Tahoe Junior Freeride Series
2016-2017 Handbook
Since 2007
Celebrating 10 Years
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2017 Tahoe Junior Freeride Series
Handbook
2017 Updates were Approved January 19, 2017
In cases where regulations are not addressed by the Tahoe Junior Freeride Series Rules,
The IFSA Handbook will be consulted and interpreted by the competition jury as needed.
About the Tahoe Junior Freeride Series
The Tahoe Junior Freeride Series is a fun and challenging freeride competition series. The
TJFS is for junior ski and snowboard athletes to gain experience and build on their skiing
skills as a stepping stone to the IFSA North American Junior Freeride Series.
The Tahoe Junior Freeride Series originated in 2007 as a friendly big mountain competition
between Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl ski teams. It has grown into a four stop regional
series that boasts over 270 competitors. Each competition has a three day format with every
competitor skiing/riding two runs over three days. There are no cuts after the first day.
Competitors can earn points from TJFS comps toward national IFSA ranking. TJFS is a
501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Tahoe Junior Freeride Series Mission
​The mission of the TJFS is to run a developmental junior freeride series that provides local
competition experience for all levels of athletes. The TJFS is committed to providing a
competitive environment that is friendly and supportive and builds a healthy community on
and off the venue . This environment will teach athletes to strive to be the best they can be
within their physical ability and feel good about their participation and membership in a
healthy, supportive and competitive community. The TJFS will make decisions about the
series that address the interests and needs of all athletes from the first time competitor to
the world champion.
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SECTION 1 COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS
I REQUIREMENTS TO COMPETE IN TJFS
1. Current athlete on a participating TJFS team
2. Current 2016-2017 IFSA Membership License (single event membership does not
apply)
3. Current 2016-2017 TJFS Membership License
II COMPETITION REGISTRATION
2016-2017 TJFS Membership
Three (3) Requirements to be a Member
1. Current athlete on a participating TJFS team
a. The TJFS is an invitational big mountain competition series. Athletes must be
registered with a participating team in order to register for TJFS comps.
b. Participating Ski teams​:
To be eligible for participation in the Tahoe Junior Freeride Series, a competitor
must be on a team from the following list of TJFS approved participating
teams. Teams must be affiliated with the IFSA. All teams from the Far West
are welcome to compete.
i.
Ski teams:​ Alpine Big Mountain, Auburn Ski Club, Heavenly Ski and
Snowboard Foundation, Homewood Teams, Kirkwood Freeride,
Mammoth Mountain Ski Team, Mount Rose, Squaw Free, Squaw Valley
Big Mountain Team, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Sugar Bowl Freeride, Yosemite
Winter Club,.
i.
Snowboard teams:​ Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Snowboard Team,
Auburn Ski Club, Sugar Bowl Snowboard Team, Kirkwood, Mammoth,
NorthStar
2. Current 2016-2017 IFSA Membership License​ (single event membership does not
apply)
a. It is required to have an IFSA number to participate in the TJFS.
b. Go to ​IFSA Website-Membership Page​ to become a member.
3. Current 2016-2017 TJFS Membership License
2016-2017 TJFS Membership Series Fee Registration opens on November 8, 2016.
1. Your coach will give you a team access link to register for the TJFS Ser​ies Fee
2. Pay your TJFS Membership Series Fee prior to event registration.
a. $60 Early Bird until December 17, 2016
b. $70 Regular after December 17, 2016
3. The series fee covers bibs/stickers, the series T-shirt, production/operational costs,
venue management.
Step by Step Instructions for TJFS Membership Registration on ​The Driven
a. Obtain the access code from your coach
b. Go to the TJFS Website: ​TJFS Membership Web Page
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c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Click “Register Here”
Enter the access code
Click on "Join Now" ("Renew" option no longer exists)
Complete the form
Pay
You will receive a confirmation email
If technical support is needed for The Driven please contact
[email protected]
4. 2017 TJFS Registration
1. Schedule
Event
Registration
Opens
Registration
Closes
Refund
Period Ends
Stop 1: TJFS Sugar Bowl
January 6-8
December 17
January 4
December 23
Stop 2: TJFS Alpine
January 27-29
January 3
January 25
January 13
Stop 3: TJFS Squaw
February 24-26
January 31
February 22
February 10
Stop 4: TJFS Mt. Rose
March 24-26
February 28
March 23
March 10
2. Registration will open the Tuesday 3 weeks prior to the first day of competition for
each event unless unforeseen conflicts arise. Both parent and athlete should be
present during registration.
