J2/J1 FIS Dues Explanation

This is an email that Tony Olin put together for our Team Afton
membership. I think it is very good!!

Hello Team Afton 15 yr olds and olders (and Parents) (and any curious
J3's)

it's that time of year again: FIS Registration time! FIS racing, or
International level racing, is the next step in ski racing at the local
USSA level. For some of you, this might be a gray area (especially first
year J2's who may be registering for FIS for the first time). You may
have recently received a notice from USSA in the mail regarding FIS
registration. This email will hopefully explain in further detail what
it's all about.

Some questions you might have regarding FIS: will I qualify for the
MidAms (our regional FIS races) or any other FIS events? This might best
be examined with your coach--so call and ask. But, the simple answer is,
you're in the neighborhood (of possibility) if your USSA points are near
150. You have even a greater likelihood of qualifying if your points are
130 or less. Below 120, even better--and so on. If you're points are
above that range, then definitely call your coach and discuss your
potential for getting close to those numbers during the coming season
(the answer may adjust your FIS registration choice--but not eliminate
it). You can look at your points at: www.ussa.org under Athlete History;
once on your name, be sure to adjust the drop-down menu to 2006/2007
season, otherwise it will appear that you are "pointless" in season
2007/2008.

There are three options for registering and three price points: 1. pay
now (and early so you don't forget) and it's $80. 2. Pay anytime after
August 15th, and you'll pay $180 (keep in mind, FIS processing takes
time, so, if you're really late, like November, you might not be
registered in time for the first qualifying period). And finally, 3. pay
for a provisional license anytime up to a month before you intend to
qualify/compete and it's $25 (the catch here is that you will be
considered for qualification and can make the MidAms/FIS races, but any
points you earn there will not be updated until you pay for a full FIS
license). This final option makes sense for example if you decide to go
for FIS midseason and may only qualify for one or two of the later
MidAms (or out-of-division races). The down side is, you wouldn't
advance your start position for any subsequent FIS races (because your
points will not be updated); the upside is, those points that you earned
or "didn't earn" will be "reserved" for you and will become active in
the next season when you've paid for a full FIS license.

Below is a very good letter further explaining the FIS process; please
read it and hopefully it will shed more light on your next step in ski
racing. You will see there is some detail involved in this process. If
you have any questions about FIS and the upcoming season, or any other
questions about your racing, please, give me a call. Good luck! TonyO;
612-819-0186

Attention: Parents of First Year J2 Athletes (and all FIS aged
competitors)

As the parent or guardian of a first year J2 athlete you should be
receiving an informational letter on Alpine FIS Registration. The letter
is included below and provides an introduction to FIS racing and
registration.

If you wish to register your first year J2 for the first FIS list and/or
summer racing in the southern hemisphere the deadline for receipt is
June 1. Please complete a USSA alpine application and Alpine FIS
registration and return with payment to USSA by fax or mail. Click here
for applications and FIS forms.

Dear first year J2 athletes and parents,

As a first year J2, your child may have the option of entering into a
new bracket of racing, FIS (International Ski Federation). Although FIS
racing is "international racing", it starts in your home region. As you
improve you may continue on to national and international events. Your
coach should be able to help you determine if you are in a position to
enter FIS events and therefore will need to be FIS registered.

In order to compete in a FIS race you must have the following: 1) A
valid USSA Competitor Membership, including any division or state dues
(as noted on your USSA application or renewal), and 2) A valid
Provisional FIS License or a full FIS License (explained below). FIS
does not send out a membership card as USSA does. FIS numbers are
printed on USSA membership cards for renewing FIS members; new FIS and
provisional FIS numbers can be found at http://www.ussa.org/ by using
the Member Lookup tool.

There are some very important differences between a Provisional FIS
License and a full FIS License. A full FIS License means an athlete will
appear on the FIS points list and be seeded by their FIS points. The
cost of the license is $80 if paid by August 15th, $180 anytime after.
No exceptions are made to the late fee, so please submit both your USSA
and FIS registrations prior to the August 15th deadline.

A provisional FIS license means an athlete will receive a FIS number,
however they do not appear on the FIS list and they are not seeded with
FIS points. Therefore, they will always start last at a FIS event since
they have no points. With a Provisional FIS, the points are calculated
and stored, but you do not have access to them unless you upgrade to a
full FIS license. The cost of a provisional FIS License is $25. If you
decide to upgrade from a Provisional to a full FIS License during the
season the $25 will be credited toward the Full FIS registration fee.
Note: the late fee would still apply after August 15th. Once you upgrade
to a full FIS License you will receive the points you earned under your
Provisional number when the next FIS points list becomes valid.

To obtain either type of FIS registration you must fill out and sign the
Athlete Declaration and return it, with proper payment, to USSA. You
must also hold a current USSA Alpine Competitor membership. It is best
to send both your USSA and FIS forms in together, as FIS cannot be
processed without a current USSA Competitor membership. Watch for your
USSA renewal form in the mail. Forms may be downloaded from our website
at http://www.ussa.org/, or obtained through Member Services at
435.647.2666 or by e-mailing membership@ussa.org. After registering for
either type of FIS License, you must wait for the next valid FIS list to
obtain your FIS number and to be able to enter any FIS event. To be
assured of appearing on the next available FIS list, your completed
registration must be received by USSA at least 7 days prior to the
closing date of that list. Registrations received inside that 7 day
period are not guaranteed to appear on the next list.

Athletes who have registered for FIS are not guaranteed access to FIS
events. Athletes must qualify through their home state, division or
region; each local entity has its' own procedures. Please consult your
appropriate rulebook or call your coach with questions. If you can't get
an answer via these avenues, let me know, but please check with your
coach first.

Thank you and good luck this season

Jeff Weinman

Assistant National Competition Director

Email - jweinman@ussa.org