This document summarizes the race operations rules used by the Far West Masters division and the recommended conventions for the easiest way to set up the standard Split Second Timing software to run a FWM race.
A detailed list of the FW age classes, with start order and SST coding conventions, is provided in Age Classes Summary.
This material, along with supporting documents containing detailed instructions, membership reports, and Split Second support files are available in the Race Services section of the Far West Masters web site at http://farwestmasters.org/raceservices
If you have any questions on this information or suggestions for improvements, please contact Deb Lewis, Director of Race Operations Services and Scoring for the Far West Masters
Far West Masters run in 10-year age classes for masters competitors age 21 and up. A special Open class is also formed from the fastest racers across all age groups, as described in the Start Order Summary section below. Racers under 21 are welcomed, but compete in separate classes and are not eligible for awards or the Open class.
Competitors must have a current USSA masters license or take out a Temporary ("weekend") USSA competitors license. This is mandatory and any temp license paperwork MUST be filled out properly to ensure insurance coverage for the race.
Competitors are encouraged to join the Far West Masters, but are not required to do so. Far West Masters members have permanent stretch bib numbers assigned to them that are used in all races; all other competitors are assigned temporary race numbers starting from 900 and given a paper bib to use for the race weekend.
The current FW membership report is posted on the FWM web site and updated regularly throughout the season. FW member dues status is generally current to within a week or so; USSA license status is updated less frequently - roughly monthly, according to when we can obtain updates from USSA - and can be verified using the USSA Member Lookup feature on ussa.org web site.
First run start order: random draw within age class. Age class start order is women and men's classes 80 and 70, all other women in descending age, followed by all other men in descending age. For a speed event (SG or DH), Open class is elected by racers when they register and runs at the end of all women's and men's classes, respectively.
Second run start order: slowest-to-fastest within age class by first run time. Open classes are formed from the overall fastest 5 women and 10 men from the first run and start after the 50's class. Racers may elect not to compete in Open class if they wish to remain in their age class; if so, their slot goes unused and Open class size is reduced accordingly. Racers who were DNF or DSQ on the first run may take a second run starting at the end of their class, after qualified competitors.
At the end of each season, the Far West Masters award special "leader bibs" to the top 10 men and the top 5 women in the overall season standings. These top racers wear special colored leader bibs throughout the following season to highlight their accomplishment.
The leader bibs are colored red and numbered 1-10 for the top 10 men, while the top 5 women wear yellow bibs numbered 1-5. All other racers wear the standard white Far West bib with numbers starting at 20.
In order to have unique bib numbers in the timing system computer and on the hill, the leader bibs are encoded in the timing system data with the bib number followed by a letter indicating the color - R for men, Y for women (i.e., 1R, 2R, ... 10R for the top 10 men; 1Y, 2Y, ... 5Y for the top 5 women). Click this link for the detailed list of the FWM Leader Bib assignments for the current season.
You must be using the current version of the Split Second Timing (SST) software (version 5.1n of the USSA/FIS software for the 2004-2005 season). The race data file should be set up as Masters Alpine, with the appropriate discipline selected. Men and women competitors are alll entered into a single Competitors list in the race file, since masters competitors generally compete on the same course. Separate USSA race codes for both men and women must be obtained from USSA for the race; you can use either of the two allocated codes for the race in the USSA Code field of the Header page in SST.
Masters and officials points list files to support data entry are published by USSA and can be downloaded using the usual SST facilities. Race header, officials, and run data information is entered as usual for a USSA Alpine race.
IMPORTANT: The standard SST masters facilities are configured for the 5-year national age class groups and start order, which is NOT CORRECT for a FWM division race. You need to use the following conventions in competitor entries for a FWM masters race in SST:
Using the Team field to contain a start order code corresponding to the age class is critical for simplifying race operations - it allows you to easily generate start lists in age class start order.
To simplify RA work and minimize manual data entry, a prepared SST race entry file is provided for download from the FWM web site. This "master FWM race file" contains Competitor entries for all current FW members, with correct age class code, Team field class start order codes, and permanent bib number values already entered. Download and store the FWMasters-MasterRaceEntry.xml race data file in your SST directory (C:\My Documents\SplitSecond\Alpine and Snowboard), renaming the file as appropriate to identify your location and race date, then open the race in SST in the usual fashion and use the competitor's Club field in this file to mark racers who are entering your event (use letter R or X to mark entered competitors). When entries are completed and you are ready to create the entry and start lists, sort the race competitors using the Club field, select all competitors who are not entered, and delete them from the race data so that you're left with the actual competitors.
Detailed instructions on the Split Second setup conventions and procedures are posted on the FWM web site.
At the end of each race, a copy of the race results data must be provided to the Far West Masters. A representative will be designated to receive the results data file; this will typically be either the Operations director or other officer of FWM or one of the race officials provided by Far West for the event. Data file formats that accepted:
To save the SST race data file onto a floppy disk: while working with the race in SST, use the Save As... operation in the File menu - simply select your floppy drive and give the saved copy a file name which identifies the race site/date.
To send the SST race data file by email: you'll need to attach the file to the email message, using the usual procedures of your email program for selecting the file to attach to the message to choose the race data file from your SST race data directory (C:\My Documents\SplitSecond\Alpine and Snowboard).
SST warnings: the Send SkiData Files operation in SST can be used to generate a SkiData export, but ONLY if you save the export to a file on your hard drive or a floppy disk. The E-mail option simply doesn't work for masters (doesn't include the SkiData Mnnnn.txt file and the FIS XML generated for a masters race is broken, doesn't include competitor times).
A printed copy of the official race results report must be submitted in the race package to USSA at the completion of the event, along with the TD reports. Masters races are not scored races for USSA, so results data files do not need to be submitted to USSA.
Contact Information
Deb Lewis
Director of Race Operations Services and Scoring, Far West Masters
Email: Deb Lewis
Last updated: 13-Feb-2005