NYSSRA-Nordic Club Championship Series

The NYSSRA-Nordic Club series uses the same set of races as the NYSSRA Points Series to be counted toward the season-long Club Championship. The series culminates with the NYSSRA-Nordic Champions Cup weekend; with the club accumulating the most points from these events will be crowned, “current season” NYSSRA-Nordic Club Champions”, and will be awarded the Club Championship banner. Designated NYSSRA Series events are identified in the Cross Country schedule.

To be eligible to participate in the Club Championship Series:

The participating club must be NYSSRA-Nordic affiliated prior to scoring points in any event. Points scored before the affiliation process is completed will not be counted toward the clubs overall total.

Club members participating in an event must have a current NYSSRA-Nordic membership. And may only earn points for the club that they designated on their NYSSRA-Nordic membership form. In the absence of designation on the membership form, a skier will earn points only for the first club they represent during club series events

Club members must designate club affiliation on their race registration prior to the start of the event.

Points will be scored using the NYSSRA-Nordic points system. Club championship standings will be maintained and updated on the NYSSRA-nordic website www.nyssranordic.com.

We encourage New York State ski clubs & organizations to send members to these and other NYSSRA-Nordic sanctioned events. Clubs should have their members designate club affiliations on the NYSSRA-Nordic membership form, as well as on race registration materials.

NYSSRA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: FAQs

Can any club/team/group be involved? – Yes, as long as that group has officially been sanctioned by NYSSRA.

How do clubs score points? – Each member of a club who finishes a NYSSRA series race scores points for his/her club. The points scored are equal to his/her NYSSRA series points scored for that race. Clubs accumulate points over the course of the season.

What is a NYSSRA club series race? – All races designated as NYSSRA series races. Clubs score points for these races only.

What are this season’s club races? – All races listed in the cross country schedule as NYSSRA Series Races The final two club events are held during the NYSSRA Champions Cup weekend. There is a Club Championship Relay on Saturday, and the NYSSRA Champions Cup race on Sunday.

Who can I have on my club/team? – Anyone who is a NYSSRA member can count for your club. Skiers may only ski for one club during a season. Just make sure your club members designate their affiliation on their race entry form in order to be counted as part of your club.

So, I can have Virpi Kuitenen and Pettr Northug race for my club? – Yes, as long as they join NYSSRA and write their club affiliation on their race entry forms.

When are the awards Presented? – A single NYSSRA-Nordic Club Champion designated each season. This award will be given at the conclusion of the NYSSRA Champions Cup race. The winning club will be awarded the official NYSSRA-Nordic Club Championship Banner.

Ski season is almost here!

NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.’s executive board and competition committees met at SUNY IT in Utica, NY for the annual Fall Meeting.  At this meeting, the race calendar was set, competition committees reviewed their policies and programs and the board of delegates voted on items to help direct NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.

Some Meeting Highlights:

The Empire State Games are back (I guess they never were really gone).  However, competitors will now have to pay entry fees to ESG.  Scholastic and open competitors will pay $10, masters will pay $40  per sport.  Skiers will still have to qualify through NYSSRA Nordic, but they will have to register through ESG.  More details to come as we get closer to the Empire State Games.

NYSSRA Nordic will now have to push race organizers to be a little more organized.  Our insurance provider needs a little more info from race organizers, and race organizers need to be a little more timely with sanctioning fees and paperwork.  Larry Wilkinson has set a December 1 deadline for race organizers to get their forms in.  Sanctioning forms and information are available at www.nyssranordic.com.  Likewise, member clubs will need to fill out an additional form for sanctioning.  Contact Larry for more information.

NYSSRA VP, Dave Kvam and Biathlon Mucky Muck, Tom Moffett get in a good rollerski workout

Members of the Executive Board took part in the traditional “lunch rollerski” around the SUNY IT Campus.  The rain held off while members got in a good workout.

Memberships are now being handled 100% online.  NYSSRA is using Skireg.com to handle all memberships and database management.  There will be a “reminder to renew your membership” card sent to you in the mail soon, but feel free to join now!

