14555 Candy Hill Road

Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-8054

(301) 579-2749 (home)

(202) 385-7207 (day)

dolsen@pentagonskiclub.org

January 29, 2004

The competition was conducted in accordance with the Council's Race Rules, Version 2.5, which were distributed to trip leaders in November 2003. Skiers from all nine of the clubs participating on the trip competed in the race.

Scoring for the Participation Award was based solely on the percentage of a club's skiers who raced. A skier need not have successfully completed even a single run to count, although a best effort was expected. The percent participation was determined by dividing the number of skiers who raced by the number of skiers who were on the trip representing each club. Each club's “number of skiers on the trip” was first adjusted downward as necessary so clubs weren't penalized if they had non-skiers, very young skiers (pre-teens), injured skiers who were physically unable to race, or “visiting” skiers (i.e., members of a different club) who chose not to race. An adjustment was also allowed for any first-time beginner skiers. The top three clubs were presented honorary plaques recognizing their achievement.

The Fagowees, with just 8 skiers on the trip, were ineligible for the competition, which requires clubs to have at least 10 skiers on the trip.

Scoring for the Team Competition award was based on ad hoc teams from each club consisting of the two ladies and three men earning the best medal points. (Medal points were calculated by subtracting from each racer's best-run Nastar handicap, the handicap needed by that racer, in their age and gender category, to earn a Nastar gold medal. The better a racer's performance, the lower were their medal points earned.) Each team's medal points were added together, and results compared amongst all participating clubs. All nine clubs participating in the race had sufficient finishers to compete for the award (at least three male and two female finishers). The top three clubs were presented with honorary plaques recognizing their achievement, and their team members were recognized with medals. The first-place club will also have its accomplishment recognized on the BRSC Western Carnival traveling trophy, which will be presented to the prevailing club at the spring BRSC meeting.

Awards were presented to the fastest racers overall, to the fastest three in each BRSC age category, and to the fastest snowboarders. As with the team competition, results were based on the handicapped medal points determined by how close each racer came to winning a Nastar gold medal. Handicap "discounts", as published by Nastar, were allowed for participants competing on snowboards and for physically challenged skiers. The two fastest skiers, the fastest snowboarders, and the top three racers in each BRSC age group were recognized with medals. The two fastest skiers and the two fastest snowboarders were also recognized with honorary plaques.

A special award was presented to Lyn Rogers of Fredericksburg for her perseverance in the race, returning for a second run after struggling and falling on her first run.

Dave Olsen

Pentagon Ski Club

2004 Western Carnival Race Coordinator