Remake of Table to Tableless

General Information

The Sugarbush/GMVS Ski Club is a non-profit organization associated with the Green Mountain Valley School. The club supports 180 young athletes and employs 22 coaches. Our members believe in the fun and positive learning experience that club racing, skiing and VARA (Vermont Area Racing Association) have to offer. The club allows youngsters the opportunity to realize their potential while learning an exciting and exhilarating sport that they can enjoy the rest of their lives. Ski racing will teach the positive aspects of competition, the skills of setting and pursuing goals, and the value of hard work. The club provides a safe, positive atmosphere for kids and the opportunity for parents to meet and ski with other adults. Skiing is one of the few sports that a family can enjoy together for many years.

CLUB MEMBERSHIPS PERKS

Parent/Racer Handbook – Every family will receive our Handbook which is packed with information on everything from what to wear to how to qualify for the State Championships. Get yours at the Fall Kick Off/GMVS Open House in October.

Discount Card – Each family will receive a Club membership card. With this card you will be able to receive discounts throughout the Mad River Valley and beyond. See the Handbook for details.

Training Center – The club has a video station, 85 lockers, and ski tuning benches, coaches’ room, public phone, club office, and 2000 sq. ft. of space for lunch and relaxing. Lockers are available to rent for the season on a first come, first serve basis.

Once a month during the ski season and twice during the summer you will receive Club newsletters. These newsletters contain updated information, changes in race schedules, event information, and much more. These newsletters will be sent out via e-mail. So PLEASE make sure to fill out the e-mail section in the registration form.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY

Although racing plays a large part at the Sugarbush/GMVS Ski Club, the focus is on developing fundamental skiing skills. One must be a great skier in order to become a great racer. In the younger ranks especially, this program spends much more time free skiing and working on technique than on running gates. It is only as the athlete’s ability progresses that competition becomes the focus. Not only does this philosophy produce better skiers, it also helps to perpetuate a life long love of the sport.

PROGRAM GOALS

Develop strong skiing fundamentals.
Promote the enjoyment and personal rewards that skiing and sports offer.
Teach basic racing tactics of competitive skiing.
Familiarize racers with the USSA/VARA system, rules, and responsibilities.
Teach the value and methods of physical training and diet.
Introduce goal setting and achievement in a positive atmosphere.

STRATEGIES

Free-skiing in a variety of conditions and terrain:
Benefits: One needs to be an excellent skier in all conditions and all terrain before racing tactics can be fully introduced. World Cup Champions free-ski as much as possible.
Ski technique:
Benefits: Primary Skills; Balance, Rotary Movements, Edging Movements, Pressure Movements, Rhythm. Benefits: These are the basics skills that are common to all levels of skiing. A detailed progression to perfect these skills helps speed up the time from beginning skier to advanced racer.
Games, obstacle courses, terrain park:
Benefits: These exercises help the athlete learn agility, timing, balance, and coordination; teach competition, rules and work ethic; and build muscle and endurance.
Goal setting:
Benefits: A written, thought-out plan for achieving goals helps create a short-term and long-term plan for the athlete. You have to know where you are going to know which way to go.
Gate training:
Benefits: Racing skills, tactics, timing, competition, focus, physical training.
Race situations/Competitions:
Benefits: Mental skills; Techniques to handle anxiety, stress, pressure, focus, and concentration.
Training with different groups/levels:
Benefits: Athletes learn from watching and copying better skiers. Also, explaining and teaching a lower level skier helps your own skiing technique.
Equipment:
Benefits: Learning how the equipment works and how it enables the athlete to ski properly is very important.
Ski Tuning:
Benefits: athletes must ski and train on sharp, well tuned skis to get the full benefit of training and racing.
Video/print/lecture discussions:
Benefits: Immediate feedback, athletes learn from watching.
Sports physiology, psychology, and nutrition programs:
Benefits: A better understanding of these concepxs will help the athlete during all aspects of the sport.

COACHING GOALS AND MISSION STATEMENT

"Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I'll understand."

It is the coaching staff’s goal

to promote the enjoyment and personal rewards that skiing and sports offer,
to involve the athlete in the learning process through hands- on teaching techniques,
to promote good sportsmanship, citizenship, and teamwork,
to create a positive, competitive atmosphere in which to teach the athletes the benefits of hard work, goal setting and discipline,
to produce complete athletes who can compete to the best of their ability in any level of competition.

We will do our best to fulfill the above goals by offering a well organized, quality program and by obtaining the best coaches available. The responsibility of coaching a junior racing program goes far beyond being a “ski instructor”. The safety, development, and mental well-being of each athlete rest with the entire coaching staff.

ATHLETE RESPONSIBILITIES

"Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and criticism carry out your plans."

Each athlete is responsible for his or her behavior, attitude, and attention. Athletes should behave in a friendly way to other athletes, coaches, parents, the skiing public, and to the ski area employees, including ski patrol. Athletes should be helpful and courteous to fellow athletes. Also, each athlete should come to training with a positive attitude and try to pick up other athletes that seem to be down. Athletes should respect their coaches and give them their undivided attention. This Ski Club will not tolerate bad manners, rude comments, or athletes who do not follow the rules.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

It is the responsibility of every Ski Club member, young and old, to abide by the rules of the Ski Club and to behave in a friendly and courteous manner at all times. It is also the responsibility of every Ski Club member to uphold these rules and to confront any member that is breaking the rules.

