Excellent Conditions For Spring Series – Lots of Event Details

FasterSkier · March 21, 2005

RACE CONDITION REPORT:

Colorado International Spring Series

March 26-April 2, 2005

Tuesday, March 22, 2005:

With four days to go until the first race, snow conditions for second edition
of Colorado International Spring Series (CISS) are excellent. During the past
six days nearly 12 inches of snow have fallen at the twin race venues of Devil's
Thumb Ranch and Snow Mountain Ranch. Overnight low tempatures are dipping
into the teens, creating solid skate lanes and tracks. Additional snow is
in the forecast for the remainder of the week, and unlike last year, high
temperatures will remain in the mid-thirties. Last year the race was held
despite record high temperatures. According to Race Director Shawn Delaney,
'this year's race will enjoy ideal conditions, allowing racers to experience
world-class courses and signature Colorado spring conditions.'

Race Schedule

Date
(all 2005)

Event

Description

Location

Saturday,
March 26 *
9AM

Devil's
Thumb Ranch Opener *

7.5km
CL / 7.5km SK Skiathlon
(Rolling Pursuit)

Devil's
Thumb Ranch

Monday,
March 28 *
9AM

Wells
Fargo Team Sprint *

2
racers x 3 laps each x 1km Classic

Devil's
Thumb Ranch

Tuesday,
March 29

9AM

Salomon
Sprints

1.5km
Skate Sprint

Snow
Mountain Ranch

Thursday,
March 31

9AM

Snow
Mountain Ranch Skate

5km/10km
Skate Time Trial

Snow
Mountain Ranch

Friday,
April 1

4:30PM

Fischer
Criterium
(non-scored FIS event)

15/30
minutes + 1 lap

Winter
Park Resort
(NOT Mary Jane where it was held 2004)

Saturday,
April 2

9AM

Swix
Season Closer Classic

10km/15km
Classic Mass Start

Devil's
Thumb Ranch

* North American Continental
Cup Supertour Final.
All events are FIS and USSA scored except for the Criterium, which is
non-scored.

Social Event Schedule
Saturday, March 26 10AM-2PM	Devil's Thumb Ranch BBQ Block Party	Awards Barbecue, Expo and Outdoor Block Party	Devil's Thumb Ranch
Monday, March 28 5PM-7PM	Devil's Thumb Ranch Cocktail Party	Awards and sponsor appreciation party.	Devil's Thumb Ranch Broad Axe Barn
Tuesday, March 29 5PM	Fontenot's Awards Party	Awards, appetizers and a band	Fontenot's, Main Street Winter Park
Wednesday, March 30 5PM	Devil's Thumb VIP Dinner (By Invitation)	VIP Dinner	Devil's Thumb Ranch
Thursday, March 31 5PM	Hungry Bear Awards Party	Awards and Party	Hungry Bear, Fraser
Friday, April 1 4:30PM	Fischer Criterium PARTY	Blow out on the deck while the race is happening	Derailleur, Winter Park Resort
Saturday, April 2 10AM-2PM	Awards BBQ and closing ceremonies	Food, Sun, Snow, Pool-side deck and a laid back closing to a great week	Devil's Thumb Ranch
Saturday, April 2 7PM	Closing Party	Celebrate the end of the season	TBD

Travel & Lodging

Races will centered in the Winter Park/Grand County area, which is located
in North Central Colorado, approximately 2 hours from Denver International
Airport.

To get to Grand County from Denver, head west on I-70. Take exit 232 onto
Hwy 40. Follow Hwy 40 for approximately 25 miles through Empire, over Berthoud
Pass, and past the Winter Park ski area to the town of Winter Park.
The town of Fraser is approximately 2 miles North of Winter Park on Hwy 40.
Tabernash is another 5 miles North.

Devil's Thumb Ranch
800.933.4339
www.devilsthumbranch.com

Take US Highway 40 North from the town of Fraser
approximately 2 miles. Take a right on County Road 83 before
the big curve in the road. Take the right hand fork, and follow it
3 miles to the Ranch.

Snow Mountain Ranch
970.887.2152
www.ymcarockies.org

Follow US Highway 40 12 miles North from the town
of Winter Park
Request the “Colorado International Spring Series Race Rate”
and receive 20% off lodging.

Travel Assistance/Entry Fee Waiver

In order to encourage attendance, CISS will try to help teams and top-level
athletes by offering financial travel assistance and registration fee waivers
when possible. Qualification criteria for receiving assistance and/or
entry fee waiver can be found at www.springeries.com. If you meet this
criteria and wish to request travel assistance, please contact Elite Athlete
Coordinator, Nathan Schultz, nschultz@springseries.com,
720.227.9400.

Prize Money & Awards

Total cash prize list is $18,650 and merchandise prize list is $15,000.
Cash prizes will only be awarded to open category competitors who provide
valid FIS licenses. All other categories will receive merchandise prizes.
All prizes that are declined by the recipient will not be granted to other
competitors.

The following cash prizes will be awarded for both men and women in the five
individual, one relay and three overall competitions:

Cash award breakdown

A minimum of $18,650 total cash prizes will be awarded. With increased
registration, additional prize money may be awarded at the organizer's discretion.

Supertour Individual Events – $4600 total
1st	$775
2nd	$350
3rd	$225
4th	$175
5th	$150
6th	$125
7th	$100
8th	$75
9th	$50
10th	$25
U23 bonus $250
Other Individual Events – $5800 total
1st	$350
2nd	$150
3rd	$100
4th	$75
5th	$50
Team Sprint Relay – $4600
1st	$1500
2nd	$450
3rd	$200
4th	$100
5th	$50
Overall – $3650
Overall Leader	$750
Overall 2nd	$250
Overall 3rd	$100
Sprint Leader	$350
Best Climber	$350

Overall Series Competition

The CISS will have a unique format for overall prizes. There will be
five overall jerseys: The Devil's Thumb Ranch Overall to signify the overall
General Classification (GC) Leader (Yellow), the Salomon Sprint Leader (Green),
the Snow Mountain Ranch Climbing Leader (Silver), the Boulder Center For SportsMedicine
Top Junior (GC), and the Chipotle Fun Leader. The GC will be calculated
using cumulative race time minus any time bonuses, while the Climbing and
Sprints will be based on a points system. GC and points will be calculated
at the end of each race and leader jerseys will be awarded.

Competitors must finish all six races to qualify for overall prizes.

Time Bonuses

GC Time bonuses will be awarded in the Individual Sprint and the Criterium.
Bonuses will be awarded to any competitor, not just those competing for the
overall:

1st Place	30 seconds
2nd Place	20 seconds
3rd Place	15 seconds
4th Place	10 seconds

Sprint & Climbing Points

Sprint and climbing points will be awarded in three tiers:

Place	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3
1	30	20	10
2	25	15	8
3	20	10	6
4	15	8	4
5	10	6	2
6	9	5
7	8	4
8	7	3
9	6	2
10	5	1

Sprint and Climbing Point Locations

Course alterations are inevitable, so this schedule may be adjusted.

Race	Location	Sprint Category	Climb Category
3/26 7.5km/7.5km Duathlon	Classical Hill Top 1		3
	Classical Hill Top 2		2
	Transition	2
	Skate Hill Top 1		2
	Skate Hill Top 2		3
	Finish Order	2
3/28 Team Sprint CL	1st Exchange	2
	2nd Exchange	3
	Finish	1
3/29 Skate Sprint	Qualification Order	2
	Final	1
3/31 5km/10km SK Time Trial	Hill Split		1
	Finish	2
4/1 Skate Criterium	First over the jump	3	3
	Prime 1	2
	Prime 2	3
	Prime 3	3
	Finish	1
4/2 10km/15km Classical Mass Start	Intermediate Sprint	2
	Intermediate Climb		1
	Intermediate Climb		2
	Finish	2

Race Headquarters

Race Headquarters will be at Devil's Thumb Ranch. All Team Captains
Meetings will be held at Race HQ at 5PM the night before each race.

Team Captains Meetings

The Team Captains Meetings are scheduled for 5PM the day before each event.
The first Team Captains Meeting will take place at 5PM Friday, March 25, 2004
at Race Headquarters.

Medical Support

Boulder Center for Sports Medicine is pleased to provide world class medical
services for the Colorado International Spring Series. For more information,
see www.bch.org/sportsmedicine

If an athlete is injured on the race course, the athlete will be attended
to by the National Ski Patrol professionals. If an athlete suffers an
injury or illness that does not require the emergent attention of the Ski
Patrol, a medical triage service will be available for two hours after each
day's racing. For events held at Devil's Thumb Ranch, the staff of Boulder
Center for Sports Medicine will be available in the Spa area in the Broad
Axe Barn Building near the retail shop. For events held at Snow Mountain
Ranch, the medical staff will be available at the Leggett Building.
At the April 1^st Criterium, the staff will be available at the
Purple Tent near the course. Sports Massage will also be available in
the triage area, each day, for a minimal fee.

Medical triage schedule:

March 26^th 10 am — 12
pm Devil's Thumb Ranch
Broad Axe Barn

March 28^th 10 am — 12
pm Devil's Thumb Ranch
Broad Axe Barn

March 29^th 12 pm — 2 pm Snow
Mountain Ranch Leggett
Building

March 31^st 12 pm — 2 pm Snow
Mountain Ranch Leggett
Building

April 1^st Criterium
Course

April 2^nd
10 am — 12 pm Devil's Thumb Ranch
Broad Axe Barn

These schedules may change, if weather forces changes to the race schedule.
This web site will always be your best source of information. We will
strive to be available for 2 hours after each event at the assigned location.
The Boulder Center for Sports Medicine is pleased and proud to provide this
medical service to the Colorado International Spring Series.

Drug Testing

All competitors must comply with all FIS and USSA rules. Drug testing
may be required of FIS and/or USSA competitors.