Guide
DS/USA Alpine Competition Rules
updated June 2001

All Level II Races will be governed by DS/USA, USSA, IPC, DISABLED FIS rules as applicable. Exceptions, additions, or amendments are as follows:

DISABLED ALPINE CLASSES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
(also for Level I Races)

Note: "L" classes were formerly "LW" classes.

STANDING CLASSES

Class
Description
L0 No meaurable disability

L1

Disability of both legs, above the knees; skiing with outriggers and using two skis or skiing on one ski using a prosthesis.

L2

Disability of one leg; skiing with outriggers or poles and one ski.

L3/1

Disability of both legs below the knees; amputations, severe cerebral palsy, severe neurological impairments, skiing on two skis with poles. Pointscore 36 - 60 out of 80
L3/2 Disability of both legs below the knees, partial paraplegia, mild CP or nerve disorder, skiing on two skis with poles.
Pointscore 61 - 80 out of 80

L4

Disability of one leg, skiing on two skis with poles

L5

Disability of both arms or hands, skiing on two skis with no poles

L6

Disability of one arm or hand, skiing on two skis with one pole.

L9/1

 Disability of a combination of arm and leg. Partial quadriplegia, above the knee amputations, severe CP or neurological impairment. Using equipment of choice.
L9/2 Disability of a combination of arm and leg. Partial quadriplegia, below the knee amputation, mild CP or neurological impairment. Using equipment of choice.

MONOSKI CLASSES

Class
Description

L10

Athletes with disabilities in the lower limbs, no functional sitting balance and/or significant impairment of the upper limbs, e.g., tetra, para classes 1, 2, and upper 3 and standing L classes with impairment of the lower limbs together with a significant functional impairment in the upper limbs and/or the trunk.
Pointscore: 0 - 8 points
L11 Athletes with disabilities in the lower limbs and a fair sitting balance; e.g., Para classes lower 3 and 4; Standing L classes with impairment of the lower limbs together with a significant functional impairment of the trunks/hips. Athletes who have functions in the lower limbs are not allowed to use it outside of the equipment at any time during the race.
Pointscore: 9 - 15 points
L12/1 Athletes with disabilities in the lower limbs. Paraplegia only with good sitting balance. Pointscore: 16 - 18 points
L12/2 Athletes with disabilities in the lower limbs, amputations and standing L classes L1, L2, L3/1, L3/2, L4, L9/1, L9/2 with good sitting balance. Pointscore: 16 - 18 points

Athletes who have functions in the lower limbs are not allowed to use it outside the equipment at any time during the race.

Athletes in standing L classes must be functionally evaluated and approved by the medical committee before competing in L10, L11, or L12 classifications.

VISUALLY IMPAIRED CLASSES

Class
Description
B1 Totally blind, can distinguish between light and dark, but not shapes.
B2 Partially sighted. Best correctable vision up to 20/600, and/or visual field of five (5) degrees.
B3 Partially sighted. Best correctable vision from 20/600 to 20/200 and/or field of vision from five (5) degrees to minus twenty (-20) degrees.

 

AGE CLASSES, RESULTS, AND AWARDS
(can be used for Level I races as well)

  1. The following three division, five class system is used for determining medals/awards, based on factored times:

    JUNIOR DIVISION (1 Award Class) (all disability classes, L1 through L12, B1 through B3, aged 16 or less by December 31)

    OPEN DIVISION (3 Award Classes)   Standing Class (L1 through L9)   Mono-ski Class (L10 through L12)   Visually Impaired Class (B1 through B3)

    MASTER DIVISION (1 Award Class) (all disability classes, L1 through L12, B1 through B3, aged 40 or greater on December 31)
  2. Timing and calculations must be completed for both DS/USA and USSA reports. DS/USA results will include the following:

    Competitor name, club, division, class (specific L or B class), 1st run, 2nd run, total raw time, total factored time.

    USSA results will not mention disability classes or factored time. They must be done completely to USSA specifications.

SEEDING STRUCTURE

First Run, Women and Men:

  1. Blind athletes will always run first, prior to their gender, and are seeded by USSA points, and then 990s by draw.

    The remainder of the seed will be "L" class athletes.
  2. The first fifteen (15) with the lowest USSA points will be seeded by random draw.
  3. Foreign national team members with USSA points.
  4. Foreign national team members without points will be eligible for seeding by random draw in the second seed, limit one athlete per national team, per gender.
  5. Next will be athletes with USSA points less than 990.
  6. Next will be all athletes with USSA point values of 990. They will be seeded by random draw.
  7. Disabled "FIS" points are not are not recognized for seeding procedures.

