June 26, 2009 to July 05, 2009 -
Live Updates will be available via the USA Roller Sports Events Twitter Feed at http://twitter.com/usars_events *Please note that this is a different Twitter feed than the normal USARS feed.
June 26, 27, 28 - Banked Track Practice
June 29, 30 and July 1- Banked Track Championships
July 2 - Rain Day and Road Practice
July 3, 4 - Road Championships
July 5 - Rain Day
Visit EyeCon International's Event Page to purchase pictures of your skater!
THE EVENTS
RACE DISTANCES AND DETAILS
The following is a general description of the races, which are skated at this time. Be aware that International Rules change frequently; therefore, USARS Rules are made to comply with the CIC (International) Rules and can change at any time. You will receive notice of any rule changes. Also, at each National Championship, all race specifics are given and both skaters and coaches have an opportunity to ask questions at their respective Orientation Meetings.
Time Trials (200m & 300m)
One contestant at a time races against the clock attempting to skate the fastest time for the Time Trials. Times are recorded to one-thousandth of a second. Timing will start when a skater breaks the plane of an electronic beam at the starting line. The starting line beam or photocell should be 20-25 cm high from the surface. A second beam or photocell registers the finish. The finish line beam can be no more than 10 cm from the surface.
Prior to the national banked track and road championships, USARS headquarters staff will conduct the blind draw to determine the start order in which the contestants will skate. This is the only race that is drawn by the National Office. This results in the scrambling of the alphabetical order of the contestants. All other races are determined by the skaters’ individual time trial finish.
Should a skater miss the “blind draw” due to late entries, the skater will automatically be put to the FRONT of the event. If there is more than one late entry, the late entries will continue to be added to the front of the event. This means that if Jane Doe’s entry is received on March 1st at 10am and given a number of “0”, and June May’s entry is received on March 1st at 1pm, she will be given a number of “00”. June May would skate first, followed by Jane Doe. At this point USARS would continue on with the published draw of that particular event starting with the number 1.
If a skater chooses to withdraw from the 200m or 300m distance, but wants to participate in all other distances, the first person that chooses NOT to skate the 200/300 meter times would be placed in order right after the slowest time skated, the next person to skip the time trial would be placed next and so on.
Once the timer is ready, the starter will advise the contestant to start when ready. At this time, the contestant will have 15 seconds in which to start. Once the contestant breaks the electronic beam, he/she must enter the event immediately. No re-skate will be allowed for those skaters who remain on the starting line after the beam is broken.
The start will be as follows:
Both skates must be on the ground and must not be moving. The oscillation (movement) of the athlete’s body is allowed. A second solid line must be drawn 60 cm behind the starting line. The skater must have at least one skate within the two lines. If any part of the skate moves outside the back line, it will be considered as a false start. The first movement of the skate must be in the direction of the competition (forward) and must cross through the starting beam.
500m Sprint Heats
These are set up based on the placement of skaters in the 200m/300m Time Trials. Two skaters will qualify from each heat, quarter or semi and advance onto the next round. At the semi final event the four skaters not moving to the final event will skate a placement race to determine 5th through 8th placements for senior and junior World Team points. Four skaters will skate in the final event. If a skater does not take part in the 200m/300m Time Trial and wishes to skate the 500m, he/she will then occupy the place that corresponds at the end of the serpentine. Note: everyone should understand that the heating for Nationals is in writing. Often times, skaters and coaches question why several skaters from the same team may be in the same heat. It is important that you/they realize that the heating is done by a formula.
1000m (Junior and Senior World Class)
The heats are set up based on the placement of skaters in the 200m/300m Time Trials. In the 1000m heat race, skaters can qualify either by placement or fastest time. The winners of each heat and a designated number of fastest times, regardless of which heat they skated, will advance to the next round of competition. It is important to obtain times of all contestants in the heats and semifinal heats so the designated number of contestants can be forwarded to the next round. Eight (8) skaters will skate in the final event.
