WELCOME LETTER
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club; We are looking forward to a great ski season!
I am sure you are just as excited as we are about the coming winter and all that it holds for our athletes. Your role as a parent in the club is critical to the success of all our athletes. Your enthusiasm for the sport and your willingness to volunteer on behalf of the club goes much farther than you might think.
Our coaching staff works extremely hard at providing the best learning environment for our athletes to learn and develop their skills in a positive and FUN environment at all times. The parent support is essential to the success of our programs but most importantly, in the success of our athletes.
Whether you are new to the club or you have been a member for a very long time, we look forward to your contribution to make your club the best in Canada. If you are new to our club, I hope you will share the experience of many of us that ours is a family ski community. Some even refer to this as an extended ski family as we all share in the development of the young people in the club.
We hope this document helps you more clearly understand the philosophy and vision of our club as well as some of the policies and procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
We look forward to working with you to make this the best club in Canada. Thank you in advance for a great and exciting ski season.
We love to ski. Thanks for joining us!
Gavin Preziosi
Executive Director,
Lake Louise Ski Clubs
[email protected]
www.lakelouiseallmountain.ca
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club; We are looking forward to a great ski season!
I am sure you are just as excited as we are about the coming winter and all that it holds for our athletes. Your role as a parent in the club is critical to the success of all our athletes. Your enthusiasm for the sport and your willingness to volunteer on behalf of the club goes much farther than you might think.
Our coaching staff works extremely hard at providing the best learning environment for our athletes to learn and develop their skills in a positive and FUN environment at all times. The parent support is essential to the success of our programs but most importantly, in the success of our athletes.
Whether you are new to the club or you have been a member for a very long time, we look forward to your contribution to make your club the best in Canada. If you are new to our club, I hope you will share the experience of many of us that ours is a family ski community. Some even refer to this as an extended ski family as we all share in the development of the young people in the club.
We hope this document helps you more clearly understand the philosophy and vision of our club as well as some of the policies and procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
We look forward to working with you to make this the best club in Canada. Thank you in advance for a great and exciting ski season.
We love to ski. Thanks for joining us!
Gavin Preziosi
Executive Director,
Lake Louise Ski Clubs
[email protected]
www.lakelouiseallmountain.ca
MISSON, VISION, VALUES
Who Are We?
We are the Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club, passionate about skiing and dedicated to our athletes’ development, having fun & building a community of friends.
Our Mission
The Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club is committed to an athlete centered approach.
We harness the big mountain terrain of our home at Lake Louise to push limits and overcome boundaries, developing outstanding lifelong skiers.
Our Vision
The Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club is Canada’s greatest environment for achieving personal excellence & inspiring a lifelong passion for skiing.
Our Values
Trust
LLAMSC Family
Commitment
Perseverance
Sportsmanship
Personal Excellence
Athlete Centred Development
Who Are We?
We are the Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club, passionate about skiing and dedicated to our athletes’ development, having fun & building a community of friends.
Our Mission
The Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club is committed to an athlete centered approach.
We harness the big mountain terrain of our home at Lake Louise to push limits and overcome boundaries, developing outstanding lifelong skiers.
Our Vision
The Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club is Canada’s greatest environment for achieving personal excellence & inspiring a lifelong passion for skiing.
Our Values
Trust
LLAMSC Family
Commitment
Perseverance
Sportsmanship
Personal Excellence
Athlete Centred Development
LLAMSC GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club coaches are guided by these fundamental principles that ensure the quality of what we do:
General Ski Athleticism
Our goal is to develop “general ski athleticism” in our athletes. From a young age we use the great terrain at Lake Louise Ski Area to train athletes to do just about anything on a pair of skis. Regardless of what an athlete’s goals are in skiing, they need to be well-rounded skiers before specializing in any particular area.
Athlete Centered Approach
We use an athlete centered approach. This means we strive to do what is in the best interest of each and every athlete. This is not always the most convenient or the easiest, but we believe that an athlete centered approach provides the most benefit to athlete development and well-being.
Life Skills
Our athletes are developing in many ways and gaining valuable life skills. Developing an athlete’s character, their ability to work in a team environment, fair play practices, and learning to win and lose like a winner are all woven into our programming. Setting goals and working to achieve them is something that we aim to teach from a young age.
Individual Programs
We look to individualize programs as much as possible - especially as the athletes become more mature. We coach to individuals, but we are a very team-based club that aspires to form a family atmosphere where everyone is included and accepted equally. This is reflected in our planning and programming.
