@Than_Bogan I agree, keep the email, fix the problem. I was excited to get my email, even if I just barely made it in.
@JeffSurdej I think the ski year list should be the default view and what is used for qualifications. Yes, the list will be very small for a month or so after Nationals, but it will be accurate. If you want to look at where you are at any given time, then you can still look at the 12 month view as an option (just like the ski year is an option now).
If we want to keep the changes small and simple, move the cutoff date earlier and use the ski year for qualifications. You can't just move the cutoff date. One issue now, is that any tournament that happens after the cutoff and before Nationals (this includes small class C tournaments not just State and Regionals), actually count toward 2 National qualifications. That doesn't really make any sense. Why should a class C tournament in late July count twice as much as one in June? If I ski in a tournament tomorrow, the score will count towards a 2017 national qualification (as a LCQ) per the current rules (any score achieved after the cutoff date). Assuming next year's cutoff date is the same or earlier, it will still be on my 12 month ranking list score when the cutoff date for 2018 happens. So it counts towards both.
If we use the current ski year list, then all of this goes away. Any tournament after Nationals will count toward next year. Nationals will truly be the culmination of the ski year and the ranking list. We all start over next year. You can set the cutoff date whenever you want it. I agree that earlier is better, to allow for planning of regionals and nationals travel.
My one last comment, is I don't like the time and money requirement to ski at Regionals, as a qualification for Nationals. I understand wanting the best to be at Regionals and needed competitors to show up, but from the family perspective it is hard to plan the travel for two major events.