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rom there, 10 to 15-year-olds can join the Alpine Race Team if they’ve been skiing with a coach for at least four years and have at least five years in the sport. They must have some experience with ski racing. They’ll get training in race skills and gates, and plenty of skiing time.
On the Nordic side, kids ages 4-10 can join the elementary recreation team, primarily comprised of games on the snow. They’ll develop balance, agility and coordination with emphasis on play, fun and skiing. Those in the elementary Nordic skill team need at least a year of Nordic experience. Outdoor recreation and an introduction to competition includes learning good body position, balance and weight shift in play. Kids ages 8-10 are welcome, and they may race in local events, interclub competitions or those that could lead to state, division and Junior National Qualifier racing. Middle school and high school Nordic teams are also available for those who have gone through the earlier programs or who have progressively gained experience. These programs offer increasingly sophisticated training and development for true skiing athleticism in competition. TVSEF also offers a free-ski development team through its free-ride program for strong skiing athletes who want to ski big mountain and refine terrain park skills. Snowboard development team and snowboard team also focus on riding all terrains on the mountain and exploration while developing skills. The former is for ages 6-10, while the latter is for ages 11-15. For details on these programs, visit www.tvsef.org.
Y
oungsters who are really determined to excel in competitive Alpine ski racing should look into the nonprofit Ski Team Sunny Race Academy. The academy works with youngsters ages 7-13 to achieve championship-level skills and strength to compete against the best in their class. The program involves intense training and demands commitment and discipline from its participants, said Dagi Stock, executive
Ski Team
Get Out Photo/Rachael Horne
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