NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 PARENT & ATHLETE GUIDE Alpine, Snowboard, Freeski-Freestyle, and Mountain Exploration 2019/2020 1 | Page NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 WELCOME TO THE NORTHSTAR SKI & SNOWBOARD TEAM Hello 2018 Northstar Competitive Team Members Thank you for being a part of Northstar’s Competitive Teams. Our management team and coaches are excited to rekindle past relationships and create new ones with athletes and their families. As always, our goal is to meet individual athlete needs while providing a safe, fun, and productive environment. Northstar Ski and Snowboard Teams offer an opportunity for your child to achieve their full potential on the mountain through an athlete centered approach. Each athlete spends their days in small groups with carefully selected and a professionally trained staff. Our athletes reflect on their daily plan in order to execute lessons in our 6 Domains of Focus. Technique, Tactics, Physical, Equipment, Mental Skills, and the Environment provide an in depth look at the sports complexities and lessons that can be learned. This manual is designed to use as a resource. All families should attend the fall Parent/Athlete Orientation in October to communicate with managers and coaches about personal goals within the competition pipeline/schedule, equipment setup, physical conditioning, and training plans. Once the season is underway, all parents are asked to continue reevaluating goals alongside their athletes and communicating with their coaches about any changes. Please review the following information, and prepare any questions for your Head Coaching staff. We are looking forward to a great season. Regards, Aaron Atkins and THE AWESOME NSST STAFF! 2 | Page NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 Table of Contents MISSION OF NORTHSTAR SKI AND SNOWBOARD TEAMS 4 PRE-SEASON PREPARATION & EXPECTATIONS 5 GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION 5 DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ATHLETE 5 SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND INJURY PREVENTION 7 ATHLETE, PARENT, AND COACH ROLES 7 COMPETITION 8 FREESKI/FREESTYLE PIPELINE 9 SNOWBOARD PIPELINE 9 ALPINE PIPELINE 11 MOUNTAIN EXPLORATION 12 ATHLETE EQUIPMENT NEEDS 12 TUNING STANDARDS 14 TEAMS TRAVEL 15 ANNUAL EVENTS 16 3 | Page NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 MISSION OF THE NORTHSTAR SKI AND SNOWBOARD TEAM To produce gold medal athletes in life and sport using alpine racing, freeskiing, snowboarding and Big mountain as the conduit for life long lessons and skill acquisition. This statement reflects the understanding that our athletes come to us with a wide range of goals and ambitions. While a few members may make it to the highest level of competition, our goal for our athletes is to help them develop the character and skills that will help them be successful in life, wherever their ambitions and talents may take them. Management Staff Teams Director Aaron Atkins [email protected] Freeski Manager Nat Schirman [email protected] Alpine Manager Ryan Rodarte [email protected] Snowboard Manager Gregg Janecky [email protected] Freeski and Freestyle Staff Moguls Adam Roger [email protected] Freeski Bobby Traver Alpine FIS U19 Josh Transue [email protected] U16 Ryan Rodarte [email protected] U14 River Winquest [email protected] U12 Dave Valentine [email protected] U10 Jenah Dawson [email protected] Snowboard Teen and Grom Alex Baker [email protected] Mountain Exploration Mtn Ex Head Coach Dori Breaux [email protected] 4 | Page NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 PRE-SEASON PREPARATION & EXPECTATIONS Prior to the start of the season, check all equipment in preparation to purchase new gear at the Parent/Athlete Orientation weekend held every October. If you cannot make our Parent Athlete Orientation please book an appointment with you Head Coach to discuss Equipment and Physical Conditioning needs. All Athletes should be participating in a fall sport and completing 6-8 weeks of conditioning in Preparation for the Season. If you need programs or ideas for conditioning please contact Dave Valentine, and Gregg Janecky. GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION Program Philosophy: This program is built around the athlete. We set out to instill a lifelong love and appreciation for the mountain environment, and the opportunity to plan and implement personal career goals. We give our athletes every opportunity available to go as far in snowsports as they choose. At our program’s core, it is about the journey toward achievement, and not the end result that will define our “Gold Medal” athletes. DAY IN THE LIFE Drop-off Time and Location: 8:15am at Mid Mountain. All groups will load the lift promptly at 8:30am. Alpine – Vista Lift, Freeski – Arrow Lift, Snowboard – Zephyr Lift, Mtn Ex – Ski Racks. (Subject to modification