1500m (Masters Men and Women)
The heats are set up based on the placement of skaters in the 200m/300m Time Trials. In the 1500m heats, skaters can qualify either by placement or fastest time. The winner of each of the heats and a designated number of fastest times, regardless of which heat they skated, will advance to the next round of competition. It is important to obtain times of all contestants in the heats and semifinal heats so the designated number of contestants can be forwarded to the next round. Eight (8) skaters will skate in the final event.
Points Race 2000m (Freshman) 10,000m ( Jr and Sr World Class) Road Only
Points Races – Heats, if required, are set up based on the placement of skaters in the 200m/300m Time Trials and are organized using the serpentine system according to the heating schedule. The number of skaters to be placed on each line at the start is determined by the width of the track used.
As the skaters pass the start-finish line on the lap before the points are to be awarded, the starter or lap counter will ring the bell to signify that the next time across the finish line, two points will be awarded to the skater finishing first place, and one point to the skater placing second place on each point lap. Points are awarded every lap. On the final lap the top three skaters will receive the following points: first place (3), second place (2) and third place (1). At the completion of the event, the points are accumulated for each skater and those placing in the qualifying positions will move forward to the next round of competition, or in the case of the final event, be awarded medals for first, second or third. In the event of a tie in placement points, the skater placing highest of the 3 placements in the final lap will receive the higher placement. A skater forfeits all points if he/she does not finish the race.
Elimination Races 15000m/track/20000m/Road (Jr and Sr World Class)
Heating remains the same in that 200m/300m times are used. The skaters are eliminated from this event if on a designated lap that contestant crosses the finish line in last place. The last wheel of the last skate in contact with the surface determines the skater being eliminated from the race. There may be more than one skater eliminated and this is determined prior to the race starting by the race officials.
As the skaters pass the start-finish line on the lap before the elimination lap begins, the starter will ring the bell so as to signify that the next time across the finish line the contestant crossing the finish line last will be eliminated from the race. The bell schedule will be predetermined by the officials so as to leave five (5) contestants remaining in the race to skate the final two (2) laps in the final event. Should a skater retire from the competition by being disqualified, lapped or voluntarily leaving the event, this retirement will count as the next corresponding elimination or eliminations and the bell schedule should be adjusted accordingly.
Points/Elimination Races (Junior Men & Women and World Class Men and Women 10000m) Track Only
Heating remains the same in that 200m/300m times are used. The skaters are eliminated from this event if on a designated lap that contestant crosses the finish line in last place. The last wheel of the last skate in contact with the surface determines the skater being eliminated from the race. There may be more than one skater eliminated and this is determined prior to the race starting by the race officials.
As the skaters pass the start-finish line on the lap before the elimination lap begins, the starter will ring the bell so as to signify that the next time across the finish line the contestant crossing the finish line last will be eliminated from the race. The last wheel of the last skate determines the next skater being eliminated from the race. On alternating laps two points will be awarded to the first skater and one point awarded to the second skater to cross the start-finish line. Points are awarded each lap with eliminations as required depending on the number of contestants in the race. At the completion of the last lap, 3-2-1 points will be awarded to the first three skaters. The elimination of skaters will end when there are 10 competing skaters with three (3) laps to go. Point and elimination laps alternate with one lap awarding points and the next lap being an elimination lap.
At the completion of the event, the points are accumulated for each skater and those placing in the qualifying positions will move forward to the next round of competition or in the case of the final event, be awarded medals for first, second and third.
Should a skater retire from the competition by being disqualified, lapped or voluntarily leaving the event, this retirement will count as the next corresponding elimination or eliminations and the skater loses their points accumulated in the race.
Points Races (Masters Women 2000m & Masters Men 5000m) Track and Road
Masters events will skate as a group and be awarded by age. Age groups for men and women are
25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, and 55 and over. Points are awarded as follows:
Points are awarded every lap with 2 points to first and 1 point to second. At the end of the race on the last lap, points are awarded 3 points to first, 2 points to second, and 1 point for third for finishers in each age group.
The Masters Points races will be placed by points earned during the race, contestants not earning points during the race will be placed by their order of finish. Skaters may be distanced at the discretion of the referee. Distanced skaters will be placed in reverse order of their elimination. Skaters retiring or unable to finish the event will not be placed.
Note: Any age group with 12 or more contestants will be run as a separate event.
