**Intro to Ski Level Development and Ski Level Development
A few quick reminders to all:
  • TeamSnap – Be sure to download the TeamSnap app (it’s free!) from your app store to your phone. This is a very important communication tool for all GTSC teams!  You all have a login from when you originally setup your TeamSnap account to register for GTSC programming.
  • Important Information – Please read through the Meet & Greet Information Sheets found under Files (Media) in your TeamSnap team.

First Day of Programming Reminders:
 – All programming dates and times are found in your TeamSnap Schedule. Please confirm you are in the correct GTSC team (or teams) within TeamSnap and understand how to navigate the Schedule tab.
 – Both programs have multiple session times, so PLEASE make sure you know which your skier is registered for.

START DATES:
 – Intro to Ski Level Development Start Date: Saturday, January 18th
 – Ski Level Development Start Date: Monday, January 13th
Please mark your calendars and see you there!
…………….

**Race Clinics

A few quick reminders to all:
  • TeamSnap – Be sure to download the TeamSnap app (it’s free!) from your app store to your phone. This is a very important communication tool for all GTSC teams! You all have a login from when you originally setup your TeamSnap account to register for GTSC programming.
  • Important Information – Please read through the Meet & Greet Information Sheets found under Files (Media) in your TeamSnap team.

First Day of Programming Reminders:
 – All programming dates and times are found in your TeamSnap Schedule. Please confirm you are in the correct GTSC team (or teams) and understand how to navigate the Schedule tab.

START DATES:
 – Monday Night Race Clinics (USSS focus): Monday, January 6th
 – Tue/Thurs Race Clinics: Tuesday, January 7th
 – Wednesday Night Race Clinics: Wednesday, January 8th
Please mark your calendars, get your gear ready and see you there!

…………….

**Sunday Races
Please be sure to check out the Sunday Race team and make sure you have access in TeamSnap! Our first Sunday Race is quickly approaching!

 
START DATE:
 – 1st Sunday Race: Sunday, January 12th – GS
 
Notes:
 – Check out the Assignments now in your TeamSnap Schedule event on that date and please signup to help make sure our race is amazing!
 – This race is FREE for any interested GTSC skier to try out! Please tell your pals and spread the word! They simply show up at the Lodge at 11am and talk to the volunteers to get set up!
 – Our 1st Sunday Race WILL COUNT towards Welborn scoring this year (this is due to the loss of the Sunday Race over President’s Day weekend as Hickory does not want us to hold a race to allow room for the public.)
 
Racer Bibs:
 – Bib Pickup: Thursday Jan 2; 3:30-5pm @ Hickory
 – If you still have your racers bib from last year, PLEASE bring to the bib pickup this year. 
 – We charge $50 for any bib not turned back in (and yes, we cross-reference the numbers assigned from last year… eeke!)
 

Reach out anytime with questions, thank you!
…………….

**Middle School Race Team (MSRT): 

This week we will offer a few days to get the MSRT skiers on snow at the base of Hickory! While the tow ropes are not spinning yet – it’s a great opportunity to start getting comfortable on our skis, do flats, drills and starts work. 
 – Please see the TeamSnap Schedule and see you there! 
 – We do not anticipate having access to the lodge, so please come prepared accordingly.
 – Note the use of SL gear, no chin bars necessary on helmets.
 
PROGRAMMING START DATE:
 – MSRT: Monday, January 6th – at Hickory Hills*, SL 
 *Dependent upon Hickory opening
 
SKI PASSES – Reminder to please start purchasing your ski passes.:
Hickory Hills Passes: Now available online through the City of Traverse City website! Most families opt for the season pass over a daily pass, but this is your choice.
https://www.traversecitymi.gov/government/city-departments/hickory-hills/season-passes.html

Crystal Mountain Passes: Our GTSC MSRT athletes get a discount racer passes.
 – Racer passes are purchased by calling Megan Farfsing at Crystal Mountain, 231.378.2255.

 – These need to be purchased ASAP, so please make it happen =)

 – The MSRT practices at Crystal on Wednesday only.
 – As such, this group receives a discounted 1-day/week Wed Only pass for about $100. This requires a waiver and picture.
 – Please do NOT wait until the first night to purchase for your skier!

Tuning Clinic: Sorry for the last minute postponement of the Tuning Clinic! We will keep you posted as to when our pals at Don Orr are healthy again and get this back on the calendar!

We are excited for a great season, GTSC!
………………..

**FIS & USSS Race Teams (Middle School USSS Race Team, Intro to USSS Race Team and High School USSS Teams): 
Thank you to the 30+ FIS/USSS athletes that joined us at Boyne Mountain for GTSC USSS Christmas Camp over the weekend! What a FUN WEEKEND! Everyone stepped up their game with a super positive attitude, desire to get better, and looking to make the most of whatever weather and conditions we were dealt! We are so proud of how everyone skied, and the new Brower timing system really upped the intensity of the competition by all. The Urea Cup and Morton Cup races were epic displays of fast (with crumby prizes? ha!).

