Alpine Skiing
Racing on the great courses at Whiteface Mountain, the Alpine events
for the 2008 Games will be the Slalom and Giant Slalom.
Current membership is required in New York State Ski Racing Association,
Alpine Division (NYSSRA-Alpine) and the United States Ski and Snowboard
Association (USSA).
Athletes must attend a series of NYSSRA Alpine qualifying races, the
Empire and Trophy Series.
A total field of approximately 180 is named by NYSSRA for final competition
in Lake Placid.
**Proof of New York State Residency or status as a full time student
in a NY state school required.**
Contact Connie Webster @ 315-655-2216 or e-mail: conniew@nyssra.org,
or visit they NYSSRA-Alpine website at
www.nyssra.org.
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.
Athletes who wish to qualify for this
event must:
- 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.
- Be New York State resident or a member of a NY Biathlon Club.
- Finish in the top of your respective competition class as outlined for Biathlon in the NYSSRA-Nordic manual. Visit the NY Biathlon website at www.nybiathlon.org for additional information.
Male and Female athletes compete in the scholastic, open and master
divisions.
For more information visit the NY biathlon
web site at: www.nybiathlon.org
or contact Bill Lilly (716)223-9513 or email: wlilly@rochester.rr.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.
Membership in New York State Ski Racing Association, Nordic Division
required.
Top male/female in Open, Scholastic and Masters Division
**Proof of New York State Residency or status as a full time student
in a NY state school required.**
Contact Larry Wilkinson @ 315-797-9341. e-mail: nordic@roadrunner.com
website: www.nyssranordic.com
Ski Jumping
Imagine skiing down a huge ramp and flying in the air more than 70 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 quickly 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.
2008 ESG Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Team Qualifying Criteria:
To be eligible for the Games, athletes must attend the Norwegian Open Event, which will be held on Sunday, February 3rd in Lake Placid.
Qualifying criteria for the Special Jumping Team include competing in the K48 and/ or K90 competitions.
Qualifying criteria for the Nordic Combined Team include competing in the Nordic combined race based on the K48 and/ or the K90 competitions.
If an athlete cannot attend the Norwegian Open on February 3, coaches discretion
will be used in special circumstances only. Athletes would need to contact their coach for a special circumstance request.
For additional information please contact Matt Cook at
(518) 523-1900, or via email at mattcook99@hotmail.com,
or visit the NY Ski Education Foundation website at
www.nysefnordic.wordpress.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!).
Competitors must be:
a member of the New York State Ski
Racing Association - Nordic, Inc. (NYSSRA – Nordic);
or,
a member of an orienteering club based in New York state, and chartered
by the United States Orienteering Federation (USOF);
or,
a member of the USOF or the Canadian Orienteering Federation (COF).
Each competitor must enter a minimum of two ESG Qualifying Ski-O
races and successfully complete one.
The top twenty males and females in Open, Scholastic, 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 Empires State Games Ski Orienteering Finals race. Details on how
the points are awarded may be found in the NYSSRA Competition Manual
and at the Ski-O web site:
http://empo.us.orienteering.org/ski-o/
Questions? Contact Eric Hamilton at ejh.bkh@juno.com, or 518-383-8565