Training and Competition

On Snow Days Per Year:

Minimum 40+ days per year. Skiers are encouraged to ski as often as possible during the ski season and to ski with friends and family even when there is no formal training program. Most ski areas open late November/early December and close late March to mid-April. 

THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES IN ALL REGIONS DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE SEASON AND THE PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF DAYS ON SNOW SHOULD SERVE AS THE BENCHMARK. SKIERS SEEKING THE COMPETITIVE PATHWAY WILL SKI MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS ON SNOW. THE NUMBER OF DAYS ON SNOW WILL VARY BASED ON THE GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SKIER.

On Snow Volume Recommendations:

• Two to three days per week and as often as possible with parents throughout the ski season. 
• All activities are FUN based including some structured competition.
• Skiers should still spend the majority of their time free skiing versus structured gate environments.  
• Gate environments should be set according to your provincial course setting guidelines for the Skier Essentials stage. 
• Drills and courses at the Skier Essentials stage should be age appropriate and match the skill levels of the athletes to promote the proper level of challenge and use of the ski to encourage symmetrical carving turn to turn.
• The ski area is the playground: up to 75% of the time on-snow should be 'playtime' (structured and unstructured), freeskiing in the bumps, steeps, terrain parks, and off-piste to encourage the development of spatial awareness, action and reaction, adaptability, balance and athleticism. 

General Training Focus:

General training includes technical free skiing and drill coursework to transfer specific skiing skills in various tactical situations. 

• Skiers should aim to take part in a structured club program or ski school two-three days per week and ski with parents as often as possible, especially after the ski lesson or training to practice their newly acquired skills with parents. 
• Families are encouraged to seek time on-snow when ski club training is not available. 
• Skiers learn by watching; parents should become involved with their local ski club or ski school by enrolling in clinics or lessons to refine their skiing skills to ensure they are providing an excellent visual example for their skier. 
• Skiers should develop spatial awareness through parent-supervised play in the pool or playground, in a gymnastics program, or on snow with their local ski club. Developing excellent spatial awareness requires skiers to learn how to jump and land, push off the ground, or jump in the air with turns. 
• Focus on skiing in various terrain including moguls, small rollers with rhythmical and arrhythmical GS courses and participate in Kinder Kombi Ski Cross. 
• Skiers should be encouraged to ski with friends and family as often as possible.

Competition Specific Training and Competition:

Skiers should be encouraged to participate in a variety of events including:

• In-house "mini competition" or skills evaluation events.
• Dual "team" events. 
• GS/SL courses (panels, brushes, stubby gates).
• Kinder Kombi Ski Cross in a variety of terrain environments, courses should include a simple spine feature. 
• Snow Stars/skill festivals. 
• Race with a quick inspection, less than ten minutes. Aim to complete as many runs as possible on sprint style courses. 
• Introduce speed element competitions with easy glide tracks and big giant slalom courses through a variety of terrain elements including wave tracks. 
• Fun moguls and free ski competitions.

Competition Days and Types

Skiers should complete 10 to 15 training days prior to entering any competition. Skiers should compete in local club competitions and inter-club/zone racing. 

Training to competition ratios:

• U8 skiers should participate in 4 to 6 competition days throughout the season.
• U10 skiers should participate in 6 to 8 competition days throughout the season. 

Set all competition courses according to your provincial course setting guidelines for the skier essentials stage. 

At a minimum, two days of training are required per competition day.