Are USSA/FIS timing rules too hard?

Since I have never timed an Alpine race I can't say one way or the other about Alpine race. But for Nordic events, I would have to say yes and no.

It is not the actual timing of the races that makes USSA Nordic events so challenging. It is the seeding and reporting results to USSA and FIS which is difficult. And most of the difficulty is a result of dirty registration data. If USSA did the following two things, it would solve 95% of the headaches I see at races:

1. An online registration system that sends the race secretaries clean data with verified license numbers and points. It would be really cool if that system helped the race secretaries manage the entire event.

2. A way to upload a simple spreadsheet, similar to USA Cycling, that re-verifies licenses, calculates points and preps the data to be sent to FIS.

Finally, they could come into the 21st century and allow transponder timing as a primary time source... of course that is just my bias.

I would love to participate in the survey, so if you know of a way to do so, please let me know.

Mac

I know that VARA in Vermont is looking at registration options to manage their data better. They were approached by a company that does soccer registration. The ability to cross reference national and regional membership is key for the future.

Its not just the timing regs its the number of officals that must work the race (8) & their level of certification. Come on with the Start & Finish Refs that must have passed the full Referee exam. They need to know the Start & Finish rules and who to call if racer requests a re-run.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They don't need to know how to set a course and how to be a voting jury member.

New JA curriculum is in the works for Start/Finish refs. At this point I think it is just a separate test but it is a start. Certification requirements are for the usual reasons in this nation...