Eric Hamilton accepts the NYSSRA Presidential Citation Award from Jim Kobak

The Shenendehowa Nordic Ski Club was awarded the NYSSRA Presidential Citation.  Accepting the award was Eric Hamilton.  Congratulations Shen!

The board of delegates approved a measure to change the NYSSRA by-laws, first proposed at the Fall 2008 meeting.  Now, the board of delegates will be made of representatives from our member clubs.  Thus, it is imperative that club leaders get their sanctioning forms and fees in order so that they can take advantage of this new benefit.  Each member club will have a vote on the board of delegates at NYSSRA meetings.  Clubs will have a say over the direction of NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.  Now is the time to join a local ski club, or even start one up in your hometown.

The new ski season is upon us.  It’s time to get out there and get ready to ski!

Jim Kobak

President

Fall is the time to renew your membership in NYSSRA Nordic. This season, all memberships will be done online through Skireg.com. Click on the link below to sign up!

MEMBERSHIP LINK

New for this season, members will be able to choose their own NYSSRA ID.  This will replace the NYSSRA Number as your unique identifier.  Renewing members that are attached to their NYSSRA number may choose to use that as their NYSSRA ID, or they can create their own NYSSRA IDs that may be easer to remember come race registration time.

First year Bill Koch skiers are still FREE!

Once again, NYSSRA has a membership partnership with NENSA.  All NYSSRA members will be given a complimentary membership to NENSA.  This will allow NYSSRA members to take part in NENSA races and events without paying additional fees… a $40 value!

Join NYSSRA Nordic today!

The NYSSRA Fall Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27 at SUNY-IT in Utica, NY.

The primary objectives of this meeting are for competition committees to preview and assess the upcoming ski season, and to finalize the schedule of events for the upcoming season. Committee Chairmen will have breakout sessions in the morning where interested members are encouraged to contribute.  If you would like to contribute to the committee meetings, plan to come to Utica on Sept 27, or please contact the following committee chairmen:

Cross Country:  Larry Wilkinson nordic@roadrunner.com

Biathlon:  Carl Klossner  c_klossner@hotmail.com

Ski-O, Bill Koch:  Eric Hamilton ejh.bkh@juno.com

Mid-A/JO:  Margaret Maher margm@nysef.org

Membership, Local Clubs Jim Kobak kobak1791w@yahoo.com

In the afternoon session, an open executive meeting will take place where competition committees will report, events schedule will be reviewed, and business items will be discussed.  During this meeting, our voting members approve programs and appropriation of funds.  Our voting members include each of the above competition committee chairmen, the executive officers and regional representatives.  Feel free to contact your regional representatives about issues you feel need to be discussed at this meeting.  They, in turn will forward agenda items to me.  Our secretary, Eric Hamilton, will finalize and publish the fall meeting agenda by mid-September. Here is the contact information for regional representatives:

Central:

Russ Myer rmyer@nycap.rr.com , John Nabors john-nabors@olympic.net

Northern Adirondack:

Jim Kobak kobak1791w@yahoo.com, Margaret Maher margm@nysef.org

Southeastern:

Janice Sibilia jansibilia@aol.com , Paul Kuznia (845-265-3773)

Southern Adirondack

Darwin Roosa  roosmean@acmenet.net , Eric Hamilton ejh.bkh@juno.com, Doug Diehllakegeorgesummer@yahoo.com

West Central

Barb Pudiak (pudiak@fronteirnet.net) , Anna Gorbold teamgorb@rochester.rr.com , Ruth Hayesgammu@juno.com

Western

Dan Schwenk djschwenk@rochester.rr.com

In between sessions, a number of us will participate in a rollerski interval workout on the SUNY-IT campus roads.  If you choose to go to the meeting, feel free to bring your rollerskis and a helmet.

Memberships for the 2009-10 season will be available online soon… get excited for the upcoming NYSSRA ski season!

