Pacetter Handicap Adjustments

This page explains the detailed process of adjusting Pacesetter Handicaps to ensure accuracy and fairness in NASTAR races. For a general overview of pacesetters and their roles, [click here].

Why are Pacesetter Adjustment needed?

Pacesetters play a critical role in establishing accurate Par Times, but their performance can change over time due to factors such as improved skills, or changes in physical condition. To account for these changes, regular adjustments to pacesetter handicaps are essential.

This ensures that:

• Fairness is Maintained: Adjustments keep Par Times consistent and reliable for all racers.

• Accuracy is Preserved: Handicaps remain a true reflection of the pacesetter's current ability.

How Are Pacesetter Adjustments Performed?

The adjustment process is based on comparisons between the pacesetter-derived Par Time and the Virtual Par Time for each course and race. This process is conducted monthly for all pacesetters who have set Par Times in the past month.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Data Collection:
   All races from the past month where a pacesetter established a Par Time are analyzed. For each race:

   • The pacesetter-derived Par Time (based on the pacesetter’s time and handicap) is recorded.

   • The corresponding Virtual Par Time (calculated independently using racer data) is retrieved.

2. Comparison of Par Times:
   For each course and race, the system calculates the percentage difference between the pacesetter-derived Par Time and the Virtual Par Time:

   $$\text{Percentage Difference} = \left( \frac{\text{Pacesetter Par Time} - \text{Virtual Par Time}}{\text{Virtual Par Time}} \right) \times 100$$

3. Application of Adjustments:
   The system applies any necessary adjustments to the pacesetter's handicap for each pacesetting type (Coat or Suit, GS or Slalom). Adjustments are independent for each type to ensure discipline-specific accuracy.

4. Adjustment Calculation:
   For each pacesetting type, the system calculates the average percentage difference from all relevant races and applies this as the adjustment.

5. Minimum / Maximum Adjustment Limits:

   Race conditions (e.g., snow, weather, or a particularly good or bad run) can create variability in results. To avoid overly large changes:

   • Initial Adjustment (December 2, 2024): Adjustments were calculated with the full 2023-24 season data and were limited to ±20%.

   • Subsequent Adjustments: The maximum adjustment is limited to ±10%.
     To account for the limitations of integer math at very small handicap values, a slightly adjusted formula is used for these calculations.

Notification and Updates:

After each adjustment:

1. An email is sent to affected pacesetters with details of their updated handicap(s) and the races included in the calculation.

2. The pacesetter database and NASTAR software are automatically updated with the new handicap values.