Nordic - Prep Team

The Prep Team helps foster U16 athletes from the Junior Team onto the Comp Team. This team provides a more focused training plan that not only better fits the athletes' biological age but also helps develop athletes so they will be ready and more capable of handling the training demands and level of commitment that is required to be on the Comp Team.

The Prep team will train with the Comp Team 3-4 days a week in the summer and fall and 5 days in the winter. More often than not the Prep Team will remain autonomous on Comp Team high volume training days. Technique will be a major focus, but placing emphasis on endurance, strength, and speed will take priority as well. Training is more based on individual needs and personal goals. We are aiming to help athletes assess where they currently stand, and from there develop a plan that best suits their progression onto the Comp Team.

Skill Development Focus

Focus on effectively executing efficient energy application.
Understand and use the setting of three levels of goals; process, performance, outcome.
Effectively use imagery, focus, goal setting, and planning to achieve improving results.
Begin to specialize & focus more on ski-specific training.
Development of speed
Begin to understand basic training periodization & focusing on different aspects of such throughout the season.
Understand the basic techniques for waxing both Skate & Classic skis for training/racing & the importance of waxing regularly; Becoming more capable of choosing waxes for the conditions.

Training Schedule

The coaches at JHSC follow a principle of building solid foundations through fun and hard work, encouraging patience, appreciation of personal progress, and a willingness and eagerness to test oneself in higher and higher levels of competition. We follow conservative and realistic training hour guidelines and the emphasis at the junior level is more on the quality of an individual's training hours than on the number of them. Prep Team athletes have the opportunity and are supported to participate in the highest levels of competition available to Juniors in the US. This is a new opportunity for most Prep Team athletes as they graduate from a U14 to compete within the U16 age class, rendering them eligible to qualify and compete at Junior Nationals. We believe solid, rational training puts us there, and it is a fun place to be.

You can register for Summer only, Fall and Winter only, or a full year program to fit your needs. Some athletes may be inclined to train with the Prep Team during the summer or fall months in preparation for joining the Comp Team come winter. These athletes have the opportunity to attend several summer training camps (on and off snow). Individual goals and the coach's assessment will help in this transition.

Summer. June 1 -August 31

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:00 a.m. (Location TBD)

Monday and Wednesday Strength Sessions, 4 p.m. Snow King

Fall. September 2 - November 1

Monday - Friday, 4 PM. (Location TBD)

Monday and Wednesday strength sessions, 6:30 AM. Snow King

Each team will meet as a group (Coaches, Parents, and Athletes) in the Fall prior to the ski season to discuss the training schedule, equipment, race calendar, and more.

November 4-8 will be OFF of all practices this year to rest before winter!

Winter. November 11- March 31

Monday - Friday, 3pm-5:30pm @ Trail Creek Ranch – varies periodically

Competitions and Events

2024-2025 Regional & National Circuit Races

DATE	RACE	LOCATION
December 13-15	Betty Woolsey Classic/IMD Opener	Wilson, WY
December 21-22	Rocky Mountain JNQ	Steamboat Springs, CO
January 2-6	US Nationals	Anchorage, AK
January 17-18	JNQ #1	Soldier Hollow, UT
February 8-9	JNQ #2	West Yellowstone, MT
February 22-23	JNQ #3	Sun Valley, ID
March 8-9	Western Club Champs	Park City, UT
March 10-16	US Junior Nationals	Soldier Hollow, UT
March 29-April 4	International Spring Series	Jackson & Sun Valley

Camps

Bend On Snow Camp - May

We travel to Bend in mid-May to take advantage of the last snow of the year. This camp is open to all Prep and Comp athletes, but is most appropriate for athletes over 14. We ski every morning at Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center then do dryland training at low elevation near Bend and Sunriver. This is the Cascades at their very best! We also surf in Pacific City on the Oregon Coast for a day to take a break from the mountains and get a different kind of training in! This is a great way to kick off the training season with some easy volume work and get some good skiing in! We generally get 24-30 hours of training in for this 10 day camp.

Utah Desert & Schutzenski Festival - Octover

This is a dryland camp in Utah, where we will spend some time in Southern Utah and Park City, UT. We will go running, rollerskiing, hiking, mountain biking, and enjoy the desert weather while it gets colder in the Tetons! This camp is focused on intensity and long workouts, and with a full summer of training under your belts this camp is more difficult. We will both do some easy distance training in the desert near St. George and go to the rollerski races at the Schutzenski Festival in Park City, where the whole US Ski Team is there racing.

Turpin Meadows November

Thanksgiving Camp is a great opportunity to get a big jump on the season. Training will consist of technique work, video review, over-distance workouts, long tours, breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, yoga, nutrition talks, mental training skills including focus exercises, goal setting, and positive self-talk. We will have a busy schedule but as some of the older athletes can attest we will be having a lot of fun too! We stay at Turpin Meadows and have the entire place to ourselves, complete with a chef and nice accommodations so everyone can maximize nutrition, training and recovery.

Fees and Obligations

2024-2025 Program Fees*

Full time/Year Round
Through August 31	September 1 - October 31	After October 31
$4,650	$4,750	$4,850

Summer only (June-August) session: $925

Fall/Winter Session
Through August 31	September 1 - October 31	After October 31
$3,800	$3,900	$4,000

*Your child's program fee includes their Trail Creek Training Facility season pass

Payment plan

An installment plan of equal payments from the date of registration through December is available when you register.

Scholarships

Need & merit-based scholarships available, learn more

Race Travel Costs

3 JNQs + Fall Camp - Estimated total cost: approximately $2,200
The average cost for an away JNQ is around $400. Home JNQs cost on average $80 for entry fees.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Membership

Cross Country Competitor membership purchase at ussa.org
$20 Intermountain Division membership billed through the Club

Race Ski Lease

$125 season lease of Salomon S-LAB Skate & Classic skis

Trail Creek Shuttle

$650 Optional transportation to & from Trail Creek for the winter season

Work Deposit

There is a 24 point work deposit commitment with this program.

What is work deposit? Learn about it here.

Team Meeting

October 16th 7pm Snow King Lodge Room. Each team will meet as a group (Coaches, Parents, and Athletes) prior to the ski season to discuss the training schedule, equipment, race calendar, and more.

JHSC Policies

Parent/Athlete Handbook

Equipment Recommendations

Prep team athletes work closely with their coaches for equipment and ski selection. Athletes need at least one pair of classic and skate race skis as well as one pair of skate and classic warm-up/practice skis.

The JHSC Nordic program offers a lease program for Prep Team athletes. For $85 for the season, athletes will have access to one pair of or Rossignol X-ium skate skis and one pair or Rossignol X-ium classic skis.

Athletes have the option of borrowing roller skis from the club during the summer months, but are encouraged to purchase their own skate and classic roller skis.

Team Night at Skinny Skis

Date TBA 5-8 p.m. - Skinny Skis will have reps on hand for any equipment related questions. One night only pricing on race gear, 30% off.

JHSC Annual Ski & Gear Swap

New & used gear available.

Academic Support and Early Release Program

Athletes are enrolled in their school's early release program to attend training on time.

Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club staff works closely with the local schools to further develop the Early-Release Program for each academic year and summer programs. The Club and local schools are highly motivated to create educational program options for students that enable them to maintain a rigorous academic schedule while supporting athletic growth and development. Learn more.

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