The Program

What Do New Racers Think? What Do World-Cup Racers Think?
This page gives a summary our our program. In addition, here are several "new racer" viewpoints that are so positive we have to mention them first.

Quality FIS-style Alpine races

The race format is FIS slalom and giant-slalom. Most of the races are standard double-pole format. We have a true side-by-side dual slalom (the Cantor Cup), and one super-G. We run five separate courses for most of our racers. This allows the courses to be more challenging for the faster racers, and by keeping the number of racers per course under 50, it limits the rutting to enable more racers to ski a "clean course."

Race with people as fast as you

Racers in this program are organized into classes based on ability and sex. A handicap system is used to place men and women in appropriate classes, and to determine when racers should upgrade or downgrade to different classes. Ability groups with lots of racers are further divided by age (vet racers are 40 and over, and super-vet racers are 50 and over). The handicap system ensures that in most classes, all racers are within a few seconds of each other.

Adult recreational participants

The MACC program is for adults. It is organized by ski clubs and ski teams. Our racers come from all over Michigan and its neighbors (Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois). Junior ages 15, 16, and 17 can participate if a parent or guardian is a MACC racer.

The best terrain

The best terrain for racing in the lower penninsula of Michigan is the SuperBowl slope at Boyne Mountain. With 500 ft of vertical, a steep pitch, permanent shacks at the start and finish, and a warming hut that overlooks the hill, it is simply the best facility available for alpine racing in our area. We also have a 3-day race weekend further away, at Searchmont in Ontario, Canada. Searchmont's 700-ft vertical and rolling terrain allow us to run a super-G, along with regular GS and slalom.

Volunteer non-profit organization

We are part of a non-profit organization. All members of the MACC are volunteers. For the Boyne races, all race work (other than making snow, grooming the hill, and running the lifts) is done by the racers. In this program, you have to work on someone else's race each weekend in which you participate. For example, you might race at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and 12:00 on Sunday. You have to sign up to work on a race at a different time (say, 2:00 Saturday). Most jobs take about an hour. Although running the races ourselves keeps the cost down, the real reason is that we have full control over the quality. (One exception: when we race at Searchmont, a local racing club runs the races for us.)

Individual race awards

On a given race day, there are about 20 different men and women's ability classes, most with 10 to 20 participants. Awards are given to the top three finishers for each class on every race day. The awards are typically glasses or mugs with a MACC logo and trim in gold, silver, or bronze.

A day in the life
A detailed description of a day in the life at Boyne (a race Saturday) describes all the activities involved in a Saturday race.

 

The Races

Separate courses for different classes

We usually run five courses per day to keep the number of racers per course under 50 (i.e., 100 racer runs). The course setters are able to set courses that are appropriate to the ability levels of the classes. The limited number of racers reduces course rutting and deterioration and give more participants a change to ski a "clean course." When ruts develop, they are consistent with the ability levels of the racers: elite racers face ruts at the turning gate, intermediate ruts occur further down. Each course typically takes about an hour to complete (both runs).

Course 5 is for the D racers. Our course 5 pacesetters also work as instructors. They answer questions, help you inspect the course, and try to make your introduction to racing fun and friendly.

Well-run and organized races

The course and timing equipment is owned by MACC and kept permanently at Boyne, where it is set up by experienced crews on race days. The facilities at Boyne allow two races to be run simultaneously. We can have two courses running in the morning (10:00), two at noon (12:00), and two in the afternoon (2:00 p.m.) All results go into a computerized data base, with results usually being posted within 20 minutes after the completion of the race. Unlike many FIS-style racing programs, ours is designed such that racers can inspect the course and make both runs in about an hour and half. Start orders are published ahead of time, so it is possible to watch the race and show up "just in time" (if that's your style).

The Season

Season-Long points and awards

Besides winning awards for the top three finishes, participants accumulate World Cup points for the top 15 finishes. Points are accumulated over the season, and at the end of the year awards are given to the top three finishers in each class. The best 8 finishes (out of 11 races) are used. Therefore it is not necessary to make every single race to be competative in the chase for World Cup glory.

Team trophies are given out, based on team averages accumulated over the season. These results are posted every race week.

Mark II weekend

The season concludes with the Mark II weekend. This is a 3-day weekend in March, held at Boyne Mountain. In addition to the individual awards, points are accumulated by each team and team trophies are awarded. A highlight is the Mark II banquet on Saturday night, in which all the season trophies are given out.

Be sure to get tickets for the Saturday night banquet. A roast-beef and chicken buffet provides tasty nourishment, while we socialize, look at the 1000+ photos taken by Tom Lining, drink more nourishment from the cash bar, and applaud those who receive seasonal world cup trophies and team trophies. Also, this is where all the equipment and goodies donated by our sponsors are handed out. When you enter the conference center, you fill out a raffle ticket. Drawings result in awards of skis, boots, poles, sunglasses, helmets, season passes, and many ski and sport-related items.

Started in 1999 is the Cantor Cup Sunday race. It is a fun race to conclude the season, using the dual-slalom format. No world cup points. No team points. Just two runs, with the fasted total time per class winning a Cantor Cup pitcher with the MACC label.