Non-Winter Ski Camps

Some Answers to Questions About Summer or Fall Ski Camps

Many questions surround the value of non-winter ski camps. Questions like: Why is a non-winter camp important? When should I schedule a non-winter camp? How old should participants be?

Non-winter camps are valuable for a variety of reasons and the camp atmosphere provides multiple benefits. Typically camps allow athletes to focus on their skiing without other distractions. Also, the consecutive training sessions promote progressive and solid skill development from day to day. Typically this promotes skill retention.

Camps are normally scheduled outside the competition season. This most typically allows their focus to be developmental in nature and promotes a stronger learning base. There are some exceptions and we will address those later. Non-winter camps may be scheduled in the spring, summer or fall. Spring and fall are often difficult to schedule around school schedules. Even the summer season has scheduling questions. When is the best time to attend? Early summer typically offers more snow and terrain options that help set up productive training situations. Late summer is closer to the coming ski season, but snow and terrain options are far more limited.

For most athletes and families one to two camps can be considered. One camp is great, offers terrific experiences and builds fundamental skills in a cost effective manner. One camp also still allows our families plenty of summer fun for themselves while providing a strong skiing experience. If considering two camps, the first typically would be scheduled in early summer and be fundamentally oriented. The second most usually would be scheduled in the fall and build on the progression from the first camp. Fall camps are typically still fundamentals oriented, but usually contain more gate time and are considered a part of the build-up for the winter competition season. The most elite of athletes might consider 3 camps: a fundamentals camp in early summer, a gate camp late summer/early fall and a late fall gate camp as a tune-up to the early December competition season.

Camps can be productive for many age groups depending on the attitude of the particular skier. Special considerations should be made for the youngest of athletes to make their experience most productive. Camps usually ski for the first half of the day, and then do other activities, including dryland training in the afternoon. Evenings can be educational sessions or free time depending on the particular schedule. Younger athletes may choose to forgo afternoon activities with the older athletes and likely require family support for the evening. Combinations of this can be made, depending on the maturity, stamina of the athlete and the wishes of the family. Usually with younger athletes families will schedule a family trip around the ski camp to manage these needs and options.

Our plan for the coming summer and fall is to offer two camps, one the second half of June at Mt Hood, Oregon. We are investigating a second camp during Thanksgiving vacation in Canada that will give us a training opportunity and access to viewing the World Cup races scheduled at Lake Louise Nov 27-28 2010.

Summer Ski Camp Schedule

Hey Ski Racing Families,

I have a few things I wanted to pass along. If you won't be using your skis for summer skiing try to put the skis away for the summer with a coat of wax on them. Even if you will ski on them this summer they should have wax on them for now. Also, it is best to buckle your boots when you store them as it helps them keep their shape. Prior to summer skiing do try on the boots to be sure you have not outgrown them.

For next year do let me know if you have equipment that you will want to pass along, or if you will be looking for equipment. Remember we will likely have some access to equipment from selected companies in the fall. We will also organize our fall equipment swap at the Saddle Club and I will let you know of that date when the time nears. And do let me know what you may have, or need, so I can help facilitate any appropriate exchanges.

I also have Summer Ski Camp information. We have been notified that the Red Lodge Camp has been cancelled due to lack of snow.

We will again partner with the Mt Hood Academy and the Mt Bachelor group for camps in June that will be held on Mt. Hood. The schedule will look like this:

Camp 1: Jr. 3s and older
Arrive June 19- ski June 20-24; depart after skiing on the 24th.
5 days on snow GS and SL
Cost estimate is $955.00

Camp 2: J4/J5 –
Arrive June 26, ski June 27 –30; depart after skiing on the 30th.
4 Days on Snow GS and SL
Cost estimated is $685

These camps have been very productive and we are looking forward to them this summer. Both groups utilize the Academy House for housing and meals and the price is inclusive of that. I am sure arrangements could be made if families wanted to make other plans. Also last year we had a few athletes use the train to travel from Whitefish to White Salmon, near Hood River. I was able to pick them up at the train station there.

We are also working on a late fall camp in Canada. This camp would likely occur during the Thanksgiving Vacation and finish by watching the World Cup races. I will let you know more as this progresses.

Please let me know what your interest is so I can plan the camp season.

2010 Alpine Race Team Picnic

When: Sunday, May 2- 3:30-6:00 PM
Where: The Saddle Club 605 Wisconson Ave
What: A social event to mix, mingle, eat, play some games and award/acknowledge our program participants.

Please join us for a picnic and enjoy some time together off the ski hill. The Foundation will provide grilled food and drinks. Please bring the following if your name begins with:
A-G: Hors d'oeuvres and 1 bag of chips
H-M: Side dish
N-Z: Dessert

You may want to bring your favorite outdoor chairs or blankets.
Our schedule:
3:30 EAT AND SOCIALIZE
4:30 GAMES AND RELAYS
5:15 RECOGITION AWARDS

Please RSVP to: mpwelch@centurytel.net Please let us know what you intend to bring so we don't end up w/40 lbs of great potatoe salad!