Long-Term Athlete Development
We train our skiers towards future success in the directions that they choose, whether that is racing, skier cross, all mountain, or just skiing recreationally. There is a time for athletes to form their own goals and decide the direction that they want to take their skiing. All our programming and planning is based on our long-term development plan where our main goal is to have our athlete’s skiers for life. We focus our programs on skill development and windows of opportunities. Their futures are very determined by their wants and desires, and we aim to help them achieve their athletic goals.
Family and Social Environment
The Lake Louise Ski Clubs purposely develop a true ski community. Parents, coaches, and athletes enjoy the friendships and social aspects of the club. Some say we are an extended ski family as we all share in the development of the young people in our club. We know that this ski community we nurture makes us a stronger, more successful and fun club.
R.I.S.E. Philosophy
Respect - We will respect everyone
Inclusion - We will include everyone
Supportive - We will support all team-mates & competitors
Effort - Always working hard, always having fun
Our Lake Louise All Mountain Ski Club coaches are guided by these fundamental principles that ensure the quality of what we do:
General Ski Athleticism
Our goal is to develop “general ski athleticism” in our athletes. From a young age we use the great terrain at Lake Louise Ski Area to train athletes to do just about anything on a pair of skis. Regardless of what an athlete’s goals are in skiing, they need to be well-rounded skiers before specializing in any particular area.
Athlete Centered Approach
We use an athlete centered approach. This means we strive to do what is in the best interest of each and every athlete. This is not always the most convenient or the easiest, but we believe that an athlete centered approach provides the most benefit to athlete development and well-being.
Life Skills
Our athletes are developing in many ways and gaining valuable life skills. Developing an athlete’s character, their ability to work in a team environment, fair play practices, and learning to win and lose like a winner are all woven into our programming. Setting goals and working to achieve them is something that we aim to teach from a young age.
Individual Programs
We look to individualize programs as much as possible - especially as the athletes become more mature. We coach to individuals, but we are a very team-based club that aspires to form a family atmosphere where everyone is included and accepted equally. This is reflected in our planning and programming.
Long-Term Athlete Development
We train our skiers towards future success in the directions that they choose, whether that is racing, skier cross, all mountain, or just skiing recreationally. There is a time for athletes to form their own goals and decide the direction that they want to take their skiing. All our programming and planning is based on our long-term development plan where our main goal is to have our athlete’s skiers for life. We focus our programs on skill development and windows of opportunities. Their futures are very determined by their wants and desires, and we aim to help them achieve their athletic goals.
Family and Social Environment
The Lake Louise Ski Clubs purposely develop a true ski community. Parents, coaches, and athletes enjoy the friendships and social aspects of the club. Some say we are an extended ski family as we all share in the development of the young people in our club. We know that this ski community we nurture makes us a stronger, more successful and fun club.
R.I.S.E. Philosophy
Respect - We will respect everyone
Inclusion - We will include everyone
Supportive - We will support all team-mates & competitors
Effort - Always working hard, always having fun
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Important - Having the proper equipment and the proper fit is crucial for a successful season!!
It is the Coaches job to guide the athletes through skill development encouraging personal and athletic growth. The success for each child will be limited if their skis are too long, too short; or their boots are too stiff, poles too short, etc.
We highly recommended that all athletes wear their boots a few times PRIOR to their first day on snow. This will allow them to identify any issues with fit and comfort. It will also reacclimatize them to the feel of a boot allowing them to enjoy the first weekend on snow.
There are different recommendations for the various groups; please find your athlete's program below and you will find the equipment recommendations that pertains to them.
Important - Having the proper equipment and the proper fit is crucial for a successful season!!
It is the Coaches job to guide the athletes through skill development encouraging personal and athletic growth. The success for each child will be limited if their skis are too long, too short; or their boots are too stiff, poles too short, etc.
We highly recommended that all athletes wear their boots a few times PRIOR to their first day on snow. This will allow them to identify any issues with fit and comfort. It will also reacclimatize them to the feel of a boot allowing them to enjoy the first weekend on snow.
There are different recommendations for the various groups; please find your athlete's program below and you will find the equipment recommendations that pertains to them.
**Please take note back protectors are required for all competitors as per IFSA, and we have adopted that for our policy making it mandatory for training and competitions for all our All Mountain athletes.
Skis
Regardless of the program your athlete is in, or the type of skis they are on, it is essential that skis be tuned regularly throughout the season. Please note it is also important to have your athlete's skis professionally tuned a number of times throughout the season. Particularly in the first few weeks of the season when the athletes are focused on technical skill development, skis with sharp edges will be needed for the athletes to get the most out of each session.
