Last Updated 13-Oct-09
KStar race program
Head Coach: Tamara Schaupp
Certification: Level 3 Ski Instructor (Austria) / Coach for Kinder and Junior Ski Racing (Austria) / CSCF Development Level Certified (in progress)
Assistant Coaches: Greg Burpee, Cam Harris, James Hawkins, James Lawson, Rob Stitt, Charlotte Whitney
The program is open to ages 8-10 and only recommended for kids with advanced skills or aspirations. Kids must be able to ski dynamically on green and blue runs, as well as be comfortable on black runs. KStar will provide them the opportunity to learn how to race train and prepare for K1.
If your kid is not at the advanced stages of skill development or is not ready for and excited about racing yet, our MountainStar program is a more appropriate fit. The demands of KStar are to be ramped up significantly for 2009/2010 so it would not be fair to the kids that are not ready. Click here for the details of the MountainStar (E2) program.
KStar program is intended for kids whose skills have improved rapidly and are able to focus on making their skis perform. This program starts earlier in the season to provide more time on snow, with training structure and intensity similar to Kinder 1.
While continuing to make the learning fun and promoting the love for skiing, the development of dynamic balance, movement and rythm continues. Kids in KStar will take advantage of race course environments, with competitive situations occuring more often. Alternative off-piste environments (bumps, powder, steeps, jumps) will be fully utilized when conditions allow.
Our expert head coaches design the winter training plan and lay out the developmental priorities to the coaching staff. In return, the coaches expect the kids to have a desire to train hard and focus on the task at hand. Alpine Canada's snowstars program is used as progression and evaluation guideline.
The KStar program starts on snow mid December and runs every weekend till the end of March. Two XMas camps are included in the core program. There will also be extra skiing opportunities during the school spring break.
Families have a few options:
- KStar: Saturday or Sunday plus Tuesday or Thursday evening - Early bird price of 875$
- KStar+: Weekend plus Tuesday or Thursday evening - Early bird price of 975$
The above prices include the online processing and payment fees.
Sunday and Tuesday are busy nights for the club so we ask that you consider Saturdays and Thursdays in your choices. This will allow us to make sure we have sufficient coaching resources available.
Training times for this group are approximately 7:30am-2:30pm on weekends and approx 5:30-8:30pm on weeknights. Coaches meet their groups at the bottom and load up with the kids. (If you are arriving late, it is your responsibility to locate the group on the mtn)
Racing opportunities for this group are on an basic competition level. Home or away race event fees are not included in the program fees. Details on these will be announced in a timely fashion and will be published on our calendar with the race notice.
Grouping requests will not be taken for KStar. Groups will be formed by coaches' assesment of racer's skills and approved by the Program Director. Some grouping changes may occur based on the kids dedication & speed of development throughout the year.
Additional training opportunities will be offered to kids that are working hard, improving rapidly and skiing fast. These opportunities may include training with the K1s and additional training days. The kids will be chosen solely by the coaching staff. The aim of this approach is not to create an elitist group, but to challenge those kids that are ready to take it to a higher level of intensity.
The option to attend all pre and post season camps is strongly recommended for KStars. For info on these opportunities please click here.
Sport science shows us a specific period of opportunity for development of agility, balance and coordination at this age. After 10 years old, (or once they hit another growth spurt) it is much harder to acquire these skills. With this in mind, KStars are also invited to participate in our year-round dryland training activities.
For 2009-2010 KStar Program Schedule: click here
If you have any questions with regards to KStar, please contact Head Coach Tamara Schaupp at kstar@grousetyee.com.