skitocompete

Is $45/set for someone that skis an average of 140 to 180 practice sets/year too much to pay to train and compete in tournaments? Assume new 2014 boat at man-made site.

We really do need a system to support OM/OW/MM vs age group divisions. First and foremost we have migrated to a ranking system that has levels and you must understnd to make this sport grow you have to recognize performance at the local, state, regional, national, international, world, and open/PRO level. Have you ever asked CP if he cares about the M2 National record? WE have made great strides with the ranking system and it setup to support recognition at various levels so lets just continue to tweak and improve it. This is potentially going to the rules committee this year and versions have gone before and been turned down. I think this will pass this year if properly proposed. Using MM as an example and say 2.5@39 is the min qualification to get to level 9. Well you as a skier have the option to ski Men 3 or MM at regionals/nationals rightly so as you are ONLY a MM QUALIFIER. To get to the new level 10 (irony here!) you set the % equal to a significant performance (say top 3% and that equates to 6@39). Well if you achieve level 10 that SKI YEAR then guess what you are now an MM PRO (yes we solve the amateur pro thing and this allows you to be designated accordingly). You MUST for that SKI YEAR ski MM at Reg/Nationals. This would work the same for OM/OW. Do you think CP and RJ want to be designated as pros or age group skiers? Our ranking system could easily be tweaked to support this and remember it is a clear reward to be designated as a PRO vs. just a qualifer (open men qualifier is about 1ish @39). This could also be used to support the elite rankings. Suggested Level 10/Pro ranking for open MEN 6@39 (figure %) Suggest Level 10/Pro ranking for OW (not sure but maybe 5 @38) suggested Level 10/Sr Pro for MM (6@39) the only ambiguity here is Some will want to increase the percentage and that equates to lowering the performance to be designated level 10/Pro but remember it is a reward and people want performance and recognition as a PRO. Also logic rues for overall skiers as 1 event OM/OV/MM qualifer counts toward age group overall and Pro is all or nothing (yes just a handfull could get negatively affected in a Ski year). I have asked someone on the rules committe to propose.