VAIL JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Vail Junior Development Team is offered for children ages 4 through 8 (in the 2nd grade).
The entry level for the Junior Development Team is a Mountain 4 skier. A Mountain 4 skier can ski all green runs from the top of Vail mountain, can stop, get up on their own and link wedge turns comfortably. If your child is not capable of skiing from Mid-Vail to the Golden Peak area, they are not ready for the Vail Junior Development Team. Junior Development Team will meet for 14 regularly scheduled training days during the 2010-2011 ski season. Expect the average coach to skier ratio to be 8 team members with the same coach for the entire training season.
Returning team members will be assigned to teams based on year-end coach recommendations and requests of parents and team members. With returning team members we make an effort to address all special requests that are made concerning team assignments. New team members are assigned to teams based on their reported skiing ability as well as taking into account any special requests to ski with friends who have already been preassigned to a team. The overriding purpose of Vail Junior Development Team is to create team dynamics to insure the success of the program for the individual team member.
The goal of Vail Junior Development Team is to start developing skiers that have strong, sound skiing skills and an enjoyment for the sport of skiing. Vail Junior Development Team will do this in a safe and fun environment for team members. Coaches present a well rounded skiing picture to team members and model safe skiing tactics. Coaches will introduce some basic skiing progressions to help improve skiing skills and the team members will begin to hear and understand skiing terms.
We offer an entry level race program to Junior members. They must be a level 5 or above skier who meets the minimum skill and maturity requirements. This program is for skiers who have a desire to spend more time working on race training. They will spend approximately 20% of their ski time on race training and skills and 80% on general skiing skills.
We also offer an entry level freestyle program to Junior members. They must be a level 5 or above skier who meets the minimum skill and maturity requirements. This program is for skiers who have a desire to spend more time working on moguls, pipe and park skills. They will spend approximately 20% of their ski time on pipe and park skills and 80% on general skiing and mogul skills.
Race Training 101 and Camps offer a great introduction to racing and team skiing for Junior VDT members who meet the skiing and maturity requirements. Team members do not need to be on the Race Team to attend these and other additional training days. Please refer to the additional training day information included in this site.
Lunch is included for all Junior Development Team Members.