Junior Rippers
Please select a ski that is no wider than 95mm under foot and an all mountain ski, most of the youth skis come in a twin tip type of ski. We will recommend a ski length between your athlete’s nose to forehead. Race skis are not required.
Terrain Park Skis and General Non-competitive Athlete's Training Ski
If your athlete is interested in backwards skiing, we recommend a proper twin tip ski, otherwise a unidirectional freeski is perfect. Twin tips are recommended as a park ski for COP nights.
Width underfoot between 85mm and 100mm.
Length recommendation- from Nose to forehead and longer depends on their ability and how aggressive they ski. The harder they ski the longer length we suggest.
For the average everyday ski a twin tip is not required, most all mountain skis have a raised tail. This will still allow skiers to ski backwards on groomers or semi smooth snow, just not in powder.
Competing Athletes
For athletes who are looking to compete this year, we recommend a ski closer to the 100mm width and in the longer length. Longer length is considered forehead and above. Under competition pressure we usually see skiers skiing harder and faster so the extra length will help with stability.
If your athletes want to go outside the recommendations that is fine, and just know wider than 100 will just take a little more effort per turn but might make pow days less effort with float.
Rock skis
As for rock skis I recommend that you have them for the first month, the more similar the ski is to your regular ski the better transition there will be for all the skill training we focus on in the first while. Please ensure that your rock skis are well tuned and can still perform.
Boots
Our recommendation is nice snug fit (some room to grow is ok) but most important feature is to have a boot that fits the ankle well.
To check the fit, with boots done up, have your athlete bend their ankle back and forth to see how well the plastic moves. The goal is to see their knee move from neutral forward 2-3 inches (with the plastic moving with the leg) and not having the heel lift.
Sometimes we see that athletes have about 2 inches of knee movement without the boot cuff moving at all. That means the leg is moving freely inside the liner, this will cause serious shin problems in the long run. We also don’t want to have the plastic cuff only move when the athlete is throwing all their weight into the boot. We want to see some movement with little to regular effort. In cold temperatures the plastic will become much stiffer and will give your athlete great performance if fitted properly.
Helmets (mandatory for training and competing)
Our recommendation is a soft ear helmet. The fit is important to have the helmet fit snug that if the athlete shakes their head sides ways and up/down the helmet does not move more at the abrupt stops.
No full-face helmets or slalom gate chin guards
Poles
Poles should be fitted such that if the pole is upside down the forearm is perfectly parallel to the ground when the had is resting on the basket and elbow is bent at a 90° angle.
Regardless of the program your athlete is in, or the type of skis they are on, it is essential that skis be tuned regularly throughout the season. Please note it is also important to have your athlete's skis professionally tuned a number of times throughout the season. Particularly in the first few weeks of the season when the athletes are focused on technical skill development, skis with sharp edges will be needed for the athletes to get the most out of each session.
Junior Rippers
Please select a ski that is no wider than 95mm under foot and an all mountain ski, most of the youth skis come in a twin tip type of ski. We will recommend a ski length between your athlete’s nose to forehead. Race skis are not required.
Terrain Park Skis and General Non-competitive Athlete's Training Ski
If your athlete is interested in backwards skiing, we recommend a proper twin tip ski, otherwise a unidirectional freeski is perfect. Twin tips are recommended as a park ski for COP nights.
Width underfoot between 85mm and 100mm.
Length recommendation- from Nose to forehead and longer depends on their ability and how aggressive they ski. The harder they ski the longer length we suggest.
For the average everyday ski a twin tip is not required, most all mountain skis have a raised tail. This will still allow skiers to ski backwards on groomers or semi smooth snow, just not in powder.
Competing Athletes
For athletes who are looking to compete this year, we recommend a ski closer to the 100mm width and in the longer length. Longer length is considered forehead and above. Under competition pressure we usually see skiers skiing harder and faster so the extra length will help with stability.
If your athletes want to go outside the recommendations that is fine, and just know wider than 100 will just take a little more effort per turn but might make pow days less effort with float.
Rock skis
As for rock skis I recommend that you have them for the first month, the more similar the ski is to your regular ski the better transition there will be for all the skill training we focus on in the first while. Please ensure that your rock skis are well tuned and can still perform.
Boots
Our recommendation is nice snug fit (some room to grow is ok) but most important feature is to have a boot that fits the ankle well.
