Eligibility for Consideration: The USSA will consider for selection only those USSA members in good standing who have a valid FIS license.
Further, an athlete shall be ineligible for consideration if previously suspended or removed from team membership without having been reinstated by USSA. Also, athletes who have previously declined an offer of team membership shall not be eligible for automatically offered team membership regardless of results achieved during the competition season unless that athlete specifically requests consideration and the USSA Alpine Sport Director approves the request.
Team status does not guarantee funding from USSA for competition or preparation. Athletes who have been given individual performance criteria to meet will be subject to that specific criteria and not to general criteria as outlined below.
A Team - Men
- 2007 World Ski Championship medalist, or
- 1 top 30 World Rank (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom or Super-G), or
- 1 top 20 (Super Combined).
A Team - Women
- 2007 World Ski Championship medalist, or
- 1 top 25 World Rank (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom or Super-G), or
- 1 top 15 (Super Combined).
B Team - Men
- 1 top 60 World Rank (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom or Super-G), or
- 1 top 45 World Rank (Super Combined)
- Coaches’ discretion.
B Team - Women
- 1 top 45 World Rank (Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom or Super-G), or
- 1 top 30 World Rank (Super Combined)
- Coaches’ discretion.
C Team - Men
- Top 5 in World Junior Championships, or
- 1 top 100 World Rank in Giant Slalom or Slalom with an additional World Rank under 350 in any other discipline, or
- 1 top 100 World Rank in Downhill or Super-G with an additional World Rank under 350 in Giant Slalom or Slalom, or
- 2 top 150 World Ranks and must have World Rank under 350 in Giant Slalom or Slalom, or
- 1 top 3 U.S. National placing (excluding Overall and Combined), or
- NorAm title winner (excluding Overall and Super Combined), or
- Coaches’ discretion.
C Team - Women
- Junior World Championship medalist, or
- 1 top 80 World Rank in Giant Slalom or Slalom with an additional World Rank under 350 in any other discipline, or
- 1 top 80 World Rank in Downhill or Super-G with an additional World Rank under 350 in Giant Slalom or Slalom, or
- 2 top 100 World Ranks and must have World Rank under 350 in Slalom or Giant Slalom, or
- NorAm title winner (excluding Overall and Super Combined), or
- Coaches’ discretion.
D Team - Men
- 2 top 15 placings at the World Junior Championships (excluding Overall and Combined), or
- Year of Birth 1990, 1991, 1992 only: 1 top 5 FIS age group rank or 2 top 10 FIS age group ranks, or
- Win 2 Championship titles at the J2 Olympic Championship (excluding Overall and Combined), or
- Coaches’ discretion.
D Team – Women
- Year of Birth 1990, 1991,1992 only: 1 top 5 FIS age group rank or 2 top 10 FIS age group ranks, or
- Win 2 Championship titles at the J2 Olympic Championship (excluding Overall and Combined), or
- Coaches’ discretion.
Criteria Rules
Selection criteria using World Rank is based on the World Cup Start List or World Cup Standings published after the World Cup Finals and the FIS Ranking List published on May 1 (Selection List) for the coming Season.
FIS age group rank is based on the FIS list published on May 1 (excluding Super Combined).
Male athletes who are born 1980 or earlier and female athletes who are born 1982 or earlier must meet A Team criteria.
Male athletes who are born 1985 or earlier and female athletes who are born 1986 or earlier must meet B Team criteria.
Male and Female athletes who are born 1989 or earlier must meet C Team criteria.
Discretion will not be used for more than 1/3 of the Development Team, unless approved by Head Coach and Alpine Director.
Athlete Competition Advancement
Athletes will be advanced based on the following general guidelines:
1. Win a NorAm race: you will be entered in the next available Europa Cup competition in that discipline in the same season,
2. Place in the top 3 in a Europa Cup race: you will be entered in the next available World Cup competition, in that discipline, in the same season (if you meet the minimum FIS standards).
Clauses Applicable to all Athlete Selection Criteria
Coaches’ Discretion
Consideration for coaches’ discretion will consider the following:
1. Opportunities previously provided to an athlete in relationship to results,
2. Attitude and commitment,
3. Outstanding results,
4. Physical fitness level,
5. Injuries.
Complete explanation will be provided for any decision if requested.
Athlete Injury Clause
Athlete injured prior to March 1 of the competition calendar season will be named to the respective team at the time of injury for only the following season. Athlete must qualify through normal nomination criteria in any successive years (including those athletes who are repeatedly injured in the following year). In order to qualify for maintaining team status at the time of injury for the following year, athlete must follow a prescribed rehabilitation or medical program as approved by USSA medical staff. Funding may be based upon a return to physical fitness level or competitive form as determined by USSA approved medical staff.
In Season Promotion
Athletes will not be promoted in season. No athletes will be demoted during the season; however, funding may be suspended at any time if progress or commitment is not consistent with the designed program.
Medical Clearance
New athletes named to the team will require a medical clearance for participation. This will be completed by a sports physical exam by a USSA approved physician. Once named, athlete will contact USSA Medical Director for appropriate paperwork and direction. Medical clearance must be obtained prior to athlete participation in team projects.
Acceptance to Team
Athletes nominated to the team must accept or decline their nomination within ten (10) days after notification by their respective coach. Team naming will occur after nominated athletes have signed the U.S. Ski Team athlete agreement.
