The MACC Program
The Michigan Alpine Competition Council (MACC) runs the main Alpine ski racing program for adults in the Michigan region. Our race series covers 12 races over five weekends each year at Boyne Mountain.
Quality FIS-style alpine races
The race format is FIS slalom and giant-slalom. We also have a super-G and a super combined (one run Super-G, one run slalom). We always run at least two separate courses. This keeps the number of racers per course under 50, limiting rutting and enabling more racers to ski a "clean course."
Race with people as fast as you
Racers in this program are organized into classes based on ability and gender. A handicap system is used to place men and women in appropriate classes, and to determine when racers should upgrade or downgrade to different classes. Ability groups with lots of racers are further divided by age (vet racers are 40 and over, and super-vet racers are 60 and over). The handicap system ensures that most racers in a class aßre within a few seconds of each other.
Adult recreational participants
The MACC program is for adults. It is organized by ski clubs and ski teams. Our racers come from all over Michigan and its neighbors (Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois). Junior racers aged 14 through 17 can join, with the provision that a parent or designated adult is on the hill when the junior racer competes.
Once you join, you will select an existing team in order to assure you are represented in the MACC organization (each team has at least one racer representative who attends MACC meetings). Some of the teams are affiliated with ski clubs; others exist solely to participate in MACC (no meetings, no dues).
The best terrain
The best terrain for racing in the lower peninsula of Michigan is the Superbowl slope at Boyne Mountain. With 400 ft of vertical, a steep pitch, permanent shacks at the start and finish, and a warming hut that overlooks the hill, the Boyne race arena is simply the best facility available for alpine racing in our area.
Volunteer non-profit organization
We are a non-profit organization. All members of the MACC are volunteers. All race work (other than making snow, grooming the hill, and running the lifts) is done by the racers. In this program, you have to work on someone else's race each weekend in which you participate. For example, you might race at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and 12:30 on Sunday. You have to sign up to work on a race at a different time (say, 12:30 Saturday). Most jobs take about an hour. Although running the races ourselves keeps the cost down, the real reason is that we have full control over the quality.
The Races
Well-run and organized races
All course and timing equipment are owned by MACC and kept permanently at Boyne. On race days, experienced crews set things up.
We typically run two races per day at Boyne at 10:00 and 12:30. All results go into a computerized data base, with results usually being posted within 20 minutes after the completion of the race. Unlike many FIS-style racing programs, ours is designed such that racers can inspect the course and make both runs in about an hour and half (sometimes in 30 minutes for a GS). Start orders are published ahead of time, so it is possible to watch the race and show up "just in time" (if that's your style).
Individual race awards
On a given race day, there are about 20 different men and women's ability classes. Awards are given to the top three finishers for each class on every race day. The awards are typically glasses or mugs with a MACC logo.
The Season
World Cup points and awards
Besides winning awards for the top three finishes, participants accumulate World Cup points for the top 15 finishes. Points are accumulated over the season, and at the end of the year awards are given to the top three finishers in each class. In a normal season the best 8 finishes (out of 11 races) are used. Therefore it is not necessary to make every single race to be competitive in the chase for World Cup glory.
Team awards
Team trophies are given out, based on team averages accumulated over the season. Team results are posted every race week, so you can keep track of how your team is doing as the season progresses.
Mark II weekend
The season concludes with the Mark II weekend. This is a 3-day weekend in March. A highlight is the Mark II banquet on Saturday night, in which all of the season trophies are given out.
Be sure to get tickets for the Saturday night banquet. A roast-beef and chicken buffet provides tasty nourishment, while we socialize, look at the 1000+ photos taken during the season, drink more nourishment from the cash bar, and applaud those who receive seasonal world cup trophies and team trophies. Also, this is where all the equipment and goodies donated by our sponsors are handed out. Your banquet ticket includes a raffle ticket. Drawings result in awards of skis, boots, poles, sunglasses, helmets, season passes, and many ski and sport-related items.
On Sunday we have the Cantor Cup race to conclude the season with something different: a super combined (one Super-G run on FIS, one slalom on Super Bowl). No world cup points. No team points. Just two runs, with the fastest total time per class winning a Cantor Cup award.