To check the fit, with boots done up, have your athlete bend their ankle back and forth to see how well the plastic moves. The goal is to see their knee move from neutral forward 2-3 inches (with the plastic moving with the leg) and not having the heel lift.
Sometimes we see that athletes have about 2 inches of knee movement without the boot cuff moving at all. That means the leg is moving freely inside the liner, this will cause serious shin problems in the long run. We also don’t want to have the plastic cuff only move when the athlete is throwing all their weight into the boot. We want to see some movement with little to regular effort. In cold temperatures the plastic will become much stiffer and will give your athlete great performance if fitted properly.
Helmets (mandatory for training and competing)
Our recommendation is a soft ear helmet. The fit is important to have the helmet fit snug that if the athlete shakes their head sides ways and up/down the helmet does not move more at the abrupt stops.
No full-face helmets or slalom gate chin guards
Poles
Poles should be fitted such that if the pole is upside down the forearm is perfectly parallel to the ground when the had is resting on the basket and elbow is bent at a 90° angle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need an annual ski pass?
Yes, an annual Lake Louise Ski Area Pass is your most affordable lift ticket option. We highly recommend purchasing your annual pass before October 15 for best prices. Visit Lake Louise Ski Resort at skilouise.com for further information.
Athletes attending competitions can enjoy the opportunity to attend events hosted at other ski hills and resorts. Your coach will confirm these locations and dates with you that the club will support. You will be advised if discounted tickets are available from freeskiers.org on event registration page. In the event there are no discounts, you may like to explore the opportunity to purchase your lift tickets in advance through Costco, Air Miles and/or Visa Points.
If my child races at other hills will I need to purchase a lift ticket?
Yes, you will need to buy lift tickets. Ski hills typically do not have discounted rates.
Does my child have to compete?
The club offers something for everyone. If competing is not your child’s interest, please consider our Junior Ripper or Ripper programs for your athlete. Please note these programs offer the opportunity for an athlete to try a competition, however, these are not competition focused programs.
Is there a club uniform?
Yes, there is a club jacket available to purchase, however it is not a mandatory purchase.
Our athletes ski in a wide variety of weather conditions, so layering is an important consideration for greatest comfort. A wool base layer followed by a fleece and a good technical jacket is recommended. Additionally, you should keep neck, hand and foot warmers on hand for very cold days. If it warms up in the afternoon, kids can take layers off. You can’t underestimate Lake Louise’s inversions and varying temperatures. It is really important to be prepared for all kinds of temperatures.
Does the LLSC have a designated store in Calgary/Canmore/Banff to buy equipment? Where else can I buy ski equipment?
The club does not have a designated retailer for equipment. Some retailers you may like to consult include (these are not endorsements):
Techno Sport, 211 – 17 Avenue SW, Calgary
techno-sport.com
Abominable Sports, 410 Crowchild Trail NW, Calgary
abom.ca
Ski Cellar, 3 locations in Calgary
skicellarsnowboard.com
Ski West, 300 – 14 Street NW
skiwest.ca
Second-hand gear is also a great option! Second-hand gear is also a great option! Please watch for our Tailgate Swap or login to our member only Facebook buy and sell.
Where do families stay on ski weekends?
There is no magic formula on accommodations. It really depends on your family’s needs and preferences. Lake Louise pass holders enjoy discounted rates at many facilities so be sure to inquire about discounts at the time of booking.
Lake Louise Village
Lake Louise Inn
lakelouiseinn.com
Chateau Lake Louise
fairmont.com/lake-louise
Lake Louise Hostel
Lake_Louise_Alpine_Centre.hostel
The Mountaineer
mountaineerlodge.com
Field, BC
Truffle Pigs Lodge
trufflepigs.com
Some families opt to find a rental arrangement in Canmore or Banff. Peka (peka.ab.ca) and Asset West (assetwest.com) are two property managers who can assist with finding rental properties. The rental option enables families to cook in versus eat out and keep their gear at the rental.
If you have a winterized camper, there are camp sites in the area for use. You will want to explore your options through Parks Canada if this interests you. pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx
Any other tips for a fun experience?
Food! You can’t underestimate the power of fuel! A great breakfast, hearty lunch and a few pocket snacks will make for a great ski day experience for all. It is suggested that kids have their own lunch bag and know where this is in the lodge. Lunchtime can be a very busy time and parents may not be available when coaches and kids find their way to the day lodge for lunch.
Does my child need to partake in dryland?
