Mountain Development Program

 
 
Ages 5-14

Mountain Development Program

The Crotched Mountain (CM) Mountain Development (Mtn Dev) Program is our premier program for developing life-long, all–mountain skiers/riders. The 10-week program has skiers and riders in the bumps, glades, parks, and race gates. The snowboard group has the same goals and terrain use as our skier program, including race gates. The Coaches are selected from the Instructor staff for their skiing and riding ability. Coupled with extended coach training, this provides a perfect platform for skier/rider enhancement.

Each group will be divided into teams based on age/ability and will train with the same coach(s) for the duration of the program. We maintain lower coach to athlete ratios in the younger groups but always maintain ratios no higher than 8:1, as recommended by PSIA/AASI. We also have a strict “Kids on Lifts” protocol that keeps our younger athletes safe while loading and unloading our lifts.

To help athletes and families start the program comfortably and informed, we will be doing our "Cocoa With A Coach" the week before the program starts on 12/27 and 12/28. This casual day is a perfect opportunity to pick up passes, ski/ride, try out your new gear, become familiar with the meeting location, and have some hot cocoa with the team! You can also drop off gear to get tuned prior to the season starting. We will also be doing skiing evaluations that weekend to help streamline our week one sorting process. Cocoa With A Coach will be Saturday Dec. 27th and Sunday Dec. 28th from 9-12 in the main lodge.

 

Program Groups
  • Tigers (Skiers ages 5-6)
  • Comets (Skiers ages 7-9)
  • Asteroids (Snowboarders ages 8-14)
  • Future Stars (Skiers ages 10-14)
  • Intro to Freestyle (Skiers ages 8-14)

Please read closely the descriptions of each group to select the most suitable program for your athlete. The first day we have a ski/ride-off, where each athlete skis/rides down the Launch Pad so the coaches can assess skills. Make sure your athlete is comfortable with their equipment and has skied/ridden before the program begins so they are ready and skiing/riding at their best level when evaluated. The groups may be a little “fluid” for the first week or two.

 

Program Dates

All Mountain Development Programs run on the following dates. Once you select your day, that will be your program day. We cannot accommodate make-ups or day switching mid-season.

  • Saturdays or Sundays 9:00am - 3:00pm. Our programs will take staggered lunch breaks between 11:30am - 12:30pm
  • Saturday Dates: Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, Mar. 7 (Make-Up Date: Mar. 14)
  • Sunday Dates: Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, Mar. 1, 8 (Make-Up Date: Mar. 15)
    • Make-up days are triggered only in the event the mountain cancels training for the day
 

Program Options

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Skiers Ages 5-6

Tigers

The Tigers group is geared towards athletes ages 5-6. Choose from a Saturday or Sunday program perfect for younger skiers who are looking to build skills, try new things, and develop all-mountain confidence. Bumps, glades and race gates are all part of the fun! This 10-week program is for skiers who are comfortable riding a chairlift and skiing green terrain unassisted.

Our program culminates week 10 with the 19th Annual Really Big Race. This Dual GS format race highlights the athletes progress made throughout the year, and is fun for the whole family.

Lift access is required and not included in the program cost. A season pass or daily lift tickets will be required. 

Kids Ski School at Vail, CO.
Skiers Ages 7-9

Comets

The Comets group is geared towards our athletes ages 7-9. This Saturday or Sunday program is perfect for younger skiers who are looking to build skills, try new things, and develop all-mountain confidence. Bumps, glades, and gates are all part of the fun! This 10 week program is for skiers who are comfortable riding a chair lift and skiing green and easy blue terrain.

Our program culminates week 10 with the 19th Annual Really Big Race. This Dual GS format race highlights the athletes progress made throughout the year, and is fun for the whole family.

Lift access is required and not included in the program cost. A season pass or daily lift tickets will be required. 

Older children snowboarding with an instructor
Snowboarders Ages 8-14

Asteroids

The Asteroids group is our premiere Saturday or Sunday development program for riders! Athletes ages 8-14 will have the option of choosing two tracks week one:

  • All-Mountain: Explore groomers, trees, bumps, even race gates, and some park
  • Park: Focus mostly on the park with some all-mountain skill building.

Riders may be able to switch their focus mid-season. The season will culminate week 10 with the option for riders to participate in the Really Big Race or our 2nd Annual For The Kids, By The Kids (FTKBTK) Rail Jaim. There may also be opportunities for athletes to enter USASA snowboard competitions depending on team interest. 

Lift access is required and not included in the program cost. A season pass or daily lift tickets will be required. 

Skiers Ages 10-14

Future Stars

The Future Star group is for athletes looking to take their skills up a notch. This Saturday or Sunday program will expose the athletes to bumps, glades, gates and more. We look to push athletes in the program so they can access new terrain and discover what all-mountain skiing is all about.  Athletes should be comfortable on blue terrain and starting to explore black diamond trails.

Our program culminates week 10 with the 19th Annual Really Big Race. This Dual GS format race highlights the athletes progress made throughout the year, and is fun for the whole family.

Lift access is required and not included in the program cost. A season pass or daily lift tickets will be required. 

Skiers Ages 8-14

Intro to Freestyle

The Saturday or Sunday Intro to Freestyle group focuses on the fundamentals of freestyle skiing which include competitive bump skiing and an intro to park skiing. As an intro program, there is also a focus on glades and gates as the training opportunities present themselves. This program is perfect for athletes who are looking to learn more about what competitive freestyle skiing is all about. Skiers should be comfortable on all trails at Crotched Mtn.

The program culminates on week 10 with one of two event options. Freestyle skiers can choose to participate in the 19th Annual Really Big Race or the 2nd Annual For The Kids, By The Kids (FTKBTK) rail jam.

Lift access is required and not included in the program cost. A season pass or daily lift tickets will be required.