This program is designed for young kids who have an interest in developing their fundamental skiing skills and want to have a blast ripping around the mountain with other like-minded skiers. Kids are grouped together based on a combination of age (social maturity/compatibility) and skill level considerations. Kids in the Devo Program will concentrate, first and foremost, on focused freeskiing and drills designed to address balance, agility, edging, and rotary skills. Some devo kids will eventually progress further through the Race Program pipeline, graduating to Interclub or USSA racing as U12 or U14, while others will simply enjoy the Devo experience itself and use it to become better all-around skiers.

Experience

Must be able to load the lift independently, and must be able to ski the whole mountain comfortably.

Training

The Devo program takes place exclusively on Saturdays beginning in mid-December and continuing through a total of 10 sessions. During the first session, all kids are evaluated and grouped according to age, skill assessment, free-skiing, coach-ability, and attitude. For the most part, kids should expect to remain with the same group and the same coach for the duration of the program. Each day, activity begins at 9:30am and ends at 2:30pm, with a break for lunch at 11:30am. Please check back for official starting dates.

Competition

Kids will get a taste of racing through occasional timed trials in a Giant Slalom course where they can put their skills to the test and experience friendly competition among their peers. All competitions will be on site at Berkshire East during regularly scheduled activity. No race registration is required.

Experience

There is no strict time-in-grade type prerequisite. Each child’s eligibility and fit with the Interclub program will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In general, most of these kids have typically completed at least a season or two (or more) of the Devo program. More important is the skill, interest, and attitude of the kid and the commitment of the family. 

Training

Training for this program is primarily on weekends beginning in mid-December. A typical training day begins at 9:00am and ends at 2:30pm, with a lunch break around 11:30am. Athletes and coaches work together to develop mutual trust and respect. Athletes are expected to ask questions when they don’t understand or need clarification. Athletes are expected to keep coaches informed of any issues that may impact training or racing performance (e.g. homework, injury, lack of sleep, appointments and other obligations, etc.). It is the combined responsibility of coaches and athletes to make the most of each day out on the hill. Please check back for official starting dates.

Training does not necessarily imply gates

For Interclub, the majority of training, in fact, will not be in gates. Training activity may include gates, fitness, video review, focused freeskiing, drills, powder skiing, glades, etc., at the discretion of the coaches.

Competition

Interclub kids compete in a handful of races at other mountains where they can test themselves against peers from other programs in Western Massachusetts. Most of the races are Giant Slalom. Families are responsible for registering their athletes for competitions. Based upon regular season results, the very top performers from the Interclub League may be invited to the Massachusetts Piche Qualifier, an event used to select a team to represent Massachusetts at the Piche Invitational race at Gunstock, New Hampshire in March. 

Membership

USSA (U.S. Ski & Snowboard), TSASRA (“Tri-state” or Tri-State Alpine Ski Racing Association). Both memberships are required before participating in an Interclub race.

When registering with USSA, the athlete must designate Berkshire East Ski Team (BEST) as their program. Tri-state Membership will be processed automatically as a part of the USSA process.

This program is for kids who are interested and ready to commit to a more intense competitive program. The focus absolutely remains on having fun and developing fundamental skills. However, the level of competition kids will face in this league is decidedly greater than that of Interclub. As participants in this Tri-state series, kids are now part of the national talent development pipeline. As U12s and U14s in this program, our kids will begin to become eligible for training and racing selection and opportunities at a regional and national level.

While we encourage the drive to compete, to improve, and to win, we discourage premature focus on results and elite performance ambitions; more often than not, that approach backfires. If your child shows special promise, we nurture it but stay sober about it. As parents, it’s easy to get excited about the Olympic podium potential of a fast 12-year-old, but at that age (well, at all ages, really), it’s critical to keep it fun!

Our coaches focus first and foremost on improving our young athletes’ technique in short and medium radius carved turns. They will also be exposed to a variety of snow conditions and mixed terrain so that they can further develop an ability to be athletic, dynamic, and make tactical adjustments. Training includes freeskiing all over the mountain in every possible condition, drills to isolate and improve specific skills, and SL and GS gates. Physical conditioning and mental training are also introduced as ways to become better skiers and faster racers.

Experience

While it is not a prerequisite, most of these athletes have participated in our Devo and/or Interclub Programs, or they may have previous experience as a member of another program at another mountain. Ultimately, each child’s eligibility and fit with the USSA Program for U12s and U14s will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Training

Training for this program is primarily on weekends, typically beginning approximately mid-December. During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, we typically offer additional training opportunities to team members. We also typically offer additional training opportunities during the Massachusetts public school holiday period in February.

A typical training day begins at 8:30am. Athletes are expected to help coaches set up and take down courses (only as directed). Athletes are also expected to perform routine stretching and warm-up activities before running a course. Practice usually wraps up at 3:00pm.

Athletes and coaches work together to develop mutual trust and respect. Athletes are expected to ask questions when they don’t understand or need clarification. Athletes are expected to keep coaches informed of any issues that may impact training or racing performance (e.g. homework, injury, lack of sleep, appointments and other obligations, etc.). It is the combined responsibility of coaches and athletes to make the most of each day out on the hill.

