All Down to Champs

After a season of epic snow and quality racing around the NYSSRA club scene the official race season gets ready to wrap up with one big weekend of racing in Lake Placid.  The NYSSRA Championship weekend is ready to go and this year there is truly a race for everyone and the club points series has never been tighter.  There is still time to register so visit this link and register by Thursday, March 5th.

Here is a breakdown of the events being offered and the course maps for the weekend.  We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Lake Placid and celebrating the end of a great points series with our end-of-year potluck.  HURT nordic is hosting the weekend and looking to make it better than ever.

NYSSRA Championship Weekend
Hosted by the Hudson United Racing Team March 7-8, 2015

–Saturday, Mar. 7th (morning)

8:30 bib pickup,  9:00am zero, 10:00 am start Individual Biathlon Sprint Biathlon Championship.

-Mt. Van Hoevenberg biathlon side ski trails. Registration is in waxing building
-Registration fee: $25.00 (includes a ticket to the post championship celebration on March 8th)
-The age group divisions of our biathlon championship have two different race distances: 7.5K and 10K depending.

–Saturday, Mar. 7th
12:30pm Ski Orienteering Championships Day #1

-This race will be held at Mt. VanHoevenberg.  Biathlon Building (first complex on your right as you drive in from Rte 73)

–Saturday, March 7th (afternoon)

1:00 pm Club Championship Relay race. This is a fun community-oriented competition designed to bring together athletes from all NYSSRA disciplines.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg biathlon side trails. This race will be 6 x 2K Loop

The relay will be 6 legs and you can sign in with a team of 2 or 3 skiers:

1st loop:  classic leg,  2nd loop: classic leg,  3rd loop: skate leg,  4th loop: skate leg,  5th leg:skate leg with ski-o component, 6th leg: skate leg with biathlon stop and corresponding penalty loops.

The member of your relay team who is designated to ski the 5th leg of the relay will be given a ski-o punch card prior to the start of the race.  They will be required to stop at a flag location along the race loop and punch their card prior to tagging off to the final leg.  This is designed to mimic the actions taken in ski-o racing.

If your relay team of 2, 3 has a biathlete on it, that person will ski the final leg with their rifle, enter the range, shoot 5 shots prone and ski the corresponding penalty loops.  Once they complete the penalty loops they will cross the finish line and clock their final relay time.    There will be a safety and handling course held one hour before the start of the race.  All 5 shots will be fired prone at standing (large size) targets.  There will be a few loaner biathlon rifles on hand for newbies and  to try your hand at shooting. You will ski with a weighted bag, exchange it in the range for a rifle, shoot, pick up your bag and ski the appropriate penalty loops.  

Perhaps you are part of a ski club that does not have a someone who wants to shoot? Don’t worry about it! Make a relay team and come out and compete.  Your team of 2, 3 will be required to have your final skier ski the last skate leg with a backpack that weighs more than 7.7 lbs (the weight of a biathlon rifle).  Teams should bring their own weighted backpack and weigh-in will take place during the safety course. When your final skier skis to the range they will ski through the range  and ski 6 penalty loops prior to crossing the finish line.  So there is no excuse!  Come out with your teammates, make a relay team and come out and ski!

-Sunday, March 8th (morning)

9:00 am NYSSRA Championship Individual Championship XC Race. THIS WILL BE A “CLASSIC” RACE.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg XC trails. This will be on a looped course that we will ski 3 times. Competitors will be allowed to switch skis once as they pass in the stadium, if they choose. A location will be designated along the race course, in the stadium, for those athletes that wish to exercise this option.

–Sunday, March 8th

10:00am NYSSRA Championship Ski-O event day #2

Sunday, March 8 – The Visitors Interpretive Center (VIC) at Paul Smiths College (1 mile north of junction of Rts 30 & 86, approx. 10 miles north-west of Saranac Lake).

–Sunday, March 8th (afternoon)

11:30am NYSSRA Try-It 5K

Finished with the xc championship race and want to do your cool down for a good cause? Grab the whole family and put your skis on for a fun, family ski to raise money for Alzheimer’s research!  You can sign up now, or even wait until last minunte to register.  Day-of registration will be available for this Try-It race!

This 5K loop will be held on the BIATHLON SIDE XC trails. This will be a 5K classic ski for our NYSSRA members new to nordic ski racing. We have partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association this year and are encouraging touring skiers, families and skiers of all ages to join us for a fun, healthy Nordic ski event. We would want to hold this on a non-looped less challenging course and it would be a mass-start ski. You are welcome to skate or classic. ALL  Proceeds from this 5K ski will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central NY on behalf of NYSSRA Nordic. You can register for this race at the venue!
12:30pm – NYSSRA CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS PARTY!!

When these last two events culminate we would like to have all our skiers gather together in the XC stadium Lodge for all-season awards, Wilkinson Cup awards, race awards and a festive get-together. This will include food and drink provide by the Families of the Hudson United Racing Team!  Come and celebrate a great end to the club racing season.