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Information for new members: |
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- The Fee to Join the Willard Mountain Ski Team
is lift tickets/passes plus a race team membership fee.
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- Racers must be members of The
United States Ski Association (USSA) [
what is the USSA?] and the Vermont Alpine Racing
Association (VARA) [what is VARA?].
Each of these organizations will
require a membership fee and provide a membership card for the races.
The fees vary depending on the age of the racer and late fees will,
in some cases, apply. These two organizations provide much of the
infrastructure, and insurance, that make race events possible.
Click to download USSA Membership Application [pdf]
Click to download VARA Membership Application [pdf]
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- Training is on a come-as-you-can basis, we just
encourage racers to train as much as they can. Attending Races is
encouraged, but also optional. Racers can get equipment on, rest
and warm-up in the team club house located at the bottom of the Colonel.
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Equipment: |
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- Young racers can ski on recreational equipment.
Most, however, will quickly improve to the point where there is a
significant benefit to stiffer, high performance, race specific equipment.
Most of this equipment can be purchased at a discount in pre-season
racing/instructor sales.
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- Ski tuning will also become a weekly event. There
are several parents in the club who can help new members learn the
basics of edge maintenance, sharpening and waxing. A basic tool kit
of the files, honing stones, and guides is available at stores like
the Inside Edge, the Sports Page, or in a variety of catalogs
specializing in race equipment.
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Races: |
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- The Willard Mountain Ski Team races in the
southern council of VARA. There is a full schedule of races available
on VARA’s web site, www.vara.org. The entry fee for these races is
usually ten dollars for a full day lift pass and bib. Most areas
also offer half price lift tickets to family members. In addition,
some areas host extra open races. The entry fees and family ticket
policy’s vary.
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- Races usually begin early and involve trips to
Bromley, Mount Snow, Magic Mountain, and Stratton. A team coach is
at each event, along with several parents, to help new members get
acclimated. The team usually gets in a couple of warm-up runs, study
the course and then race.
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What is the USSA?
According to the USSA: The USSA is the national governing body for Olympic skiing and
snowboarding. Founded in 1905, the nearly century-old organization
provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young
skiers and snowboarders who share an Olympic dream. As a company,
USSA’s management and staff coordinate a nationwide program in seven
distinctly different Olympic sports -- alpine, cross country, disabled,
freestyle, ski jumping, nordic combined, and snowboarding. The U.S. Ski
Team has been based in Utah since in 1974, with the now U.S. Ski and
Snowboard Association consolidating with the Team in Park City in 1988.
return to top |
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What is VARA?
According to VARA: VARA is a 'not for profit' organization
established in 1971 to promote and organize all levels of alpine ski
racing in Vermont. The intention was to create a well defined and
organized approach to junior ski racing thus creating a well defined
route to the national team. VARA has been successful in achieving its
original intent by consistently producing elite national and
international ski racers and consistently placing competitors on the
national team. return to top |
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