Training does not necessarily imply gates

Training activity may involve gates, fitness, video review, focused freeskiing, drills, powder skiing, glades, etc., at the discretion of the coaches.

Competition

Most athletes in this program compete in regular season USSA races in the Tri-state region. Most of these races are Slalom (SL) or Giant Slalom (GS). Please consult the coaching staff when considering participation in speed events or training.

U12 and U14 athletes generally compete in the same series of regular season races in Western Massachusetts against peers from other mountains. While some of these events are here on our home turf, parents should expect to take their children to other mountains for a number of races.

Families are responsible for registering their athletes for competitions.

Athletes have the opportunity to qualify for post-season events to represent the Berkshire East Ski Team and Tri-state at Eastern Regional and National Championships. More information about these events and the qualification methods is available on the Tri-state website and on the USSA Eastern Regional website.

Membership

The appropriate membership(s) need not be purchased before registering for the Berkshire East Program, but they must be purchased before participating in sanctioned events.

When registering with USSA, the athlete must designate Berkshire East Ski Team (BEST) as their program. Tri-state Membership will be processed automatically as a part of the USSA registration process.

Experience

Some USSA or High School race experience before, either as younger members of the Berkshire East Ski Team or as members of another program at another mountain. 

Training

Training for this program is primarily on weekends, typically beginning approximately mid-December. During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, we typically offer additional training opportunities to team members. We also typically offer additional training opportunities during the Massachusetts public school holiday period in February.

A typical training day begins at 8:30am. Athletes are expected to help coaches set up and take down courses (only as directed). Athletes are also expected to perform routine stretching and warm-up activities before running a course. Practice usually wraps up at 3:00pm.

Athletes and coaches work together to develop mutual trust and respect. Athletes are expected to ask questions when they don’t understand or need clarification. Athletes are expected to keep coaches informed of any issues that may impact training or racing performance (e.g. homework, injury, lack of sleep, appointments and other obligations, etc.). It is the combined responsibility of coaches and athletes to make the most of each day out on the hill.

Training does not necessarily imply gates

Training activity may involve gates, fitness, video review, focused freeskiing, drills, powder skiing, glades, etc., at the discretion of the coaches.

Competition

Most athletes in this program compete in regular season USSA races in the Tri-state region. Most of these races are Slalom (SL) or Giant Slalom (GS). Please consult the coaching staff when considering participation in Super G (SG) or Downhill (DH) events or training.

U19+ athletes will generally compete in the U19+ series races in Tri-state during the regular season. There may be a few races outside of Tri-state. These should be selected in collaboration with the coaches.

U16 athletes will generally compete in the U16 series races in Tri-state during the regular season. There may be some U19+ series races (open to U16s) which the coaches recommend. There may be a few races outside of Tri-state. These should be selected in collaboration with the coaches.

Families are responsible for registering their athletes for competitions.

When possible and appropriate, Berkshire East will support athlete participation in FIS events. Berkshire East has a long history of producing elite-level ski racers, and our program is designed to make such ski racing career paths possible.

Athletes have the opportunity to qualify for post-season events to represent the Berkshire East Ski Team and Tri-state at Eastern Regional and National Championships. More information about these events and the qualification methods is available on the Tri-state website and on the USSA Eastern Regional website.

Membership

USSA and Tri-State: The appropriate membership(s) need not be purchased before registering for the Berkshire East Program, but they must be purchased before participating in sanctioned events.

When registering with USSA, the athlete must designate Berkshire East Ski Team (BEST) as their program. Tri-state Membership will be processed automatically as a part of the USSA registration process.

Training

This group will offer training one day per weekend, typically Saturdays, as well as time over the school breaks. The program will be offered from the Saturday prior to Christmas and run for 11 weeks. Training will run from 9:00am–2:30pm, with a break for lunch around 11:30am. In addition to on-snow coaching, athletes will have access to video review, as well as instruction about tuning skis.

Training does not necessarily imply gates

Training activity may involve gates, fitness, video review, focused freeskiing, drills, powder skiing, glades, etc., at the discretion of the coaches.

Competition

This is a training-only group to supplement the training that an athlete does with their school, so there is no race support in this group. Note: In the interest of providing safe, fun, and productive experiences, all training and racing activity is subject to cooperative weather and snow conditions.

Age:  12-16. We would consider including younger athletes, but that will have to be through the coaches discretion to make sure that it is a suitable fit for the skiing level of the group.

Experience:  Previous experience with the DEVO group would give us a better idea of each athletes skiing level.  Athletes should be able to competently ski the whole mountain including being comfortable in bumps, trees and any conditions that Berkshire East can throw at us!

Memberships:  None required

Competition: No planned competition

Training: The All Mountain Training Team will meet on Saturdays beginning in mid-December and continuing for a 10 week period. The training sessions will run from 9:30-2:30 with a break for lunch at 11:30. Please check back for official starting dates.

Note:  In the interest in providing safe, fun and productive experiences, all training and racing activity is subject to cooperative weather and snow conditions.