Development Philosophy | Letter From A Parent
Fitness Program | Fees
Athlete/Parent/Coach Conferencing

Huronia Alpine Development Team
Individual Racing K2, J1 and FIS

© 2006 Huronia Alpine Development Team (Ken Ellis)
All rights reserved. No part of this program summary (HADT) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic or mechanical) without the permission in writing from HADT - Ken Ellis.

In partnership with the Mansfield Ski Club Racing Program the HADT will offer comprehensive and enhanced training including racing which exceeds Alpine Canada requirements for "enhanced" programs.

The HADT has been working with athletes and clubs in the Alpine Ontario South Division since 1996 and has over this time placed a number of athletes on the Ontario Development and Provincial Ski Teams, and in 2006 Pat Wright, a four year member of the HADT, graduated from the OST to the CAST (Canadian National Team).

The HADT has the highest level of CSCF certified, full time coaches working in a club program in Ontario, including Ken Ellis the only fully certified CSCF Level IV Coach working in a club program in Ontario. All HADT coaches are dedicated to helping each and every member of the team achieve their full potential as athletes in the sport of alpine skiing.

All HADT programs while meeting Alpine Ontario's requirements can be customized to individual and family needs. The essential elements for all programs include, fitness assessment and extensive dry-land training, pre season on snow camps, eight days of training over the Christmas Break, 3-4 day per week training from January through early April including the March Break, and participation in all scheduled AOS and Ontario K2 & J1 and/or FIS races for which an athlete qualifies for or is invited to.

Huronia Alpine Development Team
K2, Junior & FIS Programs
2006-2007

The HADT is an independent alpine ski team for Juvenile (K2) and Junior (J1 & J2) aged alpine ski racers. HADT is a chartered member club of Alpine Canada and Alpine Ontario. Each member of the HADT competes as an individual athlete in K2, J1/J2 or FIS level competitions.

The HADT runs a variety of year round and seasonal programs. These are comprehensive programs focusing on the development of personal fitness, general athletic skills, technical skiing skills, and fostering an attitude to pursue personal excellence through competition.

The program includes year round fitness training, technical on-snow camps, weekly on-snow training during the winter months (3-4 days per week), and a full competition schedule for a total of 45 to 120 days of coach and athlete contact - depending upon the program selected. The athlete to coach ratio is 5:1 although it may expand to 6:1, but not more.

Athlete Priorities
The HADT believes that young athlete's must pursue their sport within the broader context of their life. Consequently, we promote the following priorities: family first, school second and sport third.

Development Philosophy:
We are a development team - our development philosophy is clear - without well rounded physical fitness and strong technical skills athletes will not develop beyond a limited degree. Physical fitness and technical skills are individually achieved, and comparisons between athletes who are at different levels of maturation and growth is not just inappropriate but is in fact faulty and misleading often doing considerable harm to a developing athlete. The difference in growth, development and maturation of a teenager can be as much as 2 years behind or ahead of their chronological age. In other words, in (young) teens of the same chronological age there can be as much as 4 years difference in growth, development and maturation. Young athletes must be given time to acquire skills and realize their potential at their own rate, not that of their peers, parents and/or coaches. We are a development team - our development philosophy is clear - we are looking at the long-term (3-5 years) development of our young athletes.

“You will never be a better skier than you are an athlete.”

“Supervised free skiing is the cornerstone of basic skiing skill development.”

For K2 athletes (13-14 years of age) gate training days and competitions days should not exceed 40% of the on snow days. Technical achievements are inhibited by the lack of supervised, technical free ski time. A young athlete does not learn to change (improve) their technique during a race or while gate training, this must be accomplished during technical free skiing sessions. Gate training is used for learning about line interpretation and gate clearing skills, neither of which can be accomplished to any substantial degree if the athlete is lacking in athletic and/or technical skills.

Fitness Program
Sessions (1 to 3 days) in each of the months of June, July and August. Individuals will be tested for fitness and general athletic skills and put on specific development programs, which will be monitored and updated as fitness and skills develop.

Individual and/or group (bi-weekly or weekly) sessions during the months of September, October and November.

Daily group sessions during the on-snow camps in August, October and December.

Maintenance program during the winter training and racing season.

Any athlete who wishes to take part in the AOS Fitness Program is encouraged to do so. We strongly recommend that all HADT members take part in the AOS Fitness Testing in the Spring and Fall.

Athlete/Parent/Coach Conferencing:
After the August Camp (September), the Quebec Camp (December) and in early April the athlete, parents, the coach, and the Program Director, will meet to assess the athlete’s progress and review plans for the next period of the athlete’s training and/or racing calendar/future. This may be done either in a formal written report or on a more casual face to face meeting as is requested by each family.

Schooling: Until race schedules are published it is impossible to say exactly what days each week will be training and racing days. However, as much as it is possible training and racing will be done in blocks so as to allow the athletes to attend school in blocks of days as well. For those whose schools are amenable split-semestering is a very effective way of assisting the young student/athlete to manage their study while involved in an extensive athletic program. The Program Director will correspond and communicate with schools if assistance is required.

Per Athlete Costs:
The program costs are based on a team of 18-24 athletes and 5-6 coaches operating for 45 to 120 days depending upon the Programs selected. The Program Director will have overall authority and responsibility for the entire Program.

All first year members are required to pay a Team Initiation Fee of $300.00. This is a one time fee.

Although the Programs are packaged it is possible to customize a Program to meet an individual’s situation.

Inquires and requests for Team Membership for the 2006-2007 season should be directed to Ken Ellis, Program Director, at 705-739-1485 or via email ken@huroniaalpine.com

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