New England Powder 8 Championships Event Information:
I. What is a powder 8 competition?
Teams of two skiers each, skiing in synch at high speeds, the second skier acting as the mirror image of the front skier, as they attempt to create perfect round 8s in the snow.
The skiers are judged on their team work, the shape of their turns, their technical skiing ability, synchronicity, turn symmetry and speed.
In the qualifier, which is open to ANY team on skis who would like to enter, each team will take one run, one team at a time. When all teams have been scored, the top 16 teams move on to the round robin, head to head, competition, seeded into four pools of four teams each based upon their qualifier score.
In the round robins part of the competition, the teams ski head to head against the other three teams in their pool, skiing three runs each. After these runs have been completed, the first place team in each pool, along with the next 4 highest scoring teams, regardless of pool, advance to the single elimination finals on the second day of the event.
In the finals, the top 8 teams square off in single elimination runs, with the top seeded team facing the 8th seeded team, 2 v. 7, 3 v. 6, 4 v. 5, with the winners of each run advancing. There are a total of 8 runs in the finals. [The first 4 runs, then the remaining four teams face off in 2 more runs, then there is a consolation between the 3rd and 4th teams, and a final run between the 1st and 2nd teams for the title.
II. Powder 8 History
Powder 8 skiing is perhaps the oldest form of team skiing, having likely started upon the production of the second pair of skis.
The date at which competitions started in Europe is unknown to skiing historians, but is assumed to have been more than 100 years ago or more.
In North America, all powder 8 ski teams strive for one goal; to make it to the World Powder 8 Championships in Blue River, British Columbia, hosted by Mike Wiegele Heliskiing, the most established outfit in the business. [see: www.wiegele.com for full details on the history of the world championships and list of past winners, including some of the most prestigious names in the history of skiing]
In the United States in 2007, there will be two events to prepare US teams for the trip to the World Championships, the 2007 National Powder 8 Championships at Aspen, Colorado in early March and the New England Powder 8 Championships at Jay Peak Resort, Vermont on February 8, 9, an event which also serves as a qualifier for the World Championships, with the winning team representing New England.
In both events, spectators will see the very best powder skiers the US has to offer, including current and former members of the US National Demo Team and former winners of the World Synchro Ski Championships.
Powder 8 skiing is a truly unique discipline, as it requires a level of team work not seen in most other disciplines. Moreover, unlike racing, it is quite easy for the uninitiated to watch such teams perform and immediately grasp the skill level and quality of skiing being demonstrated.
The New England Powder 8 Championships started in 2003 and is now entering its fifth season at Jay Peak Resort and has seen a number of National Powder 8 Championship winners compete in two of its first three years.
This year, 2007, will see the greatest growth in the event, as we hope that WCAX will also provide some level of event coverage as well, in addition to on going discussions with several radio station groups.
To build awareness and increase the number of new teams for the sport, we are hosting a two day training clinic for ski professionals in conjunction with PSIA-E, at Smugglers Notch on Feruary 1, 2, 2007, an event which will likely produce new teams for the New England Championships. This two day clinic is also being supported by a one day clinic, also at Stowe for Stowe Mountain Resort professionals, a clinic in which ETS members will be participating as students as well.
One of the benefits to the event being hosted by Jay Peak Resort, in addition to an average snowfall of 357 , is that it provides a certain proximity to the Burlington, VT market. Certainly, this has also helped us grow and develop our industry product sponsorships. And has led to the on going development of media coverage..
III. Social Aspects of the Competition
Wednesday, February 7th..Approximately 7:45 pm, all teams will attend a competitors meeting where they will either register (latecomers) or confirm registration (pre paid) in addition to signing liability waivers. At this meeting we will go over basic rules, venue questions and schedules. Note: the judges will meet approximately one hour before the competitors meeting and the event staff and volunteers will be expected to be at that meeting to go over last minute details. All sponsors are invited to attend both meetings and relax with the athletes afterwards.
Thursday, February 8th....Judges meeting at 4:30, followed by a video viewing and the announcing of the round robin results. . All sponsors are invited to attend. Subsequent brief competitors meeting to discuss questions regarding the finals.
Friday, February 9th.....Judges Meeting at approx. 3:30, followed by the announcing of the final results, awarding of all prizes and video viewing. All sponsors are invited to attend.
IV. Approximate Event Schedule [Subject to Jay Peak approval]
Wednesday, 2/7/07
Team training 9 3:30. No Teams are permitted to ski the event venue and are subject to disqualification for any attempt to do so. The name of the venue will be posted at the Jay Peak ski school desk in the base lodge. All teams training at Jay that day are expected to sign in at the desk.
7:00 pm: Judges Meeting
8:00 pm: Competitors Meeting/Registration
Thursday, 2/8/07
Qualifier: 9:30 AM
Round Robin: 11:00 or 12:00
4:30 pm: Judges Meeting
5:30 pm: Competitors Meeting/ Results of Round Robins/Video
Friday 2/9/07
10:00 AM: Finals
3:30 PM: Judges Meeting
4:30 PM: Results/Awards Party Video viewing. Post event party to be held in Jay Peaks International Room with media.
V. Fees and Forms
$75.00 Regardless of whether a team is knocked out in the first run or skis until the final run.
Sponsor List (as of 01/25/06)
Jay Peak Resort
Mike Wiegele Heli Skiing
Priceline.com
Elan
Karbon
Chaos
SnoCountry.com
Rooly
EngravingAwardsGifts.com
Transpack
Rocky Ridge Golf Club
SOBE energy drinks
IbexWear
Giro
FuxiRacingUSA.com
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