop increased self-esteem and confidence, are more likely to finish high school and college, and have a healthier body image. The Women’s Sports Foundation has also found that females participating in sports are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers and they suffer less depression. Furthermore, there is evidence that athletic activity can decrease the likelihood of developing breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Regardless of any future goals or prospects, ski racing should be an enjoyable experience for both the athlete and parents. Too often, the pressures of advancement take precedence over the many dynamic aspects of the sport. Fortunately for parents, ski racing offers so much more than competition, and you can be assured your time and investments will most certainly foster lifelong rewards.

So your kid wants to be a ski racer?

You’ve done your job right as a parent. Through much perseverance you have managed to instill your love of skiing in your kids. They are not only competent, but confident skiers and now they think they want to be a ski racer!

Ski racing is both a mentally and physically demanding sport. It requires countless hours spent in less-than-optimal conditions. It not only requires a strong commitment from the child/athlete – it also requires a commitment from the parent/family of time, energy and money!

Before you leap blindly into the exciting world of ski racing, do your research to determine if it will work for you. Here are a few things you should consider:

Is your child physically able to compete?
How far away from your home is the closest ski mountain?
Does that mountain have a ski racing program?
Is the ski program large enough to provide enough competition for your athlete to foster continued improvement?
Is good coaching readily available? At a price you can afford?
How much travel is involved? How far away do they go to race? Does a parent have to go with to every race?
What kind of time commitment will be required for the athlete? Do you have the time to get them where they need to be when they need to be there?
Do you have the money? It’s not just clothing and equipment, there are race entry fees, lift tickets, and the costs associated with getting to and spending the day at a ski resort that might be far from home.
What if they are actually really good? How long will you be able to support them in the sport?

Competitive sports participation can teach a child many valuable lessons. Our “Junior Ski Racing” blog category is geared toward the ski parent – to help take some of the guess work out of the sport. We’ll explore all aspects related to junior ski racing. We encourage you to follow and comment!