Hartford Union High School Team 2019-2020 Season

Description: The Hartford Union High School Snowboard Team is a club competitive racing sport, approved by the Hartford Union High School (HUHS) athletic department for Varsity letter status. The team participates in the competitive events of (GS), Slalom (SL), and Boardercross (SBX). All these events are official Olympic winter sporting events.

Background: High School Snowboard racing has been in Wisconsin since 2005. In 2014, the Metro Milwaukee High School Snowboard Conference (MMHSSC) was formed with one initial charter member. For the 2019-2020 season, there will be six members in the conference, Whitefish Bay, Port Washington, West Bend (combined), Waukesha (combined), Slinger and Hartford. The goal of the conference is to continue to expand in the upcoming years to promote snowboard racing and competition.

Competition: The HS Snowboard teams of the MMHSSC will be a participating in 12 sanctioned conference events over eight race days in January and February for the 2019-2020 season. These competitions are held on Saturdays and Sundays. Four Giant Slalom events, Four Slalom events, and Four Boardercross events. These events are hosted by Midwest Best Series, which is an official club sport entity of the United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA). Midwest Best hosts competitive events in the Southeast Wisconsin geographical area. (www.midwestbest.org, and www.usasa.org) All USASA rules, including rules of conduct and competition, can be found on USASA website.

Coaches: Our coaches have all completed coaching certifications through USASA.

Paul Bullis – Head Coach Jayna Schmittinger – Assistant Coach Darrell Wiedmeyer – Assistant Coach

Club Status: All students must follow the Athletic Department guidelines for participation and to be eligible for a varsity letter. We are a club, and as such, parents/students are responsible for all costs (race fees, lift tickets, memberships, etc.), all snowboard gear and equipment, and all transportation associated with this sport. Race bibs will be provided by MWB and must be returned when racing is completed. Families will be charged $50 for unreturned bibs.

Helmets are MANDATORY and must be worn at all practices and all competitions. No exceptions. Go Pro and other bracket mounting devices are not allowed on helmets. Although the Slinger/Hartford Co op has split to two separate teams, the Slinger coaches will continue to coach both teams and practices will still be combined.

Practice: Will be held at Little Switz Hill (Slinger, WI) on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Sundays from 4:30-6:00pm. If the hill is open, we will practice. Practices will begin, if hill is open, on Dec. 4th. All efforts should be made to be at all practices. We understand students may not be able to make it at times though. Please email us as soon as you know you will miss practice and the reason you will not be there. Varsity status may be determined, in part, by attendance at the Wednesday practices. While at practice, it is expected that students remain at the practice run with the coaches at all times and not leave for other areas of the hill unless excused by a coach.

2020 Schedule of Competitive High School Events (sponsored by Midwest Best):

Saturday, Jan 11 GS/SL Alpine Valley Sunday, Jan12 GS/SL Alpine Valley Saturday, Jan18 GS/SL Alpine Valley (note – this is the day of our Middle School event) Sunday, Jan 19 SBX Alpine Valley Saturday, Jan 25 SBX Alpine Valley Sunday, Jan 26 SBX Alpine Valley Saturday, Feb 1 GS/SL Tyrol Basin Sunday, Feb 2 SBX Tyrol Basin Date Location Event Discounted Lift Ticket Price

Alpine Valley Ski Hill – East Troy, WI Tyrol Basin Ski Hill – Mt. Horeb, WI

MWB will also be holding a Gate Course Training day at Alpine Valley on Dec. 21. Info is in the Conference Guide.

LAX Cup – (tentative) Monday, Feb 3rd at Mt LaCrosse. This is a one day competition open to all conference racers which is held on the same course that is used for State Competition. It is not required.

Wisconsin State Snowboard Competition. Friday 2/14/2020 – Saturday 2/15/2020– Mt. La Crosse, La Crosse, WI. (Presidents’ Day Weekend)

Expenses: Part A: 1) $180 - $15 entry fee per race x 12 events 2) $30 - conference fee per racer 3) $40 - Snowboard club fee

Total Payment of $250, payable to “HUHS” (put snowboard team on comment line) ***There will be no refunds for missed races***

Part B: Required Full Membership in USASA $125 (after October 1). Register on USASA website (www.usasa.org)

(Note: During the registration process for USASA, they will ask for a “sponsor”, please list “Hartford Union High School” as the sponsor.

Additional Costs:

1) Season Lift Pass for Little Switz (highly recommended) or lift pass for each day of practice. If you have not purchased a season pass yet, Little Switz has generously offered the snowboard team members a discounted rate that will bring your cost back to the early bird pricing of $299 (single pass only, no discount for family pass). We will provide you with a code to purchase a single pass once registration and registration payments for Snowboard Team have been completed. 2) Lift pass, for the day of each competition, is the responsibility of the racer They will be $35/day at Alpine Valley and $30/day at Tyrol Basin and are to be purchased at MWB registration table (AV) or the ticket window (TB – must have race bib for discount.) 3) Race Fees for the WI State Meet are not yet finalized (Last year $100 entry fee), but will be the responsibility of the racer.

New this year - Midwest Best has created a Snowboard Conference Event Guide which contains information on venues, dates, event day schedules and rules. We will email the link to all who register for the team.

****Also new – All althletes 18+ (or those who will turn 18 during the season – including Nationals) must complete online Safesport training and a background check prior to competitions. They are part of USASA membership and links are available when you sign into your account. They can take 6-8 weeks to complete so do so ASAP! If you turn 18 during the season and have not completed these items, you will not be allowed to continue racing. No exceptions.

Need to know how to snowboard. The HUHS School Snowboard Team does not have the resources to teach new snowboarders.

Team App: MWB and HUHS Snowboard Team utilize Team App. The link to MWB conference guide link will have directions on how to download the App and then search for both. We will have this info packet plus practice updates, race day schedules, directions to events, results and more on this App. MWB will have live time results on their App on race days. We highly recommend downloading it to your smartphone before the season starts.

To Do:

1) Complete and sign the Snowboard Registration form and turn in tonight.

2) Register with school Athletic Department online.

3) Submit Payment for $250.00 Please make checks out to HUHS

4) Payments should be turned into the high school Athletic Office, by Monday, November 4th, 2019.

5) Complete the online Registration for USASA membership if not already done. Also complete Safesport and background check ASAP (if applicable).

We will have one more (combined) meeting on Wednesday, November 20th at SHS at 6:30pm to answer all racers’ specific questions regarding practice and racing and to adjust bindings prior to starting practices. Bring your boards and bindings to this meeting if you need help. Parents are welcomed but not required at this meeting.

Should any racer be interested in competing at USASA National Snowboard Competition, please contact Coach Bullis through the email below regarding requirements. This event is held 3/28/20-4/3/20 at Copper Mountain, CO. It is completely voluntary. At this event students are racing as individual Midwest Best Club members. Points are earned towards Nationals when racing at all MWB races

Send all other questions and/or concerns to team Parent Volunteers, Brian and Becky Graff, at the HUHS Snowboard Team email - [email protected]