• New and Improved Zone4 Registration Administration

    You wanted a simpler and yet more powerful registration system. We have been listening!  Beginning next week Zone4 will be rolling out upgrades to the administration of your registrations.  Highlights include: Power Overviews  Building forms is still easy via our visual Form Builder, but you now have several power tools…

  • Setup Alberta Bicycle Direct Deposit

    For a few years, Alberta Bicycle has offered clubs the ability to collect membership fees when members signup on the Alberta Bicycle Membership form. Remittance of the collected funds has always been via cheque though. Starting in 2023, Alberta Bicycle Association is offering the ability to receive the collected funds…

  • Using the FDS WINP Photocell

    Introduction The FDS WINP photocell is a low cost photocell that is FIS homologated till 2035. Notably, this is a device pair that work as transmitter-receiver which we find works better than the transmitter+reflector style which we find is more prone to false triggers. These FDS photocells can be purchased…

  • Cleaning Registration Data for XC Ski Races

    Validation and List Processes From the moment an event registration is opened until the final set of results are published, the quality, correctness and cleanliness of the data involved will be a factor on how well the event runs. It is unlikely an event will ever have perfect data but…

  • XC Ski Equipment, Setup Timelines, and Staffing Requirements

    Equipment Required All of the following equipment is necessary to time a FIS-level race.  Zone4 can provide most equipment for rental if needed, but there are some items that are usually provided by the LOC marked in the right column.   Zone4 will review this list with each race during…

  • U20 Sprint Heat Changes 2022

    Currently in Canada, a U20 racer must decide before the race if they are going to race as a Senior or a U20 and they are locked into that choice on race day regardless of how they qualify in the Open Qualifier. That means if a U20 sprinter decides to…

  • FIS Changes 2022-2023

    Note: Oct 2022 FIS Update In mid October, after the following document was written and after our guidance went out to clubs, FIS announced that they were bumping the requirement to use homologated equipment in cross country skiing by 1 year till the 2023-2024 season. This effectively means that FIS…

  • Rechargeable Lithium AA Batteries

    All Summit users operating in winter know the frustration of the low aux battery warning and accompanying beeping. Over the years we have seen how different battery chemistries such as rechargeable NiCad batteries barely seem to last 1hr at -20C before the beeping starts. Some clubs started using non-rechargeable Lithium…

  • Hardwood Wed Night Series Procedures

    Initial Setup for the year The registration for the year has several key concepts. Admin Only fields for Plate #, Chip #, and Course. The Plate and Chip numbers you will assign on the registration so that each race is pulling the same bibs and chips. The Course field you…