Russ Myer is putting together a group of members to serve as race officials for the upcoming season.   He has forwarded the following for me to post on this blog:

The recent NYSSRA nordic spring meeting featured a discussion on the merits of forming a group of able-bodied technical delegates (race officials) that could be present at NYSSRA sanctioned ski events.  
The purpose of this delegate would be to ensure the safety of the course, proper organization has been 
in place by the race director, and results and timing are accurate and efficient.  NYSSRA would like to 
know if there are people who might be willing to participate in nordic events in this way.  All the 
training and guidance would be provided at a workshop in the fall and canidates would be fully 
reinburced for the training as well as travel.  Compensation would also be provided for race day travel 
and TD services.  If you are interested in learning how to be a nordic technical delegate please send 
your name and contact information to Russ Myer at Rmyer@nycap.rr.com or call at (518) 729-3780.

delegates hard at work... NYSSRA Spring meeting 09

The annual NYSSRA Spring meeting was held on Sunday, May 3 in Utica.  At this meeting, committees met in the morning to work on schedules and other issues.  A “power lunch” rollerski session took place.  Then, the board of delegates heard committee reports and worked on business items in the afternoon.

Dave Kvam and Tim Huneck enjoy a power lunch workout

 Highlights from the meeting include:

The ESGs will return for 2010.  The Empire State Games are being restructured, but they reported to NYSSRA Nordic, Inc. that they plan to go on as usuall in 2010.  The ESGs will take place on the weekend of 2/27-28

Old Forge will be hosting the 2010 NYSSRA Championships.  This will take place on either the first or second weekend in March, and will not conflict with the Mid-A Bill Koch Festival (site TBA).

NYSSRA Membership will only be available online for the 09-10 season.  More details will be released soon, but fees will not change.  This will greatly increase our efficiency and make our membership database more accurate and reliable.

NYSSRA Nordic will begin a Race Officials training program.  This has been spearheaded by Russ Myer.  The hope is that a pool of trained NYSSRA Race Officials will be available for race organizers to use as Technical Delegates at their events.  If you are interested in becoming a NYSSRA Race Official, or are interested inhelping Russ on this committee, contact rmyer@nycap.rr.com 

The Website will continue to be “tweaked.”  The board of delegates worked together to smooth the design of our website.  Webmaster, David Kvam will continue to make changes to the website.  He is open to suggestions.  Contact dakvam@orion.naz.edu if you have suggestions for the NYSSRA website.

The 2009-10 preliminary race schedule is now online… check it out 

Tim Huneck accepts the A.W.A.R.D from Eric Hamilton

 Several awards were given out at the meeting.  Including the Secretary’s Cup, The A.W.A.R.D. and the NYSSRA Club Championship Banner.  Eric Hamilton, Tim and Austin Huneck won the A.W.A.R.D for accumulated race distance.  Justyna Wilkinson won the Secretary’s Cup for the Bill Koch Festival.  And NYSEF NORDIC won the Club Champions Banner for their success during the 2008-09 ski season.

Coach Margaret Maher accepts the Championship banner from Jim Kobak

NYSSRA Nordic thanks all of the delegates and Committee members who spent a full day working in Utica for our organization.  Your efforts and hard work are duly noted and appreciated.  The annual Fall meeting will take place on Sunday 9/27, but the site is still TBA.  Stay tuned to the NYSSRA blogroll for more information and updates as we progress towards the 2009-10 season.

NYSSRA Spring Meeting:  May 3, 2009.  SUNY-IT, Utica, NY.

The annual Spring Meeting is approaching.  The primary objectives of this meeting are for competition committees to review and assess the last ski season, and to schedule events for the upcoming season. Committee Chairmen will have breakout sessions in the morning where interested members are encouraged to contribute.  If you would like to contribute to the committee meetings, plan to come to Utica on May 3, or please contact the following committee chairmen:

