Q. What type of membership is required?
A. In order to compete in an USSA skicross event athletes must have an USSA freestyle
license.
If any athlete wishes to compete in any FIS sanctioned event (NorAms, Europa Cups, World Cups, World Championships) athletes must have a USSA Freestyle or Alpine license and FIS freestyle license.
Q. How do I get a USSA or FIS license?
A. Both USSA and FIS forms are available on the USSA website under membership tools.
Q. How do I get started in skicross?
A. There are several tours throughout the world. It is up to the athlete to find information on other non-USSA/FIS sanctioned skicross events. USSA is not responsible for posting or keeping up-to-date information on all tours. To find information on FIS sanctioned ski cross competitions please visit www.fis-ski.com.
Q. Are there any age restrictions?
A: The FIS competition year is July 1st – June 30th of the following year. In order
to compete in international competitions of Skicoss and the World Cup or World
Championships level, a competitor must have reached their 15th birthday
before the end of the calendar year (January 1st – December 31st) in
question.
Q: How do I qualify for World Cup?
A: Provided an athlete meets the FIS minimum criteria, either 50 alpine FIS points or 50 skicross FIS points, USSA has World Cup criteria in place. Refer to the World Cup criteria to see if you qualify.
Q. How do I enter and register for Nor-Am/FIS and/or Europa Cups?
Nor-Am/FIS Events
A. Any athlete wishing to compete who has a valid USSA and FIS Freestyle license can compete in Nor-Am/FIS ski cross events. If you wish to compete you must contact USSA Kate Morton kmorton@ussa.org.
Europa-Cups or other International FIS Skicross Events
A. All athletes must be entered by USSA. If we wish to compete please contact Kate Morton kmorton@ussa.org
Q. Is there a national team? And how do I qualify for the national team?
A. No, USSA does not currently support a Skicross National Team. Please see visit www.americanskicross.org
Q. How do I qualify for the Olympic Team?
A. Criteria will be posted in 2013.
Q. How do I qualify for X-Games?
A. X-Games is an independently run non-USSA/FIS sanctioned event. Information on upcoming X-Games events (summer included) can be found at www.expn.com.
Q. What kind of skis do I use?
A. Although there are no ski restrictions, the most popular choice of ski is a giant slalom racing ski.
Q. Are there boot height and ski height restrictions like there are in alpine racing?
A. Yes.
Q. Do they test these restrictions?
A. Yes.
Q. What are the rules for clothing, can I wear a downhill racing suit?
A. Ski suits must be two pieces; pants and a separate top. Suits worn in the Alpine events of Downhill (DH), Super-G (SG), Giant Slalom (GS), Slalom (SL), and Speed Skiing are not allowed. Suit base material shall be textile fabrics excluding rubber, plastic, neoprene, leather, or vinyl like materials or fabrics. Patches of different material are allowed provided that textile fabrics shall remain, in any event, predominant. Non-protruding body protection and padding is recommended. Protection and padding must not be built into the ski suit or attached to the ski suit by a zipper, Velcro, or any other means. Fastening devices such as elastic straps, zippers, nylon straps, buttons, snaps, Velcro, one or two sided tape, or any other methods shall not be used to tighten the suit material closer to the body or prevent the natural fall of the clothing. The gap in the material must be a minimum of 80mm, measured everywhere around the circumference of the, of each leg from the mid thigh to the top of the ski boot and 60mm everywhere around the elbow and the bicep.
