The WSRC U16/U18/U21 Program is a twelve-week Train to Race program for athletes aged 14 and older (as of December 31, 2021). It will begin the weekend of January 8th and run until the weekend of March 26th & 27th at Ski Wentworth.

PROGRAM OFFERING

WSRC offers:

• 2-DAY (Saturday and Sunday)

U16/U18  Program Goals – Train to Race

1. To provide such training opportunities that our U16 / U18 Athletes are able to train as close as possible to the AIM Document’s recommended number of on-snow training days. The number of days on snow recommended by Alpine Canada is 115-147 +/-. WSRC is offering 100 +/- days of possible training/racing.

2. To provide a corresponding number of Competitive starts to our training opportunities. 15 to 25 Starts + Speed. WSRC is offering 24 possible Starts. 

3. To have ALL of the athletes at this level of the Program have the opportunity to participate at the FIS Level of Racing. To offer a FIS Racing schedule for our U18 Group.                                                 

4. To develop a competitive professional attitude / commitment to all aspects of the Program cultivating a desire to excel.

5. That each athlete builds and maintains a Process-Based goal-oriented plan for their season that they review bi-weekly with their Coach / Mentor.

6.To develop and implement a Process-Based Mental Training plan with goals and objectives for each athlete.

 
GOAL SETTING

Before the first 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-Based 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 process-based goals and objectives.

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

Also so that we can review process (what an athlete did/ate/slept/thought/tuned/dreamed) against outcome (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.

Race Events

All U16 athletes will have the opportunity of 10 race starts at Ski Wentworth – so no travel involved:

• Team Atlantic Slalom Cup
• Roland Brunner
• Club Champs

The U16 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 15-25 race starts as the ACA recommended number relative to training days for this age group.)

WSRC U16 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.

PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS

FALL DRYLAND - We recommend that your athlete attends a Fall Dry-Land training program working on their own or with a trainer outside of the Club.  WSRC offers Fall Dryland as an option.

PRE-SEASON CAMP – WSRC, through Team Atlantic, offers two December Camps at Mont Ste Anne; there are also many other options throughout North America and elsewhere.

HOLIDAY CAMP - Training Camps are offrered at Wentworth from Dec 27^th until school starts.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING - Training at Wentworth is offered throughout the winter every Thursday and Friday, except when there is an away race or training event in the posted season schedule.  Minimum number of pre-registered athletes applies.

SCHEDULE

The Athletes are to be in the Clubhouse at 7:45am to meet with coaches and to prepare for the training day.

The outdoor training Program Day begins at 8:15am 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 until 2:30. We may run longer on some days as video and debriefing sessions can run until 3:30 or 4:00.

After Video, the athletes will have the opportunity to ski on their own for an hour or so.  We recommend that they would take advantage of this time to ski.  Research has shown that those who become expert in their sport spend MORE time practicing on their own than those who are average.
 
These Racers will have the opportunity to race all AAA events.

For the U18 athletes that hold a FIS Card we will run a schedule of FIS Races in Ontario and Quebec.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

• Race Slalom and Race GS skis
• Optionally - 2 pairs of SL & GS -  Racers & Trainers - is a HUGE advantage if budget allows
• SG skis if racing Super G
• Boots should be front overlap design Race boots of appropriate size & stiffness.
• Shin guards and pole guards
• GS Hard ear FIS-Approved Helmet and Slalom helmet with chin bar for slalom
• Race suit (aka skin suit)
• Back protector of appropriate size

 
NOTE : To be FIS approved there will be a FIS sticker on the back of your athlete's helmet.

TUNING EQUIPMENT NEEDS

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)
 

TRAINING & RACING CLUB RULES

To mitigate risk to our athletes the WSRC rule is that athletes have a minimum of three days of training (gates & drills etc) before they are permitted to race in any discipline . It is up to the Coaches discretion in the end whether or not an athlete has done enough training to compete as safely as possible. Slalom, Giant Slalom AND Speed.