USSA Masters Alpine Skiing

Combined Event Scoring Formulas

 

Author: Deborah Lewis

Date: 25-Sep-2001

 

 

This document describes the formulas used for computing various scoring formulas for combined events conducted by USSA Masters alpine skiing at division, regional, and national alpine masters skiing competitions.

 

BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMBINED EVENTS AND SCORING SCHEMES

 

A combined event is determined by the results of several races.  Generally the race series consists of several races held at a single site over a small period of time, e.g., a weekend race series or a multi-day event such as the annual USSA Alpine Masters National Championships. 

 

A scoring system for a combined event is generally based in some fashion on either the racer’s finish time or position.  Scoring may be done within age groups, across multiple age groups, or within other interesting groupings (all racers on the same course, all racers of the same gender, etc.)

 

RACE POINTS

 

Race points are computed according to a standard formula defined in the FIS International Competition Rules.  Race points are computed from the finish times of competitors in the race and provide the basis for ranking competitors across multiple races and locations.

 

Race points are computed based on the ratio of a competitor’s time to that of the winner of the race, with an adjustment factor depending on the type of race:

 

Tw

 

 

The F values which determine the discipline adjustment factor for each of the four alpine disciplines (SL, GS, SG, DH) are published by the FIS at the start of each season.  The current F factors are:

 

Discipline:

F value:

DH

1290

SG

930

GS

810

SL

580

 

 

Race points provide a relative point scale for comparing the results of competitors within a race.  Race points are also used for comparing results across races in a discipline and as the basis for national point ranking schemes by determining an adjustment factor for the race as a whole which provides a normalization factor reflecting the relative strength of the competitors in the field.

 

 

WORLD CUP POINTS

 

The (old) world cup points system awards points to the top 15 finishers in a class as follows:

 

Position:

Points:

1

25

2

20

3

15

4

14

5

13

15

1

 

 

RACE POINTS COMBINED

 

Race points combined scoring consists of the cumulative sum of the competitor’s race points in each event of the series.  The competitor must start in each race of the series to be eligible for a combined award.

 

--####ISSUE: Do you actually have to finish all races?!

 

Race points combined scoring is used for the Alpine Masters national championships combined award, based on the competitor’s results in SL, GS, and SG.  DH results at a national championship are currently not included in the combined scoring.

 

WORLD CUP POINTS COMBINED

 

World cup points combined scoring consists of the cumulative sum of the competitor’s world cup points in each event of the series.  The competitor must start in each race of the series to be eligible for a combined award.

 

--####ISSUE: Do you actually have to finish all races?!

 

World cup combined scoring is used for selecting the Spyder national masters team at the Masters national championships, based on the competitor’s results in SL, GS, and SG.  DH results at a national championship are currently not included in the national masters team selections.

 

--####World cup combined scoring is used for awarding the regional championship combined winner, no???

 

DIVISIONS CUP

 

The Divisions Cup scoring system provides a “relative strength of results” scoring system for competitors from each division at the USSA national masters championship, based on the results of all starts in the three events SL, GS, and SG.  The formula determines the average points per start, calculated by dividing the total number of points won by all of the division’s racers by the total number of starts for racers from the division.  The division must have at least 10 competitors start during the championships in order to be eligible. 

 

Points are awarded to the top 5 finishers in each age class as follows:

 

Position:

Points:

1

5

2

4

3

3

4

2

5

1

 

If the class has less than 5 starters, the point scale is adjusted so that the maximum points that can be awarded is equal to the number of the starters.  E.g., in a class with 3 starters, the points that could awarded are 3, 2, 1 points for the top 3 finishers.

 

The score for a division is computed according to the formula:

 

Each start in any of the three events by each racer from the division is counted.

 

BERNARD CUP

 

--###TO DO: Age-handicapping based on finish time; invented by Bob Bernard for FW

 

 

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

 

DATE

AUTHOR/EDITOR

CHANGES

25-Sep-2001

D. J. Lewis

Created