WSRC U14 PROGRAM
 
The WSRC U14 Program is a twelve-week Train-to-Train / Learn-to-Race program for athletes aged 12 and 13 (as of December 31st).

 
PROGRAM OFFERINGS

As part of the Senior Team, WSRC offers the following program options to this age group:

• 1 Day – Sunday option
• 2 Day – Saturday and Sunday
• A late entry 1 day or ½ day “Intro to Race” program described separately

If athletes need to be focusing on skill development so that they can properly attack a race course (SL & GS) that is what the focus will be on for those athletes.
 

U14 PROGRAM GOALS – TRAIN TO TRAIN & LEARN TO RACE

1. To provide such training opportunities that our U14 Athletes can train as close as possible Alpine Canada’s recommended number of on-snow training days. Days on snow recommended by ACA are 75 - 110 +/-  - The WSRC is offering 82 possible days of training/

2. To provide a corresponding number of Competitive starts to our training opportunities. 14 to 18 Starts is recommended – WSRC is offering 23 possible Starts to choose from.

3. To have ALL of the athletes at this level of the Program have a minimum of 8 Competitive Race Starts this season.

4. To train start to finish, as fast as possible without falling and without supervision while showing excellent technical skills while diligently FOCUSING on THE PROCESS.

5. To develop specific fitness for ski racing, build the engine, refining specific racing skills. To offer one day of dry-land maintenance during the competitive season.

6. To offer two competitive opportunities in Ontario this winter to all U14 Group athletes.

7. To have the Athletes understand the importance of mental training. Having each Athlete develop their own mental training goals & plan. To have each athlete using a training Journal daily. To Provide scheduled mental training opportunities in the Fall and during the season.

ALPINE CANADA REFERENCE RESOURCE

https://ltad.alpinecanada.org/stages/train-to-train 

PHILOSOPHY
 

Before the middle of January, the coaches will spend some one-on-one time with these athletes establishing a jumping-off-point for the season as well as some season long Process-Oriented goals with intermediate milestones along the way so that they can track their progress and adjust when necessary.

For each athlete, this path through the season will be different with different goals and objectives. For each athlete, the key will be to: FOCUS ON THE PROCESS. To put in the time and effort required to be the best ski racer that they can be.  To build the PROCESS which when followed and worked at diligently will yield OUTCOMES.

Each athlete will be asked to outline their Process goals and objectives for the season along with the Coaches. The athlete will then be asked to keep a written training journal (outlining what they are doing each training day – both on and off the snow) so that we and they can track their progress toward their Process goals checking off the smaller milestones that will need to be reached along the route.

Also, so that we can review what an athlete did / ate / slept / thought / tuned / dreamed on the day they trained / raced REALLY well or REALLY poorly.
These goals / objectives will encompass nutritional, mental, physical, technical and tactical aspects of each athlete’s development over the course of the season.

SCHEDULE

The U14 RACE Group meets at the WSRC Clubhouse at 7:45 DAILY (on weekends) for a training day meeting with the Coaching Staff. Athletes may get ready in the Clubhouse each morning.

For Thursday and Friday Training we will meet at the Clubhouse at 8:15 AM.

The training Program Day begins on-snow for warm up at 8:15 sharp in the morning (warm up in front of the Lodge) and goes until 11:30 +/-  when the athletes break for lunch. We begin again in the afternoon at 12:15 (and run on-snow until 2:30. Video and debriefing sessions can run until 3:30 or 4:30 depending on the day.

RACE EVENTS

All U14 athletes will have the opportunity to do 11 race starts at Ski Wentworth – so no travel involved:

• Byrne Memorial / Scaravelli Cup / Office Interiors Cups

• Team Atlantic SL Cup

• Roland Brunner

• Club Champs

The U14 age groups have a large number of races to choose from.  The AAA schedule posted on the website, represents all race events.  From these, WSRC selects which events we are attending as a club.  Athletes are welcome to decide to attend additional events independent of the club.  With enough notice, WSRC can arrange a coach from another Club to provide required on-hill support.  (Keep in mind program goal 2 above, indicating 14-18 race starts as the ACA recommended number relative to training days for this age group.)

WSRC U14 Racers will have the opportunity to race as a club at:

• Mont Farlagne, Edmundston, NB

• Crabbe, NB

• Poley Mountain, Sussex, NB

• Amqui Classic, Val D’Irene, Quebec

The races are not mandatory and the coaching staff will decide/recommend which races would be best for the team members to attend and race.
 

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

U14 Athletes should have JR Race Slalom and JR Race GS skis (2 pairs of SL & GS, i.e. - Racers & Trainers, is a HUGE advantage if budget allows.)

• Boots should be JR/SR Front overlap design race boots of appropriate size & stiffness.

• Shin guards / pole guards and a Slalom helmet with chin bar for slalom.

• Skin suit / race suit.

• A FIS-approved hard ear helmet for GS as well as a back protector of appropriate size - NOTE helmets must be FIS Approved. There will be a sticker on the back of the helmet indicating this.   
   

TUNING EQUIPMENT NEEDS

 

At the U14 age group, athletes should develop the ability to tune their own skis.
 
Retailers such as Aerobics Frist in Halifax and Hub Cycle in Truro sell tuning supplies.  Additionally, the club will host a tuning session early in the season with a Sidecut representative who will have ordering at a discount available to WSRC members.
 
There are lots of options for tuning equipment, here is a list of what comprises basic kit:
 
-Ski vises (SWIX is a great brand)
-Ski straps (3 per pair of skis)
-Soft paint brush
-Clean rags
-Spray bottle
-Ski break retainer elastics (min 2)
-Sidewall remover with stabilizer and stainless steel plate
-Wax iron
-3mm Plexi wax scraper
-Universal training wax (Nanox recommended)
-Nylon brush (oval)
-250mm ski file (medium cut for base edges)
-100mm ski file, cut 16 (for side edge filing)
-0.7 base bevel guide
-File guide with stainless steel plate and trigger clamp (92 degrees)
-File brush (for cleaning files)
-Diamond guide with stainless steel plate (92 degrees)
-Diamond stone, 400 grit
-Diamond disc, 400 grit (used with diamond guide)
-Green gummy stone (deburring of edges and polishing stainless steel guide plates on guides)

RACING & TRAINING SAFELY

U14 Athletes will need a MINIMUM of three days of Gate training (GS & SL) in order to mitigate the risks they are exposed to on Race Day in a course. The WSRC Coaching staff ultimately makes the decision as to whether they feel an athlete is Safe enough to race.
 
 
U14 Athletes are eligible to race SUPER G. ALL U14 athletes who wish to Race in a SG event must have a MINIMUM of three days of SPEED Training in order to be safe while racing at speeds between 70 and 90 kmph. Again the WSRC Coaching staff ultimately makes the decision as to whether they feel an athlete is Safe enough to race.