We are pleased to announce the formation of the U10, U12 FACTORY Race Team. This is for athletes aged 8 to 9 by by December 31, 2023 (U10 - Birth year 2014-2015) and aged 10-11 by December 31, 2023 (U12 - Birth year 2012-2013). The FACTORY Team will be a small team that sits within our U10/U12 Alpine Race Team. First, a little history. This concept started as a pilot program we rolled out with the U10s during the season of 2020-21. Seeing some success and challenges with the program we made some changes including the name (Factory to AP). We expanded it to a greater audience which included a bigger U10 team and introduced it to willing U12 team members. Again we saw new progress and experienced new hurdles. Most importantly we realized that there is a group of children who are interested in and willing to train in a very structured environment that comes with a greater commitment to training and ski racing. We also experienced that this is not for every child and every family.
What is this offering important?
We recognize that no single approach to coaching serves the desires and needs of every athlete and family within The Windham Race Factory. The curriculum and the content will remain the same across our entire U10/12 program and we will intentionally look to continue to foster unity across our entire team. This supports the program-wide goal of raising the level and driving increased skill acquisition for all. The Factory Team provides a path for the most committed athletes and families that are ready for a more structured approach. Not all athletes are built for learning this way. Many athletes will stay more engaged through directed skiing outside of closed environments and want the experience of exploring the mountain. Therefore we felt it was essential to support both of these learning styles for our U10/U12 Teams: Alpine Race (our traditional program) and The Factory Team.
how does it work?
There will be an application and tryout for the Factory Team. You will hear more about this from the respective head coaches. The concept is centered on limiting the free skiing component and increasing the closed environment training with extensive drills and repetition. A high level of focus and execution will be expected of the child. They will be asked to put in additional work off the hill and they will be selected for their desire and focused approach to ski development. Below are some of the critical elements of the program.
- A more deliberate approach to training.
- Highly structured training that includes drills and training environments
- Up front commitment to attend all of our training days and our full race schedule
- An emphasis on repetition with a high level of focus
- Bigger commitment from parents and athletes
- Training sessions are not fixed, start and end times can vary
- Commitment to free skiing with your family and teammates outside of program hours
Athlete Selection Criteria
Here are some of the elements that we will be using to select our Factory Team athletes:
- The athlete who thrives in structure and is willing to stay in drills for sustained periods of time
- The athlete must show a strong desire to be in this group
- The athlete who responds well to direction
- The athlete who is willing to take on more independence in his or her own skill
- Ongoing grit and desire
- Flexibility to get up early or stay on the hill late
- Parents will be required to commit a minimum number of hours of volunteer time over the course of the season. This can be split across family members
Factory Team Orientation will be held before the first day of the season (Details: TBD). Orientation will include a short presentation about the Factory Team as well as specific information for their age group and the steps to become involved. Please reach out to Moshe Silverstein, U10/U12 Factory Head Coach, at moshe.silverstein@me.com for any questions. We are excited to be adding this opportunity to our program and thank all of you for your support in helping us continue to push for excellence across our entire WRF program.
"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."
Michael Jordan
Important Dates & Upcoming Events
FACTORY TEAM - DAILY TRAINING SCHEDULE*
U10/U12
Meeting Place: TBD
Scheduled Start Time: TBD
Lunch and end times are flexible: TBD
Notes: *Subject to change; changes will be communicated via TeamSnap by Head Coach
Attendance: Please indicate whether your athlete will attend training sessions on TeamSnap during the season. This helps us better plan and manage our staffing so we can deliver a great program.
Be on time! - you should be at the Meeting Place 5 minutes before session start
Questions: Check out our FAQ page, for general information about programs and training days. If you have questions or suggestions, please reach out to Moshe Silverstein, U10/U12 Factory Head Coach at moshe.silverstein@me.com.
RACE INFORMATION
U12 Factory Race Schedule
Please note this schedule is tentative and subject to change.
U10 Factory Race Schedule
Please note this schedule is tentative and subject to change.
How do I register?
