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Team Tonkawood/Powder Ridge Alpine Race Team Information & Registration

Welcome!

The Alpine Race Team program is a component of the Powder Ridge Ski School and Team Tonkawood. All coaches work with the Powder Ridge Ski School and Team Tonkawood and have been trained in ski instruction as well as ski racing. This program is organized by the Minnesota Snow Development League (MSDL) and comprises seven ski areas: Andes Tower Hill, Buck Hill, Mt. Kato, Powder Ridge, Welch Village, Trollhaugen and Wild Mountain. . This manual provides information regarding the mission, general program information, expectations of participants, curriculum, concussion policies, and the season’s schedule. Registration forms are provided at the end of this packet. All questions can be submitted via email to skischool@powderridge.com or feel free to call Powder Ridge at 320-398-7200

Mission Statement

The Tonkawood/Powder Ridge Alpine Race Team aims to provide children with the opportunity to advance their skills in alpine ski racing. The Alpine Race also seeks to achieve: Create a fun environment that develops a strong sense of community and team spirit. Teach young athletes to be responsible skiers and to participate in fair play and honorable competition through an activity that supports a healthy lifestyle and lifelong participation. Be Instrumental in inspiring young ski racers to do their best and develop their skiing skills through learning to race slalom and giant slalom.

General Program Information

It is the Team Tonkawood Policy that skiers must be able to load and ride the chairlifts without help and at a minimum be able to ski on the intermediate slope called Single Cedar at Powder Ridge without assistance. Team members must have the ability to manage themselves while at Powder Ridge or at other ski areas we race at or have parent/guardian supervision. Including but not limited to bathroom breaks, snack breaks and lunch breaks. With the number of racers and the amount of space involved it is impossible for our coaches to always supervise each racer at all times.

2024-2025 Race Team Pricing

  • Price through August 31st: $450.00
  • Price from September 1st through October 31st: $475
  • Full rate begins November 1st: $500
  • Coaching fee does not include season pass, equipment, or transportation.

2024-2025 Tonkawood/Powder Ridge Race Team Schedule

  • Sunday, December 8th – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, December 14th – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, December 21st – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, January 4th – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, January 11th – RACE AT ANDES TOWERS, Time TBD
  • Sunday, January 19th – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, January 25th – RACE AT POWDER RIDGE, Time TBD
  • Saturday, February 1st – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, February 8th – RACE AT TROLLHAUGEN, Time TBD
  • Saturday, February 15th – Practice 9:30AM-2:00PM
  • Saturday, March 1st – RACE AT MOUNT KATO, Time TBD

Season Pass Pricing (with Tonkawood Discount)

Purchase by August 31st and receive a Bonus Punch Card that includes: two free tubing tickets, two half priced lift tickets, two free rentals, free donut, free beverage, 20% off a ski shop transaction and 25% off a food transaction.

6-12 years old
  • 30% Off Sale May 1st – August 31st: $255.50
  • 15% Off Sale September 1st – October 31st: $310.25
  • Full rates begin November 1st – $365
13+ years old
  • 30% Off Sale May 1st – August 31st: $381.50
  • 15% Off Sale September 1st – October 31st: $463.25
  • Full rates begin November 1st – $545

Expectations of Participants

We hope that racers enrolled in our program attend as many practices and races as possible; however, we recognize that family and other commitments may take precedence on some days. The race program’s philosophy is a mix of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), the Primary Movement Teaching System (PMTS), and the United States Ski Association (USSA), but most importantly we promote Safety, Fun and Learning. The Alpine Race Team is focused on creating well rounded skiers utilizing a fun environment. To that end, it is the expectation that all skiers who participate in any of the Alpine Race Team activities should adhere to the highest standards in personal conduct. This includes but is not limited to the following: Tonkawood/Powder Ridge Alpine Race Rules*

  1. Be a responsible skier and always practice safely.
  2. Always act courteous while skiing, whether at practices or races.
  3. Always try your best to finish every run.
  4. Expect to do lots of drills to improve your skiing.
  5. Expect to have fun every day and you will!
  • Failure to meet the expectations of these rules could result in dismissal from the race team without a refund of team fees.

