MINUTES OF THE BRITISH TECHNICAL
DELEGATES FORUM
HELD AT GLENMORE LODGE, AVIEMORE
ON 3RD NOVEMBER 2000
Present:
Maud Instone
MI
Chairman
Susie Berry
SB
Richard Berry
RB
Ingrid Christophersen IC
Neil Griffiths
NG
Roderick Hutchison
RH
Sid James
SJ
Martin Leach
ML
Duncan Lonie
DL
Dave Parsons
DP
Ian Roberts
IR
Lawrie Robertson
LR
Maree Rudd
MR
Alan Stewart
AS
Larry Young
LY
In attendance:
Graham Bell (GB), Jennifer Kirkwood, Susan Roy (from Item 3.4)
Apologies:
Richard Ellis, Peter Heath, Graham Hubbard, Alan Hunt, Ian Jones, David
Morris, Frank Staddle, Dick Taplin,
MI opened the meeting by welcoming
everybody and thanking Snowsport Scotland for hosting the TD Forum at their
annual Gathering.
1.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - 14/5/00
LR to be added to apologies list of
previous meeting. There were no
other comments and the Minutes were signed as a correct record.
2.
MATTERS ARISING
SB raised the question of the European
and World Artificial Championships. ML
stated that this would be added as an agenda item covered under Item 10,
British Championships – to be numbered 10.4.
SJ brought up the question of the
appointment of TDs to certain events – with particular reference to the
Scottish Children’s Championships last year.
LR said that he will produce a list of Scottish TDs who are appointed
to Scottish races.
3.
REPORTS FROM DELEGATES
3.1
BARSC
SB reported verbally that BARSC had a
successful summer with good October trainings and there were no specific
comments to report.
3.2
CSWSA
There was a written report from David
Morris. SJ pointed out that
civilians would be made very welcome at any CSWSA event particularly if they
wished to make use of the Downhill training opportunities.
3.3
ESC
Written report tabled by IR.
3.4
SCOW
Written report tabled by DP.
DP wished to report verbally the fact that there are many Welsh
officials keen to train as British TDs. MI
responded, saying that opportunities exist for officials to help at the
British Championship events which provide valuable experience, and encouraged
TDs to forward the names of interested parties to the race organisers.
Younger people must be encouraged to participate in race organisation.
3.5
SNSC
Written report tabled by LR.
It was highlighted, verbally by LR, that there will be less FIS races
run in Scotland this season than there have been in the past.
3.6
BSSF
Fiona McLean’s written report tabled.
GB reported verbally that with 6 athletes now in the top 100, the past
season had been the best for a long time for British Alpine Ski racing despite
the on-going problem of funding.
MI, on behalf of the TD Forum, asked GB
to describe what his position as Performance Director entailed.
4.
SEEDING AND REGISTRATION
4.1
Report from the Seeder
MI stated that the Seeder was sorry not
to be present but that he had reported he is now in possession of a new
computer, provided courtesy of Syntax Integration Ltd. MI expressed how
grateful British skiing is to Dick Taplin for all the work he does as National
Seeder. She also mentioned that
DT wished to acknowledge Peter Heath’s contribution to the seeding system.
4.2
Application of Maximum Values for Penalty Calculations
ML gave a verbal explanation of DTs
written report regarding the “Application of Maximum Values for Penalty
Calculation.”
It was agreed that this season DT will
run a new BASS “ghost system” alongside the present system; by the end of
the season each BASS registered athlete will have 2 sets of points; for season 2001/2002, the new system will be applied.
SB brought up the question of cases
when the new system may not work – e.g. in certain girls’ races - re
penalty. It was agreed that
in these instances the Chairman will consult with senior TDs as usual to
discuss the system used.
The application of maximum values for
penalty calculations will bring the BASS system closer to the FIS system.
LY questioned the situation when a
Children and Junior Race are run together.
It was decided that a 33% maximum should be applied.
4.3
Member Club List
It has been brought to Dick Taplin’s
attention that some clubs listed on the BASS list are not members of a Home
Nation Governing Body. All HNGB
must ensure that all clubs are correctly registered with them.
4.4
BASS Hardware
As has been previously mentioned, Dick
Taplin is now in possession of a new computer.
5
FIS MATTERS
5.1
Report by Martin Leach
There has been major upheaval in the
FIS recently, resulting in a restructuring of the organisation.
Each sub-committee is now answerable to a chairman who is a member of
the Alpine Committee.
There will be two appointments for each
of the FIS TDs this season. It is
difficult to obtain Speed event appointments because of the lack of training
undergone by British TDs. However,
the safety demonstration to take place on Saturday 4th November is the first
step to rectifying this situation. Practical
training of British TDs should take place at British-run FIS events or by
officiating at foreign events. Records
of the training attended will be kept by ML.
Special mention was made of the FIS
rule: for DH and SG events – the TD must arrive 48 hours before the first
Team Captains’ meeting; for other events – 24 hours before the TCs’
meeting.
F
Factors for the season 2000/2001 are:
Downhill:
1280
Super G:
1030
Giant Slalom:
830
Slalom:
570
Equipment
Regulations:
The minimum ski length = 155 cm.
This is the full length of the unrolled ski, i.e. the length measured
along the sole – not the shortest distance from the tip to heel.
Height
of risers:
This is measured from the sole of the
ski to the top of the plate binding.
For women:
45mm
For
men: 50 mm
SB questioned the one pair of ski rule
for Children 1 competitions. GB
clarified that it means one pair of skis per competition.
If a TD believes that any FIS equipment
regulation has been violated, the piece of equipment concerned should be
confiscated and inspected.
Sanction
of FIS TDS:
Last season, 2 FIS TDs were sanctioned
for the following reasons:
1.
