Race day
Early, cold, and worth it.
The first thing you learn about US Ski races: the schedule is subject to change. Midwest winter sees to that. Show up on time, with a good attitude, ready to ski race.
A typical US Ski race day
An ideal day, hour by hour.
The course crew works hard to hold this schedule. Snow, ice, warmth and rain can all move it, so treat inspection time as your anchor.
- 7:00 AM
Arrive and sign in
Athletes arrive. Volunteers sign in at the race office.
- 7:30 AM
Warm up
Coach-supervised warm-up on the hill and gate training.
- 8:15 AM
Racers' meeting
Daily goals and the day's schedule, reviewed with the coaches.
- 8:30 AM
Course inspection
Racers inspect the course with their teammates, checking in with coaches stationed along the way. Be in place by inspection, for your racer and for your volunteer job.
- 9:15 AM
Run 1
The first race run. Find the coach at the bottom, then go see mom and dad.
- 11:30 AM
Course set for run 2
Time to eat, hydrate, free ski with a teammate and change into dry layers.
- 12:00 PM
Inspection, run 2
A new course and a new plan. Coaches check in on the hill.
- 12:45 PM
Run 2
The second race run. Thank the volunteers on your way down.
- 2:45 PM
Load the car
Between 2:45 and 4:00 PM, head home or to your lodging.
The night before
Pack the night before.
Race mornings are early, dark and cold. Being organized the night before is the single best way to make the morning calm.
- A good night's sleep. Everything else gets easier.
- Boot bag and equipment ready before bed. Gear laid out by the racer.
- Breakfast planned, snacks and lunch packed. Food at the hill isn't always the healthiest.
- Lift ticket bought ahead when the resort allows it. Ask about racer rates and two-day passes.
- Find the inspection time in the schedule, and plan the drive around it.
U14 race days run two to four runs, usually in a single discipline, with the same rhythm: inspection, race, break. The day's schedule comes out the night before, after the coaches' meeting.
For racers
10 tips for a great race day.
Get a good night's sleep.
Pack snacks and a healthy lunch.
Have your boot bag and equipment ready before you go to bed the night before.
Always warm up on the trainer course.
Check the race order after warm-up.
Know where and when to meet your coach for inspection.
Free ski between races with a teammate to stay warmed up.
Introduce yourself to the person ahead of and behind you in line before your race run.
Find the coach at the bottom of the hill right after you cross the finish line. Get their feedback, then go see mom and dad.
Thank the volunteers.
On the hill
Where the coaches actually are.
Coaches teach routines, not just instructions: morning warm-up, inspection, pre-run and post-run. Here is what they are doing during each run.
At the start
Helping athletes get in line, overseeing their pre-race routine, and giving one or two cues for the run ahead.
Mid-course
Shooting video and watching technique. The middle of the course is where a coach sees the most of your racer's skiing.
At the finish
Asking questions that help the racer reflect, setting a positive tone for the next run, and sending them to the mid-course coach.
For parents
Let your racer own race day.
Get them to the morning meeting on time. That part is yours.
Remind them the equipment is theirs. Some racers need more help than others getting gear to the venue.
Point them to a teammate or coach when they don't understand the schedule.
Learn a volunteer job. Most racers want independence and want to know you trust them to be where they need to be.
Set micro-goals together. One specific thing to work on at each race, and celebrate progress toward it.
Track the whole season, not each race. The top 50 can be separated by a second or two.
Send results questions to the coaches. If your racer is unhappy with a run, encourage them to talk it through with their coach.
Celebrate the small wins. Personal bests and progress, not only the outcome.
Find the coach at the bottom of the hill. Get their feedback, then go see mom and dad.
Venue guide
Know the hill before you go.
Tips from returning Team Gilboa families, with drive times from the Twin Cities. Book lodging early; many hotels fill before the season starts.
Frequently asked questions
Afton Alps, Afton, Minnesota (50 minutes)
Owned by Vail Resorts and included in the Epic Pass. Otherwise, buy tickets online ahead of time. Check ahead whether the Gilboa tent can be set up.
Giants Ridge, Biwabik, Minnesota (3 hours 15 minutes)
On-site lodging is limited to The Lodge and The Villas at Giants Ridge, and sells out. Off-site is 20 to 30 minutes away. Breakfast doesn't open until after inspection starts, so bring breakfast or snacks. This race tends to be cold. Pack, and wax, accordingly. The Gilboa tent can be set up.
Granite Peak, Wausau, Wisconsin (3 hours)
Hotels are 5 to 10 minutes from the mountain. Buy a multi-day pass to skip the long outdoor ticket line in the morning. Reserve dinner ahead; local restaurants fill up on race weekends.
Lutsen Mountains, Lutsen, Minnesota (4 hours)
Can be cold. The GS hill usually isn't reachable on foot; slalom usually is. Buy a lift ticket to ski over to the race hill, or ride the gondola and walk to the GS venue.
Mt. La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin (2 hours)
Hotels are in town, 10 to 15 minutes from the hill. Consider arriving with boots on. The lodge is small and crowded on race days, so bring food. Plenty of restaurants in town for dinner.
Snowriver Resort, Wakefield, Michigan (5 hours)
Formerly Indianhead and Blackjack. Drive through Superior, Wisconsin. Jackson Creek Summit and Black River Basin are about 10 minutes apart; stay at the area where your racer's age group races. On-site lodging sells out early. The Gilboa tent can be set up.
Spirit Mountain, Duluth, Minnesota (2 hours 15 minutes)
Families split between the hotel next to the hill and Canal Park, 15 to 20 minutes away. Parking fills quickly, so arrive as early as you can. The lodge sits at the top; the race is on the hill below. Skis make watching easier.
Welch Village, Welch, Minnesota (50 minutes)
Cafeteria-style and bar food on site.
Wild Mountain, Taylors Falls, Minnesota (1 hour)
Cell reception is patchy. Download tickets before you arrive. Food service was renovated in 2023-24 and is still busy. The Gilboa tent can be set up.
First race weekend
See you in the start gate.
Hotel suggestions for each venue are in the parent guide.