3. Registration will close at midnight on the Wednesday before the first day of
competition.
5. Refund and Cancellation Policy
1. Refunds will be issued up to Friday two weeks before the first day of competition.
There is a $45 processing fee. After that date refunds will not be issued.
2. After the Friday two weeks before the first day of competition, there will be no
refunds, unless due to injury. A doctor’s note is required.
3. There is a $45 processing fee for all refunds including injury.
4. Due to event cancellation, refunds will be issued minus $45 processing fee.
5. In the instance of a rescheduled event, registration fee goes toward the rescheduled
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6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
date. If you can’t make the rescheduled date you will be issued a refund minus the
$45 processing fee. The request must be made 7 days prior to the first day of
competition for that event.
If your division is not able to compete you will be issued a refund minus $45
processing fee.
There will be no refunds to any athlete given the opportunity to take at least one
run.
If the competition goes to a one day event due to weather or hazardous conditions
as determined by the competition jury there are no refunds.
If a competitor chooses to compete only one day of the three day competition, the
fee still stands at the three day price.
The TJFS Series Fee is non refundable.
6. Release of Liability Waivers (ROL)
TJFS is piloting online waivers using Docusign.
1. Both the Parent/Guardian and the Athlete need to sign the documents.
2. Parent/Guardian starts the process by adding a parent email and an athlete
email.
3. Parent/Guardian signs and submits.
4. The Athlete will receive an email from Docusign
5. The Athlete needs to open the email in their email account then sign and
submit.
6. Your registration will be complete once both the Parent/Guardian AND the
Athlete have signed and submitted the waivers online.
7. Coach signatures will not be accepted.
7. Athlete Bio
1. Athlete Profiles are available to download on the TJFS website on the event page.
There is a unique Athlete Profile for each event.
2. Athletes need to complete one profile per event and bring it to the registration
check-in desk.
III COACH TICKETS
Coaches must present their IFSA Coach Membership number to receive the complimentary
tickets.
Two (2) complimentary coach tickets for 1-8 registered competitors. Three (3)
complimentary coaches’ tickets for 9-16 registered competitors. Four (4) complimentary
coaches’ tickets for 17-24 registered competitors, and so on.
IV AGE GROUPS
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1. Competitors must be 12-14 and 15-18 years of age as of December 31st, 2016.
Those who turn 18 prior to December 31, 2016 and are on an eligible team [as
entailed in Section I], may compete in the TJFS.
2. Competitors who turn 15 after December 31, 2016 have the choice to compete in
either age group, but once they compete in the older age group, they must stay with
that older division for the remainder of the season.
V COMPETITION VENUE
1. Competition venue will be established and marked by the Technical Director, host
ski team and ski resort.
2. The Competition Jury will evaluate and approve the venue prior to each day of
competition.
3. In the event of bad weather and/or unsafe conditions, the host mountain and/or the
Competition Jury can cancel the event at anytime. Calls should be placed as early
as possible to head coaches who will contact their skiers.
VI COMPETITION JURY
Each competition must have a jury. The Competition Jury is composed of one [1] coach
from each of the Founding Teams (Squaw Valley, Sugar Bowl, Squaw Free and Alpine
Meadows), two (2) coaches from teams outside the TJFS board, the Technical Director and
the Head Judge. Decisions are made by a simple majority vote.
VII COACHES MEETING
At least one representative from each participating team must attend the coaches’ meetings.
The coaches’ meeting is mandatory and is held prior to the morning inspection lift load and
covers important inspection protocol and any newly implemented rules and/or closures
regarding the competition venue. The coaches, jury and TD will meet each day.
VIII COMPETITION FORMAT
1. Competitors are judged in five categories on a scale of 1–10 for each category for a
maximum score for each run of 50 points. This format follows the criteria used by
the IFSA. The five judging categories are:
1. Line:​ Each competitor chooses his/her line or route down the course. Scores
are determined by difficulty of line choice. Difficulty is determined by steepness
of terrain, air, technical demand, snow and course conditions. Scores in other
categories cannot be higher than 3 points over line score.