Dryland is available for all athletes. It is available in Calgary and Canmore (if demand permits). Your coach will update times and venues. Not all athletes partake in dryland because they are involved in other extracurricular activities. If this is the case, there is no need to attend dryland. There are other social activities to get acquainted with the kids and coaches. Stay tuned and watch your inbox.
What is the Lodge Parent?
The lodge parent is a volunteer shift that families are asked to fill a few times during the ski season. A sign-up sheet will be sent out and then posted. The lodge parent stays in the lodge (where most club families sit) for either a morning or afternoon shift. There is a corresponding lodge parent backpack equipped with parent phone numbers, a radio to communicate with on-hill coaches, and a few toys and snacks to occupy a child should they be unable to finish out the day on the slopes. The hill can be very busy at times and it is a very large resort. Having a “safe parent/adult” identified to all of our athletes by the backpack allows for a safe place for them to go should they not be able to see or find their own parent or coach for any reason. This is also a great way to locate your child's group on snow via the radio should you arrive late for any reason. Please note this is not a place to leave your child for the day if they are unable to ski. This is a resource for coaches so they can drop athletes and continue to ski with the rest of their group as well as a safe place for lost athletes.
What happens if my child gets injured?
The coaches all have an Emergency Action Plan that they must follow in order to keep all of their athletes safe while seeing to the needs of the injured athlete. If the athlete is able to get up and continue without any assistance, Ski Patrol will not be called but may later be visited should the coach feel this is necessary. Parents will always be informed of any crashes that may or may not need follow up. Should an athlete be unable to get up on their own for any reason the Ski Patrol is always called. The coaches refer to their expert opinion. Parents will be contacted once Ski Patrol has moved athlete to the patrol hut as base.
What happens if my child gets lost?
Should an athlete go missing from a group while skiing the coach immediately sends word over the radio – providing as much detail about the missing athlete as possible. This enables other coaches to assist in locating the missing child. The athletes are told to go directly to the base of last chairlift they rode or the nearest chair lift if the other is not possible. Athletes are told to then identify themselves to the lift operators as a “lost athlete” - thus allowing a Coach to locate them via any of the other lift operators and their radios. This also means that the athlete has somewhere warm to wait should the weather be inclement.
Parents, should you come across a “lost athlete” please accompany them to the above-mentioned chairlifts and wait WITH them for their coach. Should you feel that it is best to escort them to the base of the mountain please do so ONLY after informing the lift operators of this – that way the search will stop and the coach will know to head to the base to meet you and the “lost athlete”.
If my child is unable to complete the program, for any reason, can we get a refund on our program fees?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. Coaches are hired based upon registration. These are hard costs for the club and therefore registration costs cannot be refunded. We offer several programs within the club and would be happy to try to move your athlete around should there be space in other programs that may better suit them.
We love to ski. Thank you for joining us.
Do I need an annual ski pass?
Yes, an annual Lake Louise Ski Area Pass is your most affordable lift ticket option. We highly recommend purchasing your annual pass before October 15 for best prices. Visit Lake Louise Ski Resort at skilouise.com for further information.
Athletes attending competitions can enjoy the opportunity to attend events hosted at other ski hills and resorts. Your coach will confirm these locations and dates with you that the club will support. You will be advised if discounted tickets are available from freeskiers.org on event registration page. In the event there are no discounts, you may like to explore the opportunity to purchase your lift tickets in advance through Costco, Air Miles and/or Visa Points.
If my child races at other hills will I need to purchase a lift ticket?
Yes, you will need to buy lift tickets. Ski hills typically do not have discounted rates.
Does my child have to compete?
The club offers something for everyone. If competing is not your child’s interest, please consider our Junior Ripper or Ripper programs for your athlete. Please note these programs offer the opportunity for an athlete to try a competition, however, these are not competition focused programs.
Is there a club uniform?
Yes, there is a club jacket available to purchase, however it is not a mandatory purchase.
Our athletes ski in a wide variety of weather conditions, so layering is an important consideration for greatest comfort. A wool base layer followed by a fleece and a good technical jacket is recommended. Additionally, you should keep neck, hand and foot warmers on hand for very cold days. If it warms up in the afternoon, kids can take layers off. You can’t underestimate Lake Louise’s inversions and varying temperatures. It is really important to be prepared for all kinds of temperatures.
Does the LLSC have a designated store in Calgary/Canmore/Banff to buy equipment? Where else can I buy ski equipment?
