**Intro to Ski Level Development and Ski Level Development
Winter is here!
To get started, we will host our Meet & Greet for all Intro to Ski Level Development and Ski Level Development skiers and parents!  Coaches will be there to help review gear needs, check gear, talk about expectations and what’s needed to have the best ski season possible =) Please be sure to join us!
 
ALL SKI LEVEL DEVELOPMENT GROUPS MEET & GREET:
  • Wednesday Dec. 18th, 5:30-6:30pm
  • Hickory Hills Lodge
  • **Bring skiers skis, boots and helmet to Meet & Greet
Please mark your calendars and see you there!
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**Race Clinics
I see snow in Traverse City – let’s get ready to ski, GTSC racers!
Let’s kick off our Race Clinic season with a Meet & Greet for our skiers and parents!  Coaches will be there to help review gear needs, check gear, talk about expectations and what’s needed to have the best ski season possible =) Please be sure to join us!
 
RACE CLINICS MEET & GREET:
  • Wednesday Dec. 18th, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Hickory Hills Lodge
  • **Bring skiers skis, boots and helmet to Meet & Greet
Please mark your calendars and see you there!
…………….
 
**GTSC Parent Helpers/Volunteers and Sunday Races
Our GTSC community of families and skiers is born of, and built on, a strong foundation of amazing volunteers.  Getting involved as a parent helper or volunteer is a GREAT way to meet more parents and skiers, make new friends, and learn new things about this sport we love!
Please join us for a Sunday Race and GTSC Parent Helpers/Volunteers chat to help learn where our needs are – we will help give you the tools to be an awesome and involved ski parent =)
 
VOLUNTEER MEET & GREET:
  • Tuesday Dec. 10th, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Hickory Hills Lodge
Please mark your calendars and see you there!
…………….
 
**Middle School Race Team (MSRT): 
Yahoo to snow, middle school racers!! Time to get fired up ski season!!!
SKI PASSES – yep, it’s time to start thinking about our 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.
  • Crystal Mountain Passes: MSRT practices at Crystal on Wednesday only and get a discount on a single day Crystal Mtn Racer pass.
    • MSRT –  To purchase a Wednesday-only ski pass, $105, call Megan Farfsing at Crystal Mountain, 231.378.2255
    • Reminder you will need to complete waivers to ensure your racer is ready on our first night!
MSRT MEET & GREET – Tuesday, Dec 10 @ 7:30pm at Hickory Hills. Please mark your calendars and check your TeamSnap MSRT calendars for details.
  • We hold an MSRT Meet & Greet each year to help our skiers and parents better understand what the season ahead is going to look like: bussing, practice schedules, race schedules, gear needs, etc.
  • It’s also a great opportunity for families to meet the coaches and ask questions!
  • Parents and athletes, please join us on Dec 10 @ 7:30pm at Hickory Hills.
I’m excited for a great season!!  See you there!
………………………..
**USSS Race Teams – Middle School USSS Race Team, Intro to USSS Race Team and High School USSS Teams: 
Hopefully everyone is getting their gear tuned up and ready for the race season – fingers crossed the white stuff is headed our way soon =)
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.
  • Crystal Mountain Passes: Our GTSC 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 by December 1, so please make it happen =)
    • MS USSS – This group 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
UPCOMING USSS SCHEDULE –  We are almost into season!!!  We will do our best to get our skiers on now as soon, and as frequently as possible based on where/when ski areas will allow us=)
Please get familiar with using your USSS Teamsnap Schedule tab – as we do our best to keep the Schedule up to date with all information needed. Below is a snapshot as we are coming in hot to the season – but going forward we will simply say “See Schedule” – so start getting comfortable with the Schedule tools! We will review in our meeting this week also (see below):
December 7-8:
  • TENTATIVE: Nubs Nob – Slalom On-snow drills and skiing with coaches
  • Time: 10a-noon, 1-3pm
  • See details and update in TeamSnap Schedule
December 14-15:
  • USSS Race @ Searchmont – U14 & Older Scored Races
  • Sat – SL; Sun – GS
  • Registration is OPEN in SkiReg!!
  • Please reach out with questions or if you need help!!
December 21-22:
  • Nubs Nob SkillsQuest – 45% votes
  • Unavailable for any training due to holiday travel – 30%
  • Searchmont – 25% votes
  • Results Take Away:
    • GTSC will plan to have a coach at both Nubs Nob Skills Quest and Searchmont.
    • We will coordinate accordingly as the time gets closer and we better understand weather, etc.
December 27-30:
  • Local training only due to holidays (meaning Hickory or Crystal) – 50%
  • Training at Searchmont – 32%
  • Out of town and unavailable for any training – 18%
  • Results Take Away:
    • GTSC will plan to have a coach at both Nubs Nob Skills Quest and Searchmont.
    • We will coordinate accordingly as the time gets closer and we better understand weather, etc.
USSS RACE REGISTRATIONS –
Race time is nearly here!!!  In general, it’s helpful to remember that:
  • USSS Race registrations open approximately 1 month prior to a race event.
  • Race registrations are thru SkiReg again in 2024/25 – so the same system as last year:
  • USSS late fees kick in if you do not register by the Tuesday prior to the race date.
  • We do not believe there will be any quotas in place for the races on our GTSC USSS calendar – however some qualifier races can have them work skiing out of region.
  • Reminder that all USSS racers are responsible to register themselves for each USSS race they want to participate in – this fee, nor process – is included/completed by GTSC or coaches.
  • Since our first USSS race is Dec 14 at Searchmont – registration is now officially open!!!
  • Reminder that all USSS races outside the lower peninsula do incur an additional coaching fee to athlete whom chose to attend – this fee is to cover additional travel costs for coaches only and is charged following event.
  • To register for races – below is what it will look like when you get into your skireg account. Simply find the race you are interested in and register =)

