Skip to main content
HomeU14 - Ski Academy (Grade 8/9)

Ski Academy for Grade 8/9 Students (ages 13 and 14)

Ski Academy 2023/24 Program Description 

 

Dates: Program Starts week of Sept 18, 2023 and concludes the week of May 20, 2024.

 

Registration: Opens early June and will close the last week of June. Exact dates tbd. 

 

Open to: Athletes who will be in grades 8 and 9 in September 2023. A minimum of 6 participants are required. If the minimum of 6 participants is not filled by the registration deadline at the end of June, we will open registration in July to athletes who are entering Grade 7 in September 2023. 

 

Skiing Ability/Prerequisite: All athletes must be capable of skiing confidently in all types of terrain at Kicking Horse.

 

Description  

The GKHAT Ski Academy Program runs from September to May, and is designed for skiers who want to be the best skiers they can be, learn what it takes to train at a competitive level, and build the skills needed to be a high level skier in any discipline. The program covers 32 weeks from Mid September to late May (exclusive of Christmas and March Break).

 

During the preseason (Sept-Nov) and postseason (after KHMR closes) there will be one dry land session per week spent on strength & conditioning, outdoor activity, athletic literacy, team building and more. Dry land sessions will take place on one afternoon during last period of the school day 2:00-4:30.

 

Once conditions allow, we will head to Lake Louise for afternoon sessions starting in November. And as soon as Kicking Horse opens, we’ll be training at home. On-snow training will be one afternoon each week and will include time on technical ski improvement, racing & gates environments, and all-mountain skiing.  Ski Sessions will take place on Thursday afternoons which rotate between school days 1 and 2. Sessions start at 12:30 (immediately after the high school lunch hour) and run to the end of the ski day (3:30 early season and 4 once the lift hrs extend mid season). 

 

Once Kicking Horse shuts the gondy doors for the last time in the Spring, we will get a few more sessions at Lake Louise before transitioning back to dryland activities for the remainder of the program.

 

The Goals of the Ski Academy Program are to give athletes the building blocks of what it takes to succeed as an athlete and in life: skillfulness, physical capacity, knowledge of how to train, general athletic literacy, teamwork skills, self drive and ability to focus, enjoyment of the process and so much more. 

 


 

BC Alpine Insurance

Athletes will require either the standard BC Alpine insurance or the National Competitors card. Select the National Competitor card if your athlete intends to race in competitions and would like to accumulate points for Provincial races.


BC Alpine Ski Association requires athletes under the age of 18 a parent or guardian to be a general member of the association ("Parent Insurance"). Please be sure to select this in Step 1 of the registration process.

Necessary Equipment


Non-Skiing Training

  • Running / Active wear shoes. Good for outdoors and trails
  • Small backpack with water snacks 
  • Mountain bike with Helmet and associated equipment (not all the time but used for a couple sessions)


Skiing Training

  • Skis GS race / Carving skis
  • All Mountain/ Powder skis
  • Helmet
  • Ski boots
  • Poles
  • For more info on ski equipment refer to the GKHAT Parent Handbook
  • Kick Horse ski pass
  • Lake Louise ski pass (youth early bird options were around $300 last year in early fall)

 Annual Fee

Program Cost: $1300 (BC Alpine Fees will be added at time of registration).
The cost of the program includes coaching, GKHAT van use for some program activities, and does not include things such as equipment*, lift tickets (Golden, Lake Louise), BC Alpine fees + Parent Insurance (General Member).

Financial Assistance

Please contact financialassistance@gkhat.ca for income support if cost of the program is a barrier to your family participating.

To Register

IMPORTANT NOTE... The fine print!

Payment is required before the program starts. If this affects your ability to participate in the program please contact us at financialassistance@gkhat.ca

No refunds can be issued except in the case that GKHAT is unable to offer the program either due to COVID or other program related issues.

GKHAT SPONSORS
Legion
Oxner2