Granite Peak Ski Team

Concerning the weather, if there is a practice or race scheduled and the Granite Peak Ski Area is open, coaches will be there and practice or the race will be held.  If some severe situation develops to alter this policy we will inform you in advance.  Remember to check the Bulletin Board on the GPST home page for the latest updates.  It is up to you to decide if it is safe to drive and to ski.

The following are basic rules that every racer must know when entering the race season. More information will be provided by the team coaches and through team training and education meetings.

Racers must observe and following Skier’s Responsibility Code

1. Always ski in control and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way.
3. You must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail look uphill and yield to others.
5. Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
7. Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge to load, ride and unload safely.

All racers MUST wear their racing bibs for ALL GPST, WIJARA, and USSA races.  Racing bibs must be worn on the outside of race suits, vests or coats so they are visible to the race staff and officials.  A racer without a racing bib will not be allowed to race. 

The race sequence begins with a time designated for the racers to inspect the course.  Racers are required to stay outside the gates. Depending on weather and snow conditions, some races will allow racers to “slip” or snowplow through the gates.  Check with your coach before slipping a course.  Racers are NEVER allowed to ski the course before racing.  A GPST coach or parent will usually be there to help the racers do their inspection.  Inspection will be closed at a designated time and racers will be asked to clear the course. Race officials may then ask volunteers to slip the course to smooth the snow and prepare/maintain the course for racing.

The following will result in disqualification from a race:

• Missing a gate
• Skiing outside the course boundary
• Loosing a ski (except last gate – see coach for details)
• Poor sportsmanship including the use of foul language
• Failing to complete the course from start to finish
• A racer is required to ski off the course and not finish the race if he/she is disqualified from a race.

A racer who falls without loosing a ski is allowed to continue. (A racer loosing a ski one gate or less from the finish line may finish the race without disqualification.)  Depending upon where a racer ends up after their fall they may need to “hike” back up the hill to properly complete the course.  Gate Judges will tell the racer where s/he needs to go to properly complete the course.  Racers must yield right of way to other racers as not to interfere with the next racer. 

Prior to staring the race, the race officials will designate volunteer “forerunners” to be the first skiers on the course.  The forerunner cannot be a participant in the race.  This is the final test that the timer is functioning properly and that the course is properly and safely set.

A gate is the imaginary line between to poles of the same color (red or blue).  Slalom (SL) gates are comprised of two poles – one on each side making up the gate.  Giant Slalom (GS) and Super G (SG) gates have two poles of the same color with a matching panel on each side, making up the gate.  A racer must “break the plane” (the imaginary line between the poles) with the tips of both of their skis and both of their boots (in any direction).  It does not matter if any other part of the racer breaks the plane of the gate.

Racers MUST wear helmets for ALL JART, WIJARA, and USSA races and team practice sessions.  A racer without a helmet will not be allowed to participate.

A race course is skied as fast as possible while going through the gates in the proper sequence.  Electronic devices automatically capture the racer’s time.  Gate Judges are stationed along the course to insure each racer completes the course properly.  Depending on conditions, two or three racers may be on the course at any given time.

Racers are given a chance to rerun the course if the electronic timer fails, there is a problem with the course or there is interference by a spectator or other racer.  The race officials decide disqualifications and re-runs.

Each race has a predetermined start order.  JART Races are run in order by class, starting with the youngest class.  JART Races do not specify racer order within a class.  WIJARA and USSA and most other races start orders are set for each race by the race organizers and published prior to the race.  Within a class individual racers are in random order, to assure each racer within a class receives the same opportunity.  Line-up volunteers help arrange the racers in the start order.  IT IS EACH RACERS RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THERE WHEN THEIR NUMBER IS CALLED.  Each race is run a little differently.  A racer arriving late due to taking a practice run, slow lift lines, etc. may race if his/her class has not completed.  A racer is not allowed to start (and should not attempt to start) if his/her class has completed.  A racer must speak with a Race Official to receive a Provisional Run if the racer misses his/her class start.  Decisions regarding resetting the course and lunch breaks are made on the spot.  Racers need to check with the coaches at the starting area periodically to find out the status of their race.

Additional Racing Information

1. NEVER DISTURB THE PEOPLE IN THE TIMING BUILDING.  NEVER!
2. It is up to each racer to know where and when they are supposed to be and to be there.