The club does not have a designated retailer for equipment. Some retailers you may like to consult include (these are not endorsements):
Techno Sport, 211 – 17 Avenue SW, Calgary
techno-sport.com
Abominable Sports, 410 Crowchild Trail NW, Calgary
abom.ca
Ski Cellar, 3 locations in Calgary
skicellarsnowboard.com
Ski West, 300 – 14 Street NW
skiwest.ca
Second-hand gear is also a great option! Second-hand gear is also a great option! Please watch for our Tailgate Swap or login to our member only Facebook buy and sell.
Where do families stay on ski weekends?
There is no magic formula on accommodations. It really depends on your family’s needs and preferences. Lake Louise pass holders enjoy discounted rates at many facilities so be sure to inquire about discounts at the time of booking.
Lake Louise Village
Lake Louise Inn
lakelouiseinn.com
Chateau Lake Louise
fairmont.com/lake-louise
Lake Louise Hostel
Lake_Louise_Alpine_Centre.hostel
The Mountaineer
mountaineerlodge.com
Field, BC
Truffle Pigs Lodge
trufflepigs.com
Some families opt to find a rental arrangement in Canmore or Banff. Peka (peka.ab.ca) and Asset West (assetwest.com) are two property managers who can assist with finding rental properties. The rental option enables families to cook in versus eat out and keep their gear at the rental.
If you have a winterized camper, there are camp sites in the area for use. You will want to explore your options through Parks Canada if this interests you. pc.gc.ca/eng/index.aspx
Any other tips for a fun experience?
Food! You can’t underestimate the power of fuel! A great breakfast, hearty lunch and a few pocket snacks will make for a great ski day experience for all. It is suggested that kids have their own lunch bag and know where this is in the lodge. Lunchtime can be a very busy time and parents may not be available when coaches and kids find their way to the day lodge for lunch.
Does my child need to partake in dryland?
Dryland is available for all athletes. It is available in Calgary and Canmore (if demand permits). Your coach will update times and venues. Not all athletes partake in dryland because they are involved in other extracurricular activities. If this is the case, there is no need to attend dryland. There are other social activities to get acquainted with the kids and coaches. Stay tuned and watch your inbox.
What is the Lodge Parent?
The lodge parent is a volunteer shift that families are asked to fill a few times during the ski season. A sign-up sheet will be sent out and then posted. The lodge parent stays in the lodge (where most club families sit) for either a morning or afternoon shift. There is a corresponding lodge parent backpack equipped with parent phone numbers, a radio to communicate with on-hill coaches, and a few toys and snacks to occupy a child should they be unable to finish out the day on the slopes. The hill can be very busy at times and it is a very large resort. Having a “safe parent/adult” identified to all of our athletes by the backpack allows for a safe place for them to go should they not be able to see or find their own parent or coach for any reason. This is also a great way to locate your child's group on snow via the radio should you arrive late for any reason. Please note this is not a place to leave your child for the day if they are unable to ski. This is a resource for coaches so they can drop athletes and continue to ski with the rest of their group as well as a safe place for lost athletes.
What happens if my child gets injured?
The coaches all have an Emergency Action Plan that they must follow in order to keep all of their athletes safe while seeing to the needs of the injured athlete. If the athlete is able to get up and continue without any assistance, Ski Patrol will not be called but may later be visited should the coach feel this is necessary. Parents will always be informed of any crashes that may or may not need follow up. Should an athlete be unable to get up on their own for any reason the Ski Patrol is always called. The coaches refer to their expert opinion. Parents will be contacted once Ski Patrol has moved athlete to the patrol hut as base.
What happens if my child gets lost?
Should an athlete go missing from a group while skiing the coach immediately sends word over the radio – providing as much detail about the missing athlete as possible. This enables other coaches to assist in locating the missing child. The athletes are told to go directly to the base of last chairlift they rode or the nearest chair lift if the other is not possible. Athletes are told to then identify themselves to the lift operators as a “lost athlete” - thus allowing a Coach to locate them via any of the other lift operators and their radios. This also means that the athlete has somewhere warm to wait should the weather be inclement.
Parents, should you come across a “lost athlete” please accompany them to the above-mentioned chairlifts and wait WITH them for their coach. Should you feel that it is best to escort them to the base of the mountain please do so ONLY after informing the lift operators of this – that way the search will stop and the coach will know to head to the base to meet you and the “lost athlete”.
If my child is unable to complete the program, for any reason, can we get a refund on our program fees?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. Coaches are hired based upon registration. These are hard costs for the club and therefore registration costs cannot be refunded. We offer several programs within the club and would be happy to try to move your athlete around should there be space in other programs that may better suit them.
We love to ski. Thank you for joining us.
