Program Details
The Middlebury Ski Club is intended to serve recreational and competitive athletes that are currently intermediate to advanced skiers 6 to 16 years of age (see prerequisites below) who are motivated to develop strong fundamental skills that will help them become better skiers and to have fun. Skiers may also elect to compete in United States Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) sanctioned races.
Each Saturday training session will have athletes broken into groups. In general, the athletes will be arranged by USSA age groups (e.g., U8, U10, U12, etc.). This will ensure proper coaching and age specific skill development to ensure a safe and fun skiing environment. The MSC staff reserves the right to move athletes accordingly to ensure that each athlete is in a group that appropriately matches their skill while also offering an optimal challenge for their continued development.
Non-racer athletes should be motivated, intermediate and advanced skiers ages 6 and up who are not sure if competition racing is for them. MSC aims to provide all athletes with a quality learning experience that will develop the skiing skills to become well-rounded, competent, all-mountain skiers.
Racing athletes should be skilled, independent, all mountain skiers ages 7 and up. MSC participates in the Mid-Vermont Council (MVC) and competes at away and home (as the schedule permits) races (carpooling is encouraged). The MSC aims to provide competitive athletes with a training program that will set them up for competitive success and attaining their personal racing-related goals.
Please visit this season's Program Overview page for more information on training dates and times.
Prerequisites:
Prerequisites for participation in the MSC include:
- The ability to ski ANY terrain at the Snow Bowl - athletes must be able to ski the Allen top to bottom.
- Athletes must be able to ride the lift on their own without being lifted up and lower the safety bar.
- Athletes must be able to act independently during lunch and inside breaks.
- Athletes must be able to manage their own equipment and clothing needs. (Coaches are available to help, but athletes must be self-advocates).
Expectations of Athletes:
- Athletes must have all equipment on and be ready to ski at the designated group time.
- Parents of children arriving after the designated start time are responsible for ensuring that their child has officially joined their designated group.
- The MSC is not responsible for participants who arrive late and ski on their own, regardless of if they are trying to find their group.
- Late arrivals may not be left in the lodge with another club coach with the expectation that the participant will be connected with their group. If there is any question, the participant will be asked to wait in the lodge to catch up with their group when they come in for a break or at lunch time.
- Athletes should come to training with a growth mindset and positive attitude toward learning, improving, and having fun.
Fees:
2022-23 Program: $325
Licenses: The following membership/licenses are required:
- Non-Racers
- Require a US Ski and Snowboard (USSA) general membership
- Racers
- Require a USSA competitor license
- Vermont Alpine Racing Association (https://www.vara.org/join-vara.php) license.
Other Requirements:
Equipment:
Please note that all skiers need proper equipment in order to participate. Please see our Equipment Page for information on skis, boots, poles, helmets and clothing.
Middlebury Snow Bowl Season Pass:
The MCSB offers special pass options to support community access to the mountain:
- Each adult and alumni season pass includes (at time of purchase only) up to two season passes for children who are 12 years old or less as of 11/1/22
- Each adult and alumni season pass will also include a punch pass good for five full day visits. The “SNOW Share” punch pass is fully transferrable.
Volunteer Requirement:
All MSC families are required to volunteer for one (1) volunteer workday during the season (e.g., race days, club events, etc.). This family involvement helps create a strong club community and helps to keep our program fees low. If you are unable or unwilling to volunteer, you may opt out of the volunteer commitment for a $100 (racing families) or $50 (non-racing families) fee. If weekend volunteering or the opt-out charge is a hardship for your family, please speak with us about other ways to help the club throughout the season. Check out the list of volunteer positions and associated requirements here: Volunteering.
Use of Team Snap for Attendance:
The MSC utilizes the Team Snap platform to manage our attendance for each week's training sessions. Athletes and/or their parent/guardian are asked to indicate whether or not they will be in attendance by 5pm on Wednesday prior to a Saturday training session. Accurate attendance helps the program directors ensure adequate staffing each week and make programmatic adjustments as needed. After the RSVP deadline, if you have changes to your athlete's status, please email the club director directly to notify them of the change.
The Middlebury Ski Club
The Middlebury Ski Club aims to inspire and establish the foundation for lifelong enjoyment of skiing by providing recreational and competitive skiing opportunities that foster skill development, positive social interaction, and personal excellence.
The Middlebury Ski Club is a non-profit organization based in Middlebury, Vermont, USA.