Junior Team

2009/2010 J1/2 Team

15 years old and older/ Y.O.B. 1994 and older

At the J1/2 age, our program is geared toward the athlete who is focused and serious about their ski racing. Training sessions require strong concentration and the focus is on refining skills to the highest level and developing precise movements.

The Team trains in all four events and the athletes are expected to arrive at training prepared to work with their equipment in excellent condition. A conditioning program is a major component of this program and membership to Snowcreek Athletic Club is necessary. The training sessions are largely centered on skill refinement and gate work. There is less time spent as a group freeskiing but extensive time spent on video analysis and timed runs.

Schedule

Dryland conditioning and ski camps are on going throughout the summer. The Team will start skiing November 7th. Competition finishes with the Far West Championships scheduled to end on April 25th. Training times vary in this group; racers will need to contact the coaches for specific details. Generally they ski 8:30 to 3:00 weekends and holidays and 2-4 pm Monday through Friday, except Tuesday.

We also have a Post Graduate program available on a limited basis. This program provides training for top-level athletes continuing their racing pursuits after high school. They train fulltime and are all working toward placement in National programs or college. Further information is available through the MMSST office.

2009/2010 J3 Team

13 & 14 Years Old/ Y.O.B. 1995-96

The J3 Team is an intermediate level racing program. Its focus is on developing solid racing technique and teaching course tactics. Skiing skills are further developed and the freeskiing emphasis is on hard, fast skiing in challenging terrain. While the program still provides a fun, social environment for the athletes, they will learn to work harder to improve and achieve pre-set goals.

Abilities

All J3s must be comfortable skiing the entire mountain in all snow conditions.

Schedule

The J3s will ski from 8:30 to 3:00 weekends and holidays and 2-4 pm Monday through Friday, except Tuesday. The program runs from November 8th through the Far West Championships scheduled to end on April 19th.  Athletes may schedule rest periods and breaks as needed with their coaches.

2009/2010 J4 Team

11 & 12 Years Old/ Y.O.B. 1997-98

The J4 Team serves a wide range of skiing abilities. The coaches work closely with both the J5 and J3 coaches. It is an introductory racing program for skiers who have little or no racing experience but also provides more focused race training for the athletes who have several years of racing behind them and want (and are ready for) advanced training.

Abilities

Skiers need to be able to ski parallel over the lower 2/3s of the mountain and should be comfortable skiing the main runs off the top. Athletic skiers who are not comfortable on the top may be mixed with the stronger J5s until they gain confidence skiing that part of the mountain. The stronger J4s will ski and train with the J3s occasionally.

Schedule

The J4 Team skis from 9-3 on weekends and holidays commencing November 14th. Mid-week training will be from 2-4 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting November 16th. The season culminates with the Far West J4/5 Championships which are scheduled to end on April 11th.

2009/2010 J5 Team

9 & 10 Years Old/ Y.O.B. 1999-2000

The J5 Team is our introductory racing program. The focus is still heavily weighted on developing the skiing skills required for racing and accumulating mileage on skis. The J5s will ski the entire lower mountain, be introduced to ungroomed snow - trees, moguls, powder, jumps and steeps.

Abilities

Skiers must be able to ski comfortably on the lower and mid-mountain (Chair 5 and Face Lift) with parallel skis. They will also be expected to be able to ski off the top of the mountain (Cornice Bowl).

Schedule

The J5 Team skis from 9-3 on weekends and holidays commencing November 14th. Mid-week training will be from 1-3 pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting November 16th. The J5 season finishes with the Far West J4/5 Championships which are scheduled to end on April 11th.

2009/2010 J6 Team

8 Year Olds/ Y.O.B. 2001

The J6 program is a new program for this year. This program will accommodate our 8 year old athletes. They will ski the same times and days as the J5s. They will have more race training than the Mighty Mites but less than the J5s. They will not be eligible for the J4/5 Travel Team. The focus will be on acquiring skiing skills and mileage with an introduction to Giant Slalom.

The intent of this program is to provide these children with more time on snow and to challenge them more. They will be monitored closely for fatigue and will have more rest than the J5s. The J6s ski from 9-3 with a lunch break, weekends and holidays, and 1-3pm Wednesdays and Thursdays starting November 14th. J6 training will finish with Far West J4/5 Championships; this is scheduled to end on Sunday April 11th.

2009/2010 Mighty Mite Team

6 To 7 Years Old/ Y.O.B. 2002-2003

The Mighty Mite Team is our entry-level program for young skiers. The Mighty Mites focus on the basic skiing skills and acquiring mileage on skis as well as learning how to deal with the mountain environment. The coaches will teach the skiers to stand on their skis properly, when and how to transfer weight from ski to ski and develop strong parallel turns. It is a fun, playful environment for the kids to ski, learn and interact with other kids their age.

Abilities

This is not a "learn to ski" program. Athletes must be able to comfortably ride Thunderbound Express by themselves. They must also be able to ski the runs serviced by this lift. This includes making linked turns in both directions at a consistent speed, with the ability to stop safely on these runs.

Racing and Schedule

The Mighty Mite Team will start Saturday, December 6th, with weekend training and locker privileges. The full schedule, with mid-week sessions, will commence the second week in January. The Mighty Mites ski for two, 3-hour sessions each weekend, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. They will also have one afternoon session during the week from 1-3 pm (Tuesday for 1st and 2nd grade, Wednesday for 3rd grade) beginning January. Families may select either Track #1 (Sat 8:45-11:45 am & Sun 1-4 pm) or Track #2 (Sat 1-4 pm & Sun 8:45-11:45 am) for skiing times. Each track will take athletes on a first come, first served basis. The training season finishes April 4th.