Help Us take Winter Sports to the Next Level

Overview

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.

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.

Development Program

Description

This program is designed to be a "step-up" program from the fantastic DMR Snowburners program. The intent is to enhance basic skills, create an all day program for those skiers who need more time on snow and are ready for more of a challenge. Athletes will experience all aspects of skiing from basic skills to moguls, tree skiing, park and pipe as well as training on both USSA and NASTAR course. Much of the day will be spent skiing various terrain and skill development and refinement.

This program is a feeder program into both the Alpine and Freestyle Teams. We hope that all athletes will get a well-rounded experience on the mountain.

Team Focus

The Focus of this team is to develop skiers, not necessarily racers. The path that PST believes is the most important for this group is the path of versatility. Therefore skills are emphasized on all types of terrain. As well as fostering a life long love of skiing.

Commitments

• This is a Saturday program.
• All Athletes must be registered with USSA and have a photo copy of their membership card on file with the team.
• The children are required to ski at a STRONG INTERMEDIATE LEVEL. This means they can ski parallel on any blue and easy black on the mountain with speed and control.

The core program for Devo will include 10 training sessions beginning January 19 concluding at the Southern Series Championships in Taos on March 27 & 28. (We will skip both MLK weekend and Presidents weekend)

Devo may choose to train one evening at Chapman Hill provided there are at least 5 Devo kids committed to a specific night session.

Team Devo Fee $400

Evening Session Additional Cost $100

Team Southwest

Description

Team Southwest is a program designed for the budding ski racer. The age class team includes athletes 12 and under that have an interest in developing race skills and refining techniques. At the J4 level this will include an opportunity to qualify for the Junior Olympics.

This program will consist of the following training sessions:

Dryland Training (October 15 – Nov 19) Tues/Thurs 5-7 pm location TBA

Saturdays 9-3

Sundays 9-3(early season)/11-2(Starting in January) Wednesdays at Chapman 5-7:30 (starting in January)

Team Focus

WWe want to build a solid foundation and create the desire to race more and become competitive on a regional level. This team trains 50-65% of the time in the gates focusing on tactics and techniques important to ski racing. Free skiing is incorporated for fun and refining skills.

Commitments

• Please note the new training schedule
• Core program begins Dec 4th and runs through SS Championships March 28, 2009
• Athletes have the ability to purchase early season dryland training sessions and an additional evening session at Chapman Hill.
• All Athletes must be registered with USSA and have a photocopy of their membership card on file with the team.
This year all travel costs (mileage, per diem, and lodging NOT coaching fees) will be split by all attending athletes.

Team Southwest Fee $750

Additional evening session $100

Team Southwest Proposed Race Schedules:

Please note- This is not a required schedule!!! However, those athletes attempting to qualify for Junior Olympics should consider this their schedule with the exception of the races in April. (Council Cup is tentative and based on performance and desire to attend)

J4 Proposed Schedule

The J4 schedule is designed with Junior Olympics as a goal. Southern Series races are included for experience and exposure to other venues. The open races at the end of the season are fun and a great way to race against athletes competing in Summit County.

Jan 2-3 Purgatory GS SS

Jan 22-24 Purgatory SG SG/SS

Feb 6-7 Flagstaff SL SS

Feb 18-21 Crested Butte Qualifiers

Feb 26-28 Ski Cooper Council cup

Mar 16-20 Winter Park J4 JO’s

Mar 27-28 Taos SS Championships

Apr 10-11 Beaver CRK GS Open

April 17-18 Loveland Open

J5/J6 Proposed Schedule

This schedule allows for race exposure and fun. The Loveland Derby is a fun end of the year race, with a high turnout of athletes.

Jan 2-3 Purgatory GS SS

Feb 6-7 Flagstaff SL SS

Mar 27-28 Taos SS Championships

April 17-18 Loveland Open

Team Rocky "Ability Class Team"

Description

This is the ability class team; those athletes who are racing at a higher level and looking toward college racing and more FIS opportunities. This team has a longer season, options for race schedules and higher expectations for training and performance.

Team Focus

The focus of this group is to take the athletes passion and desire for ski racing and allow them to have an opportunity to race in high school, college and beyond. Athletes at this level have the opportunity to ski against the top HS and college racers in the division. This can prepare them for a collegiate ski racing career and possible national and international level competition.

