U16 = ages 14 &15 The Competitive (aka Comp) program is for athletes progressing with their alpine skiing and transitioning to a more comprehensive training and racing schedule. Fall dryland training combines games, strength, agility, balance, coordination, and endurance. On-snow practice, which begins as soon as resorts are open, combines free skiing, drills, and gates. Technique (how to ski) and tactics (where to ski) are taught in tandem. Coaches will present a general training plan for the group and customize some aspects to meet individual needs.
We maintain a balance between having fun, building a positive team environment, and advancing our skiing. We want you to love skiing as much as we do.
Local schools have been very accommodating to early dismissals for mid-week afternoon on-snow sessions and conditioning as long as the athlete is in good academic standing. For those athletes committing to early releases, balancing academics and athletics with good time management skills is a must.
RACING Competitions primarily take place throughout the Northern Division (Montana and Terry Peak, S.D., and Casper, WY). Competitions are scheduled under U.S. Ski and Snowboard. How much you travel and/or race is up to you and is best discussed with your coach.
SCHEDULE
Fall: September 16 - Oct 30 Dryland is included for all athletes. This is 3 days a week and optional. MON: 12:30 - 3:00 pm TUES: 12:30 - 3:00 pm WED: 12:30 - 3:00 pm THURS: 12:30 - 3:00 pm Winter: late November - early April At Bridger Bowl. You choose: 3 or 5 days a week. Also includes Holiday camp at Bridger December 26-30.
3 DAYS A WEEK WINTER WED: 1:00 - 4:00 pm SAT: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm SUN: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
5 DAYS A WEEK WINTER TUES: 1:00 - 4:00 pm WED: 1:00 - 4:00 pm THURS: 1:00 - 4:00 pm SAT: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm SUN: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm
2024-25 U16 3 DAYS A WEEK
Fall: Sept 16 - Oct 30 Winter (Wed, Sat & Sun): late Nov - early April
$3,500
2024-25 U14 5 DAYS A WEEK
Fall: Sept 16 - Oct 30 Winter (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun): late Nov - early April
$4,890
Thanksgiving camp
optional at Big Sky November 15-21 price TBD
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION OPENS AUGUST 19. Stay tuned for more info.
BEFORE YOU REGISTER: Please be sure that your child has the necessary skills for their program and that you understand our refund policy.
Note: In order to register for a BSF program, you must have a current BSF 2024-25 annual membership. You can add your membership to your cart during registration.
Bridger Bowl ski pass and other area lift tickets (Big Sky, etc)
Individual race fees (dependent on how much skier races)
Travel costs (dependent on amount of individual travel)
Coaching travel expenses for races and camps (also dependent on participation)
Thanksgiving Camp (optional)
Summer dryland training (optional)
Team apparel (optional)
PAYMENT PLANS
Payment options:
At checkout, you can choose:
credit card (pay in full)*
payment plan* (credit card or bank transfer)
payment in full via bank transfer
*See processing fees below.
Payment Plans
For invoices over $1500, payments can be made in 4 payments. IMPORTANT: If your family is registering multiple children, please be sure to register and checkout all in one transaction if you'd like a payment plan option. The system does not allow us to combine orders/create payment plans after the fact. If participants are registered in separate transactions, it will result in separate payment plans.
(*If you have extenuating circumstances with the $1500 starting point on payment plans, please contact us.)
How the payment plan works: When checking out in SkiClub Pro (our registration system) choose "payment plan." The SkiClubPro system will automatically charge you for each of the three payments.
Processing fees:
The following processing fees will be added to your total. These are the fees charged by the payment processor; BSF does not keep any of these fees.
Credit cards paying in full: 3% fee
Bank transfer paying in full: $2.50
Credit cards payment plan: 3% fee and $1.50 per payment
Bank transfer payment plan: $2.50 fee per payment ($10 total)
BSF offers a generous scholarship and financial aid program. Comp athletes are eligible for both financial-need-based and merit-based awards. Applications are due mid-October each year.
Please note: If you need assistance, apply for it! These funds are meant to keep youth skiing. Applications are confidential, and we take into account all your circumstances, not just taxable income. (Too often, we see families assume they make too much money to qualify for help, and yet they are considering limiting participation in a program because of the cost. Apply! )
CONCUSSION TESTING
BASE-LINE CONCUSSION TESTING
Baseline concussion testing is recommended for ages 12+, but not required. In the event an athlete does have a head injury, having baseline testing results on file allows your doctor to evaluate the injury and more accurately determine when an athlete can return to activity. Click here for info.
