Alpine

Mid J 1/2/3 Ability Program (ages 13 and above)

This program is designed for children 13 years of age and above. Members of this team, both full time and weekend (holiday) programs, will participate in the United States Ski Association Races on several levels both at home, regionally and nationally. This program concentrates on ski preparation and competition both physically and mentally along with advanced ski and race training. The Far West Ski Association holds a physical fitness test every fall and all division members are required to participate in this testing. Athletes over the age of 13 are expected to exhibit self motivation and have a desire to excel.

J 4/5 Training Program (ages 8 - 12)

This program is designed for children *8 - 12 years of age who would like to participate in an organized ski and race program. Members of this team, both full time and weekend (holiday) programs will learn how to build their skiing confidence and to improve their skiing and racing skills. This "Training Team" is ideal for kids who want to improve their skills and have fun doing it. This team will participate in Tahoe League and Far West Ski Association races depending upon individual ability. The children will be divided into groups based on age and ability.

J/6 Development Team: (ages 7 and under)

This program is designed for the younger child who has already learned how to ski, but needs further instruction on the basic skills and techniques that will enable them to go anywhere on the mountain. Emphasis will be on improving skiing skills, skiing etiqutte and safety while having fun! These younsters may participate in special competitive races within their own age category if desired.

RACING HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to the Heavenly Ski Foundation's Junior Racing Team! Ski racing is fun and our program is set up so that each boy and girl who participate has an enjoyable experience in a safe setting, learns a lot about ski racing and also about him or herself as well. This handbook is a guide for those of you who are just being introduced to this sport. It provides the basic information each participant needs to know in order to get the most out of the sport.

The Heavenly Ski Foundation's program for youth 12 years of age and younger is divided into J4 and J5 age groups. The J4 category is made up of youngsters 11 and 12 years of age. The J5 category consists of athletes that are from 8 to 10 years of age. We also offer a "Development Team" program for those children who are between the ages of 7 and under. All three programs are designed with fun, safety and skills development. Major activities will include training at home (gates, directed free skiing, and technique) as well as attending races in the appropriate division. Most of these races will be in the basin, although there are a few which are scheduled to be held in Mammoth.

Athletes 13 years of age and older enter the J3, J2 or J1 class. There is a bit more travel involved at these levels. Athletes may choose to try and qualify for the Junior Olympics. By attending a series of qualifier races, racers begin at the age of 13 to accumulate "points" that compare him/her nationally. At age 15, racers can opt to register with the FIS (Federation International de Ski) for international ranking. Of course, there is a local series of races available at all ages for those who do not want to make a large commitment to the sport.

WHAT IS A JUNIOR 1,2,3,4,5?

Junior Alpine competiton is divided into age classes set up by the USSA (United States Ski and snowboarding Association). The age groupings now in effect are:

Junior 1 - 17 to 18 years of age
Junior 2 - 15 to 16 years of age
Junior 3 - 13 to 14 years of age
Junior 4 - 11 to 12 years of age
Junior 5 - 10 to 8 years of age
Junior 6 - 7 years and under

Class is determined by age as of December 31 of the current year/season. (e.g. December 31, 2000 for the 2000-2001 season.)

HOW IS USSA JUNIOR ALPINE COMPETITION ORGANIZED? USSA

(United States Ski Association) Junior Alpine competition is organized into four regions:
1) East 2) Central 3) Rocky 4)

West We are in the Western Region, which consists of everything west of Colorado and Wyoming. The Western Region includes the Far West Division (that's us), the Pacific Northwest Division, Intermountain Division, Alaska and Northern Divisions. USSA staff in the Far West Divisional office help with regional programs and coordinate volunteer activities. You can contact the Far West Office at the following address:

Maikella Clark, WESTERN REGION COMPETITION DIRECTOR USSA/WESTERN REGION
P.O. BOX 100
1500 KEARNS BLVD
PARK CITY, UT 84060
Phone: (435) 647-2036
Fax: (435) 649-3613

For up to date information on race changes, corrections and cancellations, you need to contact the Far West Skiing at the following address:

Desiree Walker
FW SKIING ADMINISTRATOR
P.O. Box 589 Verde, NV 89439
Phone # (775) 345-6333
Fax # (775)345-6334
Far West Skiing Web page www.fwskiing.org

TAHOE LEAGUE:

The Tahoe Basin has another racing league called the Tahoe League. This league is a low key, fun race series for racers 18 years of age and younger. The league schedule will be included in your race schedules.

WHAT YOU NEED TO JOIN TO COMPETE:

To compete you will need to be a member of the United States Ski and Snowboarding Association as well as the Far West Ski Association. The cost is as follows: J4/5 level is $60.00 for USSA and $27.00 for Far West. Total is $87.00 J1/2/3 level is a competition license fee for $125.00 and $27.00 for Far West Total is $152.00

THE DIFFERENT EVENTS OF ALPINE SKI RACING:

1. SLALOM: This event consists of quick turning with gates set close together. There are lost of turns in a slalom course with different combinations available open, closed, hairpins, and flushes are all standard options. Slalom is run on two different courses with gates pairs of red and blue poles. After the racer leaves the start gate, his/her feet and ski tips must pass between each pair of poles, and the, crossing the finish line, establishes a time for the run. In USSA races, the two runs are combined for a total time.

DEFINITIONS OF BASIC ALPINE SKI RACING TERMS:

VERTICAL COMBINATIONS: 2 to 5 closed gates in a row with the minimum distance.(.75 meters) between each gate.

GATE: 2 pairs of the same color and the imaginary line connecting them.

OPEN GATE: Perpendicular toThe fall line.

HAIRPIN: (2 closed gates)

CLOSED GATE: Parallel to the fall line.

DELAY GATE: A gate that changes The rhythm of a course by directing A skier farther across the hill.

GIANT SLALOM: GS, like slalom, is scored by the combined time for two runs. In GS, the turns are wider apart, the speed is faster, and the course is longer. Most Nastar and "fun" races are skied on GS courses. It is said that these courses are the easiest to ski, but the toughest to win. GS gates consist of a pair of flags which are supported by two poles.

DOWNHILL: DH is considered the premier event, primarily due to high speeds and the excitement involved. Gates are the same as in GS but set even further apart. One run is used for the official time. Practice runs are required before the actual event. There are no sanctioned DH events for J4/5's.

SUPER G: Super G is a cross between GS and DH. One run is performed for time, but practice runs taken before hand are not mandatory. Race organizers are encouraged to add on extra training runs so that the athletes will get more exposure to high speed runs in safe situations.