Snowshoe Racing
Snowshoe racing at the Empire State Games is divided into a two day
activity.
Day one consists of the sprints races: 100M, 200M, 400M, and 1500M races
conducted on a snow packed and groomed oval track, with basic summer
track & field rules.
Day two presents a distance race of 5,000M, which is a cross-country
race with a mass start.
All racing is done on a pair of high-tech snowshoes and any non-prototype
adult snowshoe model with at least 120 square inches of functional surface
area and at least 7" x 20" dimensions, sanctioned by the Amateur International
Snowshoe Racing Federation. These racing shoes are usually made from
aluminum or other lightweight frame, with special polymer decking and
traction devices.
General Rules:
- qualifying races and finals events of the Empire State Games are conducted
by the Empire State Snow Shoe Racing Association (ESSSRA).
- Entry fee: Qualified racers will pay an entry fee as
outlined below for the finals in
Lake Placid.
- Participants must be residents of New York State, or be a full-time
student in a NY state school.
**Proof of New York State Residency or status as a full time student
in a NY state school required.**
- Divisions and ages are:
(for the 2010 Winter Games ages are as of December 31,
2009)
Scholastic - Men & Women: athletes between
the ages 12 and 17
Open - Men & Women: athletes between
the ages of 18 and 29*
*note - over 29 may declare, in writing to the Sport Chairperson by
Feb 1 of the current ESG season, to race as an Open Division participant.
Any person who declares for Open may not revert to Masters until the
following season.
Masters - 5 age groups - Men & Women:
Masters I: 30 - 39;
Masters II: 40 - 49;
Masters III: 50 - 59;
Masters IV: 60 - 69;
Masters V: 70+
- Qualifying and Registering for Empire State
Winter Games Snowshoe:
Membership: Racers must
be members of ESSSRA to participate in qualifying races and to participate
in the finals in Lake Placid.
Snowshoe Sprint and 1500m racers: participants must complete
at least 2 qualifying races conducted through the NYS Snowshoe Association
during the racing season and finish in the top 20 in their division.
Racers must check the ESG Roster page
after February 9, 2010 to see if they have qualified for the finals
in Lake Placid.
5,000M racers: competitors must complete a 5,000M
ESSSRA sanctioned qualifying
race during the racing season.
All qualified racers
who wish to compete at the Games in Lake Placid must
confirm their intention to compete by registering
and paying the entry fee at the Winter Games
registration page.
Entry fees: Open & Scholastic Division: $10.00;
Masters Division: $40.00
Open & Scholastic Sprint/1500M racers are eligible for a free ESG
sweatsuit.
5,000M racers and Masters Division racers are eligible for a free
ESG cap and are eligible to purchase an ESG sweatsuit.
Racers who qualify for and wish to compete in both the Sprints1500M
and the 5,000M will be assessed the entry fee for their division
only once (Snowshoe is considered one sport, and the entry fee is
per sport, regardless of the number of events entered for that
sport).
For the 2010 Winter Games, the online entry
deadline is 11pm, February 17, 2010.
Visit the
"Have you Qualified?" page for additional details.
Racers who do not have the
ability to register online must call the Games office by February 10
for registration information (518-474-8889).
- Snowshoe Equipment:
Racers may use any adult
snowshoe model with at least 120 square inches of functional surface
area, sanctioned by the Amateur International
Snowshoe Racing Federation..
- There are NO POST ENTRIES for any finals event in Lake Placid.
Those who are qualified to compete at the ESG finals in Lake Placid
must confirm their intention to compete by registering online by the
deadline date indicated above.
Visit www.empirestatesnowshoe.org
for the schedule of Qualifying Race
Dates and Locations.
Contact the Empire State Games office at 518-474-8889 for additional
information.