Freeskiing Senior Team, grades 9-12

Freeskiing Senior Team is designed for athletes who wish to improve in competitive Big Mountain and Park & Pipe skiing. This group focuses on the continued development of freeskiing fundamentals and competitive skills. This competitive team’s winter program starts in September with pre-season training after school through a fun, fitness-based movement and conditioning program.

Athletes on the Freeskiing Senior Team program will strive to make USASA or IFSA Championship events at the end of the season. The competition season usually starts in January and culminates with National Championships in April. Athletes will be expected to travel to 3-5 competitions throughout the season.

Some Competitions may require qualification from previous seasons to compete.  Entry into any competition is not guaranteed and it is the responsibility of the athlete to make sure they register on time.

All athletes are expected to attend the Summer Strength and Conditioning program along with the pre-season training and gym time throughout the season to meet the physical demand our sport requires at this level. Exceptions can be made for those doing other summer/fall sports or circumstances that prevent athletes from attending. Email Andy Michnay with questions.

Requirements

• Skill requirement:

Big Mountain: Ability to ski the entire mountain, comfortable on double black and extreme terrain.

Park/Pipe: Ability to ski the entire mountain, comfortable in the terrain park, half pipe, and double black and extreme terrain.

• Equipment: Alpine skiing, snowboarding or telemark equipment, a back protector and a helmet
• Passes: Full IKON and Howelsen Hill pass required.

• High School Schedule:

Full Freeski Schedule: SSHS students enrolled in the full Freeskiing Senior Team schedule should register for “0” hour all year, partial skier schedule for fall and the full skier schedule for winter to line up with weekday training times. Boarding School option available through Steamboat Mountain School. Online courses are required for partial and full skier schedules. Speak with your counselor about available options.

Partial Freeski Schedule: SSHS students enrolled in the partial Freeskiing Senior Team schedule should register for a partial skier schedule all year.  No “0” hour is required for this schedule. Online courses are required for partial and full skier schedules. Speak with your counselor about available options.

• Competition information: Athletes will be expected to compete in National and/or Regional level IFSA events and Regional level USASA events if appropriate.  Athletes should have prior competition experience.

• Memberships:

Big Mountain: IFSA and RMFS memberships are required for all Big Mountain events.

Park/Pipe: A USASA membership is required for all regional competitions. U.S. Ski & Snowboard memberships are required for athletes who are 18 or older per Safesport rules (choose the volunteer membership level).

• Travel Requirements: Athletes are expected to travel and lodge with the team to competitions and camps. Arrangements can be made if there are circumstances that prevent this. Email Andy Michnay with questions.
• Age: Grades 9-12 (AGE GROUP GUIDELINES)

Schedule

September 3 - March 30 (or through IFSA Nor Ams/USASA Nationals if qualified)

Dryland: September 3 – November 22
Tuesday, 4-5:30 p.m. at Howelsen Hill
Wednesday, 4-6 p.m. at Bald Eagle Lake for Trampoline/Feild Workout
Thursday 5-6:30 p.m. at Steamboat Mountain School

On-Snow:

Early Season: December 3 - December 22: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 6-8 p.m. at Howelsen Hill Sunday, 9-2 p.m. at Steamboat Resort.

Regular Season: December 26-March 30: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 1-4 p.m. at Steamboat Resort, Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Steamboat Resort.

Winter Strength and Conditioning: December 3 - March 30, Wednesday, 1-2:30 p.m. at Howelsen Hill

 

2024-2025 Program Fee

2024-2025 Program Fee (Resident)*: $6,500
2024-2025 Program Fee (Non-Resident): $8,100
*Residents and non-residents are required to pay an additional $450 refundable work deposit.

Senior Team Partial Skier Schedule Athletes: For the 2024-2025 season, Partial Skier Schedule athletes (no zero hour) at the high school in the spring semester of 2025 will be eligible to attend all senior team competitions, camps, and training sessions permitted by their high school schedule. This includes all training sessions during school breaks and holidays. Please note that while there is no additional program fee for these training sessions and travel, camps and travel will have additional costs for both partial and full-time skier schedule athletes.

Partial Skier Schedule Program Fee:
2024-2025 Program Fee (resident, partial schedule): $5,500
2024-2025 Program Fee (non-resident, partial schedule): $6,875
*Residents and non-residents are required to pay an additional $450 refundable work deposit.

• Scholarships: Resident athletes in competitive year-round programs are eligible for the two-step EZ Competitive Program Scholarship and Winter Program Fee Scholarship. Non-residents are not eligible for EZ Scholarships but may apply for the Winter Program Fee Scholarship. See the chart below for the two-step EZ Competitive Program Scholarship levels. For more information on additional program fee scholarships and other scholarship opportunities, check out the scholarship pages on our website.

• Resident Requirements: To be eligible for the resident program fee, athletes must be full-time residents of Routt or Moffat County or full-time participants of SSWSC for two years or more. See the Member Handbook for full details on resident fees. Find the Residency Status Policy HERE.

• Payment Plan: SSWSC offers multiple payment options for summer, winter, and year-round program fees. Credit cards, eCheck (ACH bank transfer), cash, and checks are all accepted. We also offer a payment plan option. Find more information HERE.

• Work Deposit Program: SSWSC requires a work deposit for each family. During the registration process, the program fee listed includes the work deposit. Families can earn back the work deposit by volunteering for SSWSC or opt out of volunteering and donate the work deposit to SSWSC. Find more information on the Work Deposit Program HERE.

Questions?
Email Andy Michnay, Freeskiing Program Director