USSS Middle School Race Team

*Transportation clarification:

• Through our USSS parent/athlete survey, the majority of families indicated the following preference:
  • Include all transportation EXCEPT willing to carpool 1 day/week to/from Crystal Mtn – this carpool day will be on Tuesdays only
  • This helps provide the convenience for families Monday, Wednesday and Thursday – yet keeps costs manageable eliminating Tuesday Crystal bus.

USSS Middle School Race Team REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be in 6th, 7th, 8th grade, or age/grade appropriate as approved by the head coaches.
• Racer has previous race experience and meets all USSS member/safesport criteria.
• Racer must register and pay separately for all USSS national dues.  Learn more HERE.
• Racer must register and pay separately for all USSS Region 3 dues and have had all equipment necessary to meet USSS race regulations. Learn more HERE.

Lead Coaches – Austin Johnson Head USSS Coach, Craig Davidson Head USSS/FIS Travel Coach, Austin Skibowski Assistant USSS Coach

Training – Monday through Thursday – will begin on snow ASAP – weather dependent TBD in December

Program Details - USSS training and racing is a bigger commitment than MSRT – additional race opportunities on weekends.

• USSS weekday training – see above schedule
• Middle School Races – Included - see MSRT programming link for details

• USSS Region 3 Race weekend coaching – https://www.region3cussa.org/
  • All races optional – but really the benefit to being in USSS
  • Coaching at Region 3 USSS race weekends included
  • USSS Race Schedule – https://www.region3cussa.org/page/show/1963408-region-3-calendar
  • All USSS race sign up is done separately by families for each race – through myUSSS account – NOT INCLUDED
  • Race fees are extra and paid per race for a racer
  • Races typically Saturday and Sunday – can sign up to do one or both
  • Passes at race mountains not included
  • To be eligible for any USSS events/racing - NEED TO REGISTER with USSA and REGION 3 to participate – make account per racer/online (see info above)
  • USSS & Region 3 registration – not included in GTSC fee!!

Program Does NOT Include – Below are available at an additional fee – NOT included in the USSA programming fee.

• USSS Region 3 Race fees – https://www.region3cussa.org/
  • See above sign up and race fee information
• USSS Out of Region 3 race weekends – Shelly Glover & Hosking Junior Championship Qualifiers -races held at former Indianhead and Blackhead Resorts in the U.P.
  • These races are optional for all USSS racers – but if your racer wants to try qualifying for the Junior Championships in CO, have to participate and qualify at Hosking race
  • Coaching not included – fee based on how many participants through GTSC and invoiced separately
  • Parent transportation necessary
  • Lodging not included – family responsible for arrangements
  • Race sign up is done individually by families for each race – myUSSS account
  • Race fee dependent on how many days/race
  • Schedule is out – https://www.region3cussa.org/page/show/1963408-region-3-calendar
  • Races ~Fri-Sunday, usually additional training available on Thursday.
• USSS Junior Championships – have to qualify at above races, held in Colorado in March, all additional and TBD.
• GTSC Sunday Races – additional sign up and fee through GTSC

RACE SCHEDULE:

MSRT Races
• Typically 4-5 MSRT races/season around local/Northern Michigan

USSS Races
• Most weekends, Sat/Sun around Northern Michigan/U.P.
• Register your racer independently for races through my.usskiandsnowboard.org acct

Expectations:

• Be on time, hop out of vehicle prepared to ski.
• Respect Coaches & peers, 110% effort, safety
•  Be responsible for yourself and all your gear

Volunteers:

• Volunteers are critical to the success of all GTSC programs! All USSS parents are expected to volunteer for bus duty (at least once) and weekend race jobs (at least 3 times) every season
• THANK YOU FOR BEING AWESOME GTSC!!

Passes – Required and NOT included in the sign up fee

• Hickory Hills- Season pass
  • Season pass needed
  • Pass sales available online:  https://www.traversecitymi.gov/hickory_hills.asp
     - Choose alpine ski season pass option
• Crystal Mountain - Season Pass 
  • Additional information for online pass purchase will be shared once registration complete
  • Passes will need to be purchased by December 1
• Nubs Nob - Season Pass
  • Due to the lack of snow last December, the USSS Team trained at Nubs Nob on a few occasions.  If you'd like to purchase a season pass for Nubs, info can be found here: https://www.nubsnob.com/season-pass-rate-sheet/

• USSS Race Passes - all passes will need to be purchased separately for each race by families the day of race – NOT included.

USSS Gear – Quality race gear needed - required for safety – recreational gear is not appropriate

• USSS athletes will race GS and Slalom – possibly Super G at qualifier races - please talk to coaches if need guidance – they are happy to help!
• Need quality race gear; refer to: USSS guidelines https://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/rules-equipment/alpine-equipment.pdf
  • Skis – see USSS requirements - recommend separate GS and Slalom skis
  • Boots – VERY important to have the right fit – please ask coaches/shops to assess
  • Helmet – see USSS requirements
    • Chin bar - Slalom requires
    • GS - No chin bar – so needs to be removable – FIS sticker required
  • Gloves/shin guards/poles/goggles/arm guards/back pad/speed suit/ski socks

We believe that one must develop great ski skills before one can be a great ski racer. In accordance with this philosophy, we will perform many drills, especially those emphasizing pressure, edging, rotary, and balance, in order to refine our fundamental ski skills. We will limit our time training in racecourses as we believe in quality rather than quantity. We want to train and build proper ski mechanics so that our athletes become fundamentally strong skiers with a lifelong passion for the sport.

The athletes will work closely with the GTSC coaches who will coach the athletes at weekend USSS races and/or weekend USSS training (TBD). Our head USSS coaches are Austin Johnson and Craig Davidson.  Austin is a Traverse City native and former member of the USSA Development Program who competed on the Nor-Am circuit and in Europe. Austin’s unique racing experience has shown him the ski skills that are necessary to build a foundation for successful racing at the highest levels of the sport. Craig comes to GTSC after decades as very accomplished alpine ski coach for the WIN and Pinnacle programs, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Craig’s enthusiasm is contagious as he looks to take our athletes to a new level!

Please contact Tonya Lewandowski, the GTSC Middle School Program Coordinator, through TeamSnap messages with any questions about the program timing, and transportation.

Registration questions can be directed to: skigtsc@gmail.com

Waivers and Forms:

Each athlete will need to acknowledge the following documents as part of the GTSC registration process:

• Athlete Code of Conduct
  
• Parent Code of Conduct
  
• GTSC Waiver

Athletes will be required to complete necessary waivers at each of the ski hills we train/race at.  Please ensure this is completed as it will be required for pass purchase.

We look forward to a great season of fun ski racing!