2. Control​: Control is skiing within your ability with proper body position, turn
shape and speed given the nature of the terrain. Loss of control will result in a
reduction of points in more than one scoring category; point reductions will
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occur with falls and loss of control in turns, aerial maneuvers and/or jumps.
3. Fluidity​: how well the skier/rider moves consistently down the hill towards a
goal taking into consideration the nature of the terrain.
4. Technique:​ Good technique is exhibited when a rider displays consistent
balance (in all planes; fore/aft, side to side, and rotational planes) while
descending their line with a series of linked turns and jumps that blend well with
the terrain. Technique can also include execution of aerial maneuvers.
5. Style and Energy​: This category can reward skiing style, aerial creativity,
energy, or anything that, in the eyes of the judges, makes a run stand out. (This
encompasses the pace, energy and creativity with which a competitor attacks
or descends his/her chosen line or route. Style focuses on freestyle execution
of maneuvers)
2. Inverted aerials are not allowed in this series. All inverted jumps, including “Flat
Spins” will result in a disqualification for the entire event.
3. Skiing outside of defined venue boundaries or skiing closed-off features or areas
will result in a 0 score DID-NOT-FINISH for that run, although still eligible to
continue on in the competition.
4. The Tahoe Junior Freeride Series will be composed of four THREE-DAY EVENTS.
For each event, all riders will have two runs in two days of competition in a
combination of three days, unless otherwise determined by Competition Jury and/or
host ski area. The highest cumulative score wins.
5. Unless safety is of concern by the Jury, the division start order will run as follows:
younger girls, younger boys, snowboarders (both age groups), followed by older
girls and older boys.
6. Start order within a division will be random draw on day one, unless otherwise
determined by the host ski area and competition jury. On day two the order will be
reversed within the division. The athlete that went first in a division on day one will
go second on day 2.
7. The event winners will be the skiers with highest cumulative score for the
competition runs (i.e. both runs count). In the event of a tie, highest two-day
average line score wins. If still tied continue to move through the judged categories
in the following order: Line, Control, Technique, Fluidity, Style and Energy.
8. In the event of extreme weather or adverse/dangerous conditions and/or in an effort
to ensure a 2-run event and proper Place Point assignment for the top finishers,
either the Host Ski Area or the Competition Jury reserves the right to CUT the field,
by any percentage, OR to limit the event to ONE day for any or all age groups due
to unforeseen limiting factors.
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IX PLACE POINTS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Place Points will be awarded for each event throughout the competition series to
determine the overall season champions:
2. Place Points: TO BE DETERMINED AND CONSISTENT WITH IFSA REGIONAL
POINTS ALLOCATIONS
3. Place Points will be combined from the best 3 of 4 finishes. Season Overall
Champions will be the top three boys and girls from each category with the highest
total place points accumulated from final results at three of the four events
scheduled for this year, unless schedule changes dictate otherwise. In the event of
a cancellation, the format will change to the best 2 finishes out of three events.
4. Ties in an event will be broken by the category score in the following order: Line,
Control, Technique, Fluidity, Style and Energy.
X INSPECTION
1. Athletes may only physically inspect the venue on the days they are competing.
2. A minimum of 45 minutes of inspection time will be provided to athletes on the day
they compete.
3. Athletes are given a minimum of 2 inspection laps on the venue before their
competition run.
4. Competitors are allowed to inspect the course by slowly sliding the course.
5. Freeriding is not permitted on the venue during inspection.
6. Linked turns are not permitted while inspecting the course.
7. Jumping off features is not permitted during inspection.
8. Inspection infractions will result in disqualification for the entire event.
9. The TD/Host Mountain/Competition Jury determines the rules of inspection and
may for safety reasons and/or prevailing conditions determine that linked turns are
permitted, or that certain sections may have further limited inspection and/or zero
access.
10.
Any course official, competition juror or the TD have the authority to revoke
privileges at any time due to unsportsmanlike conduct on and off the hill.
