Coach Z wrote
New format for NYSSRA U14 and U12 racing this year
http://www.nyssra.org/pages/news/2017%20U14%20Excelsior%20Cup%20and%20U12%20a.pdfIn the long run its probably good for my kid to race against bigger more competitive fields. Alternatively U14 is the age when kids really start dropping out so racing against 3 councils at every race will put kids in the middle and lower parts of the field with really poor finishes and they may get discouraged and drop out at a higher rate. More drop outs means the sport gets smaller and more expensive for everyone else. I liked the old system of one smaller race where they would have time to ski afterwards and one big intercouncil per each discipline a year.
I also worry about the fields being so large that if conditions are marginal like at Windham last year with 2 councils the boys will be skiing in grass filled ruts. Safety has to be the most important factor and I'm questioning if they can pull this off safely. They are keeping U12's out of the fields which was happening not just with the best 2nd year U12's that were competitive but ones not even close. Probably hurts the development of the good U12's but good to keep those kids out of the fields. Gives the option for slower U14's to just race the U12 circuit at the council level - we will have to see how many actually take advantage of that. If coaches would actively guide the kids that need more development into that route it would be good to keep them involved and the fields smaller.
They put the schedule together with the thought of limiting travel but it now groups the SL and GS races on the same weekends. Last year I saw a ton of development from all the kids especially in SL between the first and 2nd SL race. This is really true for 1st year U14 that have not raced tall pole SL before. The positive is more training time but until they actually run a SL for the first time in a race I don't think they quite understand what is going on. They have been racing GS all thru U10 and 12 so I can see putting both GS races on the same weekend. I would think that NYSSRA would be more interested in development than this schedule indicates.
So here is my take after the first weekend of racing under this new u14 format
Having what was three councils race together does do a good job of pushing up the pace which will definately make for faster racers long term. The coaches set very challenging courses also a really good benefit of this and a 48 sec long for the winning run is a long tough SL for a u14. McCauley is a really good SL hill with some good roll overs and a double fall line pitch they really used to challenge the boys. This format will push my kid long term so I am in favor.
On the negative side the fields were too big 65 girls and 60 boys and the race took too long. On Saturday we were one injury away from running out of light on a very foggy day for the boys.
The concept is supposed to be that some of the kids not ready for this level would instead just race the new council level u12 and 14 races to lower costs and increase fun. Realilty is coaches must not be able to say no or they are coaching how to finish not how to be fast. There where at least 20 girls and 10+ boys that were not blocking the gate really had no business skiing this hard and long of a course set. Huge number of dnfs and that 48 sec run becomes 1:15 if you add half of a second at every gate.
Saturday my son placed 2nd less than 0.3 from the win. Sunday his random bid draw had him starting dead last on a 40 degree day. Finished 7th on the first run which given the ruts was great and 3rd on the second for a fourth. They Should seed the first run with this many kids to keep it fair for the top group of really fast kids. My idea would be for 1-10 to be random and then top 10 kids based on last year states and then current yr standing to race 11-20 then he rest of field randomly.
Nysef swept the top 10 girls. I'm really proud of all the work my son put in on SL as it's not his preferred event. Looking forward to Super G and GS upcoming
if You French Fry when you should Pizza you are going to have a bad time
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