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.

•

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.

Goggles and their Importance to Ski Racers

Good goggles are of utmost importance to both ski racers and recreational skiers. We have been watching the progression of goggle choices by world cup racers this season. You will notice that there has been a steady upwards trend of racers for the last couple of years who are now choosing goggles with the finest optics, (and double lenses) over the more traditional “single lens” race goggles of old. Most racers know that the single lens goggle was used to reduce the distortion that double lens goggles used to have. Well times have changed, and double lens goggles are now available from all of the major brands that have distortion free lenses. And with a double lens, you avoid all of the fogging issues that single lens goggles have.

Goggle size is also something else that has changed drastically. Being able to see well and having ski boots that fit perfectly are in our opinion the two most important things to concentrate on when you are outfitting a skier. Goggles have gotten bigger for a good reason – you can see more stuff with a bigger goggle. Frameless goggles provide great peripheral vision, and semi-frameless ones give you great vision, with a little more sturdiness in the frame. Say “No!” to tiny goggles and you will end up being a happier skier.

When choosing a goggle, you should always ensure that it has a seamless fit with your helmet. If you are purchasing both a new helmet and new goggles, start with the helmet, then find goggles that work with it. The Visual (aka Variable) Light Transmission (VLT) factor of the lens is an important consideration. A VLT rating of 42% means that 42% of the light will actually get through the lens to your eyes. If you ski mostly on the the east coast of the United States, a VLT in the range of 45-80% is where you should start looking. Skiers at higher altitudes in the western US, Canada, Europe and the southern hemisphere may need goggle lenses with a VLT number in the 10-30% range. On a snowy day, everybody needs goggles with a high VLT. Glare is reduced by mirrored coatings on the lenses – and mirrored coatings are available in a variety of thicknesses and colors.

Peak Performance Ski Shop carries goggles by Oakley, Smith, POC, Shred, Uvex, Briko, Scott and Bollé. Each company has worked hard to improve their optics and also helmet compatibility. Oakley has invented Prizm™ technology to increase contrast on snow, Shred’s NODISTORTION™ technology reduces distortion due to elevation changes. The liquid cast NXT™ option from Shred is used by the US Air Force. POC has recently partnered with Zeiss Optics to provide crystal clear vision and better quality lenses. Uvex stands for “ultraviolet-excluded.” Their lenses provide 100% filtration of UVA/UVB/UVC rays. Their decentered lens technology reduces edge distortion. These are just some of the examples of the technologies built into your goggle that you may not be aware of.

It is important to remember that lens choice is a very personal thing, and that everyone’s eyes are different. What works for your friend may not work for you – for a variety of reasons!

Alpine Ski Race Suit Care

It’s that time of year – where the race suits are getting heavy use, and the race suit owners are worried about whether the suit will make it until the end of the season.

Ski race suits are constructed with fabrics that are very stretchy, and susceptible to damage. The biggest culprit is Velcro – which can rub the suits and cause them to pill and run.

We recommend that you keep your race suit in its own compartment of your gear bag – away from any shin and arm guards with Velcro straps. If your bag doesn’t have a separate compartment, just put the suit in a separate cloth bag before you stuff it in your gear bag.

Machine wash your suit in cool water with perfume and dye-free detergent. Use the “gentle” or “delicates” setting on your washer. Hang to dry. We do not recommend dry cleaning your alpine race suit.

Don’t forget that Peak Performance offers race suits by Spyder, Arctica and Sync. Click HERE to see what suits we have in stock, or give us a call at (802) 422-9447.

Race Ski Helmet Manufacture Date

What does the manufacture date on a race ski helmet have to do with the new USSA helmet rule for U14 racers?

Absolutely nothing.

Although there is a new USSA helmet rule for the 2015-16 season that effects U14 racers, it is not a completely new rule. The rule officially originated in 2012-13 as a FIS rule for FIS World Cup athletes for GS, SG and DH races and was called FIS RH 2013. In 2013-14 the rule was adopted for all FIS athletes. For the 2014-15 season this rule was recommended for all USSA U14 and older racers and enforced for U16 and U18 racers in some areas of the country. As of the 2015-16 season the FIS RH 2013 rule has now been officially adopted by the USSA for all U14 and older racers. Helmets that are compliant with the current USSA and FIS rules have been in manufacture since 2013.