- You can register for all of your races at the same time
- www.adminskiracing.com is the entry portal for ALL race registration - including MWC
- Deadline for race registration for all mountains may vary but usually closes the Wednesday before the race
- For Step by Step guide to race registration, please visit our race registration page.
- Arrive early and encourage all of your athletes to arrive early
- Select an area in the base lodge for all of your athletes to congregate together - focus on sportsmanship and representing our mountain
- Encourage athletes to bring water and healthy snack (ask a parent to help organize)
- Be sure all coaches have radios and are well positioned throughout the course.
- Sample recommendation: 2-3 coaches at the start, 1 middle of the course, 1 finish
- Remember that times posted to the scoreboard are provisional. This means that the results are not official until you see the printed or online version.
- Assign a designated meeting time and place for your athletes
- Remind athletes that the start order of 1st run is random and 2nd run will run in reverse order of top 15 or 30 (for scored events) or reverse order (for Kandahar) - depending on what the jury decides. Also share with all athletes the ruling of the jury at the Captains Meeting on how DSQs will work. Most U14 and younger races will allow all athletes to take a 2nd run with DSQs running in bid order after all other racers have gone through. However, sometimes the jury will choose to eliminate this 2nd run for DSQs should the day be running out of sun light.
- The course will be open for inspection after the Chief of Race, TD and REF have signed off on the course set and officially opened the course for inspection.
- All racers should inspect with their coaches. Typically inspection can be done by side slipping through the course. However, if the jury has any concerns about the durability of the snow they may request at the Captains Meeting that all athletes slip outside of the course. Please be sure to know these rules and instruct all of your athletes appropriately.
- After inspection be sure to instruct all of your athletes to be at the start with plenty of time to be relaxed and get ready for their start.
- After the first run, a coach from a visiting mountain selected during the Captains Meeting will reset the course on the same hill as first run.
- Typically the reset will take about 15-30 minutes and inspection will open after the Chief of Race, REF and TD have signed off.
- Again, the top 15/30 will run in reverse order for second run (for scored events) and then in time order from there, with all DSQs following at the end in bib order (if permitted).
- *** It is the coaches obligation to check the DSQ list once it is posted on the score board after 1st run. There is a 15 minute protest period after the list has been posted in which a cash amount (typically $50-$100) needs to be posted to the jury and the athlete is afforded due process to protest their DSQ. Once the protest period ends, there is no recourse. *** Note that the TD, COR and REF will do their best to get the DSQs posted about 10 minutes after 1st run is completed.
- All athletes will inspect 2nd run with their coaches and head to the start for the 2nd run.
- The awards ceremony takes places as soon as possible after the completion of the race. Irrespective of whether your racer has achieved a place on the podium, it shows good sportsmanship and team support for all athletes to stay and attend the ceremony to recognize and show respect for the successful athletes and the race organizers.
- All coaches should review the rules for the type of race (SL, GS, SG, DH, etc.) race in the current Alpine Competition Guide - this can be found on the US Ski & Snowboard website.
- All coaches who are assigned to inspecting the course with athletes and taking part in the race are required to be USSA registered coaches and must already have completed the 'Fast Start' online course.
- Technical Delegate: represents US Ski & Snowboard and is the Chairman of the Race Jury
- Chief of Race: responsible for making sure everyone on the hill is communicating, keeping the race safe
- Chief of Course: responsible for keeping the race course safe and fair - typically thinking about snow conditions, b-netting and so forth
- Referee: Selected at the Captains Meeting as the person to represent the athletes in the race. This person must be from a visiting mountain and is expected to review the course set to ensure it is safe and fair for the level of athletes in the competition.
- Chief of Timing and Calculations
- Chief Gate Judge: Coordinates the reports of all gate judges, who stand alongside the course to ensure racers navigate the course correctly.
- Race Administrator: prepares all entries and complies results
- Start Referee
- Finish Referee
- Gate judge
- Bib Collection
- Hand timer
- Scoreboard
- Announcers
- Lunch/healthy snack organizers
- Coat Collection/Delivery