MSDL Rules*

  1. No racer may hold a USSA card and race MSDL races simultaneously. However, racers may elect to race USSA races prior to/after the MSDL season or for approved fundraiser races hosted by USSA.
  2. Age groups will be determined by the child’s age as of September 1st.
  3. Skiers compete against their own age and gender within age groups as follows: 6 and under, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15-18.
  4. Racers 9 and under will race using soft stubby gates. This puts a premium on modeling proper technique used with full size gates at older ages.
  5. FIS etiquette at all races: No shadowing courses, racers must stop between gates when inspecting the course, and no pre-running the course.
  6. Conduct exemplifying fairness is expected at all times.
  7. All race bibs must be worn and visible on race days.
  8. Any racer may finish a run on one ski and have the time recorded as long as no gates were missed.
  9. Each racer will have two runs in the morning and two runs in the afternoon.
  10. Awards are determined by combining the best slalom and giant slalom time for each racer.
  11. Team points are calculated at each race based on placing with first place receiving 5 points, second 4, third 3, fourth 2, and fifth place 1 point.
  12. Awards will be presented after each race.
  13. Registration for regular races begins at 9:00 AM with course inspection at 9:30 followed by the start of racing at 10:00 AM. Afternoon races are scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM and awards should be no later than 4:30 PM on race day. (Exact start times may vary but must be approved by the coaches of all participating teams).
  14. Registration for the Championship race begins at 8:00 AM. Course inspection begins when the lifts open and the race will begin approximately 30 minutes after the courses have been opened for inspection.
  15. In case of inclement weather, contact the host ski area. Races will be held unless the ski area closes.
  16. The league does mandate helmets.

** Failure to meet the expectations of these rules could result in dismissal from the race team without a refund of team fees*

Curriculum

In parallel with the Powder Ridge Ski School the Team Tonkawood Race Program utilizes principles from the PSIA and PMTS instructional manuals as well as stages of development created by USSA Alpine Race Development Program. The following outline is a guide used by our coaches to establish individual skier competencies and to generate a sound progression that will lead each skier to his/her full potential. These progressions are aimed at allowing each skier to advance at his/her pace and develop skills to match. These progressions are based on skiing skill, as well as chronological and morphological age. The PSIA instructional methods have deep roots in the Austrian developed “Stem Christie”; however, modern equipment has led us to adopt a more progressive sequence of movements that ideally would not include any form of wedging. If however, skiers have experienced the wedge as a basic platform, we work with that individual to get them out of the wedge as soon as s/he is comfortable. The USSA Development program has three simple phases upon which skiers can be evaluated. The following is a sequence used by our program to judge developmental levels of each skier.

  • Stage One: Stance - skier demonstrates a balanced stance and edge control for advanced skiing.
  • Stage Two: Mechanics - skier demonstrates the properly centered mechanics of a controlled carved turn.
  • Stage Three: Finesse - skier is able to consistently put together the components of technique based on the demands of the environment and demonstrate fluidity and vision while consistently performing at/or near the top of his/her age-competitive level.
  • Stage Four: Strategies - Skier is able to analyze a race course, conditions, anticipate speed, identify transitions, rhythm changes, proper line, and execute visibly flawless skiing.

Concussion Management Protocol (CMP)

The state of MN passed into law a concussion management program that has several components. All coaches working with youth, HS and collegiate sports must complete CMP educational training. The basic rule in all sports (which may be worded slightly different in each rule book) states that: “Any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the contest and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional.”

Powder Ridge Winter Recreation Area, the MN State High School League and the State of MN highly recommend that every sport participant and parent should successfully complete the 20 minute NFHS online course Concussion in Sports—What You Need to Know. The course can be accessed at: www.nfhslearn.com or via CDC http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/headsup/online_training.html

Coaches’ Discretion for a Suspected Head Injury If a coach detects any signs of concussion or suspects a head injury during practice or a race, the coach will ask the skier to stop training/racing for the day. The parent, for the safety of his/her child, should not override that decision unless a licensed healthcare professional has evaluated the skier and cleared him/her for further participation.

Program Fees – 2024-2025

Cost - $450 + a Season Pass at Powder Ridge

Team Tonkawood Race Team will receive a 30% off discount if you call directly

Season Pass Pricing (with Tonkawood Discount)

Over 13 years old - $381.50

6-12 years old - $255.50

Coaching fee does not include season pass, equipment, or transportation.

Team Tonkawood Alpine Race Registration


Please Register and Pay

Print and sign the waiver.

Fill out the Racer Information Form (you will be asked to upload the waiver or send it via mail)