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 Nordic and The Utah Nordic Alliance ski teams have launched several young athletes to national recognition, and some of our older participants have consistently won National Masters titles. Members of recent U.S. Olympic Teams, Laura McCabe, Wendy Wagner, and Rosie Brennan, 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 classic technique and three free technique races are included, some with interval and some with wave starts, to provide the balance local athletes need to prepare for national and international competition.

In addition to our 20 age categories for each gender, the WCS includes shorter distance recreational/novice classes for adults and children, to encourage beginners to get involved in the sport. There are also expert (Open) classes, for University and US Ski Team skiers and those who wish to compete at that level, as well as Open50+ classes for skiers over 50 who wish to race the full distance and start with the Open group. Disabled athletes are welcome to enter our sitski classes. Awards are given to the top three finishers in each of these groups at each race. Participants' ages typicaly range from less than 5 to more than 80, 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.

In 2013 Bruce Schroeder suggested that we create an award for all those who have participated in at least 100 Wasatch Citizens Series races. At that time we knew of 10 skiers who had done that many WCS events. Since limited data is available for the years before 1986, there probably were more than that. If anyone has information from the late 70's or early 80's, please let Dave Hanscom know. Click here to see the a list of the top 50 WCS partipants.

In past years various local retailers have acted as individual event sponsors: White Pine, Wild Rose, REI, and Wasatch Touring. An energy bar has been donated by Clif Bar for each of our participants at each race. Due to COVID restrictions, we won't be serving lunch at our races until further notice.

A number of companies have provided products that are given out after the races by random drawing: Alpina (boots, gear), Atomic (skis, boots, poles, gear), Chums (accessories), Fischer (poles, gear), Jan's (ski grinding), Kuhl (clothing), Madshus (boots, poles, gear), Rossignol (gear), Salomon (skis, boots, poles, gear), Scheels (gift certificates), SportHill (clothing), Swix (wax, ski poles, gear), Toko (wax, clothing), Ultimate Direction (packs), and Wild Rose (ski grinding).

Race Schedule

The WCS races during the 2023/2024 winter are planned as follows:

date technique(distance) location
Sat,Jan 13 classic (5/10k interval start) White Pine Farm
Sat,Jan 20 free (5/10k wave start) Soldier Hollow
Sat,Feb 10 classic (5/10k interval start) Mountain Dell
Sat,Feb 24 free (5/10k interval start) Mountain Dell
Sat,Mar 9 free (7/20k wave start) 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

There is no day of race registration for WCS events. To purchase your season or individual race pass, go to the TUNA online store. All participants in TUNA programs must have signed the online waiver. To do that, simply click on the link at the bottom of the TUNA webpage..

A season pass costs $110 for adult members of The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA), $160 for adult non-members, and $45 for all kids 19 and under. There is a special rate for adult skiers who choose to ski in our Recreational/Novice Class, which go shorter distances. That group can purchase a season pass for $60 (TUNA members) and $85 (non-members). The entry fee for individual events is $32 for adult TUNA members, $45 for adult non-members, $20 for member Rec/Nov, $26 for non-members, and $12 for all juniors.

Lycra bibs are handed out at each event, starting 90 minutes before and ending 30 minutes before the start, at a designated location. In order to be assigned a race bib, skiers have to sign up on the TUNA website at least 2 days in advance of their first event (season pass holders) or of each event for those who choose to enter individual races.

Information is posted in the registration area relative to the course and approximate start time for each class.

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 classic 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 director.

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.

The Wasatch Citizens Series is a non-fluro event. The WCS does not allow or encourage the use of fluorinated waxes. Fluorinated waxes have been banned from the highest levels of competition for environmental and health reasons. The Wasatch Citizens Series supports this effort.

A special drawing for skis and other valuable prizes 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 25 classes for men and 25 for women as shown below. Most of these are age groups. The others are called Recreational or Novice (for those who are just learning to race, or who only want to ski a shorter distance), Open (for advanced racers of all ages), Open50+ (for skiers over 50 who wish to race the full distance and start with the Open group), 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 JN class is a fun "obstacle 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
CLASS AGE DISTANCE | CLASS AGE DISTANCE
MJN 7 and under "obstacle course" | FJN 7 and under "obstacle course"
MU8 5-7 1 km | FU8 5-7 1 km
MU10 8-9 1 km | FU10 8-9 1 km
MU12 10-11 2 km | FU12 10-11 2 km
MU14 12-13 3 km | FU14 12-13 3 km
MU16 14-15 5-7 km | FU16 14-15 5-7 km
MU18 16-17 5-15 km | FU18 16-17 5-10 km
MU20 18-19 5-15 km | FU20 18-19 5-10 km
MOpen any age 10-20 km | FOpen any age 10-20 km
MOpen50+ 50 and older 10-20 km | FOpen50+ 50 and older 10-20 km
M20 20-24 10-20 km | F20 20-24 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 70-74 5-8 km | F70 70-74 5-8 km
M75 75-79 5-8 km | F75 75-79 5-8 km
M80 80 and older 5-8 km | F80 80 and older 5-8 km
MRec/Nov any age 5-8 km | FRec/Nov any age 5-8 km
MSitSkier any age 1-4 km | FSitSkier any age 1-4 km

Race Starting Order

The youngest juniors (15 and under) and sit skiers complete their races before any other classes start. The JN skiers can start any time they wish and ski through the obstacle course as many times as they wish.

Some WCS races use interval starts. In these events, there is no pre-assigned start time, but skiers are encouraged to line up in the approximate order of classes listed below. Intervals between racers is approximately 15 seconds.

Other races use wave starts that consist of one or more classes separated by one to three minutes. The waves and starting order of racer classes are usually as follows:

YOUNGSTERS & SIT SKIERS OTHERS
1 - MU16,FU16 6 - MOpen,FOpen,MO50+,FO50+,MU18,FU18,MU20,FU20
2 - MU14,FU14 7 - M20,M25,M30,M35,M40,M45
3 - MU12,FU12 8 - M50,M55
4 - MU08,FU08,MU10,FU10 9 - M60,M65
5 - MSitSkier,FSitSkier 10 - F20,F25,F30,F35,F40,F45,F50,F55,F60,F65
11 - M70,F70,M75,F75,M80,F80,MRec/Nov,FRec/Nov

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.

We recommend that recreational/novice racers 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 rec/nov keeps only the points from the single best rec/nov 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