Calling all QC Masters:
The winter and ski races will soon be at our door and it’s time to think about signing up for your Master’s National card or Master’s FIS card for the upcoming 2021/22 season.
National Card | $165 before 1-Dec-21 | $172 on or after 1-Dec-21
FIS Card | $214 before 1-Jan-22 | $265 on or after 1-Jan-22
In order to purchase either of these two cards, you will have to create an athlete’s profile on the SQA website. However, you do need to join a club (see below) before you can complete your profile.
Starting this season, in order to purchase a Master’s National card or a Master’s FIS card, you will first have to join one of the ski clubs in Quebec which have created a Masters’ program approved by SQA. At this time, only the Owl’s Head Ski Club has received approval from SQA. You will be notified each time an additional ski club receives approval from SQA.
The Owl’s Head Ski Club (OHSC) website has been updated with all the information on their two new Masters’ programs being “Complete” and “Affiliated”. The Masters’ Affiliated program is aimed at Masters who live too far from Owl’s Head to take advantage of any of the in-club training programs designed for Masters. Refer to details of both programs.
From the “Programme” drop down menu select “U8 à U21 & Maitres” and then expand the “Maîtres Affiliés” section. Masters applying for membership should then select the option at the bottom of the page “Joindre le club”; on the next page there are two places where you can select the option “Étapes à suivre”. A new page will open showing the steps to follow in order to obtain approval to join the club. After you have been notified of your approval, you can then navigate back to this same page and choose the “paiement des frais de pré-inscription ou inscription” (cost $175). Note: On most of the pages of the OHSC site, there is a specific section for the Masters’ Affiliate program and for the Masters’ Complete program.
Only after you have been confirmed as a member to the Owl’s Head Ski Club, can you then indicate in your SQA profile that you are now affiliated with OHSC. SQA will notify you by email that the process is complete and that you can proceed with the online purchase of your Master’s National or FIS card, using the SQA website.
Note: The purchase of the Master’s FIS card requires you to download the FIS Athlete Declaration Form and the optional, but strongly recommended, Medical Evaluation Form, from the SQA website. After downloading, you can fill in, scan and upload these document(s) into your profile.
The approval of ski club membership and purchase of SQA race card, plus uploads to the ACA and FIS websites all take time, so you are encouraged to act quickly so that you will be able to register for your chosen races on time.
Not required as a condition for a Master’s card purchase, but still highly recommended, is the purchase of ski racing accident insurance (including repatriation) for times when the athlete is racing OUTSIDE of Quebec. Masters can purchase insurance, such as the PAAS (SAIP) class 3 policy (Canada only) at a price of $77.39 through SQA.
For any questions concerning the SQA website, contact Anna Prchal on 514-252-3089, extension 3715, or at [email protected] (attention: Anna Prchal).
Please note that the Canadian Masters’ Alpine Championships (CMAC) as well as six FIS Masters’ Cup (FMC) races will be held from 8-13 February 2022, in Stoneham QC, and that a Master’s National or Master’s FIS or Master’s Weekend card (sold by Stoneham race organization), is required to participate. Racers who do not care about FIS points can still enter any Stoneham race with only a Master’s National or Weekend card. However, when you purchase your racer’s card, we recommend you opt for a Master’s FIS card over a Master’s National card for the following reasons:
- For every Master’s FIS card purchased, the Canadian Alpine Masters receive $10 from ACA, but for every Master’s National card purchased, only $5 is received.
- At Stoneham, racers with a Master’s FIS card start in each FIS race, in their age category, before racers holding a Master’s National or Master’s Weekend card.
- You will receive a certificate from FIS attesting to your world ranking in your age category after completing a minimum of six FIS Masters’ calendar races during the season.
Ages 18-30: You must be 30 years or older on 31 December 2021 to obtain a Master’s FIS card but only 18 to obtain a Master’s National or Master’s weekend card.
Racers who wish to participate in any Masters’ FIS races outside of Canada require a FIS Masters card.
Lewis Heilig | Québec Masters’ Representative
Canadian Alpine Masters