This is a current season helmet that bears the FIS RH 2013 sticker and shows a date of manufacture of 10/2013. Manufacture date means nothing with relation to the rules. What matters is that the helmet has the RH 2013 hologram – this is how you know that it meets the current ski racing rules. This is what the sticker looks like that indicates the helmet meets the current ski racing requirements.

Most current helmets on the market meet the FIS RH 2013 rules, but there are still some that do not. Make sure that there is a FIS RH 2013 sticker on the helmet before you make a purchase. At Peak Performance Ski Shop we carry the following helmets that meet the FIS RH 2013 standards:

So don’t worry about the manufacture date on the helmet, just look for the FIS RH 2013 sticker. For more information on the helmet rules for ski racing, please read our blog post: USSA Ski Racing Helmet Rules for 2015-16

Ski race suit Information

Why do ski racers wear a ski race suit?

Ski race suits are often called speed suits or GS suits. The purpose of the ski race suit is part clothing, part equipment. The ski racer wears a race suit instead of multiple layers of clothing and a jacket and pants. The ski race suit provides protection from the elements and performance enhancement. A properly fitting ski race suit allows for the wide range of unrestricted movement that is necessary for the dynamics of ski racing. Ski race suits allow the ski racer to be more aerodynamic, which makes them ski faster.

There are two types of suits for ski racing: DH suits and GS suits.

DH suits are worn for racing the speed events of Downhill and Super G. They are not padded, so they have more stretch and can be worn tighter to be more aerodynamic. Because they have more stretch, they tend to fit a wider range of body shapes and sizes. A DH race suit can be worn for SL and GS racing as well, the racer would just need to wear separate body armor for protection.

GS Suits are for racing the tech events of Slalom and Giant Slalom. These suits are padded, and because of the way the pockets that hold the padding is sewn in the suit is less stretchy than a DH suit. The padding in a GS race suit offers additional protection from impact with ski racing gates. The padding in most higher quality GS suits is also removable. In order for the padding to offer the proper protection, the suit needs to fit properly. If the ski race suit is too big or too small and the pads do not line up to cover the areas of the body they are intended to cover, they will not provide the proper protection.

Both types of ski race suits are made from the same type of fabric: an (approximately) 80% Polyester, 20% Spandex blend. The performance level of the suit is determined by the porosity of the fabric or aerodynamic porosity. The aerodynamic porosity of the fabric used in a FIS certified ski race suit is lower than ski race suits used by younger, lower level racers. This means less air penetrates through the suit making it more aerodynamic. These more aerodynamic FIS certified ski race suits are also more expensive than the race suits made from higher aerodynamic porosity fabrics.

There are several manufacturer’s that make ski race suits. Here is a list of the more popular brands:

Spyder
Arctica Race
Sync Performance Wear (formerly Ski Racing Development – SRD)
Karbon
Louis Garneau
POC
Descente
Phenix
Energia Pura

For more information on the history of ski race suits, read the Ski Racing Magazine article: Fast and Curious: Once and Oddity, speed suits have become an essential piece of racing equipment.

At Peak Performance Ski Shop we carry the largest selection of ski race suits in Vermont and offer racer pricing every day of the year.

What is Race Day?

Race day means different things to different people.

When you say “Race Day” to most ski race parents they assume you are talking about the day you have to order your race skis through the ski club or team to get a discount.

Race day is usually associated with a club or team and held at a shop that primarily sells recreational skis and equipment, not race specific skis and equipment. It is typically one evening a year in early fall when they need you to come into the shop to order the skis you need from their vendors catalogs in order to get a race discount. Usually you need to order at least 2 pairs of skis from the same vendor. They don’t stock race skis, so you cannot see the skis or flex them. You look at it in a catalog and tell them what size you think you need. Then you pay for it and come back for it when it comes in 30 – 60 days later.

