TEAMS
BEAR VALLEY TEAMS
The Bear Valley Teams Program provides an opportunity for skiers and snowboarders who desire to improve their recreational or racing skiing/boarding skills in a team environment. The program focuses on developing and improving the fundamental skills necessary for a strong skiing/boarding foundation. Bear Valley’s coaching staff strives to provide individual training so each athlete may reach their full potential with the goal of being able to successfully navigate all terrain and snow conditions in a safe, confident manner.
Our Teams Program curriculum is based on the Professional Ski instructors of America (PSIA), American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), and U.S. Ski and Snowboard (USSS) Training Systems. These systems are focused on age appropriate content based on cognitive and physical stages of development.
The All-Mountain Teams train athletes on a variety of slopes and focus on mastering ski and snowboard fundamentals. The ultimate goal is to develop skiers and snowboarders who are proficient in all terrain and snow conditions. The season long program also helps to foster lasting relationships and build community to share the fun of the mountain environment with.
The Race Teams are for those athletes who want to further develop skiing skills with an emphasis on learning ski racing techniques. This program is ideally suited for skiers who want to participate in ski races, such as NASTAR, the Central Sierra Series, or Far West competitions. Bear Valley Race Team offers members the opportunity to travel to other Sierra resorts to compete in competitions. Many skiers move from the All-Mountain Teams to the Race Teams as their skills improve or when they desire the challenge of a more competitive environment.
ALL MOUNTAIN TEAMS
Kodiak Team: This team is a ski and snowboard development program for children 4-5 years of age that are at a minimum of strong beginner level with successful chairlift loading and unloading experience. Kodiak Team members train for 2 hours per day on Saturdays and Sundays, every other weekend, including a holiday training camp between Christmas and New Year’s. This schedule allows parents who are snow enthusiasts an opportunity to get a few hours of skiing or boarding while their kids are safe and learning new skills in a team environment. Parents are also welcome to join trainings, especially early in the season, to provide additional support for the chairlift loading and unloading procedure. For effective instruction, student/coach ratios are from 4-5:1.
Youth All-Mountain Teams (Ski & Snowboard): All-Mountain Teams are for skiers and riders between 6-17 years of age who are excited to improve their ski/boarding technique in a team setting. All-Mountain Teams train four hours per day on Saturdays and Sundays, every other weekend, including a holiday training camp between Christmas and New Year’s. Participants work on a variety of skill development in all snow conditions and terrain, building skills and confidence under the direction of a professional instructor. The emphasis is on fun, while developing mountain safety and teamwork skills. Team members will also be introduced to Freestyle features and elements, skier/boarder cross course techniques, and running gates. All-Mountain Teams require a minimum skill level of advanced beginner to intermediate skiing or riding ability and all members must be capable of riding a chairlift without assistance.
Adult All-Mountain Teams (Ski & Snowboard): The Adult All-Mountain Team is the best and most affordable way to improve your skiing and riding technique in a friendly and supportive environment. Open to strong beginner through advanced skiers, teams focus on improving specific skills with Bear Valley’s professional and friendly coaching staff. Adult All-Mountain Teams train two hours per day on Saturdays and Sundays, every other weekend, including a holiday training camp between Christmas and New Year’s. Participants work on a variety of skill development in all snow conditions and terrain, building skills and confidence under the direction of a professional instructor. The emphasis is on fun, while developing mountain safety and teamwork skills.
Free Ride Teams:
The Bear Valley Freeride team is a program focused on developing well balanced athletes ready for competition. Like the Bear Valley Race team, BV Freeride athletes will utilize all the technique and fitness gain through other Bear Valley instructional and team programs and apply it to a competition-based program. Our goal is to travel, compete, and gain ranking in the regional freeride tour. As individual ranking is gained regionally, athletes can compete nationally and internationally. Each athlete will be encouraged to set, reach, and reset goals as appropriate.
Bear Valley Freeride trains in the expert, steep, big mountain terrain of Grizzy Bowl with an emphasis on being prepared to compete in International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association (IFSA) sanctioned events. Follow this link for information on the IFSA: https://ifsafreeride.org/ . Our local competitions are hosted in the Tahoe region by the Tahoe Junior Freeride Series(TJFS). Follow this link for more information on the TJFS: http://www.tahoefreeride.org/#/
The primary goal for BV Free athletes is to develop the skills and fitness necessary to ride at a high level in challenging terrain and conditions. This will require a great deal of personal commitment and motivation from team members to achieve their personal best. Through training, focus, commitment and motivation BV Free athletes will be exposed to growth opportunities in a supportive and healthy environment.
Other team goals:
-
strive to be the best they can be within their physical ability.
-
gain the mental and emotional fortitude in the face of success and failure.
-
feel positively about their participation in a healthy, supportive, and competitive community.
-
have fun!
As this is a new program at Bear Valley Mountain Resort and BV Freeride is a high-level team, to become a team member an athlete must progress through the Bear Valley Resort All Mountain Team program or qualify through open tryouts. Tryouts are held in the last week of December and the first week in April. Tryouts are held to establish readiness in skill and attitude. As this is an addition to the Bear Valley Resort Teams program, we will follow the established scheduled dates and times for the All Mountain Team.
RACE TEAMS
Development Race Ski Team: The Development Race Team is for skiers aged 6-17, who are considering ski racing while enjoying the Mountain and improving their technique. Development Race Teams train four hours per day on Saturdays and Sundays, every other weekend, including a holiday training camp between Christmas and New Year’s. An important component of this program is the introduction to the
technical skills needed to transition to the Bear Valley Race Team. The program includes drills, free skiing, race techniques and an introduction to giant slalom and slalom racecourses, while emphasizing skill development in all snow conditions and terrain in a safe and confidence building environment. This team requires a minimum skill level of intermediate skiing; athletes that are not at this level will be referred to the All-Mountain Team. Development Race Team members may race in the Central Series and Far West races at Bear Valley and other resorts with the agreement of the Head Race Team Coach.
Race Team: This is a competitive ski race team for strong intermediate to advanced skier athletes aged 6-19 years old who are looking to improve their racing skills, have a passion for racing, and are ready to compete at a top level. Ideal for committed young athletes that want to train and compete with the support of a solid team and enthusiastic coaches, the team trains for four hours each day during every weekend of the winter season and includes a holiday training camp between Christmas and New Year’s.
The Race Team participates in Bear Valley’s Rasmussen Classic race and travels to other Central Sierra resorts for 3 other races during the season along with the Championships typically hosted in Lake Tahoe or Mammoth Mountain. The focus of this team is on developing fundamental technical skills to improve racing technique. This team requires a minimum skill level of intermediate skiing.
ALL BEAR VALLEY SKI TEAM MEMBERS get a FREE NASTAR SEASON PASS. You only need to fill out the paperwork. Any questions can be emailed directly to Ellen at: nastar@bvsef.org