Second Run, Women and Men:

  1. Blind athletes start first, prior to their gender, based on first run factored times, slowest time of the first 15 running first.

    The remainder of the second run will be "L" class athletes.
  2. Next will be the first 15 fastest athletes based on first run factored times, slowest time starting first.
  3. Next are all other athletes based on first run factored times, starting with 16th fastest time.

Notes:

In order to protect the integrity of disabled racing, and at the discretion of the organizing committee, it may be necessary to control the seeding of able-bodied athletes. The first 15 athletes will be seeded by USSA points with a maximum of five of the top able-bodied point holders in the first seed and the next 5 able-bodied racers will run 31-35, 46-50, etc., except in the presence of foreign nationals. If disabled foreign nationals are present, they will be seeded according to the Foreign National Rule.

[Back to Top]

COURSE SPECIFICATIONS/MODIFICATIONS

  1. DS/USA Level II qualifying races must meet USSA J3 course requirements for all events.
  2. USSA "Ski Up" waiver forms must be on file for J4 racers competing in Level II races.
  3. It is not recommended to allow USSA J5 or J6 disabled racers entry in DS/USA level II races. Exceptions must be documented and approved by the DS/USA Alpine Competition Committee. Documents required are: (1) Coaches Letter of Recommendation; and (2) USSA "Ski Up" Liability Release form.
  4. A minimum of 45 minutes will be allowed for competitors to enter the arena for course inspection.
  5. Course maintenance crews should be instructed to slip the course completely between gate poles. For SL races, the berm must be kept cleared around the turning pole. This procedure allows a clear passage of the outrigger during a SL race. Wide slips are required in all events eliminating any outside berm.

REGISTRATION/TEAM CAPTAINS MEETING

  1. Registration must be completed 24 hours prior to the start of the race.
  2. A team captains meeting will always be held before the race.
  3. No competitor may compete in more than one class.
  4. Any competitor who knowingly enters in the wrong class will be disqualified from the competition.
  5. Visiting national team members from foreign countries shall be eligible for preferential seeding (see SEEDING STRUCTURE #3) and the same privileges as USSA Members in the race.
  6. All competitors must be represented in the Team Captains Meeting. Race organizers should make it clear to competitors prior to the event that they should be represented by a club or team coach. Unrepresented competitors may attend the Team Captains Meeting, but are not eligible to vote regarding organizing committee or jury issues.
  7. Proof of level of disability must be presented to the race officials, when requested, prior to any race event, or the competitor shall not be permitted to race.

    Competitors in the "B" Class must have a licensed ophthalmologist report showing the corrected vision of both eyes in the categories stipulated in the Alpine Classes for B1, B2, and B3. Black-out lenses are required for athletes in the B1 class.

    All "L" competitors must have evidence of a Functional Classification Test, showing their level of disability.
  8. Athletes without proof of medical classification may be required to race in the ability class.
  9. A Competitor medically eligible for more than one classification must declare at the beginning of the season which class he/she will use for racing. Once declared, this race classification is permanent and cannot change without written authorization from the medical committee.

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL RULES

  1. Below-the-knee amputees skiing in L2 Class must ski without their prosthesis.
  2. Competitors in L2 Class with a disability other than amputation do not have to strap down their disabled leg.
  3. For Class L2, clear passage of a gate is when the ski tip and the center mount on the ski breaks the plane between the two poles of the gate.
  4. L6 competitors may use a prosthetic arm during the race.
  5. For Class L10-12, clear passage of a gate is when the ski tip and the center mount on the ski breaks the plane between the two poles of the gate.
  6. Classes L1, L10, L11 and L12 may be assisted to vertical position after a fall, during their run. No equipment retrieval or forward assistance may be given.
  7. Racers may not use the start gate or supports to assist their start. By order of the starter, racers must place poles or outriggers in front of start line or where indicated.
  8. Metal claw type brakes are not allowed on outriggers.
  9. L10, L11 and L12 may turn in the course during inspection to exit or enter the line, but they may not ski the line.
  10. The Jury may pull a competitor from any event for safety reasons.
  11. A binding release occurring more than two gates above the finish in SL, GS, SG or one gate above the finish in DH shall be considered a disqualification. Racers may not retrieve any lost equipment and continue on the race course.
  12. B1 Class competitors may run sections of the course during inspection, at safe speed.
  13. Blind Guides may have no deliberate physical contact with their competitor during their run.

