J1:  The J1 training group consists of athletes who are 17, 18 and 19 years of age. For the most part, this age group will already have had considerable racing and training experience, although we also welcome relative newcomers to the sport. SPRT athletes will be coached and prepared to race at the highest level of USSA local and regional events. Weekend training will also be designed to assist athletes perform at the highest level of high school racing. Because of their age and experience, these athletes will be expected to bring a higher degree of responsibility to their training program. They will be expected to engage in off-season fitness conditioning. Athletes will be expected to show leadership on and off the hill, including providing role models for their younger teammates.  If an athlete is considering making the transition to ski-racing in college, SPRT is dedicated to assist that athlete in making that transition.

J2: The J2 training group consists of athletes who are 15 and 16 years of age. For the 15-year-old athletes, this represents a transition year into “seeded” competition when they  begin being seeded in races based on their USSA points earned in prior competitions. It is paramount that at this age group athletes continue to focus on development of their skiing skills, not just “chasing points”. SPRT is committed to assisting this age level club member become a better skier and athlete, which in turn will result in better long-term race results. Finances and school schedules permitting, athletes will be encouraged to be 4-event skiers, engaging in all disciplines, slalom, GS, Super-G and Downhill.  The club also recognizes that for some athletes high school racing will be their primary focus. At SPRT,  these high school racers will receive the best weekend training in the region. 

J3: The J3 training group consists of youths who are 13 and 14 years of age. This age level has the potential to be both the most exciting and the most challenging point in most young racer’s careers.  Children are turning into adolescents with commensurate changes in emotional and physical development, both of which can affect race results. It is the club’s responsibility to channel appropriate pressure and diffuse inappropriate pressure that may be brought to bear on young athletes. Coaches will prepare training programs that build on the skills developed at younger age levels.  Blocks of high-intensity gate training will be complemented by equally important measures of directed and undirected free skiing.  SPRT’s commitment is to place skiers on the podium while safeguarding long-term athlete development.

J4: The J4 training group consists of youths who are 11 and 12 years of age. This age level represents a window of opportunity for the development of ski-racing fundamentals. Children are old enough to focus and young enough to make radical improvements in a relatively short time frame.  The mission at this age level is lots of miles under the direction of  hard-skiing coaches.  Gate training,  technique drills and directed free skiing will be incorporated in near-equal amounts. Coaches will assist the youngsters make the transition from viewing the mountain as a playground, to viewing it as a playing field where practice makes perfect and work ethic is as important as talent.

J5: The J5 training group consists of youths who are 10 years old and younger. This age level will be encouraged to play on the mountain while beginning to develop sound technical ski  fundamentals. There are a wide variety of abilities at this age level. Some children are being introduced to skiing, others already have extensive racing experience. Regardless of experience and ability, SPRT wants weekend ski-race training at this age level to be the highlight of every child’s week.  Coaches recognized that results at this age level are practically meaningless and that enthusiasm and sound fundamentals are more appropriate measures of success. Towards that end, all athletes will be introduced to gate training, however the emphasis will be on being able to ski the entire mountain, and to ski it well. At the end of the season, we want parents to be amazed and proud at their child’s improvement.