Team Duluth Program

Team Duluth is the nick-name for the D/SAC intermediate-advanced level racing program. There are two levels of training within this program with differing levels of commitment (and one-night options for those who can not train 2 or more nights per week):

• Age Class—skiers age 11-14 competing regionally (USSA), as well as high school and Club races
• Ability Class—skiers age 15-19 competing under national and international (USSA and FIS) systems as well as high school

For specific training program descriptions, registration and costs for each program, click here. Athletes and/or parents who are unsure which program is right, or are considering moving up, should speak with Scott Ransom, Head Coach (218-628-9663)

During the ski season, participants in Age Class and Ability Class may chose to train up to three nights a week, with weekend training and racing as scheduled. Those chosing the one-night option are encouraged to train on Tuesday nights, and every other Saturday. Training involves on-snow time, as well as mental training, planning, physical assessments. Training focusses on the slalom and giant slalom (GS) disciplines.

Spirit Mountain is generally the training location, but occasional sessions may be held at other venues, including Giant’s Ridge, and Winter Park, CO is the site of our annual Fall Camp.

At this level, skier athletes take responsibility for communicating with parents and coaches, taking care of their equipment and keeping the team room clean. Racers will make more improvements in their abilities the more days they train. For specific information and an in-depth look at Team Duluth, including how the athletes, coaches, and parents work together for an optimum experience, athlete management philosophy, equipment guidance, and racing information, click here for the Team Duluth Information Sheet.

Team Duluth skiers compete in slalom and GS events during regular season races. Super-G and downhill events are added at USSA Junior Olympic competition. Each discipline uses a different length/design ski. (Talk to the coaches for equipment recommendations.) Slalom races also require shin pads and pole guards. Helmets are mandatory for Team Duluth training and competition.

Racing opportunities

• Northland Junior Race Series (Club) races
• High School races
• CUSSA/USSA races
• FIS (ages 15 and up)

Central Division of the United States Ski Association, or CUSSA, races are weekend events, held from December through March at various ski areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A race schedule is set in early fall (see link to CUSSA and Region 1), and coaches work with parents and athletes to decide which races to attend. Many races are out of town and involve overnight stays. Often those competing will arrange to carpool and stay in the same hotels to promote team spirit and keep costs down. Athletes' parents often accompany.

Racers desiring to compete in CUSSA and FIS must obtain a membership from USSA, and for FIS, also a license from FIS (J2 and J1 age athletes only). To compete in CUSSA races, athletes must also pay an annual registration fee to Region 1 of CUSSA (this covers entry fees for ALL CUSSA races in a season with the exception of Championship events). CUSSA has a "Try-it" program for a minimal costs so that atheltes can test if they want to move up to this higher level of competition.

USSA/FIS age groups are decided by the athlete's age as of December 31 of the ski season. J4 (11-12); J3 (13-14); J2 (15-16); J1 (17-19).

Point System: All USSA skiers competing at the J3 to J1 level begin their racing career with 999 points. At each race, skiers work to finish well and to reduce their points. (An explanation of the point system is on the USSA web site.) The lower the number of points, the further up in the run order a skier starts. Each skier has point scores for each discipline — GS, slalom, super-G and downhill. It is this point system that allows skiers all over the United States to be ranked in the same system.

J3 and J4 racers attend the 3 day regional championships in Marquette, MI at the end of February to compete against other skiers from the Midwest. This race determines the racers who will compete in the Junior Olympics for the Rocky/Central Region of USSA, held in Colorado during March.

Ability Program and FIS Racing

Older athletes (ages 15-19) move into the Ability Class program. In addition to USSA and high school races, they are eligible to qualify for FIS races (internationally-sanctioned races). Results from these races rank athletes throughout the world. For an explanation of the ranking system, see the FIS web site.

FIS races are basically invitational races, with participants drawn from the Midwest based on FIS points and recent CUSSA race results. There are typically five FIS races during the season, including the Atmore Memorial, held at Spirit Mountain. The other races are held at venues in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario.

Lower-point racers are FIS “automatics” and are guaranteed a spot in each FIS race. The next on the list for invitation are the “picks”— skiers who are not yet automatics, but have placed well is past USSA races. Skiers without FIS point profiles are also placed on the "picks" list based on their USSA points. Shortly before each race, a list comes out on the Region 1 website. "Picks" must accept for the race if they intend to ski. If they do not accept, they are dropped from the run order. Their spot will then go to an alternate, a skier who wishes to race at the FIS level but does not yet have the requisite FIS point profile or has the next lowest USSA points.

Because many factors go into creating the run order for a FIS race, racers on the alternate list may not know they are racing until the day before the race.

At this level, skiers, coaches and parents need to work closely together to coordinate which CUSSA and FIS races in which to participate. FIS races have dailiy entry fees, and also require the athlete to have a FIS license and be a USSA member and paid registrant with CUSSA.

Our Proud Sponsors: