IWSF 2008 Elite Rankings The ranking methodolgy is based on the system used by the Professional Slalom Skiers Association(PASS) and developed by Mark Crone. This system was used for the 2000 World Cup Ranking in slalom. The basic system was modified to make it more appropriate for world wide use. It was used successfully for 2003 through 2007. IWSF Elite Ranking Concepts Key Concepts 1 Tournament points Each tournament will be assigned a certain number of points. The points will be based on the concepts as follows: a) 2 points for each $100 USD of prize money on a per event basis b) Title points assigned per IWSF TC decision. The points from these categories shall be used from either a) or b) to give the final tournament point value. 2. Awarding points by placement Points shall be awarded based on placement. Each placement is a certain percentage of the event points based on the same formula that has been used since 2003. Place Percent of points 1 100.00 2 79.99 3 63.97 4 51.12 5 40.80 6 32.50 7 25.82 8 20.43 9 16.09 10 12.58 11 9.75 12 7.48 13 5.65 14 4.18 15 3.01 16 2.08 17 1.35 18 0.77 19 0.33 20 0.00 3. Skier Point totals We will use a set number of your tournament scores. After each tournament you go to, your points will be added in. The number of tournaments will be set for each event and be no more than 50% of the regular status Elite Events meeting the minimum event purse. If we add tournaments during the season, that will not change the the number of tournaments that will be scored. So, for example, if we declare that since there are 11 men slalom events we will use the top 5. If later, we add one event, it will still be the top 5. Also, if there are two Elite events in the same weekend, it will only be counted as one as you can only attend one (if that is the case). For 2008 the following preliminary schedule will apply: Men Slalom - top 6 tournaments (2007 - 6) Women Slalom - 4 (2007 - 4) Men Tricks - 3 (2007 - 3) Women Tricks - 2 or 3 (2007 - 3) Men Jump - 4 (2007 - 4) Women Jump - 2 or 3 (2007 - 3) (This will be confirmed after the final schedule is published) These numbers will apply at the start of the 2008 season so after the first 2008 tournament in each event, the number of tournaments used will change to the 2008 number which may be different than the 2007 number. I have made these numbers a little lower than 50% based on the fact that although there are a few more tournaments, many of them have restricted entry The points will just be added cumulatively as received. This means that points will be added for each tournament that you score in up until you reach the maximum number of scores (5 in our men slalom example). Then, if you go to more tournaments, your top 5 will be used so that your point total will only change if your points score exceeds your 5th best score which would then be dropped. 4. 2008 Starting basis The 2008 Rankings shall continue from the 2007 Rankings on a rotating basis with results older than 1 year being dropped. 5. Tournament Selection Tournaments shall be selected by the IWSF TC based on several factors as follows: a) Automatic selection of the title tournaments per item 1 b) Automatic selection of cash prize tournaments with sufficent purse c) Selection of "introductory" Elite tournaments Naturally all tournaments must be sanctioned by their IWSF affiliated National Governing Body. Once a tournament has been accepted, additional prize money may be added, but there will be no change in points less than 30 days from tournament. For 2008, the following tournaments appear to be qualified so far. However as I am publishing this at a very early date, this will most likely change. Lake Crichton Pro Am Moomba Masters H2Osmosis Pro Swerve Slalom Championship 2008 Record Roundup LA Night Jam Pro Jump Mastercraft Pro Slalom I Ski West Pro Mastercraft Pro Slalom II Pickos Superstars Tricks Malibu Open Alizee Cup World Cup Dubna Princes Pro Am London Night Jump Mastercraft Pro Slalom III US Open Daiblo Shores Pro Am Slalom The rest to be determined per the IWSF TC Chairman. An updated schedule will be available at www.iwsfranking.com Tournament organizers who feel that their tournament may qualify are encouraged to apply to the IWSF TC Chairman for approval as an Elite Ranking Tournament. Apply to bcorson@comcast.net 6. Rankings Publication The ranking points totals shall be published on iwsfranking.com. The top 20 places (30 in men slalom) will constitute the rankings. The ranking points will be published after each qualified tournament is completed. This is, of course, based on results availibility. Each qualifying tournament must post their results on iwsf.com. The full list of points and calculation spreadsheet will be publically available in iwsfranking.com Each skiers official "Ranking" may change after each tournament. 7. Ranking List Name The Ranking List shall be entitled the "IWSF Elite Skier Rankings". 8 World Cup There again will be a World Cup in 2008. This will run in parallel with the Elite Rankings. All World Cup stops qualify for Elite Rankings. The World Cup will be scored in a similar fashion, but will be separate from the rankings so that the World Cup winner may not be the #1 Elite skier although there will probably be a close parallel. Under the guidance of the Athletes Advisory Committee, we tried to encourage the introduction and development of Elite Tournaments. One of the barriers has been the minimum purse level. As a trial, we instituted a program as an "introductory" offer to new tournaments where they can gain Elite status at a lower purse level given that they will progress and in two years be at the new standard levels. This translates in to the following schedule: 2008 Mens Event $5000 USD minimum, Womens Event $3000 USD 2009 Mens Event $8500 USD minimum, Womens Event $6000 USD 2010 Mens Event $12000 USD minimum, Womens Event $9000 USD For 2008 I would like to continue this program. The current Elite minimum standards are $12000/9000. There are two other aspects that are of concern and relavent to this issue. The first is the number of tournaments used for the final calculation of Elite Ranking. This is based on 50% of the number of Elite tournaments. Introductory tournaments will not be used as part of the total. Any tournament that remains Elite but has less than the minimum event money will also not count toward the total. Also last year we changed from being exactly 50% to being based on 50% so that it is 50% or lower. This is due to the World Cup tournament series which has well qualified prize money but limited access. So the exact numbers will be determined after the schedule is set. The second issue is that the initial feeling might be that you are being required to go to some tournament where there is reduced prize money to get points. That is not the intention at all. Since there is reduced prize money, the points will also be reduced so that you gain less by going, but if you do not go there should not be any impact. If there are 6 Elite Regular Events and 2 introductory events, your final score will be based on 3 events. So if you go to half of the regular events there most likely will be no need to go to the introductory events unless you find it convienent. The principle is that the events should have to attract you with prize money. It is not the intent of the program to compel you to go. 9. Changes to a tournament 30 days prior to a tournament the declared cash prize amount is used to set the Elite points. Cash may be added after that but it will not affect the points. The prize may not be reduced. Organizers must supply the cash prize amounts, entry fee, schedule, and, at the end of the tournament a list of the placements of all competitors. All applications and changes must be approved by the TC Chairman (bcorson@comcast.net) 10. Ties and Elite points If there is a tie, the Elite points for the tied positions will be added up and split equally among the tied competitors. Example: Cash Purse $10,000 3 way tie for 6th place points for each place 6 65.00 7 51.64 8 40.86 total 157.50 points awarded each tied competitor - 52.5