XI TERRAIN ENHANCEMENT
1. Terrain Enhancement is not allowed. Athlete terrain enhancement during inspection
or on the day of the event is grounds for disqualification.
2. If a venue has limited features and/or the conditions dictate, the TD/Host
Mountain/Competition Jury may enhance the venue to create a more challenging
and/or safe venue.
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3. Any level of enhancement will be clearly posted and/or communicated to all athletes
and coaches in the morning meetings by the TD/Host Mountain/Competition Jury
prior to inspection. The levels of enhancement are as follows:
a. None​: No alteration of terrain (Most common)
b. Soft​: Under direct supervision, athletes may make minor alterations, to the
terrain with equipment on their feet (i.e. sidestepping an in-run or landing) so
long as it does not interfere with another athlete’s potential line ​AND​ has been
cleared by the host/jury/TD prior to execution. No shovels.
c. Official Venue Enhancement​: TD/Host Mountain/Competition Jury venue
enhancement as stated in item 2: If a venue has limited features and/or the
conditions dictate, only the TD/Host Mountain/Competition Jury may enhance
the venue to create a more challenging and/or safe venue.
4. Athlete participation in shovel/tool manipulated terrain is not permitted.
XII START TIMES
Start times for the first run is normally 11:00am. Start times are subject to change. The
actual start time will be determined at the morning coaches’ meeting.
IX JUDGES
The TJFS will work in conjunction with host areas to provide at least three qualified judges.
X DISQUALIFICATIONS
1. Competitors who do not cross the finish line with both skis will be disqualified. The
skis don’t have to be on the foot/feet of the athlete and can be carried across the
finish line within the allotted time in order to receive a score. Poles, goggles, helmet
cams, etc. may be left behind on venue without penalty.
2. A competitor may finish with one or no ski poles and still receive a score.
3. A competitor must finish under the time limit which will be established by the
Competition Jury; a time posted over the time limit shall be considered a DNF (“Did
Not Finish”), the competitor may not continue on the course and will receive a
ZERO score for that run.
4. A competitor will receive a DNF if he/she accepts outside help (ski retrieval,medical
response) in any form during his/her run.
5. Inverted aerials will result in immediate disqualification from the event. No second
run will be allowed.
6. Any violations of the TJFS code of conduct as found in the TJFS Athlete Contract
2017 TJFS Athlete Contract​ Misbehavior will not be tolerated and could result in
disqualification from the competition.
7. All DNF’s and DQ’s must be posted immediately following completion of the run.
DNF’s are on a per run basis and will result in single run score of -0- points, but an
athlete is eligible to compete in their second run. DQ’s result in disqualifications for
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the entire event, and will not receive scores.
8. In the unlikely event of a total disregard for the rules and/or spirit of fair competition
by a competitor, the Competition Jury reserves the Right to disqualify or deny entry
to future runs and/or future events for said offender.
XI RESULTS
Posting of official results requires the following steps.
1. At the completion of the competition, the scorekeepers will prepare unofficial results
for review.
2. Judges review and then approve the results.
3. If needed, the TJFS jury will review and approve.
4. Scores are final when posted to the public.
XII PROTESTS
1. Protests against disqualifications and/or clerical errors must be made within 15
minutes after the posting of final results. Coaches can ask for verification of clerical
accuracy only.
2. After judges review of the official results, the results will be final.
3. No protests against actual scoring are allowed.
XIII AWARDS
1. Medals and/or trophies will be awarded to the Top 3 Finishers within each age
group and discipline. Awards will be purchased and presented by the hosting
area/team. Categories are 12-14 female ski, 12-14 male ski, 15-18 female ski,
15-18 male ski, 12-14 snowboard, 15-18 snowboard
2. IFSA Snowboard points will be awarded for the appropriate IFSA division.
3. TJFS awards will be based on 12-14 All Snowboard and 15-18 All Snowboard.
4. TJFS Event awards will be provided by the event host.
5. Overall Championship Awards will be provided by the TJFS Membership Series Fee
Funds
XIV COMPETITION POSTPONEMENT and CANCELLATION
If an event is cancelled, overall champions will be determined by best 2 of 3 finishes rather
than the original 3 of 4 best finishes.
HOSTING SKI TEAMS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING ON A GOOD
COMPETITION.