Adaptive Racing
Adaptive Alpine Racing Program (The VASS Blue Streaks)
The VASS Adaptive Alpine Racing Program is run in partnership with Grouse Mountain Tyee Ski Club. The VASS Adaptive Alpine Race Team is known as “The Blue Streaks”. This program is intended for intermediate to advanced skiers with a physical or intellectual disability who have an interest in ski racing.
For the 2012/2013 season, the program will be divided into two segments, Racing Development and Racing Excellence.
The main focus of the Racing Development (RD) program is to teach basic race skills including basic body position, particularly shoulders and hands, the basic stance for balance and power, learning how to use edge pressure to initiate turns, and learning turn shapes. The RD program will train and race on basic race courses with moderate vertical drop and a moderate number of gates, participating in local races at Grouse Mountain as well as the Rotary GS race at Whistler in April and the Disabled Skiers Association Provincial Championships at Whistler in March. There may be other races at other British Columbia venues. RD Racers use basic race equipment and recreational skis and boots are adequate.
The focus of the Racing Excellence (RE) Program will be to teach advanced racing skills and increasing race experience. These skills include increased angulation, carving, race course analysis, and racing line. The RE Racers will train more frequently on steeper, longer race courses with a greater number of gates, participating in the DSABC Provincial Championships at Whistler in March and the Rotary GS at Whistler in April, possibly the Over-the-Hill Downhill at Silver Star in January, a number of Kokanee Race Series races at Whistler throughout the winter, and possibly the Canadian Masters Championships at Sun Peaks.
The Head Coach must approve a racer’s participation in the RE program, based on the racer’s abilities and desire to race.
RE Racers use racing equipment, namely race skis, race boots, and race suits.
Note that in order to provide more experience and greater opportunities to learn, RD Racers may participate in some of the RE events, with the approval of the Head Coach.
Participants in both the Racing Development and Racing Excellence programs must be able to ski all blue runs from top to bottom without stopping and at an intermediate pace.
The Blue Streaks participate in several ski racing events throughout the season and the physically disabled students may advance onto the British Columbia Disabled Alpine Ski Team as their skill develops. The Blue Streaks receive plenty of gate training opportunities and one-on-one feedback from their coaches with on-hill focus on improving free skiing technique and the technical events of slalom and giant slalom.
Roy Sperling is the new Head Coach and the Assistant Coach will be announced shortly. Roy has coached this program for several years and has obtained his CSIA Level 2 and CADS Level 2. Roy is looking forward to an exciting new season and assisting the Blue Streaks to reach new heights. This program has proven to be an enjoyable and rewarding situation for all.
When:
Thursday evenings from 5:30:PM to 8:30 PM & Saturdays from 7:20AM to 2:30 PM, from early January to April.
Where:
Meet at 5:30 PM on Thursdays & 7:20 AM on Saturdays outside Starbucks at the base of Grouse Mountain .
Fees:
Racing Development: $452 which includes:
$350 – VASS Program Fees (includes coaching & lift passes)
$67 - Tyee Ski Club Membership
$35 – Alpine Canada Membership
Racing Excellence: same as Racing Development plus additional optional costs of travel, accommodation, coaching, and racing.
Fees do not include any required travel, accommodation, or meals to attend out-of-town races. Fees do not include race fees.
Helmets are required for all racers.
For more information contact race@vass.ca
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