However, if a situation occurs that warrants disciplinary action, the first step is to inform the Head Coach, Club Manager, or a Ski Club Board Member of the situation immediately. At this time appropriate steps will be taken to deal with the situation. These steps may include some or all of the following;

A. Verbal warning
B. Written warning
C. Disciplinary meeting with Head Coach, Ski Club President, Parent and/or child
D. Board meeting to discuss problem
E. Expulsion from the Ski Club.

SKI CLUB RULES

Ski Club members will respect and be considerate of the rights and responsibilities of themselves and others.
Members will respect and be considerate of our own property and the property of others.
Members will act in a manner that ensures the safety of themselves and others.
Members should uphold and contribute to the Club's philosophy and goals.
Sugarbush/GMVS Ski Club Members/Friends ONLY allowed in the Training Center.
Individuals are responsible to clean up after themselves utilizing the Trash and Recycle bins.
Knapsacks, lunch bags, and boot bags must be stored in the lockers or free cubbies provided for use downstairs.
Skis must be left on racks located OUTSIDE the building at the upper and lower entrances. NO SKIS SHOULD EVER BE LEFT ON THE GROUND.
The office, thermostats, furnace room, radio room and heating vents are STRICTLY OFF LIMITS.
The Club is not responsible for any equipment left in the Training Center. NO SKIS, POLES, SNOWBOARDS OR GATES allowed upstairs in the Training Center at anytime.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

"The most important thing is to love your sport. Never do it to please someone else-it has to be yours. Compete against yourself, not others, for that is who is truly your best competition."

A cooperative effort by the coaching staff and the parents is crucial. Parents can influence whether or not their child becomes involved in sports by creating an atmosphere that is conducive to participation or by becoming involved in sports themselves. A child’s attitude, values, and behaviors are learned from the people most likely to impress them, for example, their parents and often their coaches. It is important to realize the impact that these people can have upon a child.

The key for parents is not to push you child into sports but to insure that the experiences that they have will be positive ones. Participation and having fun will be a valuable experience for your child. As a parent, you should always be available with positive reinforcement such as verbal praise, physical contact and affection.

Parents need to divert attention from the scoreboard to the child. Parents sometimes put too much pressure on the child to win, to be perfect, to please, to improve and to produce results. If pressure is felt to early and too often by a child it can be counter-productive. If you child thinks he or she is not good enough to make the team, then he or she will hesitate to even try out. Fear of failure, psychological stress, or disapproval can influence children to the point that they may be afraid to participate.

It is much easier for a child to excel at anything if he or she is having fun in the process. Insure a positive experience for your child by setting a good example and giving positive reinforcement. Help your child be the best little ski racer that he or she can be

FUNDRAISING

Fundraising plays an important role within the ski club. It enables our Club to offer scholarships, provide the latest equipment (timing, radios etc.) to our coaches, maintain our facility and keep our tuitions low. Again, we are targeting the Annual ski event in March as our major fundraising opportunity. Every member will be called upon to participate and if we all work together we can achieve our goal.

SKI CLUB COMMITTEE

Jr. Race Committee

The goal of this committee is to provide input and feedback to the coaches throughout the year, assist the coaches during racing and training, and to organize and help with special events. This is a great way for parents to learn more about junior ski racing in Vermont and to play a larger role in the Club. The group will meet once a month at the Training Center during the weekend program. Among the activities this group will be involved in are:

Assist coaches during the first hour of training as kids arrive
Assist coaches with course set-up and tear-down
Video and record times during training/racing
Organize/assist during fun events (treasure hunts, team events)Assist the Race Secretary during GMVS races
Assist coaches on “away” race days
Provide information to the coaching staff – liaison between kids/coaches/staff
There are no pre-requisites to be on this committee. We will educate as we go. The only thing necessary is a love of the sport and a willingness to be involved in this great program.

Sugarbush/GMVS Ski Club Board of Directors

Our BOD has always been a dedicated group of parents and coaches who have been vital to the success of the Club. We are always looking for any and all interested people who would like to join our Board. The Board meets once a month, is open to all, and discusses topics such as fundraising, the Training Center, race program, pricing, membership and policies.

If interested in becoming involved please give Club President, Kevin O’Brien (583-1321) or Head Coach Adam Julius (496-4309) a call.

SKI CLUB AWARDS

AJ Kitt Award

This award is given to the Ski Club Athlete who embodies the characteristics and work ethic that AJ Kitt had as a junior racer in the East. AJ, a GMVS alumnus, was very goal oriented and committed 100% to pursuing those goals. He did whatever needed to be done to realize his dreams. $250.00 discount towards the next season’s tuition

2001-2002 Winner: Sam Niles

ELITEAM Award

This award is given to the top male and female Ski Club finishers at the annual Stowe Dual Slalom race held in March. ELITEAM is a ski conditioning adventure camp run by former Olympian, World Cup Bronze Medal winner and GMVS alumni Doug Lewis. The camp takes place every summer at GMVS.

$250.00/each towards the next season’s tuition

2001-2002 Winners:

Bobby Osgood

Adrian Dingle
these boys will share the $250.00

Emily Hammel

Dick Prescott Award:

This award is given in the memory of Dick Prescott who was a J5/J6 ski coach with the Sugarbush/GMVS Ski Club for many many years. Dick loved to ski and all those who were lucky enough to have been coached by him ended up loving to ski too! We give this award to the J5 or J6 who has that endearing spirit for skiing.

$100.00 towards tuition.

2001-2002 Winner: Katie Cutting

Parent Award

This award is given to the Ski Club Parent(s) who go beyond the normal call of duty to help out the club, support the Coaching staff, and uphold the Club’s Goals and Philosophy. The winner gets use of the coveted team parka exclusively during the upcoming ski season.

2001-2002 Winner: Frank Peterson