WHITEFISH BAY HIGH SCHOOL

SKI RACE TEAM HANDBOOK

September 2016 (Revised)

Welcome to High School Ski Racing! The purpose of this handbook is to help parents and athletes understand the Whitefish Bay High School Ski Racing Program, to clarify expectations required to help make the upcoming ski racing season a successful one, and to provide you with schedule information so you can plan for the fall and winter.

Communication. 2

WFB HS Ski Race Team Overview 3

Practices 4

Races, Bus 5

Equipment 6

Food, Meals, Jimmy Johns, Snack Bag 7

Sportswear, Parent Volunteers 8

Parent Volunteer Positions 9

Team Social Events 10

Season Schedule 11


COMMUNICATION

Email - All WFB HS Ski Race Team communication occurs through email, so please check daily during ski season for cancellations or changes especially due to weather. You will receive email announcements regarding races, practices, tuning clinics, sportswear sales, meals, and more. If you are not receiving Ski Race Team emails, please send both racer and parent email addresses to the following email address: .

Website - There is also a great deal of information about the Ski Race Team on the school website at: http://wfbskiraceteam.wikispaces.com. There you will find this handbook, as well as all forms, parent volunteer information, calendar, race results, sports wear, and more. This information is updated in September or October each year as information about the new season becomes available.

Questions – If you still have questions after reading this handbook, please call 962-6225 or email Parent Manager Linda Katz, and she will be happy to help you.


WFB HS SKI RACE TEAM OVERVIEW

The WFB HS Ski Race Team is a Varsity Club sport, and athletes will receive letter recognition, Duke Pride awards, and Tri-Sport Athlete awards. Our athletes positively represent WFB HS and follow the HS Athletic Code of Conduct. We race in the Midwest High School Ski Conference (MHSSC) against 20 local high schools. (www.midwesthighschoolski.com) The MHSSC Rule Book can be found on the website.

Experience – To participate, a student must know how to use the chairlift and rope tow. He or she does not need to have previous ski racing experience to join the WFB HS Ski Race Team. Most of the athletes on our team are new to racing. A gutsy skier who wants to learn to race will thrive.

Teams – At each race six skiers will race on Girl’s Varsity, and six skiers will race on Boy’s Varsity. We will also race up to four JV teams of six racers each, usually JV1 and JV2 for girls, and JV1 and JV2 for boys. Some additional skiers may race Exhibition. Exhibition racers are able to race for individual times, but they do not compete on a team. If time is running short at a race, the Exhibition racers may not get to race. Any racer who attends practices and races will be able to race in at least one race during the season, and most will race in all six races.

Attendance – All racers are expected to attend every practice, including dryland, and every race unless they are ill and the coach is notified. If a team member is unable to attend a race, it is imperative that the coach be notified ASAP (before noon) the day of the race. You may text or email the coaches. Contact info is on the team wiki at http://wfbskiraceteam.wikispaces.com.

Team Selection – The coaches have developed a system that promotes competition, and rewards consistency, hard work, effort, and dedication. All of these aspects are important in a sport like ski racing, which is both a team and individual sport. For each race the coaches will choose which 6 athletes compete on each team:

- Two seats will be based on overall time records,

- Two seats will be based on the previous race results or time trials, and

- Two seats will be coach’s choice.

Awards – Any racer competing in one or more varsity meets will earn a varsity letter. Any racer competing in one or more JV meet will earn a JV patch. Any racer competing as an exhibition racer will earn a freshman number.


PRACTICES

Dryland Preseason Training - Dryland training begins the first week in November and continues until the team is able to practice at the ski hill. Two days per week from 3:30-4:30, athletes will meet in the field house and work on strength and endurance training in the field house, outdoors, or in the middle school workout room.

Ski Racing Practice – As soon as our ski hill opens, usually soon after Thanksgiving, the team will begin ski race practices one or two nights per week. There will be 10 or fewer practices. The bus will leave school before 3:30. The bus will return to school around 8-9 PM. The team will have their own practice lane as soon as the snow is deep enough for gates, usually after winter break. All skiers are expected to ski on the course and do assigned drills with the coaches for the entire practice. There will be NO opportunity for free skiing or for skiing in the terrain park.

Baseline Concussion Test – We recommend athletes have a baseline concussion test before the first on-snow practice. At least every 3 years the athlete should repeat the baseline concussion test. The test is inexpensive and can be arranged through a family doctor or through the WFB HS Athletic Trainer.

Homework on Race Practice Nights – During ski season it is important that athletes proactively do most of their schoolwork on nights they are not skiing. Some students do schoolwork on the bus.

Season Pass - Each racer must purchase a season pass from Little Switz. http://www.littleswitz.com/season-passes. This cost is not included in your race fees.

Time Trial – The coaches will try to have a time trial or preseason race in December, so each racer can have the opportunity to be timed. The coaches will consider the results of the time trial, as well as other factors, when they determine team placements for the first race.

Additional Training – If an athlete would like to practice more than 10 times in the season, Thanksgiving weekend camp is a great way to start the season. Please ask Linda Katz for more information.

RACES

Races - There will be 3 Giant Slalom (GS) and 3 Slalom (SL) races. All races are in January and February. Up to five schools will compete at each race. Races will be held at Sunburst, Alpine Valley, Holy Hill, and Little Switzerland.

Scoring - Each skier will get two runs per race. For each team of six racers, on each run the times of the four racers with the fastest times will be tallied. The team with the lowest combined times for both runs wins. Racers can qualify for team and individual awards.

Logistics – The bus will leave school before 3:30 PM on race nights. Equipment can be stored in the Athletic Office if brought to school in the morning. Warm up and course inspection will be done with the coaches prior to the 6:00 PM start time. Racers need to be aware of announcements during the race to be sure they are ready when it is their turn. Bibs must be returned to the coach or bib manager after the meet. The bus will return to school around 10:00 PM. Parents may drive their children home from the hill, if they notify the coach. For Sunday races, all times are one hour earlier.

