2007-2008 Rules for Ski-O Qualifying and Points

1. There are eight competitive classes - four age classes with separate divisions for men and women. The age classes are:

   • Scholastic - racers must be enrolled in high school, middle school, or elementary school or equivalent
   • Open - any racers who are not classified as scholastic competitors
   • Masters - racers must be 40 to 54 years of age
   • Grand Masters - racers must be aged 55 or older

2. A maximum of 20 racers in each class will be invited to compete at the Empire State Games. In classes where more than 20 persons qualify, the top 20 will be invited, as determined by the Points Standings, which are outlined below.

3. Each competitor must be:

   • a member of the New York State Ski Racing Association - Nordic, Inc. (NYSSRA - Nordic), or
   • a member of an Orienteering Club based in New York state, and chartered by the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF), or
   • a member of the United State Orienteering Federation (USOF) or the Canadian Orienteering Federation (COF).

4. All other United States Orienteering Federation (USOF) rules governing the sport of Ski Orienteering shall apply at all ESG Ski-O events.

5. Each competitor must enter a minimum of two ESG Qualifying races and successfully complete one, in the class in which you wish to compete at the Empire State Games. Note that Empire State Games rules now require that all individuals must compete in the same generic class in all sports in which they enter into the Empire State Games. Thus, while you may compete in any class possible for your age, you cannot compete (for instance) in a "Masters" class in Cross Country or Biathlon, and then compete in the "Open" class in Ski-O. You will have to compete either "Open" in all, or "Masters" in all (in the appropriate grouping as divided by the different competitions). This is not true in Qualifying events (you can race on whatever course you like), but your results and point totals will NOT be cumulative across classes.

6. Scholastic competitors may qualify by entering and successfully completing only one race, IF they submit a written petition the Ski-O Chairperson, and can demonstrate that they could not enter more Ski-O races due to conflicts with other XC Races which they had to enter for their School Team. Petitions should be received by Eric Hamilton not later than Saturday, February 9, 2008 (ejh dot bkh at juno dot com or 67 Pico Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065).

7. At ESG Qualifying races, points will be scored for the first six places in each class and for completing three or more races in a single class:

   • 1st - 10 points
   • 2nd - 8 points
   • 3rd - 6 points
   • 4th - 4 points
   • 5th - 2 points
   • 6th - 1 point

   Bonus Points:

   • 1 bonus point awarded for finishing third race
   • 2 bonus points awarded for finishing fourth race
   • 3 bonus points awarded for finishing fifth and each additional race

8. Points can be earned in multiple classes, but will NOT be added together. Competitors are responsible to see that their times and points are correctly recorded in the class they intended to enter. If someone qualifies in more than one class, it will be assumed they will compete at the ESGs in the class wherein they earned the most points. Otherwise, they MUST advise Eric Hamilton of their preferred class by Saturday, February 9, 2008.

9. A Ski-O Meet Director, and a maximum of one additional event official (whose identity must be reported along with the Meet Results), receive credit for completing an event and 5 bonus points.

10. The ski-O Points standings will be used to determine who qualifies for the Empire State Games Ski-O. They will also determine the order of starts at the ESG Ski-O, with competitors having lower point totals starting earlier, and those with higher points starting later.

11. NYSSRA "Season" recognition will be based on the "regular season" points standings. ESG Results will NOT be factored into this determination.

Questions regarding these Rules should be directed to Eric Hamilton (ejh dot bkh at juno dot com).

Points Standings, plus schedule updates and other relevant information, will be posted on the Empire Orienteering Club (EMPO) web site: http://empo.us.orienteering.org/ski-o/. The selection committee will choose the ESG Finals participants by the end of the day on February 20, 2008. Note that the NYS ESG Office will no longer notify participants that they qualify for the ESGs. Prospective athletes should check the ESG web site (www.empirestategames.org) after February 14, 2008, to find their name, and obtain information on how to complete the registration process, registration hours in Lake Placid, etc.

Ski-O Meet Directors: To help with timely posting of the standings, meet directors must e-mail results to Eric Hamilton as soon as possible, preferably by Monday night after their event. (Meet directors of meets on the February 9 and 10 must report by the end of the same day as the event.) You must identify which membership any individual is identifying as how they choose to qualify for the Empire State Games:

• NYSSRA (Identify as "NYSSRA". Entry fees for NYSSRA ESG Ski-O qualifiers should include the $2 NYSSRA head tax. Within 10 days after the meet, directors must forware the head tax along with another copy of the results to NYSSRA treasurer Lee Mahood.)
• A Local NY Orienteering Club (Identify in which NY Club the entrant is a "paid-up" member; this will be verified with Club Officials.)
• A USOF or COF member (Identify the national federation to which the entrant is a "paid-up" member, and include their USOF or COF Membership Number; this will be verified with federation officials.)

last updated: --Mon Nov 05 2007 11:13:03 PM EST--