Wasatch Citizens Series
The Wasatch Citizens Series (WCS) ski races have been Utah's premier nordic
skiing events since 1979. When the US Ski Team moved its coaching staff to
Park City in the 1980's, the WCS became a training ground for many of the
country's top skiers. The Park City Junior Nordic Ski Team has launched
several young athletes to national recognition, and some of our older
participants have consistently won National Masters titles. Members of the
last three U.S. Olympic Teams, Laura McCabe and Wendy Wagner, began their
skiing careers in our races.
The WCS consists of five events held each year at the major cross country ski areas along the Wasatch Front and Back. Two classical technique and three free technique races are included to provide the balance local athletes need to prepare for national and international competition.
In addition to our 18 age categories for each gender, the WCS includes novice classes for adults and children, to encourage beginners to get involved in the sport. There are also expert classes, for University and US Ski Team skiers and those who wish to compete at that level, and sitski classes for disabled athletes. Awards are given to the top three finishers in each of these groups at each race. Participants' ages range from less than 5 to more than 70, and many families regularly attend the races.
Points are awarded to each racer according to finish place in their class. (Details of WCS scoring is explained below.) Points are accumulated over the entire season, and special prizes are awarded to the top three skiers in each class. To see points lists for the current and past winters, click here. To see results for the current and past winters, click here.
Principal sponsor for the 2011/2012 WCS is Smartwool. Our thanks to RJ Guiney (Mountain Source) for his help in securing that sponsorship.
Various local retailers act as individual event sponsors: Wild Rose, White Pine, REI, ZB Sports, and Wasatch Touring. An energy bar and either a block or gel is donated by Clif Bar for each of our participants at each race. Also, lunch is provided at the first, third, and last races, compliments of: Midvalley Animal Clinic, Nate Wade Subaru, and Intermountain Bobcat.
A number of companies provide products that are given out after the races by random drawing: Allen Wealth Management (financial planning), Atomic (skis, boots, poles, gear), Black Diamond (gloves, headlamps), Clik Elite (camera packs), Crystal Inn (overnight getaways), CW-X (conditioning wear), Dermatone (skin protection products), Easton Technical Products (hiking poles, snowshoes), Fischer (skis, boots, poles, gear), Jan's (ski grinding), Keen (shoes, boots), Kelty (packs, sleeping bags), Little Hotties (hand/foot warmers), Lone Peak (bike packs), Madshus (skis, boots, poles, gear), Nathan (packs), One Way (skis, boots, poles, gear), Petzl (headlamps), Rossignol (skis, boots, poles, gear), Salomon (skis, boots, poles, gear), Smartwool (socks, base layer clothing), SportHill (clothing), Stephen's (hot chocolate), Suunto (sport watches), Swix (wax, ski poles, eye wear), Toko (wax, clothing), Ultimate Direction (packs), Wild Rose (outdoor gear, ski grinding), The Winter Sports School, Yaktrax (friction devices for shoes, insoles), and ZB Sports (ski and running gear).
Race Schedule
The WCS races during the 2011/2012 winter are as follows:
| date | technique(distance) | location |
|---|---|---|
| Sat,Dec 17 | classic (10k) | Soldier Hollow |
| Sat,Dec 31 | free (15k) | White Pine |
| Sat,Jan 21 | free (10k) | Soldier Hollow |
| Sat,Feb 11 | classic (10k) | Mountain Dell |
| Sat,Feb 25 | free (20k) | White Pine (farm) |
The schedule for most all races in Utah and vicinity that are popular with local cross country skiers can be found here. For more information about cross country ski racing in Utah, check The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA) website, or send email to me at hanscom 'at' cs 'dot' utah 'dot' edu.
Registration
Registration for Wasatch Citizens Series races may be done in advance (for the entire season only) or on the day of the race. A season pass costs $65 for adult members of The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA), $95 for adult non-members, and $30 for all kids 17 and under. To purchase your pass in advance, go to the TUNA online store. In order for your online registration to appear in the database at a race, it must be done at least 36 hours before the event.
Registration for individual races must be done on the day of the race. Entry fee for individual races is $17 for adult TUNA members, $25 for adult non-members, and $8 for all kids.
Registration and bib pickup opens 90 minutes before the start of the race and closes 30 minutes before the start. No late entries are accepted. All racers must sign a release form before their first race of the winter and pick up a bib before each race. Information is posted in the registration area relative to the course and start time for each class. Bibs are assigned at the time of registration and may not be transferred.
Race Rules
A skier who overtakes another on the track must go around the slower skier. No "tracking" is allowed in Wasatch Citizens Series races. In classical technique events, at least two tracks are available around the entire course wherever possible. In all events, slower racers should stay as far to the right as possible to allow faster skiers to pass. Intentional interference with another racer will be cause for disqualification. Complaints should be taken to the Wasatch Citizens Series race coordinator.