    B Class competitors will be allowed to begin course inspection 10 minutes prior to posted inspection time.
  14. Blind competitors must provide their own guide.
  15. B1 and B2 competitors must ski with a guide. B3 competitors may or may not compete with a guide.
  16. For B1 and B2 competitors, loss of guide occurring more than 2 gates above the finish in SL, GS, or SG, or one gate above the finish in DH shall be considered a disqualification.
  17. Loss of guide for B3 competitors will not be considered a disqualification.
  18. Interference between guide and racer will not be considered as grounds for rerun or protest.
  19. USSA and FIS binding height rules shall apply to B1, B2, B3, L4, L5, and L6 classes only.

QUALIFYING STANDARDS FOR THE US DISABLED SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEN AND WOMEN

  1. Automatic Qualification - any event
    • USDST A, B or C Team Member
    • Foreign national team member (must have documentation confirmation letter from national governing body)
    • Foreign competitor - two (2) allowed per region - subject to petition and approval by DS/USA Alpine Competition Committee
  2. Technical Events Qualification - Giant Slalom and Slalom
    • Sighted/Stand-up     0-600 USSA/FIS points, any event
    • Sighted/Sit-down     0-700 USSA/FIS points, any event
    • Visually Impaired (B2,B3)    0-700 USSA/FIS points, any event
    • Visually Impaired (B1)    by petition and approval from DS/USA Alpine Competition Committee
  3. Speed Events Qualification - Super Giant Slalom and Downhill
    • Sighted/Stand-up    0-650 USSA/FIS points, any event
    • Sighted/Sit-down    0-750 USSA/FIS points, any event
    • Visually Impaired (B2,B3)   0-750 USSA/FIS points, any event
    • Visually Impaired (B1)    by petition and approval from DS/USA Alpine Competition Committee
  4. Masters
    • Competitors without USSA point profile, subject to petition and approval by the DS/USA Alpine Competition Committee upon submission of the official race results from USSA sanctioned regional youth or masters series race.
    • Competitors must complete and finish in at least four (4) events in respective series and finish in the top 25 percent of the field in their class.
    • Competitors with USSA point profiles will be allowed an additional 15 percent on USSA points cut-off level within applicable disability criteria for qualification.
  5. Juniors
    • The U.S. Disabled Ski Championships are open to USSA J-3 disabled competitors and up. J-4 disabled competitors requesting to compete must petition the DS/USA ACC for entry approval.

      Documents required:
      1. Coach's letter of recommendation
      2. Race results from Level II races
      3. USSA "ski up" liability release form

USSA J-5 and J-6 disabled competitors are not eligible for entry.
Regional Discretionary Quota
Men
Women
East 3 2
South 2 1
Central 2 1
Rocky Mountain 5 4
Inter-Mountain 3 2
Far West 2 1
Northwest 2 1
Alaska 2 1


Athletes seeking discretionary entry to the US Disabled Nationals must have their program coach petition the DS/USA Alpine Competition Committee, in writing, no later than 10 days prior to the start of championships. Requests should be complete with race results (or lack of) and any extenuating circumstances to be considered.

Petitions should be sent to:
     Disabled Sports/USA
     Attn: Alpine Competition Committee
     451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 100
     Rockville, MD 20850



QUALIFICATION CRITERIA FOR USA WORLD CUP ENTRY

Qualification Criteria (automatic)

  1. National Team Members
  2. 16 years old by December 31 (must meet USSA points criteria, National Team members exempt)
  3. USSA Points cut-off. Athletes must qualify in event category in which they intend to compete.

Any US automatic entries must be by petition to the Alpine Competition Committee and meet the following minimum criteria (USDST members exempt):
Technical Events Speed Events
B1 By petition to organizing committee through regional representation By petition to organizing committee through regional representation
B2-B3 450 USSA points or lower 550
L1-L9 325 USSA points or lower 400
L10-L12 450 USSA points or lower 550

 

Discretionary Entry Criteria

Any US discretionary entries must be by petition to the Alpine Competition Committee and meet the following minimum criteria:

A. Discretionary entries must have raced in at least (2) separate Level II qualifier events within current season.

B. Discretionary entries must not exceed 20% of the cut-off level for L1-L9 and 15% of the cut-off level for B2-B3 and L10-L11.

C. All discretionary entries must be submitted to the ACC no later than five days prior to race registration deadline.

D. USSA points acquired in Level II or USSA scored races immediately prior to World Cup but not yet on USSA points list, can be used for automatic or discretionary qualification.

Athlete Representation

US athletes must have certified coaching support at the event. Representation of US athletes at team captain's meetings will be by USDST staff.
 
  Home    |    Site Map    |    Visual Impairment (VI) Info    |    Contact Us
 

Copyright © 2009 by Disabled Sports USA.  All rights reserved.
Content may not be reprinted in part of or in whole without written permission from DS/USA.

Link to Home page Site Map Link to Visual Impairment Info Contact Us - email link