Welcome to Alpine Racing!  

Now what? 

If you've registered for the race program and are now wondering what you've gotten yourself into, you're in the right place! Here you'll find an FAQ, information about races and everything else we could think of that might help. We will email all families this document with tips at the start of each season. Still have questions?  Just ask! Contact Us or come by the ATC where parents and coaches can share all the info. We all started from the beginning and had the same questions at some point.  

Getting Started With Alpine Racing 

Now that you have registered for the race program with Crotched Mountain, you must have many questions about this exciting sport and how the program works at Crotched Mountain. Every young athlete already in the program and their families likely had the very same questions when they got started.  To help answer some of those questions and reduce the anxiety of getting started we have put together some Frequently Asked Questions we hope will help. If you have a question that you don't see an answer to here, please make sure to ask a coach, fellow parent, or Crotched Mountain Race Club BOD member. 

Parent Education Resources 

There are a number of resources available through USSA as well as the Association for applied Sports Psychology. We are sharing these resources here to support our families through their alpine racing journey. 

1. USSA Ski and Snowboard Parent Tips - Bring on the Best in your Child 2. Alpine Training System

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome!  Here is some information as you get into the exciting sport of ski racing.  Now that you have registered for the race program with Crotched Mountain, here are some Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I contact with Additional Questions? For any other questions or additional information, please contact the Crotched Mountain BOD Crotched Mountain BOD or the Director of the Race programs, Nick Green (nicholas.greene@vailresorts.com).

Do I have to register each year for the program? 

 Yes, registration is with the mountain and your racer(s) will need to be registered each year. To sing up for the program, please visit the Crotched Mountain Web Site where you can pay for the program. 

In addition, please register with the Club - this registration is free, and it will allow us to add your athlete to the roster, and make sure you are getting all of the communications from the team and the coaches. 

What other race registration is needed? 

For athletes participating U10 and older races, particularly for USSA sanctioned races, your child will have to be registered with NHARA.  USSA registration is required for U16 and above who wish to have USSA points, in order to race in NH, and a USSA competitor membership is required for all levels of scored races in the Eastern Region.   (U8 and younger), Future Stars and Tigers do not need to be registered with NHARA or USSA to race. NHARA (New Hampshire Alpine Race Association) website you can find applications and instructions for registration here: http://www.nhara.org/.  

Registration and fees for new and renewing athletes are due in October each year before late fees apply for the application process. USSA (U.S Ski and Snowboard Association) and you can find registration information here:  http://ussa.org/ FIS (Federation of International Skiing) races, for those that are racing at the FIS level, you can find the Alpine FIS registration at the USSA website.

Is there special equipment needed? 

There are basic equipment needs for the race program.  The following describes the basic needs for the athlete; please contact your coach for specific questions on the equipment. 

Helmets: Each athlete must have a race specific helmet that covers the ears; soft ear protection helmets are not allowed.  Athletes U14 and above require a helmet that meets the new FIS Standards for all USSA GS, SG, and DH competitions.  Detailed information on the helmet regulations can be found on the NHARA website http://www.nhara.org/ 

Skis: The age level of the racer will dictate which kind, and how many pairs of skis s/he will need. Young racers typically progress from one pair of skis to specializing with SL and GS skis. The length of skis is determined by the height, weight and ability of the racer. Coaches are the best people to ask for help with ski selection. 

Boots: It is imperative that racers’ boots fit well, as it is the boot that transfers the “message” from the feet to the skis. Without proper fit, the racer does not have the desired control, and performance will suffer. Ski shops and coaches can help with proper fitting.  

Poles: Entry age racers need one pair of poles. As they progress to cross-blocking slalom gates at around 12 years of age, they will need to add slalom guards to their poles to protect their hands. This is when most racers like to have 2 pairs of poles – one with guards and one without. Bent poles are used for speed events, and are not necessary until an athlete starts competing in them. Additional equipment and gear that is not required, such as protective gear or race suits are described below.

Mouth guards: these inexpensive guards used for many sports can help reduce the effects of a concussion should a racer sustain a blow to their head. They also protect their teeth if a pole hits them in the mouth when skiing SL. 

Chin guards: these guards are attached to the helmet to protect the racer’s face and teeth when skiing SL. 

Shin guards: once a racer starts to train SL gates, protective shin guards must be worn. 

Arm guards: some racers like to wear guards that protect their forearms when skiing SL. 

Back protectors: Although not mandatory, these protectors are highly recommended for athletes competing at a higher level in GS and speed events. 