It is the responsibility of each skier to be at the start on time. A racer who is late for the start will not receive any time adjustment.
A special drawing for skis takes place at the final event. In order to be eligible for the ski drawing, and to be eligible for a special participation prize that is awarded at the end of the season, a skier must participate in four or more events, or purchase a season pass.
Racer Classes and Distances
Wasatch Citizens Series racers are divided into 21 classes for men and 21 for women as shown below. Most of these are age groups. The others are called Novice (for those who are just learning to race), Open (for advanced racers of all ages), and SitSkier. Current and recent University and US Ski Team skiers are required to ski in the Open class. The table shows approximate distances for each class. The J7 class is a fun "obstcle course" for kids 7 and under who do not wish to "race".
A skier's age is that on December 31 of the current winter.
| MALE | | | FEMALE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| CLASS | AGE | DISTANCE | | | CLASS | AGE | DISTANCE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ7 | 7 and under | "obstacle course" | | | FJ7 | 7 and under | "obstacle course" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ6 | 5-7 | 1 km | | | FJ6 | 5-7 | 1 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ5 | 8-9 | 1 km | | | FJ5 | 8-9 | 1 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ4 | 10-11 | 2 km | | | FJ4 | 10-11 | 2 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ3 | 12-13 | 3 km | | | FJ3 | 12-13 | 3 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ2 | 14-15 | 5-7 km | | | FJ2 | 14-15 | 5-7 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MJ1 | 16-17 | 5-15 km | | | FJ1 | 16-17 | 5-10 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MOpen | any age | 10-20 km | | | FOpen | any age | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M18 | 18-24 | 10-20 km | | | F18 | 18-24 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M25 | 25-29 | 10-20 km | | | F25 | 25-29 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M30 | 30-34 | 10-20 km | | | F30 | 30-34 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M35 | 35-39 | 10-20 km | | | F35 | 35-39 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M40 | 40-44 | 10-20 km | | | F40 | 40-44 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M45 | 45-49 | 10-20 km | | | F45 | 45-49 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M50 | 50-54 | 10-20 km | | | F50 | 50-54 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M55 | 55-59 | 10-20 km | | | F55 | 55-59 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M60 | 60-64 | 10-20 km | | | F60 | 60-64 | 10-20 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M65 | 65-69 | 10-15 km | | | F65 | 65-69 | 10-15 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M70 | 70 and older | 5-8 km | | | F70 | 70 and older | 5-8 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MNovice | any age | 5-8 km | | | FNovice | any age | 5-8 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MSitSkier | any age | 2 km | | | FSitSkier | any age | 2 km | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race Starting Order
The youngest juniors (J4, J5, and J6) and sit skiers complete their races before any other classes start. They normally start in three groups and ski a short course. The intent is for the others to provide encouragement for them. The J7 skiers can start any time they wish and ski through the obstacle course as many times as they wish.
The older groups are usually started in waves of one or more classes, with one to three minute intervals between waves. The start procedure is announced on race day, and each skier may find out the approximate start time at registration. The waves and starting order of racer classes are usually as follows:
| YOUNG KIDS | OTHERS |
|---|---|
| 1 - MJ4,FJ4 | 5 - MOpen,FOpen,MJ1,FJ1 |
| 2 - MJ5,FJ5,MJ6,FJ6 | 6 - MJ2,FJ2,MJ3,FJ3 |
| 3 - MSitSkier,FSitSkier | 7 - M18,M25,M30,M35,M40,M45 |
| 4 - MJ7,FJ7 | 8 - M50 |
| 9 - M55,M60,M65 | |
| 10 - F18,F25,F30,F35,F40,F45,F50,F55,F60,F65 | |
| 11 - M70,F70,MNovice,FNovice | |
Scoring Procedure
Points are awarded to each racer according to finish place in the class as shown below. Points are accumulated over the entire season, and special prizes are awarded to the top three skiers in each class. To see points lists for the current and past winters, click here.
Only the best four results are counted for each skier. Results of a fifth race, if available, are used only to break ties. A skier must participate in at least three races to qualify for seasonal awards.
A novice racer is required to move into the appropriate age group if his or her per-kilometer time is within 10% of the third place finisher in that group. When moving into an age class, a novice keeps only the points from the single best novice finish. No other class change carries any points.
Racers are only allowed to change classes one time. Once a racer moves to a new class, he/she must stay there for the remainder of the winter.
| PLACE | POINTS | | | PLACE | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | | | 11 | 10 |
| 2 | 28 | | | 12 | 9 |
| 3 | 26 | | | 13 | 8 |
| 4 | 24 | | | 14 | 7 |
| 5 | 22 | | | 15 | 6 |
| 6 | 20 | | | 16 | 5 |
| 7 | 18 | | | 17 | 4 |
| 8 | 16 | | | 18 | 3 |
| 9 | 14 | | | 19 | 2 |
| 10 | 12 | | | 20 or higher | 1 |