Ashland High School Ski Team 2008-2009 Handbook Welcome to the AHS Ski Team! We hope that this handbook helps answer questions you may have about our club. Please feel free to ask any of our Board members if you have any other questions or concerns. Here s to another successful season on the slopes! What is the AHS Ski Club? The Ashland High School Ski Club was formed to offer skiers at the high school an opportunity to develop their skiing and racing techniques and to compete against other teams in southern Oregon. The goal of the club is to encourage maximum potential in a supportive and fun environment. A board of directors comprised of interested parents. The board, the current head coach, and Ashland High School determines the club s policies. Board of Directors: President Jerry Fitzpatrick fivefitz@ashlandhome.net or fivefitz@ashlandhome.net Vice President Doug Hamel thehamels@jeffnet.org Treasurer Chuck Keil chuckkeil@opendoor.com Secretary Mark Sayles markmurrieta@msn.com Member at Large Dave Bernard dbernard@darex.com Other Volunteers: Wreath Sales Coordinators Debbie Fitzpatrick fivefitz@ashlandhome.net. Volunteer Coordinator to be filled Southern League Rep Chris Hald cphald3@mind.net Coaching Staff: Head Coach Gary King gking541@charter.net Assistant Coach TBD Practice Schedule Dry-land training will begin November 10th and will be organized by the head coach. Mountain practices will begin as soon as snow permits and will be held Thursdays evenings from 5:00 to 7:30pm, some Friday evenings(tbd), Saturdays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, and optional Sunday morning from 8:30 am to noon. Optional Sunday afternoon slope-style practices are available for those that want to participate. All other practices, including dry-land, are
mandatory. Practices are rain or shine. The detail of the practice will be worked out by the head coach depending on snow conditions, weather conditions and mountain availability. Transportation The Ashland School District may be providing bus transportation for Thursday night training on the mountain. This has yet to be confirmed. If no district transportation is provided, skiers will be responsible for finding a ride to training sessions and races. Please try to form carpools when possible. The AHS Ski Team requires its members to follow the Ashland School District s Club Sports Driving Guidelines and be approved before driving athletes. Clothing We go out in almost every weather condition and it is frequently a variation of cold. Racers should be properly equipped for the weather. Wear layers! Helmet Rule All racers are required to wear a helmet on the slopes while training and racing. Helmet must cover the ears. No exceptions. Face guards are recommended for slalom races and training. Race Competition Dates*: Saturday January 10 Warm-up Race Mt. Ashland Friday January 16 Giant Slalom Mt. Ashland Saturday January 17 Slalom Mt. Ashland Friday January 30 Giant Slalom Mt. Ashland Saturday January 31 Slalom Mt. Ashland Friday February 6 Giant Slalom Mt. Ashland Saturday February 7 Slalom Mt. Ashland State Race March 4-6 Emerald League Location TBA later *Schedule may change as it is snow permitting. Slope-style Competition Dates: February 14 February 20 Other dates to be determined later AHS Ski Team Code of Conduct The AHS Ski Team requires its athletes to use sportsmanlike conduct at all times. Good sportsmanship includes, but is not limited to: Respect for all officials, coaches and ski area employees Courtesy and good manners Self-control, responsible behavior, consideration for other s physical and emotional well being No profane or abusive language Respect for private and public property Abstinence from the illegal use of alcohol and drugs Skier Responsibility Code Bindings must be in good condition and properly adjusted for the conditions. Carefully inspect course before running it. While attending a race event, stand far enough from the course to allow a racer on course full visibility, room to recover and room to come to a stop without hitting you. Always remain still while there is a racer on course, and never free ski on or near a closed racecourse. If a gate pole is knocked out or broken and presents a danger, place it outside the course. Always stop below your coach or training group. Never attempt to stop above any skier or group. When your run is complete move immediately out of the finish area or away from the course. Never jump or ski fast into a blind spot. When free-skiing, you must be aware of others and ski in full control at all times. 2
