KEY CONCEPTS

Ski racers in the Train to Train stage are focused on transferring fundamental technique and basic tactical skills into the competitive environment. 

The Train to Train stage typically starts when the ski racers major growth spurt begins. The beginning of the rapid growth period can vary widely from individual to individual. Peak height velocity, when the skier racer grows the fastest, occurs on average at the age of 14 in boys and 12 in girls. The teen years are awkward and tough on ski racers, coaches and parents. Periods of rapid growth may cause some skill regression, which can be frustrating to ski racers. They need to understand that this is normal and that they should not drop out! Parents and coaches need to demonstrate patience and understanding. 

A parents role will also begin to shift at this stage when ski racers become more independent. A parent will transition from helping their ski racer to learn the fundamental movement skills through participation with the ski racer. However, we strongly encourage ski racers to continue to ski with family and friends as often as possible. Providing positive feedback and ongoing encouragement as often as possible will increase the experience for every ski racer.

THE GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND TIME ON SKIS WHILE FOSTERING THE LOVE OF SKIING.

• Ski racers will begin to focus on a couple of sports. Ski racers will at times show a preference for certain disciplines like slalom, giant slalom, speed or ski cross. While it's good to encourage enjoyment of a discipline, it's still too early to specialize in a single discipline. Promote the development of their skiing athleticism through encouragement and support for participation in multiple disciplines and another sport outside of ski racing. 
• Your ski racers training year should be periodized into one to two cycles. The cycles are then broken down into several phases, each with a training focus. To learn more about periodization ask your ski racers coach to explain the periodized plan they have set up for your ski racer.
• Competition becomes more important with ski racers spending about 40% of their time in competition and 60% of their time training for competition. Too much competition can waste valuable training time, but too little competition can slow the learning of technical and tactical decision making skills in competition. Creating training environments that simulate competition and the adaptation of technical skiing skills in tactical situations is encouraged. 
• Choosing the proper equipment at this stage plays a pivotal role in a ski racers enjoyment of the sport. Equipment that is well tuned, fits the ski racer, matches the ski racers size and ability, can make skiing more fun, increase success and reduces the chance of injury. 
• Physical fitness becomes a priority at this stage. Stamina, endurance, is essential to provide the ski racer with the ability to complete longer training bouts.
• Ski racers begin participating in formalized ski conditioning off-snow training sessions. Both aerobic and strength trainability depend on the maturation level of the skier.
• Aerobic training remains a priority. In the sport of ski racing, a good aerobic endurance base is required to maintain high levels of skill execution run after run in training and competition.
• Young ski racers are encouraged to continue to practice the fundamental movement skills through the growth spurt along with maintaining flexibility, speed and strength. 
• Strength training should be monitored to ensure the ski racer has passed their peak height velocity and is ready to begin weight training. For boys, it's about 12-18 months past their peak height velocity. 
• Incorporation of basic mental skills training to develop their athletic character should continue. Ski racers need to learn how to cope with the physical and mental challenges of competition. 

The end of the Train to Train stage is also a time of differentiation, there are many possible pathways for adolescent ski racers to pursue:

• Staying on their current performance pathway from competition introduction in the Train to Train stage to competition development in the Train to Race stage.
• Transfer and adapting skills learned in the foundation stages and learning new abilities in a new discipline or sport.
• Transfer of knowledge by participating in a coach in training program and completing formalized ACA-CSC coach education and CSIA courses.