Attempting to run a FIS race, using only the ‘turning’ gates.
2.
For non-impartiality – carrying his national team radio and talking
to them regarding the condition of a course.
If a British-organised event is faced
with a similar situation, the race organiser should contact ML, who will in
turn contact Christian Steudler of FIS.
Race
Documents:
ML emphasised that all race documents
should be correctly signed and completed.
All documentation must also be standardised and all races should be run
to the same standard.
There are already several discrepancies
in the new ICR.
RH questioned whether an insurer would
recognise whether a race had been run to a different standard? GB replied that
the FIS assume that certain races will be run differently – for example a
Children and Junior race.
6
BRITISH TD MATTERS
6.1
Address List and TD Report
The current address list and the TD
Report Form for 2000/01 are appended to these minutes.
6.2
Re-validation of TDs
The re-validation of all current
British TDs was confirmed.
6.3
Candidate TDs
Alan Hunt will do his practical
candidature at the British Children’s Championships.
Crerar Adams and Ewen MacLean were
nominated as new candidate TDs.
Ian Roberts will sit his theory
examination on Saturday 4th November 2000.
(It was subsequently announced that he had passed and will do his
practical candidature at the earliest opportunity.)
SB questioned the status of Eric Henry.
It was confirmed that he is no longer a British TD.
He has taken Australian nationality and is representing Australasia on
FIS.
6.4
TD Equipment and Badges
The badges can now be manufactured as
the logo has been stabilised. Ski
suits and fleece waistcoats are still available – contact MI.
7.
BRITISH CALENDAR AND APPOINTMENTS
The British calendar was circulated and
the appointments of TDs discussed. The
list of TD appointments is attached to these minutes.
The potential clash between the Alpbach
Visitor Club and the DHO Christmas races was discussed. SJ, on behalf the AVSC, argued that two days are required
between the two race meetings to allow substantial travel time. It was agreed
to run the AVSC races on 26/27 December and DHO races on 29/30 December.
It was agreed that this was a BARSC internal matter.
ML stated that race organisers must
contact the TD appointed to their race as soon as reasonably practical.
8.
ICR
The new version of the International
Ski Competition Rules has now been published.
These are available from BSSF – price £9. There are several sentences which are unclear, despite the
original language being English.
ML distributed the November draft
precisions. [The final
Precisions are appended.]
The purpose of the recommendations for
the equipment (radius/ length) is to prevent knee injuries.
GB explained that there are an
increasing number of injuries occurring in Slalom races.
With regard to Children’s equipment,
great care must be taken in how the new FIS recommendations are to be
introduced.
Children 1 should use skis with a
minimum length of 130 cm and a radius of not less than 14m.
Children 2 should use skis with a
minimum length of 130 m and a radius of not less than 17m.
These recommendations will become rules
for the season 2002/2003.
9.
BCR
MI asked SB to explain the current
position of the BCR. SB proposed that section 2 of the BCR should be retained,
but the remainder need no longer exist. However,
the technical data for each discipline for British races were considered and
agreed.
The four-page document entitled “The
British Alpine Ski Competition Rules” and starting “At a meeting of the
Technical Delegates Forum, held at Glenmore Lodge on 3rd November
2000, a decision was taken to amend the BCR as follows” was distributed on
Sunday 5th November. [A
copy is being mailed to all TD Forum members not present at the meeting. Further copies are available from BSSF.]
GB distributed a paper on
the problems concerning staging Children I and II races on the same
courses.
10.
BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS
10.1
British Seniors
DL reported the event will be held from
the 13-20 January 2001 at Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Crerar Adams will be Chief of
Race for Speed Events, IC for the Technical events.
10.2
British Juniors
8th-14th April 2001, Pitztal.
Graham Hubbard will be Chief of Championships.
10.3
British Artificial
It was reported that this event was
currently taking place at Wycombe Summit – the original event had been
postponed owing to the fuel blockades.
The venue for this event next year will
be decided at the May meeting.
10.4
World Artificial
SB explained the situation regarding
the dispute over this event.
When the European Championships were
introduced, a rule was made that if possible the venue should change every
year. The artificial slope,
Wycombe Summit, wished to host another event which had been named the World
Artificial Championships. The FIS
oppose the use of the name and BSSF will make it clear that all other nations
involved understand that it is not an official event on the British Calendar.
MI closed the discussion with the
clarification that it will not be seeded and all racers should be made aware.
11.
OTHER BUSINESS
11.1
Race Documentation
ML said that it is important that a new
British TD report form and a TD Accident Report form be introduced, in line
with the FIS documentation. The
new forms are attached to these minutes.
In addition, a document containing the
organisers evaluation of support the TD provided should be circulated.
12.
DATE OF NEXT MEETINGS
12
May 2001, RAF Henlow.
3-4 November 2001, RAF Henlow
This
should read:
Height
of binding, plate and skis (maximum)
55mm ladies and men
Height
of boot sole (maximum)
45 mm ladies; 50 mm men
The
rule concerning ski length and radius should read as mandatory in FIS races
this year and will apply in British races in season 2002/03.
a) The decisions concerning the variations in technical specifications between the BCR and the ICR were taken for reasons of safety and logistics, bearing in mind that our races usually involve ladies and men using the same courses; also Children I and Children II using the same courses and in some instances Juniors and Children using the same courses.
b) As stated in the
precisions issued at the meeting, “the whole of the amended BCR will be
republished in a 2000 edition – renumbered, dated and if possible double
sided.”
It was not possible to republish the whole document
before the start of the 2000/01 season. This
will now be done next year. In
the meanwhile if there are any matters in doubt TDs should consult with the
Chairman of the TD Forum in the usual way.
During
discussion about the Artificial Championships concern was expressed about the
inclusion of a GS. This will be
an agenda item at the May meeting.