Training Schedule:

Dryland Training (October 15 – Nov 19) Tues/Thurs 5-7 pm location TBA

Saturdays 9-3

Sundays 9-3(early season)/11-2(Starting in January)

Mondays & Wednesdays at Chapman 5-7:30 (starting in January)

• Please note the new training schedule
• Core program begins in November and runs through Loveland Derby April 19.
• Athletes have the ability to purchase early season dryland training sessions.
• If there is need or desire we could discuss a Thursday night session at Chapman.
• All Athletes must be registered with USSA and have a photocopy of their membership card on file with the team.
• This year all travel costs (mileage, per diem, and lodging NOT coaching fees)will be split by all attending athletes.

Commitment

Team Rocky Tuition $1100

Additional Evening $100

Team Rocky Proposed Race Schedule

There are schedules for the J1/J2 Ability Class Athletes. Those athletes that have the desire to race Jr FIS against the other top juniors in the division can race in the Millennium Bank Jr FIS series. Please note that if you plan to race ANY FIS races, you need to have a FIS license AND a USSA license.

Why race FIS? FIS is international standard of ski racing. College teams look at FIS points for recruiting purposes; the top juniors can qualify to race against all the top athletes in Rocky Mountain. It allows for international competition, as well at competition out of our region. These athletes are dedicated ski racers that want to race at a high level with potential to qualify for Junior Nationals. This is an intense race schedule starting early in the season, any athlete that finishes in the Top 30 in a Jr FIS event will qualify to race the next Elite FIS series, giving them a chance to compete at the highest level in Rocky Mountain.

JR FIS Proposed Schedule (20-26 starts)

Dec 12-13 Vail GS JFIS

Dec 19-20 Loveland SL SW

Jan 2-3 Keystone GS JFIS

Jan 16-17 Crested Butte SL JFIS

Jan 23-28 Winter park SG/DH JFIS

Jan 30-31 Winter park COL

Feb 6-7 Beaver crk JFIS

Feb 13-14 Telluride GS COL

Mar 19-22 Steamboat GS/SL JFIS

Mar 26-28 Telluride SW

Apr 3 Breck SG SW

Apr 10-11 Beaver CRK GS Open

April 17-18 Loveland Open

(Any Top 30 result will qualify an athlete to compete in the next Elite FIS series)

Ability Proposed Schedule(16-20 starts)

The ability schedule allows for a more relaxed schedule, with a better opportunity for podium finishes. This schedule is for those athletes, that want to try to lower points, race competitively and really want to focus on fun, not results.

Dec 19-20 Loveland SL SW

Jan 2-3 Purgatory GS SS

Jan 7-10 Vail DH/SG SW

Jan 30-31 Winter park COL

Feb 6-7 Flagstaff SS

Feb 13-14 Telluride GS COL

Mar 26-28 Taos SS

Apr 3 Breck SG SW

Apr 10-11 Beaver CRK GS Open

April 17-18 Loveland Open

J3 Proposed schedule(15-20 starts)

This J3 schedule is created to give all J3 athletes the best chance to qualify for the J3 Rocky/Central Junior Olympics. Smartwool and Southern Series events are included for exposure, race experience and racing at bigger venues against older athletes.

Dec 19-20 Loveland SL SW

Jan 2-3 Purgatory GS SS

Jan 7-10 Vail DH/SG SW

Jan 14-16 Aspen Speed camp

Jan 17-18 Aspen Qualifiers

Feb 6-7 Flagstaff SS

Feb 14-15 Winter Park SL/GS Qualifiers

Mar 4-10 Vail JO’s

Mar 26-28 Taos SS

Apr 3 Breck SG SW

Apr 10-11 Beaver CRK GS Open

April 17-18 Loveland Open

Travel Notes:

This year we will be requiring at least one parent chaperone to volunteer to help supervise athletes in the evening. As our team grows we need to develop a system that allows older athletes to travel without parental accompaniment. If we have at least on parent volunteer to attend each of the race weeeknds, this will alleviate the need to travel as a family, thus reducing the cost, but still allowing athletes to compete at a higher level and allowing the coaching staff some "down time"

Dryland Training

Early Season Dryland $100

September 15-October 8 (must have releases signed)

This is an opportunity for kids to work on strength and endurance. Plyometric training, sprint and agility training will be included. (There must be 5 athletes paid/enrolled for this to begin)

Chapman Hill Training

Extra Session at Chapman $100

Any alpine team member may purchase an extra session at Chapman; this will be in addition to the scheduled sessions.

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.