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Freeskiing

Freeskiing Senior Team, grades 9-12

Freeskiing Senior Team, grades 9-12

Freeskiing Senior Team is designed for athletes with goals to improve in competitive Big Mountain and Park & Pipe skiing. This group focuses on the continued development of freeskiing fundamentals and competition skills. This comprehensive competitive program provides training opportunities beginning in May designed to prepare athletes with a strong strength and conditioning base for success in the sport. Spring and summer strength and conditioning training is included in the program and continues with fall pre-season training after school through a fun, fitness-based movement and conditioning program before moving on snow for the winter months and the competition season. While this program continues through spring and summer, many athletes participate in other spring, summer, and fall sports as well. The program also integrates foundational avalanche education and winter rescue training.

Athletes use competition opportunities offered by USASA and IFSA to develop preparation and decision-making skills, as well as backcountry education for teamwork, risk assessment, and group dynamics, developing leadership and mountain skills beyond competitive environments. The competition season usually starts in January and culminates with National Championships in April. 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.

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 or telemark equipment, a back protector and a helmet.
  • Passes: Full IKON and Howelsen Hill pass required.
  • High School Schedules:
    Senior Team High School Schedule: SSHS students should register for Regular Schedule 1st semester and Full Early Release schedule 2nd semester. Boarding School option available through Steamboat Mountain School.
    Senior Team Partial Early Release Schedule: SSHS students should register for Regular Schedule 1st semester, Partial Early Release 2nd semester.
  • 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).
  • Age: Grades 9-12
Schedule

Spring:
May 5-June 5

9th and 10th grade athletes: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-4 p.m., Howelsen Hill Gym

11th and 12th grade athletes: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 1-2:30 p.m., Howelsen Hill Gym

Steamboat Mountain School (SMS) athletes: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 4-5:30 p.m. at Steamboat Mountain School

May Move Up sessions for 8th graders: Wednesday, 5-6:15 p.m., Howelsen Hill Gym

Summer:
June 10-August 15

9th and 10th grade athletes: Tuesday, Thursday, 8-9:30 a.m., Howelsen Hill Gym

11th and 12th grade athletes: Monday, 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, 7:30-9 a.m., Friday, 8:30-10 a.m.

Fall:
August 25 through late November

Tuesday, 4-5:30 p.m. at Howelsen Hill
Wednesday, 4-6 p.m. at Bald Eagle Lake for Trampoline/Field Workout
Thursday, 5-6:30 p.m. at Steamboat Mountain School
Friday, 4-5:30 at Howelsen Hill

On-Snow:

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

Regular Season: Late December through end of March (April training will be available until teams travel for champ events)

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 1-4 p.m. at Steamboat Resort, Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Steamboat Resort.

Winter Strength and Conditioning: TBA

2025-2026 Program Fee

2025-2026 Program Fee (Resident)*: $7,100 plus
2025-2026 Program Fee (Non-Resident)*: $8,850

*Residents and non-residents are required to pay an additional $450 refundable work deposit.

2025-2026 Partial Skier Schedule Program Fee:

2025-2026 Program Fee (resident, partial schedule): $6,300
2025-2026 Program Fee (non-resident, partial schedule): $7,850

*Residents and non-residents are required to pay an additional $450 refundable work deposit.

Senior Team Partial Early Release Athletes: SSHS who have chosen a Partial Early Release schedule (Regular Schedule 1st semester, Partial Early Release 2nd semester) are 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.

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  • Scholarships: Resident athletes in competitive year-round programs are eligible for the application-based 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 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 Options: SSWSC offers multiple payment options for summer, winter, and year-round program fees. eCheck (ACH bank transfer), cash, checks, and credit cards are all accepted. A 2% processing fee is applied to all credit card payments. 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 Tony Lodico, Freeskiing Program Director