Season Overview
The Middlebury Ski Club (MSC) is intended to serve recreational and competitive athletes that are currently intermediate to advanced skiers 6 to 17 years of age (see prerequisites) who are motivated to develop strong fundamental and technical skills that will help them become better skiers and to have fun. Skiers may also elect to compete in United States Ski & Snowboard (USSS) sanctioned races.
The MSC season takes places over three training phases, which include dryland training, early season training, and regular season training (and races for those electing to compete). More information on each phase and other club events can be found below.
Dryland Training
Athletes will participate in a 2-4 late fall training sessions as a club that focus on introducing them to the movements and exercises aimed at improving general movement skills and physical qualities that will help support them during their development on the hill. The activities may include some of the following: general warm-ups, circuit training, and agility training. Club membership and US Ski & Snowboard membership are required to participate in fall dryland training.
Early Season Training
With limited terrain open at the Snow Bowl, it allows the club to focus these sessions on building community within the club, goal setting, skier evaluation, transitioning to snow, and performing drills focused on foundational skill development. These sessions take place in December and are typically half days (Saturdays).
Regular Season Training
The primary focus of regular season training is to develop the athletes’ skiing skills through age-appropriate skills progressions, which are cultivated through all mountain skiing and alpine race skills development. The MSC offers an evening training session (Wednesdays) and a full day training session (Saturday) each week. Wednesday evening sessions are solely focused on developing technical and tactical (for the older athletes) race skills. Saturday full day sessions will include age-appropriate technical skill development in the morning and all mountain skiing in the afternoon with the goal of building competent, technical all mountain skiers and racers. Regular season training begins in January.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard Races
Athletes between 7-17 years-old are eligible to race and elect to do so will participate in their respective age races (i.e., U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18) as scheduled through Vermont Alpine Racing Association (VARA) and the Mid-Vermont Council (MVC). Race schedules will be posted here when announced.
Ski-a-Thon & Pond Skim Fundraisers
The club hosts two large scale fundraisers (a ski-a-thon and pond skim). These events help support club scholarships to help promote the accessibility of the club.