Snowboard Junior
The Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team has a history of producing some of the best riders in the world.
Since the Snowboard Team originated, Team members have regularly moved on to the U.S. Snowboard Team and competed at top-level international events including the Olympics. Today the Team trains alongside the U.S. Team and other national teams several times a year here at Mammoth. Our coaches have a close rapport with the U.S. Coaches and are able to keep abreast with the latest changes and developments in the sport. Over the years the Vans Unbound USASA Series has produced talent such as Olympic athlete Mason Aguirre, Eric and John Jackson and most recently Greg Bretz who has secured a spot on the US Team at the age of 17.
The Team consists of different age categories. Within these categories are different skill levels and focus based groups. The coaches will put the riders in groups best suited to each individual's skill level and focus. Riders may be moved from one group to another at times and groups may be mixed occasionally.
While on the Team they will interact with Coaches, Teammates, Parents and Event Organizers and Mountain Employees. They will learn to organize themselves and their time, handle money and equipment, and to act as a representative of Mammoth Mountain and the Community. They will be taught to respect other people and property, to be part of a Team and develop Team Spirit. Success will be viewed as achievement and improvement rather than a placing on the results board.
Snowboard Junior Team
This group will consist of two groups: Competition Team and Training Team. Their focuses will differ slightly.
The Competition Team will be the more advanced athletes intending to compete at the highest level possible. Training focuses on refining snowboarding skills, learning difficult and complex tricks and developing routines for competition. This group uses video equipment extensively and trains in Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Boardercross, Slalom and Giant Slalom. Their freeride time averages about 40% of the time on snow and competitions range from the Unbound USASA events and Nationals to the Grand Prix Tour and Revolution Tour.
Selections for this group will be made by the coaches in November and will be based on ability, attitude, commitment and motivation towards competition. An athlete who shows the effort and ability may move into this group mid-season.
The focus of the Training Team will still be competition based, but in a more relaxed environment. These riders may choose a lighter competition schedule centered on the local USASA events. The emphasis of this group will be to have fun at competitions and training while improving snowboarding skills and ability in general. They will also train in Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Boardercross, Slalom and Giant Slalom they average about 40% of the time freeriding.
The Snowboard Junior Team will begin training on November 14th (conditions permitting). They will ride from 9:00 to 3:00pm weekends and holidays and 2- 4pm Monday through Friday, except Tuesday. This team finishes on April 18th.
Minimum skill requirement for the Junior Team - The athlete should be able to comfortably link smooth consistent turns down the face of Chair 3 or Cornice Bowl with a solid basic stance. They should also have the concept of basic carving and fakie riding on the flatter sections of Broadway. They must also display basic park and pipe skills. All new Team members must pass a snowboarding ability assessment with a coach prior to receiving their uniform and joining the group.
Junior Elite Team
The Elite Team is reserved for the highest caliber athletes who have the benefit of a flexible schooling schedule. This Team is based 100% around competition and focuses on refining snowboarding skills, learning difficult and complex tricks and developing routines for competition. Competitions range from the Unbound USASA events and Nationals to the Grand Prix Tour and Revolution Tour. This group uses video equipment extensively and trains in Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Boardercross with some dry land training also. The Elite Team would begin November 14th and finish April 18th, training Monday-Friday 9am-1pm. The weekends would be reserved for off days or competitions.
Selection for Elite Team - Selections for this group will be made by the coaches in November and will be based on ability, attitude, commitment and motivation towards competition.