Equipment
All athletes must have:
All athletes need to have their own skis, boots, poles, helmet, and goggles. These items are not provided by the club.
Helmets are mandatory, all the time, for every athlete and coach. If you arrive at the mountain and do not have your helmet, you are not allowed to ski with the club. For athletes intending to participate in races, please see specific helmet requirements below.
We ski in all types of weather, so please be prepared and dress accordingly each day. Do not forget that often the mountain temperatures and wind are much different than they are in the valleys! It's best to have more clothes and not need them, than not have enough to wear.
Label your belongings: A lot of gear and clothing looks the same and can be easily mixed up.
The following items are not allowed during training:
- iPods or other music devices with headphones
- Sunglasses (goggles must be worn.)
Athletes participating in RACING:
Helmet:
For racers, helmets need to have hard plastic covering your ears. Helmets with soft padding on the outside of the ears are not allowed at many races. At the U14 and older, there are specific helmet requirements (i.e., for Giant Slalom and speed events must be FIS Certified).
Skis and Boots:
Please consult your coach to help you with your selection of skis and boots, since racing equipment can be very specific. Older athletes may need multiple pairs of skis that will be suitable for each competitive discipline.
Protective Gear:
Helmets are mandatory, but other protective gear is optional. These items may include shin guards, pole guards, back guards, and padded clothing. Speed suits are optional, but popular at most levels. Remember, if you use a speed suit, you will want to have pants that zip-off completely without requiring you to remove your boots. Please consult with your coaches for the specific protection requirements for your age level.
Youth athletes grow quickly. It can be a challenge to find equipment that fits well and is appropriate for the type of skiing that an athlete is interested in. Our families take a lot of different approaches to sourcing their equipment. Here are a few resources:
Seasonal Rentals:
Many of our athletes elect to rent/lease equipment for the season through the Middlebury College Snow Bowl Ski Shop Ski Shop. The lease package includes skis, boots, bindings, and poles and runs from the beginning of the season until the Snow Bowl closes for the season.
Alpine Ski Shop in South Burlington offers race stock equipment for lease (by appointment only). Learn more here.
Retail Sales:
There are large number of ski shops in the region. Most shops cater to recreational skiers. For race skis, boots. and helmets Peak Performance in Killington is a great place to start.
Ski Swaps:
Middlebury Ski Club & Frost Mountain are co-hosting a ski swap at Rikert Nordic Center on Saturday, November 12th from 10am-3pm. Learn more about consignment drop-off here.
Ski Maven has posted a list of upcoming Ski and Snowboard sales in the region.
Check out this article with suggestions on how to buy gear at a ski swap.
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.