Rochester Youth Ski Festival 2022

Cumming Nature Center
Saturday - Sunday, January 22-23

Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together

Skiing fast, ski touring, face glitter, relay socks, team dances, baking, photo-shoot posing - Team USA is doing all these things and more to get ready to rock at the Olympics.  Come out for a weekend of ski races and games, and try it all for yourself - the Road to Gold has never been so much fun!

Schedule

Saturday January 22
10:30  King's Court Sprint (freestyle) - qualifier (0.75 km timed individual start) at 10:30, heats  at 11:00.
12:00  Lollipop "Race" - 0.3 km non-competitive race for the youngest, beginning skiers
12:30  Winter Picnic and Awards - BYO lunch around the fire pits and awards
1:00-2:30  Road to Gold Pre-Olympic Tour de Ski - ski tour with activities and treats - do any or all, at your own pace.  
  - Ski the Bumps - Jessie Diggins Kill The Hill - Mikaela Shiffrin Slalom - Big Air -  Jessie and Kikkan Tandem Sprint - Team USA snow dance - 

Sunday January 23
10:00  Classic distance races - mass start with 1.2 km, , 2.5 km, or 5 km options.  5 km will start first, followed shortly by 2.5 km and then 1.2 km.  
11:00  Lollipop Ski Cross - 0.3 km course with obstacles
11:30  Friends and Family Sprint Relay (freestyle) - short course with obstacles, 4-person teams (make your own or we'll help match you with teammates).  Semifinal and final heats depending on number of teams.
12:15  Ski Fest Feast and Closing Ceremonies  Outdoor dining with subs provided, and awards for Sunday racing and standout Tour de Ski performances.

Festival information

  • Please register by Friday 8 pm, so we know you're coming!  Festival entry is free for RXCSF Youth Skiing members (included in your season registration), but we ask that you sign up so we can organize the races ahead of time.  We'll never turn anyone away, but things will go more smoothly if we know you're coming!  
  • About Cumming Nature Center  Tucked in a high valley a little west of Bristol Mountain, Cumming holds lots of snow in a beautiful setting.  Trail fee is included in festival entry.  There is warm indoor space with bathrooms at the Nature Center main building (masks are required for everyone indoors, please be respectful of this).  You are welcome to use this space when needed, but all festival activities will be held outdoors, based out of the field by the Sugar Shack (see map).  There will be a heated tent (please wear a mask if going inside) and a fire pit for outdoor warming at the festival site.
  • Skate vs classic  Most trails at Cumming are for classic skiing only.  The sprint course and nearby trails will be groomed for skating on Saturday, and you'll be able to do Tour de Ski activities on skate skis.  However, if you'd like to explore the trail system further, bring your classic skis.
  • Saturday King's Court Sprint - everyone will ski a timed qualifier (0.75 km, 15 s interval starts), and as many of the 3 rounds of head-to-head heats (quarterfinals, semifinals, and final) as they'd like.  Heats will be grouped according to the qualifier regardless of age group (fastest 6 in heat 1, next 6 in heat 2, etc) and after each round the top 2 finishers will move up to the next fastest heat and the last 2 will move down - so everyone will be in heats appropriate to their level of competition and if they're at the back end of one, they'll have a chance to be at the front end of the next.  Age group results will be determined by finishing place at the end of the first round of heats for U8 (total 1.5 km racing), the 2nd round for U10, and the 3rd and final round for U12, U14 and older.  However, anyone is welcome to race as many rounds as they'd like.  
  • Lollipop race and Opening Ceremony  Everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite Opening Ceremony garb (festival swag will include some Team USA garb, but any country is welcome!), bring a flag if you've got one, and gather to cheer for the lollipop racers.  Skiers are welcome to accompany lollipop racers through the course (be mindful of other racers), and U14 skiers can volunteer to hand out lollipops at the finish line.
  • Saturday distance races  Mass start classic races on your choice of 3 courses - 1.2 and 2.5 km courses on gentle terrain, and 5 km that includes more ups and downs.  1.2 km is recommended for U8 skiers, and the 2.5 km for U10 and any older less-experienced skiers.  The 5 km race  is suggested primarily for experienced U12 and U14 skiers.  
  • Food  Hot chocolate and snacks will be available at the festival site.  Please bring a re-useable mug for hot chocolate if you can to minimize waste.  On Saturday we'll have an outdoor picnic by the fire pits at the Forest School site (a few minute hike or ski into the w from the festival site) - BYO lunch for this.  On Sunday, individually-wrapped subs, chips and snacks will be provided for the finale Closing Ceremony and awards.  (No Saturday night banquet this year due to the pandemic!)
  • Health and safety  Masks are mandatory at all times indoors or in the enclosed/heated tent.  Please do not attend if you're sick or under mandatory quarantine.  Those recovering from COVID should consult their doctor about when it is safe to return to racing.  

Venue information

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Events will be based out of the Sugar Shack Field - you go there directly from the driveway, on on skis from the Nature Center. (Click image to enlarge.)
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Sprint course - click to enlarge.
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Classic race courses - click to enlarge.