U16 Ski Program
Head Coach: Ryan Jazic
Certification: Performance level certified
25 years of coaching. 10 years with the BC ski team, 2 years with the national team and 10+ at the club level from U14 up through FIS.
U16 is designed for racers age 14-15 who are interested in developing their fitness, skiing, racing and mental preparedness to a higher level. The program continues to focus on improving/learning/reinforcing fundamentals learned at the U16 level, however now teaches them to apply those fundamentals in competitive environments.
The primary objective of the program is teaching kids to develop strategies for performance on demand. This is accomplished by increasing the intensity of their training and incorporating mental management routines. By working towards specific task oriented goals, they learn how to perform to their potential by design, rather than by chance.
The U16s still spend lots of time practicing athletic & aggressive skiing, on & off piste, in and out of drill and race courses. They have opportunity to ski the whole mountain in all conditions with confidence, speed and balance on numerous occasions. Each team member is encouraged to reach maximum potential athletically, socially, academically and personally. As the U16 racers can also get up to quite high performance levels, we coordinate opportunities to train with the Vancouver Ski Team.
Our experienced coaches are very knowledgeable & positive role models; their passion for skiing is key for leading by example. The coaches teach the kids race skills by setting up fun, challenging & competitive environments.
The U16 athletes attend speed camps and races. The thrill of going fast and being smooth demands an increased focus on developing good line, tactics and decision-making on the fly.
The U16 program runs year round. Families can expect comprehensive summer dryland in Vancouver. Fall fitness training continues with a preseason camp(s) at Sun Peaks, BC. Mid winter training will include full weekend day sessions as well as mid week (Tue/Wed) afternoon and evening sessions. This will be a great opportunity for those that are able to work out early release school programs.
In the fall a special fitness event for all U16 racers in the zone takes place: The Alpine Athletic Champion Challenge - a no cost event to increase the fitness of all U16 racers.