based on each groups training schedule.) Late Arrival: We stick to a simple late arrival policy, if an athlete misses their group in the morning they will need to meet their group at lunch. Our one exception is on powder days. On a day when chain controls are still up at 8am and it is actively snowing, all of our groups will roll through the Zephyr Chair between 10am and 10:30am. If you miss that opportunity our standard policy of inserting athletes at lunch will apply. Lunches: Athletes may pack or buy a lunch. We eat lunch at All Lodges between 11am and Noon. Check Location with Coaches. Pick-up Time and Location: 2:30pm at the bottom of Village Run. Behind Gondola. (Subject to modification based on each groups training schedule.) Early Departure Arrive early to morning drop-off and notify your coach. Making arrangements at AM drop off allows the coach to create a plan for the day and allows all athletes and coaches to move freely throughout the day without disruption. Please be mindful of the entire group when making alternative pick up plans. Please follow the steps for early pick-up: ▪ Lunch time pick-up (11AM- 12:00 PM) Nutrition Breakfast Arriving fed with a full breakfast is essential to a positive morning experience. Oatmeal with peanut butter, eggs and fruit, etc. A large glass of water with breakfast will also help with hydration until lunch. Lunch Arrive with a waterproof lunch bag (packable neoprene or reusable bags are most used) and reusable water bottle with your child’s name on. The coaches compile the lunches into a mesh bag 5 | Page NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 or backpack at morning drop-off and will bring them up to a lodge for storage until lunch time. All lunch boxes will be returned at the end of the day. Many athletes also carry collapsible water bladders, such as a Platypus 16 oz. pouch, which they can refill at water stations and roll up into jacket pockets. Note on Lunches: As part of the NSST Program, healthy and nutritious lunches are a necessary part of any athlete’s success. Just as properly fitting equipment is key to your athlete’s success and learning, so is proper nutrition at the start of the day. High protein and energy lunches such as peanut butter and jelly/ turkey sandwiches, or hummus and veggies, with trail mix and fruit work great. If you choose not to pack a lunch for your YOUNG CHILD, please plan on meeting the group to escort your child to purchase a lunch. Navigating the lodge lunch line can sometime be overwhelming and sometimes the best food choices are not made when unescorted. Please connect with your coach on that day's lunch plan (location/time) and confirm your willingness to escort your child to purchase a lunch. Pocket Snacks Pocket snacks are a key part of sustained nutrition and energy on the hill for our athletes. Prepare your athlete for a whole day of skiing with trail mix, dried fruit strips, protein bars, etc. We stop for snack and water in the afternoon and this is when our athletes get that extra boost of energy to keep going for the day. Pack something in the morning that fits into a jacket pocket to have it on hand during our break. Vail Goal to Zero Help us support the Vail Resorts Epic Promise for Zero Footprint, Goal to Zero. Our goal is ZERO net emissions and waste to landfill by 2030 and you can contribute to making this possible not only for our resorts but also for our alpine communities and environment. Reusable, compactable lunch bags, such as a sealed, washable cloth bag, and reusable food containers or snack bags and reusable water bottles will help excess waste from going into landfills. During our lunch break our coaches also help athletes make smart decisions with composting and recycling when possible at designated bins. We don’t expect parents to purchase these items (in fact, reuse what you already have on hand) but every little bit helps us get one step closer to our goal. Weather: We train in all conditions because unless weather is severe enough shut down the host mountain contests run in all conditions. Our athletes should be prepared each day for any condition in the weather forecast. Bring extra layers when it is cold, and have a jacket when it is snowing or raining. No matter how cool your hoodie is it will not keep you dry in the rain. Appropriate goggle lenses for the level of brightness or flat light are also highly recommended. Skill Cards/ Athlete Evaluations: To track our athlete’s progress, as well as give our athletes a map of what they still have to learn we use a skill card system. Skill card evaluations will be explained in detail at the Parent/Athlete Orientation and during the season in our Athlete Coach meetings. 6 | Page NSST Competition Teams Manual 2018.2019 SAFETY EQUIPMENT & INJURY PREVENTION Safety Equipment: All NSST athletes will be required to wear a mouth-guard with Freeski and Snowboard and recommended for Slalom in Alpine.