Cross Country Alaska
Navigating Besh Cup Races
This information is generic information when CCAK is organizing races during a normal season.
Besh Season Format
The Besh Cup racing schedule aims to mirror the United States Ski & Snowboard Junior Nationals Championships experience which includes:
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2 sprints races, 2 individual start races, and 2 mass start races
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3 classic technique, 3 freestyle technique
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Similar distances & formats to Junior Nationals races
Weekend Timeline
To understand how a race weekend is organized please view the Sample ConocoPhillips Besh Cup Race Weekend Timeline (Updated December 2021)
Postponement, Cancellation, or Relocation
If two weeks prior to the race, the scheduled venue has conditions that are questionable, the Competition Committee will meet to discuss a change in venue.
Ask Your Coaches!
If you are part of a club or team, don't hesitate to ask your coaches important questions such as "When should I arrive at the venue?" and "How will I know if I race another time on a sprint day?"
May I get a Refund if I cannot attend a race?
No refunds will be given if you are unable to attend a Besh Cup race. As a partnership with the host clubs, CCAK shares the registration fees with them; and has annual expenses of insurance, race awards, coaches & official development and supporting Team Alaska for Arctic Winter Games and Junior Nationals.
How many Besh Cup races will be counted?
The CCAK Competition Committee uses the below table to determine how many races to count:
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Best 4 of 6
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Best 3 of 5
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Best 3 of 4
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Best 2 of 3
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Best 2 of 2
US Ski & Snowboard License Requirements
US Ski & Snowboard requires all who ski in sanctioned races (this includes ConocoPhillips Besh Cup races) to purchase one of two US Ski & Snowboard license categories: General or Competitive. To be considered for Team Alaska, you must have a Competitive license at the time you participate in races you want to count toward Team Alaska point accumulation. In Arctic Winter Games years, U14 skiers looking to make Team Alaska for Arctic Winter Games only need a General license; and U16 & U18 looking to make Team Alaska for Arctic Winter Games need a Competitive license. Second year U14s who have Competitive licenses will receive NRL points if they are racing in an event that is sanctioned for U16 or older athletes.
Race day registration is not offered.
If you are a multisport athlete with a competitive US Ski & Snowboard (jumper/biathlete), please notify US Ski & Snowboard to include your points from sanctioned ski races into the USSS points database.
Please visit Frequently Asked Questions for more information on this topic.
SafeSport Requirements
All participants aged 18 and older are required to complete SafeSport training and pass a background check as part of their US Ski & Snowboard license.
Therefore, adult skiers need to allow between one and two weeks prior to race weekend to meet the US Ski & Snowboard license requirements. US Ski & Snowboard no longer allows short-term memberships for adults. Cross Country Alaska wants you to be able to participate; so please plan accordingly to meet the US Ski & Snowboard license requirement.
Racers who turn 18 during the season are required to compete this training prior to turning 18. Failure to compete SafeSport results in ineligibility to compete.