TEAM COMMUNICATIONS
EMAIL
When you register for the program, you will be added to an email list. Your coaches will send weekly emails with the full schedule, important notes, and info for parents. Last-minute changes may also be emailed. (It’s important that you do not unsubscribe to any BSF emails, as this is our main mode of communication in the winter.) If for some reason, you are not receiving emails from us, let us know!
Team Reach App:
We also use the Team Reach app, for schedules and last-minute communications.
VOLUNTEER HOURS
VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS FOR EACH FAMILY
Intro Programs: 1 to 3 volunteer sessions (or a donation of $75 - $225)
Devo Programs: 3 to 5 volunteer sessions (or a donation of $225 - $375)
Comp Programs: 5 to 7 volunteer sessions (or a donation of $375 to $525)
(Suggested donation calculated based on an average volunteer session of 3 hours and the industry standard value of volunteer time ($25/hour).)
One of the ways BSF keeps program fees lower is through volunteer hours. Without your volunteer hours, we would need to use additional paid staff to fill the void; this would increase program costs significantly, which would also make it more difficult for some families to afford BSF. When only a small percentage of BSF parents take on the brunt of volunteer hours, it leads to volunteer burnout.
We have openings for help at practices, organizing ski and fundraising events, helping at the events themselves, as well as trail work and volunteering for our community trails. We encourage you to volunteer for ANY program--Nordic, Alpine, Freestyle, or trails. If you have a specific skill set you think would be helpful, please let us know. There are always little things we need, from photography, to database entry, to hanging up posters around town.
We highly encourage BSF comp athletes to volunteer to meet these hour expectations, not just parents!
We post signup sheets and volunteer needs throughout the year HERE.
EQUIPMENT & THINGS YOU NEED
We know—purchasing equipment is daunting and often expensive. BSF is here to help you through the process and find the best gear for your athlete. There are lots of resources. Please contact us with any questions.
Athletes involved in U14 training/racing are at an age when their bodies are constantly changing. While it is important in skiing to have quality equipment, young athletes DO NOT necessarily need top-of the-line “race” equipment. All of the top manufacturers make quality gear with a wide range of prices and applications.
WHERE TO BUY EQUIPMENT
Since skiing is not an inexpensive sport to participate in, we make every effort to help parents and athletes secure gear in a variety of ways. BSF coaches will be available at all swaps to help answer questions.
The Alpine Team holds an intra-club gear swap each October (before the big BSF Ski Swap at the Fairgrounds). This is a great time to source (and sell) used equipment among fellow teammates.
Local retailers or online. (Your BSF membership gets you discounts at several local shops.) Also, keep your eyes out for the team BSF emails—occasionally retailers will sponsor team nights with discounts.
The Ski Swap, held each November at the Fairgrounds. Thousands of items. (It’s also one of BSF’s biggest fundraisers.) BSF members get in an hour early. If you volunteer at the event, you get in even earlier!
SKIS
Most athletes will need free skis, Giant Slalom (GS), and Slalom (SL) skis. Those interested and prepared for speed can consider Super G skis or longer GS skis for speed events.
At this age and skiing level, more and more factors come into play when choosing equipment. Height, weight, and ability/skill are key ingredients in making equipment decisions. You should check with your coaches for ski length recommendations and adherence to FIS and USSA rules.
The introduction of skis with more side cut has been a major breakthrough and can drastically speed up an athlete’s learning curve, so we strongly recommend that you buy a newer side-cut ski. There are some rule changes regarding side-cut and lengths for the “older” skiers racing at high-level competitions. Your coaches will be well informed of any changes and help athletes accordingly.
The U14 age is a great age to develop tuning skills. All mountain/powder skis are fine in addition to race skis. However, they should be skied on specifically for all/mountain and powder conditions.
An important note on fat skis: Over the past few years, FAT skis have become very popular. While this is innovative technology and a fun component to skiing, it can be counterproductive to racing fundamentals and technique. We encourage Alpine athletes to use FAT skis for powder days or very occasional free skiing. Research has proven that the use of FAT skis requires very different technique than what is used to ski traditional “race” skis. We do not allow training on FAT skis and highly discourage FAT skis as free skis in between race runs on race days. It is much better to have an older pair of race skis as trainers and inspections skis. We recommend finding free-skiing skis with no more than 95 mm width under foot.
