Empire State Winter Games

Alpine Skiing
Please note: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Alpine events (slalom, giant slalom) will not be contested at the 2010 Empire State Winter Games. Alpine will return for the 2011 Winter Games.

**NEW SPORTS!**
Skier Cross & Snowboard Cross
The Empire State Winter Games is pleased to announce the addition of two new exciting sports to the program - Skier Cross and Snowboard Cross!

Skier Cross and Snowboard Cross events are based on the Motorbike discipline of Moto Cross. Despite being timed racing events, they are often considered part of freestyle skiing because they incorporate terrain features traditionally found in freestyle skiing.
In Skier Cross, athletes compete on skis, and in Snowboard Cross, athletes race using a snow board. Competitors race down a course which is built to encompass both naturally occurring terrain and artificial features like jumps, rollers, banks - whatever the course builder can imagine. Competitors are not allowed to pull or push each other and any intentional contact to the other competitors is penalized by disqualification.
A group of four athletes start simultaneously in each round and attempt to reach the end of the course. The first two to cross the finish line will advance to the next round. At the end of these qualifying heats the final and small final rounds determine the medal places.

These events will take place at Whiteface Mountain and will be conducted by the New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF).

All participants must be current members of and qualify through the United States of America Snowboard Association(USASA) regions within New York State (Catskills, Western New York, or Adirondack).

Athletes will be invited to compete at the Winter Games based on their best three results within NYS in the prior twelve months leading up to the Games. Nationals results will not count.

USASA rules will apply.

There will be two age/competition groups per discipline and gender broken down into the following:
16 male & 8 female – ages 13-16 and 17 & above. Qualified racers must register online and pay an entry fee (Open/Scholastic - $10) to confirm their participation at the finals in Lake Placid. Visit the "Have you Qualified?" page for additional details.

Athletes competing at the Games are responsible for any fees for lift tickets at the mountain; discounted rates may be offered to competitors.

**Proof of New York State Residency or status as a full time student in a NY state school required.**

For more information contact Mike Kirchner at mikek@nysef.org or call NYSEF at (518)946-7001.

Adapted Downhill Skiing
This program offers Physically Challenged youth, ages 5 - 21, an opportunity to learn how to downhill ski, and to then ski the great Olympic Mountain - Whiteface. Instruction is available for first time skiers to the more advanced adapted skier/snowboarder.

Events are conducted by the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged and the Whiteface Adaptive Ski program. Certified Adaptive Ski Instructors from all across New York State volunteer their knowledge, experience and equipment to this unique program.

The physical challenge and ability of each athlete will be carefully considered so as to determine the type of equipment that will be needed. The day begins with one on one (or greater) instruction of safety and equipment. Athletes will work with instructors for two hours learning to properly use the equipment while having fun learning to ski. The day ends with a slalom race and awards ceremony.

The number of participants is limited due to equipment availability and there is a $10 entry fee. Only those participants accepted to the program should register online. For additional information please contact the Games office at 518-474-8889.

Biathlon
Think of blending the heart pounding, muscle throbbing exertion of racing up the stairs to the top of a tall building with the total focus and delicate precision of a watchmaker and you have an idea of the challenge that a biathlete must surmount. This event begins with a cross country ski race before the contestant must stop, recover, and compose themselves to shoot at targets at the shooting range. For each target missed, the athlete must ski a penalty loop before starting the next part of the event. It is a very unique sport for some very unique athletes.

The events are conducted by the New York State Ski Racing Association, Nordic Division (NYSSRA-Nordic), which schedules qualifying races and administers a points list whereby athletes qualify for the finals of the Winter Games. Additional information is available at the NYSSRA-Nordic website (www.nyssranordic.com).
There will be a Sprint race held on Friday, 2/19, at 1pm, and an Individual Relay race held on Saturday 2/20 at 1pm.

Male and Female athletes compete in the Scholastic, Open, Masters and Grand Masters Divisions.

Division ages are: (for the 2010 Winter Games ages are as of December 31, 2009)
Scholastic: Age 12 but no older than age 17;
Open: Age 18 but no older than 39;
Masters: Age 40 but no older than age 49;
Grand Masters: Age 50 and older.

Athletes who wish to qualify for this event must meet the age rules noted above, and also:

- Be New York State resident or a full time student enrolled in a New York State school.
- Be a current member of NYSSRA-Nordic, a NY Biathlon Club, and the USBA
- Finish at least two ESG qualifier races conducted by the NYSRRA-Nordic Division.
- Meet any other eligibility rules with regard to safety qualifications as outlined for Biathlon in the NYSSRA-Nordic manual and Website.
- Finish in the top 13 (men) and top 7 (women) of their respective division as outlined for Biathlon in the NYSSRA-Nordic manual.
- qualified racers must register online and pay an entry fee (Open/Scholastic - $10; Masters - $40) to confirm their participation at the finals in Lake Placid. Visit the "Have you Qualified?" page for additional details.