Coach Congrats – USSS Level 100 Success:

Shout out to the FIVE GTSC coach and parents that achieved Level 100 coach certification this past Saturday at Nubs Nob: Sarra Guggamos, Dan Culp, Aiden Lewandowski, Dan Ellis and Jeremy Lewandowski. We are proud to have had the largest Club showing at the event and 100% pass rate for our rockstars!


Training:
Please see the TeamSnap schedule for the week ahead and training opportunities. Note all training is weather dependent – however we are anticipating a cooldown around New Years that will get us back on snow. Please remember to mark your Availability in TeamSnap.
 
Upcoming USSS Race Dates:
January 4 & 5, 2025
U14 & Older Scored and Non-Scored GS Races @ The Highlands
Our first race of the USSS season and a great way to kick off 2025! A few important notes about this race:
  • U14 & Older – reminder if your racer is a U12 (11 or under) they are NOT able to participate in this race.
    • Any U14, U16, U18, U21, etc. ARE able to race in this event. (including any FIS racers)
  • Registration is open – signup through your skireg account – reminder late fees hit the Wednesday prior to the race, Jan 1, 2025.
  • The CR3 schedule shows this as an all GS race weekend – please plan accordingly.
    • Saturday: 2 races: 1 – Scored GS race, and 1 – Non-Scored GS race.
    • Sunday: 1 – Scored GS race only.
  • Please see email from last week explaining the difference between a scored and non-scored race is – we are happy to answer questions!
  • Please signup to help volunteer through the DIBS (somehow an acronym for ‘volunteer signup’ – riddle me that?) link on the CR3 website: https://www.region3cussa.org/
    • USSS races do not happen without many, many volunteers helping out folks. Thank you for helping ensure our skiers race and our GTSC is well represented helping out! We are typically the one of the largest Clubs attending these races and it’s important we lead by example =)
  • Reminder to purchase your lift tickets as far in advance as you are comfortable – the Boyne Resorts family lift ticket prices increase as the date gets closer. Also a reminder that any IKON pass holders get days at the Boyne Resorts, so check your pass!
Upcoming FIS Race Dates:
January 10-12 (depart Wed Jan 8), 2025
Atmore FIS Race @ Spirit Mountain
Our 3rd FIS race of the season is quickly approaching – and it’s set to be a great one! All athletes are intended and should be registered (or doing so ASAP) through skireg.com. The Atmore Fact Sheet includes a signup for the Thursday Training, as well as link to purchase tickets. Please see link as shared in the FIS Crushers text thread, also shared here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HF1pCcMI196MTmBRKi0S5e62dOjbgYqB/mobilebasic

Atmore Travel Plans:
 – Wednesday, Jan 8 – 3:30pm – meet team van and caravan at CHS to depart – SL gear only for the Atmore!
    *Drive to MQT or Indianhead and stay the night.
 – Thursday, Jan 9 – Depart for Duluth – SL training in the afternoon.
 – Friday, Jan 10 – Sunday, Jan 12 – (1) Men’s and (1) Women’s FIS SL race per day.
    *Depart immediately after last race to head back to TC.

House Parents & Food Signup:
 – We currently have a lot of awesome GTSC parents interested in heading to the Atmore – let’s GO!
 – Please checkout the Food Signup google link – I added a parent column so we can try to plan around all the fun.

**https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-71oWXezxRLGpUIQ1FBqPGoPrlma5Zw_daFBUh_Hoz0/edit?usp=sharing

 – The team house will not accommodate all, but if folks interested in grabbing some additional hotel rooms close we can at least be at the same spot or whatevs =) 

AVAILABILITY – We will continue to remind all athletes to MARK THEIR AVAILABILITY in TeamSnap for each weekend event (race or practice!). This helps us ensure we send the appropriate # of coaches to service all attending athletes!

THANK YOU for getting in this habit!!

SKI PASSES – Reminder to please start purchasing your ski passes.:
Hickory Hills Passes: Now available online through the City of Traverse City website! Most families opt for the season pass over a daily pass, but this is your choice.
https://www.traversecitymi.gov/government/city-departments/hickory-hills/season-passes.html


Crystal Mountain Passes: Our GTSC USSS athletes get a discount racer season passes.
 – Racer passes are purchased by calling Megan Farfsing at Crystal Mountain, 231.378.2255.
 – These need to be purchased ASAP if you have not already, so please make it happen =)
 – MSSSS practices at Crystal on Wednesday and Thursday this season (note – a change from prior seasons!). As such, this group purchases a discounted full season pass, $199

Tuning Clinic: Sorry for the last minute postponement of the Tuning Clinic! We will keep you posted as to when our pals at Don Orr are healthy again and get this back on the calendar!
Posted in Club Updates

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