USSS TOUCHDOWN MEETING: Thursday Dec 5th at 6:30pm

Join us for a quick virtual touchdown meeting to chat prior to our first training and/or race weekend!  We will walk through registration questions, logistics, where to meet, etc.!

Thursday Dec 5th at 6:30pm via Teams – link below:

________________________________________________________________________________

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 230 518 272 91

Passcode: yr6NG3pc

Dial in by phone

+1 352-374-3246,,784898525# United States, Gainesville

Phone conference ID: 784 898 525#

Our goal is always to try and set families up for success! Especially if you are a new family – the jump to USSS can be a big one – so reach out anytime with questions!

……………..

**FIS Team

It’s race week for our FIS Team!! Please read below carefully for the upcoming race steps.

Giants Ridge Race:  Race Dates: Sat Dec 7 & Sun Dec 8  SL only.

Reminder to review the information sheet and detailed schedule sent out Sunday Nov 17th, also saved under Files in Teamsnap and in Schedule.

Team Departure: Thursday December 5th @ 3:30pm – All FIS athletes to meet at Central HS parking lot ready to load up and roll out! If you need a parking pass to leave a vehicle, reminder to text/email Tonya Lew.

**Race Registration – This race is still not showing up in Skireg.com to register. We have been told the race will be up Monday, Dec 2 on skireg.com – please plan to register then!

Searchmont MidAm Series Race: Race Dates: Fri-Sun, Dec 20-22 – GS & SL

**Confirm/pull – Reminder to complete for your athlete by Tuesday, Dec 3 via the Central Intents:

Central Division Intents

**Travel – Plan is to depart Thursday morning, Dec 19, from Traverse City to train Thursday afternoon at Searchmont.

**Border Crossing – Please start the process of ensuring your athlete has the necessary paperwork to cross the Canadian border with the team van. (Letter from parent giving permission, and passport or birth certificate/license) If you have any questions on the border crossing requirements, please reach out.

**Race Registration – The Searchmont MidAm is currently open for registration on skireg.com! Get ‘er done.

Let’s have a great week, and good luck to our FIS Team!!

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