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NATIONAL POINTS SYSTEM – “POINTS TO PONDER

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Nothing is more confusing to newcomers to ski racing than "POINTS"...

In part this is due to the fact that the simple expression "points" can refer to RACERS CURRENT POINTS VALUE in each discipline (slalom, giant slalom, super G and downhill) as shown on the NATIONAL POINTS LIST or FIS LIST or we could be referring to RACE POINTS or to PENALTY POINTS. POINTS will be used here to refer to the points a racer has in each discipline and we will lead the reader through the names of points, their use and the various expressions using or referring to points.
Without a thorough understanding of POINTS, race entry forms cannot be completed, the start lists produced and race results cannot be made. Expressions like "chasing points", "point fixing", "no result", "and giving away points" and "good or bad penalty" cannot be understood. It is important that ski officials understand points. That is why POINTS figure, prominently in Level II and higher officials courses.
What follows is a basic primer on POINTS. It is intended for both those who need to know (coaches and race officials) as well as for those who want to know (parents and new racers).

Points: Who Needs Them? Most sports have devised methods of turning athlete’s performance into numbers. The numbers tell us the times taken to walk, run or swim specified distances, heights cleared and distances the javelin; shot-put or discus has been thrown. The golfer’s handicap and the ball player’s batting average are also examples of evaluation of performance and can be compared on a one to one basis. Points in skiing numerically compare the ability of one racer to another by converting the times taken to complete the race: to a numerical value then adjusting that value to reflect the quality of the race.

Meet John & Judy Mogull
Our discussion begins with the twins John and Judy MOGULL (born Dec. 1989). John and Judy are leaving the Alcan Nancy Greene Ski League and entering the K1 program.
All competitors must have a Competitors Card; therefore the first step in becoming a K1 racer is to apply for this card. It is required for insurance purposes, for tracking of every competitor on the NATIONAL POINTS LIST and for entry into any sanctioned race. The Club Coach usually makes applications for each athlete. Once the application has been processed, John and Judy's names will appear on the National Points List but, as new racers, they will have no points values shown against their more. The term "625er" is commonly used to refer to racers such as John and Judy. It doesn't mean that they have 625 points but that their point value is either higher than the maximum value of 624.99 for the National Points List or that, as is the case here, they have no earned points at all.
For the rest of their career, John and Judy will be trying to REDUCE or LOWER
the number of points they have in each discipline in which they participate. What follows is how they do it!

Entering a Race
John and Judy `s coach enters them along with the other K1s in their first race, a slalom. The race entry is usually faxed or emailed to the Race Secretary for the event at least a week in advance of the race. John and Judy are eligible CARDED racers (i.e. have a registered competitors card) and appear on the National Points list. The Race Secretary puts all the entries into a computer and prints both boys and girls list of competitors in order of points - low points through 624.99 than all those with no points value. Remember the lower the point’s value, the better the racer. Since this is their first race, John and Judy are in the last group of those with no points 625ers.

The Coaches (Team Captains) Meeting
The Coaches or Team Captains meeting is held the evening before the race. The Race Organizing Committee (ROC) for the event also attends this meeting and the Technical Delegate (TD) appointed to the race.
Many matters are dealt with at this meeting but, because this is about Points, focus is on the draw.

The Draw
The Draw is the procedure used to create the start lists for the first run of the boys and girls races. It begins with a careful review of the race entry prepared by the Race Secretary to confirm that all names and points are correct. Errors, if any, are corrected and any last minute changes are made. John and Judy, as expected, appear in alphabetical order among the 625ers at the end of their respective lists - at the Back of the Pack!
Computer now normally does the actual draw, once done by hand. The computer takes the 15 lowest point holders (the First Seed) and assigns them randomly to the first 15 start positions. The remaining racers, except for the 625ers, are assigned start positions 16 and up according to their points - lowest point holders to the highest point holders. The computer then does another random draw for all 625ers and assigns them to the remaining start positions.
Coaches and officials then check both start lists and if everyone is satisfied, the Start Lists are approved and each racer is given a Bib number, which corresponds with their start position on the Start List.

The Race
Since this is a slalom (SL), the race consists of two runs with the winner having the lowest combined times. Each run is on a different course. In most races, all racers ski the same course with the girls racing first. Racers start in the order they appear on the first run Start List approved at the Draw.
The time each racer takes to complete the first run is recorded to the nearest 100th of a second. These times are normally posted on the scoreboard so that racers and coaches have that information. John and Judy complete their first run successfully.
After the first run has been completed, there is a break during which the racers warm up and eat lunch, the course for the second run is set and the Race Secretary produces the second run start list or bib order. This is again normally done on the computer.
Remember that the start order for the first run was based on the points of all entries with random assignment of numbers for the lowest 15 point holders and for 625ers at the end of the pack. However, the start order for the second run is based on the Times from the first run. Racers appear on the Start List for the Second Run in order of their finish result from the first run - lowest time to highest time - except for the first fifteen who are listed in reverse order of finish on the first. Thus the boy and girl with the fastest time on the first run start in the 15th position on the second run and the boy and girl finishing 15th on the first run are the first to start the second run. The remaining racers are sorted according to their time in the first run - lowest through highest - and start in that order.
Judy was the 25th fastest girl in the first run and therefore starts 25th in the second run. John was 63rd and starts in that position for the second run.

Closing the Loop
That is how Points are calculated and how racers try to reduce their National Points in each discipline in which they race.

Conclusion
Race Points Rank Competitors in a Particular event. National points rank competitors across Canada for each discipline, for all age groups, for males and females. That's it.... all you need to know (for now) about Points. Reviewing a race result package with your coach or official is a good idea.
John and Judy will be surprised and pleased when you ask about their points or whether a race had a good (low) penalty.
Now you can help introduce new racers and ski club members to the wonderful world of Points!

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