Alpine Ski Racing

Intermediate to advanced skiers ages 7 to 17 years old.

Registration begins October 15.

On-snow season begins with an ability assessment on December 20, 2025 and the program sessions end March 22, 2026.

Ski racing practice takes place at the Middlebury Snowbowl. Races take place at various ski mountains around Vermont.

Athlete Evaluation Day - Saturday, December 21 9am-12pm

Saturdays between January 1-March 22 from 9:00am-2:30pm.

The Alpine Ski Racing team also practices on Wednesday nights from 4:30pm until 7pm.

The Middlebury Ski & Snowboard Club is NOT A LEARN TO SKI & RIDE PROGRAM. Prerequisites* for participation in the MSSC include:

• The ability to ski and ride expert terrain independently and without hesitation (at the Snowbowl this would include the Allen, Ross, and Cameron). Skiers must be skiing with poles and making parallel turns.
• Athletes must be able to ride the lift on their own without being lifted up AND be able to lower the safety bar independently.
• Athletes must be able to act independently and behave appropriately during lunch and inside breaks.
• Athletes must be able to manage their own equipment and clothing needs. (Coaches are available to help, but athletes must be self-advocates).

*The MSSC will evaluate skiers based on the above prerequisites to determine suitability for club participation. The MSSC reserves the right to remove an athlete from the club and will suggest appropriate, alternative learning opportunities based on skill level. Other learning opportunities may include a referral to lessons with the Snow School and/or the Snowbowl's season long Mountain Explorers program.

Racing athletes should be skilled, independent, and all mountain skiers ages 7 and up. MSSC participates in the Mid-Vermont Council (MVC) and competes at away and home (as the schedule permits) races (carpooling is encouraged). The MSSC aims to provide competitive athletes with a training program that will set them up for competitive success and attaining their personal racing-related goals. Racers are required to have specific equipment.

All athletes need to have their own

• skis or snowboard
• boots
• poles
• helmet
• goggles
• all-weather skiing or riding outerwear

These items are not provided by the club.

Helmets are mandatory, all the time, for every athlete and coach. If you arrive at the mountain and do not have your helmet, you are not allowed to participate with the club. For athletes intending to participate in races, please see specific helmet requirements below.

We ski in all types of weather, so please be prepared and dress accordingly each day. Do not forget that often the mountain temperatures and wind are much different than they are in the valleys! It's best to have more clothes and not need them, than not have enough to wear.

Label your belongings: A lot of gear and clothing looks the same and can be easily mixed up.

The following items are not allowed during training:

• iPods or other music devices with headphones
• Sunglasses (goggles must be worn.)

Helmet:

For racers, helmets need to have hard plastic covering your ears. Helmets with soft padding on the outside of the ears are not allowed at many races. Helmets must be FIS certified. Racers will also need a chin guard that attaches to their helmet. These are often helmet specific.

Skis and Boots:

Racing equipment can be very specific and there are equipment rules outlined by US Ski & Snowboard. In order to train with the race program, skiers must have race boots and the following skis:

• U14 and older must have a pair of slalom skis and a pair of giant slalom skis.
• U12 and under must have a slalom ski or multi-event race ski (e.g., Rossignol Hero Multi-Event Ski)

View US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Equipment Regulations here.

Protective Gear:

All racers should have appropriate protective equipment. This not only supports skier safety but also allows the athlete to learn and practice skills correctly as to not develop bad habits due to a lack of equipment. The following protected equipment is required:

• FIS-rated helmet
• Chin and/or mouth guard
• Pole guards
• Shin guards
• Goggles for day time
• Goggles with a clear lens for night

The following equipment is recommended but not required:

Race suit:

Race suits require athletes to have pants that zip-off completely without requiring you to remove your boots.

MSSC Equipment Library:

The club maintains a limited selection of protective gear (e.g, shin guards, arm guards, pole guards) and race suits that are available for season check-out with deposit. Submit this online interest form to inquire about available equipment.