Time to start thinking about the Tuesday race series at Weston Ski Track!
1. Races start promptly at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, conditions permitting. The official season start is normally the first Tuesday after New Year's, but we may hold informal races on any prior Tuesday that conditions permit (no points, though-- see 4. below).
2. The distance will usually, but not necessarily, be about 5k, freestyle technique. We will have one mid-season 10k race if we ever get a full natural snow loop intact that allows the extended distance without taxing our limited ability to keep the right lap count.
3. Generally, the mass starts will be 5 wide, with the fastest skiers up front to avoid tangles. We've done this the last five years. We might do an occasional scramble or interval start. We intend to have only a single wave start.
4. Each race will be scored on a points basis. The points breakdown by finish position comes from a Canadian scheme and accommodates up to 45 racers (click for details-- position/points). The idea is to have a well designated finish chute where each skier enters his or her finish position on the tally sheet. We will have a time clock, so you may also enter your finish time. Thus there will be no time keeper. Disputed finishes will have to be decided by the involved skiers-- this is meant to be a fun series, so let's not take it too seriously other than trying as hard as you can.
5. The series will be a season-long points competition. The total sum of individual race points determines one's overall position for the season. For the top three positions (male and female), only, there will be 2 throwaway races. We want to encourage attendance, but for the "medal" positions, I think it's only fair that some races can be missed.
6. We will try to have 2 of our more experienced skiers coach about 6 newer skiers after the race proper. These sessions will be about 20 minutes or so of individual instruction. Please note that these sessions are limited to CSU members to encourage skiers to join CSU and repay those who've been supporting the club. CSU membership has a very modest fee and has some great benefits, including a run section as well as skiing section and substantial product discounts.
CSU Link7. Each Tuesday there will be a whiteboard posted outdoors under the lights near the ski rack area that will give race specifics for that particular night (laps, course description, direction, last minute notes, etc). We will give verbal pre-race instructions immediately before the race start, but if you scan the whiteboard beforehand it will help.