Respect other skiers and boarders rights to a safe and pleasant skiing experience. Team Policies League Races The start order for the first League race will be determined through team time trials or the practice race or both. Race results from combined runs will determine the start order for each subsequent giant slalom and slalom race. All skiers will race at all League races. State Team Selection World Cup points will be awarded for each League race run. The top five skiers will race at State. The sixth racer will be the alternate. The State start order will be decided by the head coach. Snow Training Training days and times: Thursday, 5-7:30pm; Saturday, 8:30am 3:00pm; Sunday (optional), 8:30am-noon. Winter Break training is optional. The head coach will set days and times once we know when the mountain will open. PNSA skiers must attend all Saturday trainings and 50% of the Thursday night trainings. Team Captains Seniors will work together to provide leadership and team building. Race Management It takes about 25 volunteer workers to run a race. Below is a list of workers needed: Chief of Race Technical Delegate Referee Start Referee Finish Referee Chief of Timing (filled by League Results Committee) Electronic Timers (filled by League Results Committee) Hand Timer at Start Hand Timer Recorder at Start Hand Timer at Finish Hand Timer Recorder at Finish Chief of Course Maintenance Course Maintenance Assistants (2) Chief Gatekeeper Gatekeepers (10) Crossing Guard (Friday s only) Results Board (1) Family Work Obligation Each family has an obligation to work a minimum of three race days or the equivalent of 21 hours in other volunteer activities. One family member working one full race day equals one workday. You must fulfill your obligation to receive your $75 work deposit back. A partial return of your deposit will be issued to those who do not meet the minimum work requirement. We need your help to be able to run successful races that competitors and coaches will remember. Keep in mind; there are many jobs that do not require you to be on skis. We would certainly encourage non skiers to come and work the races as an opportunity to learn more about the sport and to see their child ski. Race Day Workers Race volunteers report to the Race Workers table in the Lodge by 8:15am. You will receive your assignment and your free day pass at that time. Be prepared to work on the racecourse as a gatekeeper, course maintenance, or in the start or finish areas. Watch the forecast and dress accordingly. Races are not cancelled due to extreme cold or rain. Race workers are required to be in their positions for both the morning and afternoon runs, approximately 2 hours for each run. Workers are assigned jobs that require no previous experience. A training session will take place in the Lodge beginning at 8:30. Thank you vouchers will not be issued by the mountain this year. A lift ticket for that day of work will be granted to the volunteer. 3
Race Day Plan to arrive at the Lodge by 8:00 am and meet with your team to prepare for the race. We want to hit the slopes as soon as the lifts open. A Typical Race Day* 7:30 am Course setters prepare the course 9:30 Race Workers in position for Start 9:50 Forerunners 10:00 Start Race 11:30 End of 1 st Run 11:30-12:00 Lunch 12:30 Race Workers in position for 2 nd Run 12:50 Forerunners 1:00 Start 2 nd Run 2:30 pm End of Race Weather conditions may affect times We will certainly try and run back to back runs when time and conditions permit. AHS Ski Team Participation Fee: The team fee is $400, or $375 if your family is already a member of the AHS Booster Club. A separate check of $75 is also collected for your family work deposit. Work deposit checks will not be cashed unless your family s work obligation is not met by the end of the season. Team fees are due December 1. What the fee includes: The AHS Ski Team fee includes instruction from certified ski coaches, supervised dry-land activities, lift tickets and lodging at away races, membership in the OISRA, and liability insurance through the BSA. What the fee does not include: The team fee does not include your season ski pass, transportation to Mt. Ashland for practice or races, helmets, equipment or maintenance of equipment, lockers, or optional team purchases such as a sweatshirt. Wreath Sales The Board of Directors realizes that it is expensive to participate on the ski team. To help with the expense we encourage you to sell holiday wreaths to raise funds for yourself. For each wreath sold you will receive $11 to apply toward your team fee. You will need to sell a minimum of 36 wreaths to pay your entire team fee. This is a fund raiser for the athletes only. If for some reason the athlete drops from the team then the proceeds as well as the dues will be kept by the team. Debbie Fitzpatrick is the volunteer wreath coordinator. Why so many forms to sign? We do have a lot of forms! We have four different entities to meet liability for: Ashland High School, the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association, Mt. Ashland and our club. It would be nice to be able to simplify the process for parents, but each entity requires their own forms and signatures. Why do we have to be AHS Booster Club Members? The AHS Booster Club is one of our sources of funding for the team. This year, the Boosters have allotted $1260 for our team as long as we meet their requirements of membership and concession stand work commitments. The Booster Club also provides our team with League Champion t-shirts/patches when earned. Why do we have to be Boy Scouts? The Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association requires its teams to participate in the Boy Scouts Venturer program to provide liability insurance coverage. The OISRA is researching information to provide its own liability insurance. If they are successful, we will no longer be required to join the BSA, but will be required to switch to the OISRA coverage. 4
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