Purgatory Alpine Team consists of athletes who wish to improve their skiing technique through ski racing and race training. This age group encompasses a broad range of both physical and mental development and includes skiers of widely varied abilities. Some of these athletes have been involved in the program for many years, and they are well on their way to become skilled ski racers. Others may be much newer to skiing and ski racing and they have never felt the absolute bliss of a carved ski turn. Whatever the skill level, this age group is in an extremely critical period of their skiing development. The fundamentals and techniques that they learn in these years will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The challenge then is to design a program that will benefit everyone involved.
To that end, The Purgatory Alpine Team will adopt procedures and athlete development from the USSA athlete competency guidelines. These guidelines are useful tools in providing enjoyment, play, and gradual learning in a social environment that promotes a growing and deepening interest in the sport. Fun associated with peers, parental approval and support, and the enjoyment of becoming more proficient at the sport are all important motivations for continued involvement and progress. Copies of the USSA athlete competencies book are available upon request.
The following table gives the breakdown of ages and age classes for your reference:
Junior Alpine competition 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(J1) – 17 to 18 years of age
Junior 2 (J2)- 15 to 16 years of age
Junior 3 (J3)- 13 to 14 years of age
Junior 4 (J4)- 11 to 12 years of age
Junior 5 (J5)– 9 to 10 years of age
Junior 6 (J6)- 8 years and under
Class is determined by age as of December 31 of the current year/season. (e.g. December 31, 2009 for the 2009-2010 season.)
Groups:
All group make up is based primarily on skiing ability and desire and not by age or gender. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable experience with all athletes skiing at the same pace and ability level. Please stay in your assigned group for the day as it can lead to overload on any one particular coach if athletes change groups or show up late.
Daily Training Activities:
Our goal is to give young athletes a well-balanced experience, which blends all the components of a pleasurable ski day. They are expected to be able to ride the lift on their own and ski unsupervised for a portion of a run. Many times coaches need to prepare a training course for the athletes. Rather than have the athlete’s stand around watching the coach, we prefer they “take a lap”. This means that the athlete will go for a run and come back to the designated training area.
Part of the training is to make each athlete comfortable in exploring the mountain on their own while being responsible to the coach and other team members. They will be expected to stay together and return to the designated course. If athletes are not comfortable skiing on their own or with other team members they can stay with their designated coach at the course. Skiers who abuse this privilege and do not return to the designated training site in a timely manner may face the disciplinary actions, including the following:
- Loss of undirected skiing privileges
- Helping the coach prepare the course
- Expulsion from the next training day
- Expulsion from the team
In case of Emergency:
During the course of training athletes may take a wrong turn, a teammate may have an injury, equipment problem or have a miscommunication with the coach. If this happens and you are separated from the group follow this procedure:
- Stay on a well-traveled run, not in the trees.
- Call Leah LeSage at 946-3515
Wait at the bottom of the lift for your group. If they are not at the lift in a timely manner go to the designated lunch area and wait. - If it’s after lunch go to the designated training site and wait.
- Tell another coach you are separated from your group and join theirs.
- If your group is not at the designated training site in a timely manner, go to the bottom of the mountain outside Purgy’s and wait.
- Often there are Team Parents at Purgy’s or on the Mountain any of those individuals would help return the athlete to the appropriate group.
- If you don’t find them after looking in these places, check in at the ski school offices or with ski patrol.
For team members or parents who are not comfortable with this policy Durango Mountain Resort also offers Snow Burners and All Terrain Pioneers.
Program Outline
The following is a guideline of the season progression based on the Athlete competencies. Some groups will be more advanced and move faster while others will take longer to master individual skills and techniques.
Evaluations and Basic Stance
Basic Stance and Balance, Introduction to the Science of Skiing
Emphasis will remain on directed free skiing, however we will also be spending a lot of time on stance and balance drills. The goal is to ensure that the athlete can ski all terrain while remaining in control using proper stance and balance techniques.
Carving and Completion of Turns
The athletes will be introduced to the concept of a carved versus a skidded turn. Using the completion of a turn across the fall line to maintain control will be taught as well.
Carving, Angulation, and Rhythm
Carving will continue to be emphasized, with the introduction of hip angulation as a tool to make carving easier. The concept of skiing with rhythm will be introduced as well.
Carving, Angulation, Rhythm, and Introduction to Giant Slalom
Concepts introduced in the two previous weekends will be reinforced as we look forward to the GS race on the following week. Rhythmical GS courses will be set as we take the concepts learned in free skiing and apply them to a GS racecourse.
Short Radius Turns, Refocus on Stance and Balance, Slalom Gates
We will continue to teach the concepts of short radius turns, as well as reinforcing carving, angulation, and rhythm skills. We will also re-introduce stance and balance concepts as they pertain to short-radius turns.
Short Radius Turns, Pole Plants, Slalom Gates
Turn initiation and linking of short radius turns will be emphasized as well as an introduction to proper pole plants in directed free skiing.
Basic Stance, Carving, Angulations, and Tactics in GS Gates
A high percentage of time will be spent in GS gates as we teach basic tactical concepts as they pertain to Giant Slalom.