For more information visit the NY biathlon web site at: www.nybiathlon.org or contact Carl Klossner, email: c_klossner@hotmail.com

Cross Country Skiing
Cross Country Skiing in the Empire State Winter Games is a combination of competitive skiing with a "friendly" atmosphere. Qualifying Skiers will race in two races during the ESWG weekend in Lake Placid, competing on the world famous ski trails of Mt. VanHoevenberg.

Athletes must be New York State Residents or have status as a full time student in a NY state college/university.

Membership in the New York State Ski Racing Association, Nordic Division is required.

Division ages are: (for the 2010 Winter Games ages are as of December 31, 2009)
Scholastic: Age 12 but no older than age 17;
Open: Age 18 and older;
Masters: 8 age groups as outlined on the NYSSRA-Nordic website. The first age group begins at age 30.

Athletes who wish to qualify for this event must meet the age rules noted above, and must compete in qualifying races conducted by NYSSRA-Nordic to attain points throughout the season.
The top 60 male/female in the Scholastic Division points list, and the top 40 male/female in the Open Division points list will qualify to compete in the finals in Lake Placid. Masters Division competitors that meet the qualifying rules as outlined on the NYSSRA-Nordic website will qualify for the finals in Lake Placid.
Qualified racers must register online and pay an entry fee (Open/Scholastic - $10; Masters - $40) to confirm their participation at the finals in Lake Placid. Visit the "Have you Qualified?" page for additional details.

Contact Larry Wilkinson @ 315-797-9341. e-mail: nordic@roadrunner.com
website: www.nyssranordic.com

Ski Jumping
Imagine skiing down a huge tower and flying in the air more than 90 meters! That's what Ski Jumping is! The US Ski Federation has a very successful Junior Olympic Program, and after training on the K48 hill, athletes can move up to the K90 and 120 meter jumps at the Intervale Ski Jump Complex in Lake Placid.

The Empire State Winter Games also offers Nordic Combined, which consists of a Ski Jumping event and a Cross Country Skiing race, whereby the points in each event are combined to determine the winner.

Membership in the United States Ski and Snowboard Association is required (www.ussa.org).

The events are conducted by the New York Ski Education Foundation (NYSEF) which schedules qualifying events and sets the rules by which athletes qualify for the finals of the Winter Games.
Qualified racers must register online and pay an entry fee (Open/Scholastic - $10; Masters - $40) to confirm their participation at the finals in Lake Placid. Visit the "Have you Qualified?" page for additional details.

2010 ESG Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Team Qualifying Criteria: Athletes will qualify for the Empire State Games at a competition held in Lake Placid on January 30-31, 2010. For additional information please contact Casey Colby at (518) 523-1900, or via email at caseyc@nysef.org, or visit the NY Ski Education Foundation website at www.nysef.org or www.skijumpeast.com

Ski Orienteering
"Ski-O" combines cross country skiing with navigation, using a map and compass. The challenge is to be the fastest skier to all the check points marked on your map, in the correct order. The check points, called “controls” in orienteering, are along the ski trails, so you need not ski in deep snow (though you can, if you want to try creating your own short-cut!).

The athlete must be a current member of the New York State Ski Racing Association - Nordic, Inc. (NYSSRA-Nordic) and a current member of an Orienteering Club based in New York State, and chartered by the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF)

Division ages are: (for the 2010 Winter Games ages are as of December 31, 2009)
Scholastic: Age 10 but no older than age 17;
Open: Age 18 and older;
Masters: Age 40 but no older than age 54;
Grand Masters: Age 55 and older.

Athletes who wish to qualify for this event must meet the age rules noted above and compete in a minimum of two ESG Qualifying Ski-O races conducted by NYSSRA, and successfully complete one.

The top ten males and females in the Scholastic, Open, Masters and Grand Masters Divisions, as determined by the points won during the series of ESG Qualifying Ski-O races, will be invited to compete in the Empire State Games Ski Orienteering Finals race.
Qualified racers must register online and pay an entry fee (Open/Scholastic - $10; Masters - $40) to confirm their participation at the finals in Lake Placid. Visit the "Have you Qualified?" page for additional details.

For additional rules and details on how the points are awarded please visit the NYSSRA Ski-Orienteering web site: http://skio.wordpress.com or consult the 2009 - 2010 NYSSRA - Nordic Competition Manual.

Questions? Contact Eric Hamilton at ejh.bkh@juno.com, or 518-383-8565