Competition Task Force 2006

1. Competition Task Force2006

2. Objectives - April 2003 • Put competition into ALL AREAS of tournament skiing. • Create an integrated rating/ranking system with a meaningful nomenclature from beginner to world class levels. • Create a REASON for increased competition in tournaments

3. Why Change Our System? • Current system places too much focus on ratings. Ski and your done. • Local level competition needs more skiers to make an event. Age-based, rating system is individual-focused. • Need a system that uses a similar structure from top to bottom, not just at the advanced levels. • Establish a format for a “National System” of ability-based competition.

4. The Initial Proposal • Concept was tailored to the existing base of tournament skiers because competition was limited at the local level. • Nationals, Regionals and States were already competitive so they would fit nicely in a placement-based strategy. • CTF suggested changing the qualification process for Nationals to an Advance By Placement (ABP) system. • PROPOSAL FAILED – In part because the change was too dramatic from the existing system.

5. Additional Steps Taken • Rankings web site (TRA) became operational in September 2005 and provided a framework for a more interactive system of rankings and qualifying. • CTF took direction from the AWSA Board to consider an alternate approach that would use a rankings approach and limit the impact on the National qualifiers.

6. CTF 2006 New Objectives • Establish a Nationals qualification system based upon the AWSA Official Ranking List (i.e. “12-Month Rolling”). • Utilize the current Ratings Committee procedures and percentages for establishing the projected number of qualifiers. • Create new methods of Nationals qualification to encourage tournament participation and enhance Regional tournament competition, including “Advance By Placement.” • Support the implementation of “Zero Based Scoring” in slalom to promote a nationally-recognized system for ability-based competition with built-in handicapping.

7. The ranking list dynamics • Web based, 12 month rolling list on HQ’s website, constantly updated as tournament data is received • Displays all skiers that have skied in a tournament including NSL events and ranks them by state, region, and nation • Divided into 10 ability levels with levels 3-8 being equivalent to the performance percentages previously used to determine the 5 rating levels. • The CTF is still decided when changing divisions, if the parameters of the skiers new division do not change, if scores will roll over from year to year. • A skier’s rankings list average in each event is an average of his top 5 Slalom, top 3 Jump or top 3 Trick scores achieved at any Class C or above tournament within the last 12 months. • The current penalty system that has always been used for seeding still applies • All tournament scores class C and above, including regionals and nationals, will be equally weighted.

8. Rankings List Champions • Rankings list champions will be crowned based on the calendar year in each division for slalom, tricks, jump, and overall with recognition via certificate, and acknowledgment on the website and magazine

9. National Qualification All skiers ranked level 8 in any event or overall the Wednesday 3 weeks prior to nationals (cutoff date) will receive an automatic invite to nationals. At that time the rankings average of the last ranked skier in level 8 in each divisions/event will be established as the cut off average (COA). Qualifiers from the ranking list as of the CO Date are protected. A “qualified” skier cannot become “unqualified,” even though that skier’s ranking value may drop below the COA, due to scores posted on TRA after cut-off date or older scores dropping out of the skier’s ranking value.

10. Last Chance Qualifying After the cutoff date any skiers who did not receive an automatic invite can still qualify for nationals through last chance qualifying methods (LCQ’s). • Last Chance #1 – Skiers may qualify for Nationals by improving their ranking value above COA, at any time during the period from CO Date to Nationals. • Last Chance #2 – Skiers may qualify for Nationals by scoring at or above the COA at the Regional tournament.

11. Qualification By Placement • Qualify By Placement # 1 - Top 5 placements in each event and overall at “Regional Tournament” qualify for Nationals, regardless of rating or ranking. • Qualify By Placement # 2 - Top 5 placements in each event and overall at “Previous National Tournament” qualify, regardless of rating or ranking.

12. Comparison • AWSA Board directed CTF to compare any new proposal to the existing system to insure the impact on the numbers of people qualifying for Nationals was neutral. • Current system produces 2,083 national qualifiers. Of those, 1899 qualify by EP rating and 187 by regional placement. • Proposed system would produce 2,099 Nationals qualifiers, with 1,860qualifying by ranking list and 239 by regional placement. • 137 new skiers would qualify for nationals that previously didn’t while 165 skiers who previously qualified via ratings would not have made it via our proposal however, only 8 percent of those actually attended the Nationals last year anyways.

13. Qualifiers in Current & New Systems

14. Important Benefits • Promotes competition every weekend between skiers across the country. • Focus on web-based ranking list means increased interaction between skiers and USA Waterski. • Individual tournaments are more meaningful, since scores will be used in ranking value throughout the season. • Enhances importance of Regional tournaments.

15. Additional Benefits • Increased tournament participation. • A first step toward a true competition based system. • Rankings (vs Ratings) provide a more understandable format for new participants. • The rankings list itself will provide value to USA Waterski, as well as its sponsors and advertisers. • Structure promotes alternative formats, such as handicapping, ability-based groupings, etc.