Competition Program:Athlete FAQ

Competition Events

Alpine

Disciplines

  • Technical Events
  • Giant Slalom (GS)
  • Slalom (SL)
  • Speed Events
  • Super G (SG)
  • Super Combined (SC)
  • Down Hill (DH)

Snowboard

Disciplines

  • Boarder Cross Time Trial or “ Sling Shot “ (TT)
  • Snowboard Cross (SBX) currently 2 people at a time, will expect to see advances leading up to 2018 Paralympics to see as many 4 at a time.
  • Banked Slalom (BSL)

Memberships/Passes

Team Utah

National Ability Center

Vail Adaptive Pass

Snowbird

Utah Olympic Park

Licensing

IPC License:

  • WHO needs an International Paralypic Committee (IPC) license?

Any adaptive athlete, over the age of 14, who wishes to:

  • be included on the IPC world and regional ranking lists.
  • have a result count for a world and regional record application.
  • achieve a result to be considered for National Team status.
  • achieve a result to be considered for Games/World Championships team selection.
  • be eligible for IPC International Classification.

Unless specifically noted, the IPC License is not required to enter a competition.

  • WHENis an IPC license valid? The IPC license is valid from the time of application through the end of that season.All licenses will expire on June 30th, and must be renewed for the next season.
  • HOW do you get an IPC license?

Athletes who have never been licensed,should email the following items to US Paralympics Classification & Emerging Sport Program Administrator, Erin Popovich [.

1.A completed and signed IPC Eligibility Code Form: Please note, electronic signatures will not be accepted.

2.APDF of your passport. The IPC requires a passport or passport card as proof of citizenship. Scan the photo/informational page of your passport

3.A recent headshot digital photo: Please note, photos must be face on with a white or light blue background, and not include headgear, dark glasses or hair bands.

4.Submit License fee of $85 USD.

Athletes whohave been IPC licensed in previous years, andneed to renew their license, please submit the following to US Paralympics Classification & Emerging Sport Program Administrator, Erin Popovich [

  1. License fee of $85 USD beforeSeptember 30th. OnOctober 1st, the fee for previously licensed athletes changes to $120 USD.
  2. Credit card information.

* If you do not know if you were IPC licensed, please check the IPC Classification Masterlist:

Alpine - Snowboard -

USSA License:

  • WHO needs a United States Ski & Snowboard Association(USSA) license?

All athletes both ski and snowboard, will need a USSA license in order to compete in the 2014/15 Season with the National Ability Center and Team Utah.

  • WHAT is a USSA license?

There are two types of USSA licenses.

  • Club Participant –this is for athletes who are not competing in USSA sanctioned events,rather they are competing through USASA, IFSA, WFT, etc. , BUT their training club uses USSA as the insurance provider. (Team Utah Snowboard). The cost is $25
  • Regional/National Competitor – this is for the athlete that will be competing in USSA sanctioned events. (National Ability Center Alpine Team)$150

When registering, please note, USSA Memberships are broken down by sport (Alpine / Snowboard/etc.) be sure you are registering for the correct sport. In addition to the price of a USSA Membership, there may be additional fees, which are calculated during the online membership application process, that are based on the division or state dues depending on your division/state affiliation.If you are unsure which you need, consult with your completion program manager or head coach.

  • WHEN is a license valid? The USSA license is valid from the time of application through the end of that season. All licenses will expire at the end of the season, and must be renewed for the next season.
  • HOW do you get a license? The fastest and easiest way to get your license is to go to the USSA website:

USASA License:

  • WHO needs a United States of America Snowboard Association(USASA) license?

All snowboard athletes, who want to compete in events sanctioned by USASA. The National Ability Center / Team Utah Adaptive travels to many USASA sanctioned events. The sanctioning body is always listed on the Adaptive Snowboard Team Season Schedule for clarification.

  • WHAT is a USASA license?

There are two types of USSA licenses.

  • Club Participant –this is for athletes who are not competing in USSA sanctioned events,rather they are competing through USASA, IFSA, WFT, etc. , BUT their training club uses USSA as the insurance provider. (Team Utah Snowboard)
  • Regional/National Competitor – this is for the athlete that will be competing in USSA sanctioned events. (National Ability Center Alpine Team)

If you are unsure which you need, consult with your completion program manager or head coach.

  • WHENis a license valid? USASA membership year is from September 1 until August 31 of the following year.All licenses must be renewed for the next season. Early registration discount pricing will end at midnight, October 31st. The price of a USASA membership goes up to $100 on November 1st.
  • HOW do you get a license? The fastest and easiest way to get your license is to go to the USASA website: you have any questions or concerns, please contact Zippy Neil at the USASA National Office and she will assist you.

Drug Testing

USADA

  • WHAT is USADA?

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) does testing for International Federations (IFs), other National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) and the World Anti-Doping Agency. The United States Olympic Committee & United States Paralympics (USOC), National Governing Bodies for sport (NGBs), and the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) have authorized USADA to test as well as adjudicate anti-doping rule violations.

  • WHO needs to file with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)?

We understand this is a confusing topic, as there is not a very clear answer. After consulting with the USOC and USADA the following athletes must file

  • Any athlete who has been named by the USOC or an NGB to an international team or who is included in the USADA Registered Testing Pool (USADA RTP) or is competing in a qualifying event to represent the USOC or NGB in international competition.
  • What does this mean in layman’s terms? Only athletes that meet National Team criteria are added to USADA’s testing pool. You will be notified by USOC at this time.
  • WHO needs to file whereabouts information?

Only athletes in the registered testing pool (RTP), who have been personally and directly informed of their inclusion in a RTP, are required to submit whereabouts. All other athletes are not. Whereabouts requirements are determined by registered testing pool inclusion, not event participation

  • When do you need to report whereabouts information?

Whereabouts information (dates, times, locations, etc.) is information submitted to USADA by an athlete, which allows the athlete to be located for out-of-competition testing. Whereabouts requirements are thorough in the Olympic and Paralympic movements and must include an athlete’s regular schedule 365 days a year.

PLEASE NOTE: This isn’t the case for all sports or during a Games year which is why the information available online may be vague.

  • WHAT are Therapeutic Use Exemptions?

A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) provides permission for an athlete to have a prohibited substance in their body at the time of a drug test.The process for obtaining a TUE is thorough and balances the need to allow athletes access to critical medication while upholding clean athletes’ rights to compete on a clean and level playing field. In some cases, the TUE requirements are different for national-level athletes vs. non-national level athletes.

  • WH0 should file TUE information?

All athletes should file any TUE information with USADA. This will cover you if you are randomly tested at an event.

  • Please make sure you are checking your medications on ( and filinga TUE with USADA if they are on the banned substance list. (
  • An example of banned substances/ behaviors include but are not limited to:
  • Anabolic agents & growth hormones
  • Diuretics (water pills)
  • Stimulants, cannabinoids, opioids & narcotics
  • Alcohol consumption under the legal age in your home country

We have tried to make understanding USADA as simple as possible. If you are interested in reading all the information on USADA and TUE visit:

  • USADA:
  • TeamUSA.org