Race day at Peak Performance Ski Shop is different

We do have an annual “Race Day” event. Each year it is typically the 3rd Sunday in September from 10am – 2pm. At Peak Performance Ski Shop’s Race Day event you can see all the upcoming seasons race skis and race product from all the top ski race brands: Atomic, Blizzard, Briko, Dynastar, Fischer, Head, Lange, Leki, Nordica, POC, Rossignol, Shred, Slytech, Sync, Spyder, Tecnica, Uvex, and Volkl. You can try on boots. You can flex skis. You can see how one brand of skis in a certain length compares to another brand in what is supposedly the same length (you know this can vary sometimes, right?) You can try on pants, race suits, helmets, and gloves – and even get racer pricing on them! You can buy everything you need for the upcoming ski racing season in one shot and walk home with it in hand if you really want. Or you can decide on what you want and pick it up and pay for it once the snow flies. Whatever works best for you. We want to make junior ski racing as easily accessible and attainable by all.

Race day at Peak Performance Ski Shop is a fun day. It’s a day for Killington Mountain School ski racers from all over New England (and a few International students) to meet up and get reaquainted after summer break. It’s a day for Killington Ski Club racers from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Hampshire to see their racing pals before the snow flies. It’s a day to hang out and talk to the race reps – many of which were very accomplished ski racers in their day. There are lots of great ‘door prizes’ from the racing companies like ski and boot bags, hats, t-shirts and even a pair of skis! There’s also ski racing schwag like stickers and posters and bracelets and lip balm. It’s a little different each year, but no matter what it’s a great day for junior ski racers, high school or collegiate racers, beer league racers and masters ski racers alike.

So join us Sunday, September 20, 2015 from 10am – 2pm for Peak Performance Ski Shop’s 6th Annual Race Day. RSVP to raceday@peakskishop.com to let us know your coming.

Hope to see you in September.

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.

USSA Ski Racing Helmet Rules for 2015-16

What are the ski racing helmet rules for 2015-16 and who do they apply to?

Beginning in season 2016 athletes U14 and older must use helmets that meet the new FIS helmet rules for ski racing for all USSA GS, SG and DH competitions.

The USSA and FIS Helmet Regulations issued by the USSA/US Ski Team states that for the season 2015-16 helmets bearing the FIS RH 2013 sticker are required for all U14 and older USSA alpine competitions (scored and non- scored). Previously the FIS approved helmets were recommended for U14 and older athletes (so all kids 12 years and older) – now they are required. These ski racing helmet rules do not currently affect Masters ski racers, the USSA tabled the decision to require masters racers to wear FIS approved helmets pending feedback from the FIS meetings in June.

The ski racing helmet rules for Kombi competitions have not changed; athletes must use the helmet that meets the standards for the faster discipline being contested.

According to the USSA, helmets must cover the head and ears. Helmets with spoilers or edges that stick out are not permitted. Protective features integral to the event being contested, such as chin guards on SL helmets are permitted. Soft ear protection is only permitted for helmets used in SL. Helmet mounted cameras are not allowed on helmets in official training or competition.

Currently the following race ski helmets are FIS approved and comply to the new USSA ski racing helmet rules for speed events (GS, SG and DH):

Briko Vulcano FIS Helmet
Head Stivot Race Helmet
POC Skull Orbic X Helmet
POC Skull Orbic Comp Helmet
Shred Mega Brain Bucket RH Helmet
Rossignol Hero 9 FIS Helmet
Uvex Race+ Helmet
Bolle Podium Helmet
Atomic Redster WC Helmet

There are no ski racing helmet rules for slalom. A racer can wear the same helmet that they wear for speed events for SL as well. Many athletes prefer a ‘soft ear’ helmet for slalom racing, but their team or club will not allow them to wear one. Check with your team or club to see if they allow soft ear helmets for SL racing.

For more information, Ski Racing Magazine summarized all the race ski equipment rule changes for 2015-16 in their article Upcoming alpine rule changes you need to know.

If you still have questions about ski racing helmet rules, please give us a call at Peak Performance Ski Shop at 802-422-9447.

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.