Cross Country:  Larry Wilkinson nordic@roadrunner.com

Biathlon:  Tim Halliday  thalliday@adelphia.net

Ski-O, Bill Koch:  Eric Hamilton ejh.bkh@juno.com

Mid-A/JO:  Margaret Maher margm@nysef.org

Membership, Local Clubs Jim Kobak kobak1791w@yahoo.com

In the afternoon session, an open executive meeting will take place where competition committees will report, events will be scheduled, and business items will be discussed.  During this meeting, our voting members approve programs and appropriation of funds.  Our voting members include each of the above competition committee chairmen, the executive officers and regional representatives.  Feel free to contact your regional representatives about issues you feel need to be discussed at this meeting.  They, in turn will forward agenda items to me.  Our secretary, Eric Hamilton, will finalize and publish the spring meeting agenda by the end of April.  Here is the contact information for regional representatives:

Central:

Russ Myer rmyer@nycap.rr.com , John Nabors john-nabors@olympic.net

Northern Adirondack: 

Jim Kobak kobak1791w@yahoo.com, Margaret Maher margm@nysef.org

Southeastern: 

Janice Sibilia jansibilia@aol.com  , Paul Kuznia (845-265-3773)

Southern Adirondack

Darwin Roosa  roosmean@acmenet.net  , Eric Hamilton ejh.bkh@juno.com, Doug Diehl lakegeorgesummer@yahoo.com

West Central

Barb Pudiak (pudiak@fronteirnet.net) , Anna Gorbold teamgorb@rochester.rr.com , Ruth Hayes gammu@juno.com

Western

Dan Schwenk djschwenk@rochester.rr.com

In between sessions, a number of us will participate in a rollerski interval workout on the SUNY-IT campus roads.  If you choose to go to the meeting, feel free to bring your rollerskis and a helmet.

An item to be discussed at the afternoon session will be an update from the Empire State Games Organization.  Presidents’ citations, AWARD and Club Championship awards will be presented. Likewise, liability insurance items will also be discussed.  Another item on the agenda will be a proposed change to the bylaws.  Currently, Regional Representatives are allowed voting rights to direct NYSSRA.  I would like to see this changed to allow Member Clubs to have voting rights.  My belief is that the grass-roots effort of Member Clubs does the most to develop the sport, and NYSSRA should allow them to direct our organization.  This would be another reason to sanction a club with NYSSRA, and another reason for members to join a local Member Club.  My proposal was presented to the voting members at the Fall meeting ’08 (can be found here), and will be voted on at the Spring meeting.  Please contact your regional representative to let him/her know how you feel about this potential change.

NYSSRA Nordic, Inc. is a volunteer organization.  Our committee chairmen, regional representatives and executive committee members are all volunteers who are committed to Nordic ski sports and have dedicated hours and hours of their time to the growth of Nordic ski sports in New York State.  All of our members are encouraged to get involved.  Join a local club.  Attend the spring meeting.  Send your representatives your input.  And thanks again for supporting NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.

Jim Kobak

President.  NYSSRA Nordic, Inc.

Just over a week ago, NYSSRA Nordic’s Cross Country champions were crowned.  The Saratoga Biathlon Club did an awesome job hosting the event.  Throughout the season, race organizers send me their results and I sort through the data to compile points.  At the end of the season, I have a trememdous amount of data and thought the members of NYSSRA Nordic would be interested in some of it.

This season there were 848 skiers who participated in at least one NYSSRA sanctioned cross country race!  Of course many of these skiers did multiple races, for a total of 1873 skier-races.  How exciting it is to think that almost 1900 finish lines were crossed during our ski season.  Of our active members, 386 of them, 232 men, 154 women skied in at least one NYSSRA XC event.  Our largest participating group were the mens masters; 92 members skied through 330 races.  Below is a sample of some of the data collected and compiled over the season.

Most overall race wins 2008-09 season

Most age-class wins 2008-09 season

Fastest Individual Distance Races  2008-09 (at least 15 km)

Most top-3 overall finishes… 2008-09

I have posted lists like the ones above of some interesting data that had been compiled over the course of the season.  Active members can find their average speed per race, average finish position overall and in their age group, and average % back from the winner of the race.  Check out the stats at http://www.nyssranordic.com/2008_09_NYSSRA_Stats.htm