JV Conference/State – After the regular season, there is a JV Conference Race at one of our local hills, or a State Championship Race at Mount LaCrosse for those who qualify. These meets are not included in the WFB HS race fees.

BUS

Bus – The HS does not fund your transportation, so the Ski Race Team hires a bus to take athletes from school to and from all practices and races. The bus leaves promptly at scheduled departure times. All skiers should arrive 15 minutes before departure time to stow skis and board the bus. Parents are welcome to ride the bus if we have room.

Skis and Poles on the Bus – Each skier should use a little duct tape, a sticker, or a sharpie to mark his/her skis and poles so he/she can quickly find the correct gear. To protect skis, after skiing racers should dry their skis with a towel and hook them together with a Velcro strap, before putting them on the bus.

EQUIPMENT

Gear – Each skier must have skis, boots, poles, hard-sided helmet, and goggles. You can buy used equipment at one of the local ski swaps, rent skis, or buy equipment new. All-mountain skis are acceptable. Racers enjoy the extra speed and control that comes from using Slalom skis. It is safest for a racer if his/her bindings are properly set at the start of each year to reflect his/her weight and skiing ability. Les Moise tunes, rents, and sells gear, and they give discounts to WFB HS racers.

Clothing – There is an old saying, “No such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.” Skiers should dress appropriately for the Wisconsin winter weather. Some skiers wear Giant Slalom (GS) suits, which are one-piece body suits that reduce wind resistance during races. The majority of skiers on our team wear snow pants and a jacket. If you do have a GS suit, consider buying zip-off ski pants that can be quickly removed.

Race Bibs – Race bibs will be assigned for each race according to the run order for that night. Bibs must be returned to a captain or bib manager after the race.

Mandatory Equipment – It is conference policy that racers wear a hard-sided helmet, goggles, and a bib for every race. Helmets must be hard over the ears.

Ski Care – Skis that have nice sharp edges and properly waxed skiing surfaces go faster than skis that are not in good condition. Coaches recommend that you:

1)  Bring your skis to be properly set, waxed, and sharpened at the beginning of the season.

2)  Dry your skis with a towel after each race and practice.

3)  Use a Velcro strap to fasten your skis together on the bus and for storage.

4)  Wax and sharpen your skis before each race.

Ski Tuning- The Ski Race Team has tuning supplies racers can use to sharpen and wax skis. In November we will have a “How To Tune Your Skis” demonstration that skiers are encouraged to attend. Parents are also welcome. During the season, racers will be able to tune their skis at a parent volunteer’s house. Check the calendar for tuning opportunities. With a little practice, racers will quickly become comfortable sharpening and waxing their own skis. Alternatively skiers may bring skis to a ski shop to have them tuned professionally.

FOOD

Meals – Skiers should not bring money to the ski hill, because racers will spend all of their time out on the slopes. Athletes are welcome to eat dinner on the bus on the way to the ski hill, and to enjoy snacks on the bus on the way home. Everyone should pitch in to keep the bus clean.

Optional Jimmy Johns – It can be challenging for a skier to get all his/her gear onto the bus. If you would like some help with dinner, you may order meals from the ski team. Dinners will be delivered directly to the bus at every practice and race. The Meal Coordinators will stock the bus with boxes of subs, chips, and drinks for skiers who have placed orders. A day or two before each practice and race, the Meal Coordinator will send out a list of meal orders for that week. Skiers can email the Meal Coordinator to change sub flavor or cancel their meal until 9AM on ski day. Racers may prepay for dinners when they register.

What if I order 16 subs, but cancel 2 because I get sick? At the end of the season, the Meal Coordinator will notify you if you have a positive balance. At that time you can request a refund or donate your balance to the Ski Race Team.

What will happen to my sub if a race or practice is cancelled at the last minute? The Meal Coordinator will email you to tell you where you can come pick up your sub.

What if I am sick for practice on a night that I have not cancelled my order? You can pick your sub up at the bus, or you may contact the Meal Coordinator before she delivers the subs to the bus to make arrangements to pick your sub up at her house. Otherwise, your sub will ride to the hill on the bus, and perhaps your teammate or coach will enjoy it.

Drinks – Skiers should bring a water bottle or two to drink on the way to and from the hill.

Snack Bags – On each ride to the hill, one family will be assigned to bring two grocery bags full of food to the bus. One bag will be filled with fruit, such as clementines, apples, and bananas. Another bag will be filled with snacks, such as pretzels, animal crackers, nuts, Twizzlers, and granola bars. Skiers will eat the fruit and snacks on the way home from the hill. If there are leftover snacks, the skier who brought them will bring them home.

SPORTSWEAR

Clothing Orders – Skiers will be able to purchase WFB HS Ski Team sportswear and spirit wear. The Sportswear and Spiritwear Coordinators will email the team with details. More information about Ski Team clothing can be found at:

http://wfbskiraceteam.wikispaces.com/.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

You Rock - Parent volunteers are vital to the success of the Ski Race Team. Each parent will be asked to work 1 of the 6 races. In addition, each parent will be asked to bring food or help with rides once or twice during the season. Parents can sign up to help at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/wfbhsski and http://www.signupgenius.com/go/wfbhsski1 .

At Races - Parent volunteers and coaches run ski races. There are no paid referees or workers. WFB is required by the conference to have 6 parent volunteers at each race. When WFB is assigned to be Chief-of-Race, we will need a few additional parents. At some races, not all parents will be used, but it is nice to have extra help. You will be assigned a job to fit your skill and comfort level.