Welcome to the Team Discovery page!  Team Discovery is the team for young skiers who want to try out racing. 

Team Discovery starts the 2008/2009 season on November 22.  Click here for the 2008/2009 season Team Discovery program flyer.   If you would like more information about racing and want to see if this program is for you, call or email Darryl Whittaker at (970) 726-1678 or in the Denver area call (303) 316-1678.

Congratulations Team Discovery skiers on a great 2007/2008 racing season. One of the really fun aspects about racing on the YSL circuit is that the teams come together for team scoring, everyone plays a part in the team's success. Each year, new skiers emerge with some great results, and we're looking forward to a great year for the 2008/2009 series!

Many Team Discovery racers choose to race in the Youth Ski League (YSL) circuit. Winter Park is a member of the Rocky Mountain Division YSL East Council. Team Discovery racers are encouraged to try out racing in the YSL circuit because we have lots of fun, but it is not required. In order to race any YSL race, each racer must be a USSA member. For the 2008/2009 season, racers born in 1996 or after must purchase a USSA youth membership. For racers born in 1994 or 1995 a non-scored student membership should be purchased. Go to the USSA website or call USSA membership at (435) 647-2666.

For the rules of YSL racing, click here.

Youth Ski League calendar

DATE	LOCATION	DISCIPLINE
Jan 24 & 25	Winter Park	RMD J5 Festival (J5's only)
Jan 25	Ski Cooper	Giant Slalom
Feb 8	Breckenridge	Giant Slalom
Feb 22	Winter Park	Slalom
Mar 8	Summit Cnty TBA	Giant Slalom
Mar 22	Eldora	Slalom
Mar 28 & 29	Breckenridge	Kombi Event
Mar 29	Vail	Giant Slalom (YSL Championships)
Apr 18 & 19	Loveland	Loveland Derby

 

To sign up for these races, go to www.teamwinterpark.net  and click on the Events Sign-Up page after you log in.  You can sign up for the event as soon as we receive the event fact sheet, which is typically 2-3 weeks before the event.  You can also come to the registration table at the base of the stairs to the Competition Center office between 3:00 and 4:00pm on Saturdays to sign up and get more detailed information.  Winter Park has a quota to YSL events and space may be limited.  Sign-up priority is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Once you have signed up for the event (sign up deadline a week before the event), the coaches work to make it easy for you at the race.  At the sign up table at the Competition Center, remember to pick up the race fact sheet and our directions for where to meet the coaches. 

On race day, the coach on-site will take care of picking up race bibs for all Winter Park racers. The coaches will meet the Team Discovery racers at a designated meeting location, usually between 8:00 and 8:30. The meeting location will be listed on the map on the back of the race fact sheet, available in the folders in the Competition Center office.  The map also includes directions on how to get to the ski area, where the best parking is, and more helpful information.

The coach will set a time for all racers to meet at the start of the course to do a group inspection. The coach will inspect the course with the racers, and then set a time to be at the start ready for their race run. Usually the racers will want to take some free runs before and/or after inspection to get warmed up for their race run.

When the race starts, the coach will work at the start to help the racers get their skis on, stay warm, and mentally prepare for the course. This also frees the parents up to watch their racer on course. We appreciate parent's help in taking jackets down to the finish.

After the first race the racers should have lunch on their own. Every race will have two race runs, and usually there will be another inspection before the second race, where the procedure above will be repeated.

Awards are presented to the top ten finishers for each race in the J7 (6 & under), J6 (7-8), J5 (9-10), J4 (11-12), and J3 (13-14) age classes. Awards are typically held 30 minutes after the race is over. Team standings are also tallied, and the top three teams at each race get to come up and claim their trophy.  We encourage all Winter Park racers to stay for the awards and show our team spirit and sportsmanship!

The best source of information is from our great Team Discovery coaching staff. Brian, Andrea, John C, Andi, Jim, John M, Anders & Niki are happy to spend some time with you following training sessions on Saturdays. During the week or in the summer, Program Manager Daryl Whitaker can help you with questions via email at dwhitaker@skiwinterpark.com or phone at 970-726-1591 or 303-316-1591. Race information is posted to www.teamwinterpark.net once we receive it. We also make copies of the complete fact sheets and place them in a folder available at the front desk in the Competition Center office. Looking for the day's schedule? Check the calendar on www.teamwinterpark.net or check the bulletin board in the locker room. And finally, we want our website to be full of the information you're looking for! If something is missing here that you'd like to see, email Jerady Zunno to let us know and we'll get on it!