Some people say that the three most important things when it comes to ski equipment are boots, boots and boots. Many parents try to buy boots “a little big” so that a child’s growing shoe size can be accommodated for more than one season. This is theory will typically result in a challenging venture for the developing athlete.
A proper fit is key because boots are your connection to the snow. A proper fitting boot gives you feedback, lets you know what your skis are doing, and helps the athlete determine what they want their skis to do. A sloppy fitting boot equates to sloppy or less precise skiing and can encourage bad skiing technique. Steer away from rear-entry boots as they can cause children (and adults) to lean back too far. Adult boot construction is typically very different than junior boot construction. Adult boots are generally stiffer and taller. Junior boots are great for skiing/racing development and athletes should utilize junior boots sizing as long as is appropriate. They have many of the features of adult boots but have a softer flex to facilitate better body position and movement when skiing.
A quick way to find the proper boot size is by “shell fitting.” Take the liner out of the boot. Put the child's (socked) foot into the shell. Have them move their toes forward till they hit the front of the boot. Toes should touch without scrunching! Have them bend their knee forward. You should be able to fit a finger between their heel and the back of the shell. One finger is a “race fit.” It may be tempting to go a bit larger for growth, but keep in mind that boots are the link between the pilot and the snow.
Helmets are required. The USSA now requires that U14 and older athletes have helmets that meet the new FIS standards for GS, SG and DH. It should be a helmet that covers the head and ears. (More info available here.)
An approved helmet will have the FIS sticker.
Helmets should fit snug and provide good visibility. Be sure your goggles fit in them. Make sure the back of the helmet is not rubbing on your neck or the front of the helmet is not pushing your goggles over your nose.
PROTECTION
Head, arm, hand, shoulder, back, teeth (mouthguard), and shin protection recommended, based on event. Back protector info.
POLES
GS-standard length, SL-pole guards for blocking and protection (pole may be slightly shorter).
To size poles, turn the pole upside down and grab it under the basket. Your elbow should be bent to or just past 90 degrees. Take into consideration binding and boot height. Grips should have straps. In sizing poles, longer is better (they can be cut if too long). They are great for getting out of a start and will remind you to keep your hands up.
CLOTHING
Select clothing that will meet your child’s need for health, safety, comfort, and function. Layering is a good way to ensure proper warmth. Layers can be added or removed as outside and body temperatures fluctuate. Gloves, helmets, and goggles deserve special consideration, as the extremities get cold very fast. On cold days, neck warmers are a great way to keep drafts out and protect the face from frostbite. An extra pair of goggles on powder days is a smart idea. Racers are not allowed to run gates without helmets and goggles! Team coats are available: your coach will be in touch about orders.
RESCUE BEACON
Given the terrain and requirements for certain areas at Bridger Bowl, rescue beacon and confidence in its use is recommended.
COLD WEATHER POLICY
Bozeman kids are a hardy bunch, but we will cancel a session if temperatures are extreme--especially if paired with wind. Whenever possible, an email and/or Team Reach message will be sent out notifying everyone as soon as it is determined to be too cold to train.
Your best bet is to always bring lots of warm layers; weather changes quickly.
PARENT & ATHLETE RESOURCES
Please make yourself familiar with our policies, the BSF Athlete & Parent Handbook, and other important information on the Resources Page.
BSF Newsletters contain regular "Parent Corner" articles to help you navigate the parent/athlete dynamic.
There’s a bigger picture to what BSF teaches skiers, when and why. BSF’s programs are consistent with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Training System.
What does that mean? We’re not focused on short-term success—and the hazards (and burnout) that often come with it. Instead, we follow LTAD plans that are individualized and based on science to make sure your child can maximize their long-term potential as a skier (should they wish to do so) and their enjoyment in the sport. We take into account a child’s development physiologically, cognitively and socially, as well as their experience skiing.
This makes it easy for your child to progress through our programs—from Introductory, to the Development Teams, to the competitive teams, and even on to skiing as an adult Masters athlete.
(View the entire most up-to-date LTAD for alpine skiing HERE.)
The BSF Alpine LTAD follows the guidelines of the USSA LTAD.
This plan addresses:
Sport Participation: How many days skiing/year, # of competitions, and train/comp ratios.
Conditioning: volume and content for physical training outside of skiing.
Technique and tactics: specific skills for the sport.
Equipment selection and preparation: the essential equipment needs for competition.
Performance Psychology: mental skill activities
Conditioning: appropriate type and level of competition.