We will also discuss the coming Bike Raffle and a t-shirt plan for our team. Remember the Bike Raffle proceeds do directly towards lowering our event travel costs and have been very effective in the past.

See you all there!

You may have seen the Team Suburban at the ski area or around town and been curious about the vehicles history.
The trusty steed has been the transportation for quite a few coaches and older athletes when traveling to a variety of race series throughout the Western US. The vehicle is owned and maintained by the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation. The FVSEF also subsidies some of the travel costs incurred when the vehicle transports athletes or coaches to events. Athletes and families share in the remaining transportation costs. In its many treks around the countryside the suburban proudly displays the badges of the many sponsors who contribute to offsetting the expenses of the suburban, and other program operational costs through the non-profit Foundation.
The 1995 Suburban was donated by Shelly and Tim Geiszler of Missoula. Shelly (Olsson) Geiszler, her children and many other Olsson children are Whitefish Race Team Alumni.
Many hands go into making the 200,000 + mile vehicle a workable transportation source for our Team. We would like to thank the Geiszlers for supplying the vehicle; Don K Chevrolet who helps to maintain the vehicle; Summit Signs for keeping the badges current; and the sponsors: North Valley Hospital and the Base Lodge Clinic, Hammer Nutrition, Joseph Eve Accounting, Karl Tyler Chevrolet, The Red Caboose Diner and Conductors Row.
If you are aware of any businesses that would benefit from the recognition of a badge on the Suburban, please let us know. We also know the current Suburban has a limited life ahead of us and would be very interested in discussing the benefits of donation of a suburban (or like vehicle) to the Foundation. Contact Richard Kramer, 406 250 9786 or Bill Kahle, 406 270 9467.

Whitefish Skiers earn Academic Awards

Five Whitefish Alpine competitors were tapped with top Academic Awards by the Northern Division of USSA. To be eligible for these awards the alpine racers must have at least a 3.65 grade point average and qualify for either the Junior Olympics (age 13-14) or the Western Region Championships (ages 15-19).
The Academic Awards were presented at the Northern Division’s Championship Series races, the OHG Series, held at Bridger Bowl near Bozeman March 2nd-4th.

Receiving the award from the Whitefish Team was: Annie Jobe, Erin Tabish, Michela Millette and Nevada Kramer. Nick Becker received an Honorable Mention award for his high level of achievement athletically and scholastically.

Whitefish coach Roy Loman added: “This is a great award to receive and the award congratulates those skiers who epitomize the mind/body connection that true sportsmanship promotes. This group really deserves this award and I am so proud of them for earning it. But, we also had other skiers in our Academy Program who just missed this award from an athletic point of view. The athletics are important as well, but they are so hard to judge, as they point to specific race results that may or may not go your way. There is always some luck involved in race results, but the academic side is tried and true earned long-term results. Scott Kahle’s grade point was way up there, but he missed on the athletic component by a whisker.”

This season, these skiers and many others were assisted in their competitive efforts with generous support of the North Valley Hospital’s Base Lodge Clinic.

OHG Divisional Championships

Skiers from the Whitefish Mountain Resort Alpine Race Team competed in the Northern Division Alpine Championship event held at Bridger Bowl near Bozeman April 2nd and 3rd. The Championship events concluded a season long series that included races at the Whitefish Mountain, Snow Bowl in Missoula, Big Sky, and an earlier series at Bridger.



In Friday’s Giant Slalom the Whitefish team finished strong with podium results and other scoring finishes.

Anna Job led the group with a 2nd place finish in the 13-14 age class. Madeline Williams was 3rd in the 15-16 age group. Erin Tabish finished just off the podium of the 13-14 group in 4th place. Nevada Kramer and Nick Becker were 7th and 8th respectively in the 13-14 age group.



Saturday’s Slalom was challenging with new snow falling throughout the contest. The Bridger course crew worked extremely hard to provide a very fair and safe race despite the challenging conditions.

Anna Jobe and Madeline Williams were strong in the Slalom and each finished 2nd in their respective age groups. Erin Tabish posted the fasted first run in her age group and was 4th overall in that run which included girls from the MSU Ski Team. Kramer and Becker, skiing consistently, were 6th and 7th in the 13-14 age class. Both Kramer and Becker will ski another year in their age class.



The Northern Division Series is used to determine qualifications for the Junior Olympics and the Western Region Championship races. Whitefish Team members Anna Jobe and Erin Tabish qualified for and competed in the Junior Olympics held in Bend Oregon. Michela Millette competed in the Western Regional Championships held in Schweitzer Basin, ID.



The Whitefish Team was awarded the 3rd place team trophy for its accomplishment throughout the series.



This season, these skiers and many others were assisted in their competitive efforts with generous support of the North Valley Hospital’s Base Lodge Clinic.