Stealth: This padded protection worn under the speed suit is a staple piece of equipment for every higher level racer. 

Speed suits (GS Suits):  Entry level racers do not need a speedsuit to race, however most kids love to have one.  

As kids grow out of these tight fitting suits fairly quickly, there is a pretty good second hand market for them; ski swaps and ski clubs are a good place to look for a reasonably priced used suit. 

The NHARA website (http://www.nhara.org/) provides additional information on the following: Helmet regulations for U14 and older racers NHARA & USSA Rules and Regulations on equipment and age classification 2016-2017 USSA Equipment Specification Chart USSA Age Classification Changes for 2016-2017 

Team Jackets: If you are looking to order jackets, and other CMCC branded gear from, see the Sync web site: https://syncperformancecustom.com/collections/crotched-ski-team Password: crotched22.

What sort of race information should I know about? There are a number of races scheduled each season, and the location and dates vary year to year.  The CMRC website will provide a list of scheduled races for the season. The following information was provided from the NHARA website and Handbook.  For further details check the NHARA website (https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/0125/8289/NHARA_Handbook_23-24__Revised_Dec_3.pdf) for specific race information and scoring.

What information is needed for race day? Your coach will provide you updated information prior to each race.  The race schedule is provided on the CMRC website and the hosting mountain websites may have additional information for parking, registration location, and location for the racers to report into.  There are race fees that will be paid to the hosting mountain, when you register via SkiReg or SkiAdmin (depending on the race). Registration forms may be needed on the morning of the race, please confirm with you coach on the specifics for the race. 

What is the training schedule? Training will begin pre-season with dry-land training.  Information on the schedule and time for this training will be provided on the CMRC website as times and dates are scheduled.  Once there is snow on the ground and the mountain opens, training will start at 9am with athletes geared up and ready to load the lifts.  Specific Super-G training will be scheduled and teams will be notified of those training dates.  Mid-week training will take place on Tuesdays.  The coaches will inform you of specific training schedules each week, to assure the correct equipment is available for that training day.

What sort of parent involvement is required? The Crotched Mountain Race Club is a parent volunteer organization. There are a number of volunteer opportunities needed.  The largest demand for volunteer support is on a race day at Crotched Mountain. List and description of roles is available on our web site under Parent Resources. A sign-up will be posted prior to a scheduled race for race day jobs.  Additional support for the club is needed for non-race related jobs, including ATC cleaning and improvements, infrastructure support, training support and fundraising efforts.  Please contact the CM BOD members for further inquiries on parent support.

What is the difference between a “Scored” vs “Non-scored” race and what is an “Open” race? “Scored” competition is applicable to the U16 and above.  U16 (14 and 15 year olds) competition is a transitional step between children’s racing and seeded competition. Eastern U16s compete at the state level in a scored qualifying series for selection to regional events. U16s may compete in USSA scored competitions at the discretion of the coach in order to begin developing a point profile (recommendation is not to exceed 16 starts). Any USSA points earned at these events will be valid as soon as they appear on the USSA points list but may not be used for qualifying or seeding in qualifying events. A current USSA Competitor License is required for access to seeding and points. 

“Non-scored” competition is applicable to the U14 and below.  NHARA Children’s Racing programs provide an opportunity for boys and girls 15 and under, to develop their skills and experience the benefit of competitive alpine ski racing. The Children’s Racing ladder is designed for easy entry to the sport of ski racing and strives to provide appropriate levels of the development and racing experience for each age group. As skills develop, the more experienced racers can advance to regional events and beyond. 

An important organizational element in the U10, U12 and U14 programs, is the grouping of racers and events by Divisions. Divisions are configured with sensitivity to geographical compatibility and manageable field sizes. 

 “Open” races require the parents to register the racers and is not the responsibility of the coaches. In addition to Divisional events, there are extensive opportunities to race in USSA Open Races. The local Open Races are of a type and schedule to have the added benefit of serving as preparation for the Divisional events. Team coaches will communicate the list of races the club will support at the start of each season.

All participating athletes must have the appropriate USSA Membership as well as NHARA Membership. A NHARA membership is not required to enter USSA Open Unscored races. Both memberships are required for NHARA U10-U16 sanctioned events.  Any current USSA Licensed Competitor with a current state affiliation, NHARA member or not, may enter NHARA races (except for the NHARA U16 Qualifier Series) subject to the race organizer’s field size limits and the series specified requirements. The Open Races designated as Macomber Cup, Tecnica Cup, and Spring Series races are subject to the series specified requirements.