Practical Case: Speed Series

By Chuck HughesFIS TD 839

Practical Case: Problem Solving 101• Need your help to solve our problem!

This is the game we are going to play: • Choose a Jury (4 people)

• Describe the facts of our problem

• Jury members decide what to do

• Discuss

The JuryThe TD is a good looking, well fed, and

highly trained by his peers and mentors; he is a North American FIS TD.

The Chief of Race is a well experienced C of R with years of race experience and putting on the same speed series year after year.

The Referee is a seasoned WC Speed Coach.The Assistant Referee is a seasoned WC

Speed Coach.

The Facts, Just the Facts.• Five day Speed Series, consisting of two DH Training Runs,

two DH Races and one SG race for Men and Ladies.

• Discuss moving schedule due to forecast of large snow storm.

• The field is made up of 15 Ladies and 60 Men. It is noted that most of the Ladies are young and inexperienced speed racers.

• Jury assembles at the 1st Team Captain’s meeting and propose a change in the schedule:

Day 1: Two DH Training Runs Day 2: Two DH Races Day 3: One SG Race

DH Training DayThe DH Course: gently rolling speed course with one

Medium Jump with air at top of course, a smaller bump midway down the course with a rolling flat at the bottom part of course.

Speeds of 40-60 MPH.Jury inspection goes well and Jury gets into position: Assistant Referee: between start and the 1st Jump. Referee: at the Jump TD and C of R: further down the course, out of view

of the Jump. Coaches and Athletes state the track is in excellent shape.

The Mighty Jump• 3 Forerunners: 2 male forerunners complete the run and report course in good

shape with no concerns.

• Most Ladies have trouble with first jump: flapping there arms, off balance, and not able to keep correct direction after landing.

1 Forerunner and 4 Racers have crashed: one racer injured, needing medical assistance.

Ladies 15 racers takes 90 minutes to conclude training run.

Men's Training Run was completed in less than two hours.

Jury meets, and decides that Ladies go around jump for 2nd Training Run

Ladies inspect new line around the jump, Men will run first in the 2nd Training Run

At the Start-Ladies 2nd Training RunStart Referee notifies Jury that a couple of Ladies will not take

their 2nd Training Run.

Then, with a bang coming over the Jury Radios, a coach at the start has grabbed the Start Referee’s Radio, she is not happy with the Jury decision and is going to have her athletes go over the jump.

A few seconds later one of her athletes has grabbed the Start Referee’s Radio and is yelling at the Jury (that she is an athlete and wants to go over the jump).

After the Start Referee gets his radio back, the TD explains to the coach what her options are, very clearly and calmly over the radio.

OH NO!!!! QUESTIONS????What are the coach’s options?

What are the athlete’s options?

TD, what would you do, or say???

As a Jury member what would you say???

Input from the AthleteCan the athlete give his or her input to a Jury? If so, how

is this done?

Does the athlete have any rights???

Did the coach or athlete break any rules??

Are there any FIS or CC rules that have been broken?

RULES??????

What Really happened!!!!

You really want to know????

Well!!!! Next Time.