SVSEF Athletes Encouraged to Take a Bite Out of Our Big MAC Program
Seeking to constantly improve and evolve programing for our athletes, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation is offering Mountain Adventure Curriculum, newly designed to complement and offer an alternative experience beyond alpine, freestyle and snowboarding competition. MAC will help athlete's expand their skill set in relation to technical skiing and riding fundamentals, with emphasis on snow safety, backcountry experience and big mountain terrain. Any SVSEF athlete age 15-over is eligible for MAC providing they are currently a member of our alpine, freestyle, freeskiing or snowboarding teams.
MAC athletes will follow the same practices in regard to conditioning, training, and skill acquisition work and the program will have a contact coach within in each discipline. The contact coach is responsible for organizing, communicating, and delivery high-quality and professional experiences in line with standards and core values of the SVSEF.
The fee for MAC is included in regular tuition, but associated curriculum comes with a separate project fee based on participation.
Goals & Objectives of MAC
- Our primary goal as a team is to provide a comprehensive athletic platform for athletes to train, learn, and experience a broad scope of mountain culture.
- We strive to foster a culture of sport and wellness for our athletes. Long beyond the days of an active competitive career, we hope to create lifestyle skills that support healthy living, fitness, and positive physical engagement. The MAC program is designed to provide an avenue for continued participation, experiences and education for athletes who are interested in a wide-ranging experience on skis, beyond competition.
- We aspire to cultivate and celebrate the core values that drive SVSEF’s mission: Passion & Perseverance, Sportsmanship, Citizenship, Teamwork, Creativity and Character.
- We strive to expose our athletes to the rigors and rewards of traveling and competing to locations both far and near. Skiing and riding is defined by community and a sense of adventure. Our goal as a team is to provide age-appropriate travel and skiing opportunities that reinforce the athletic, cultural, and experiential development of our athletes.
Activities and Curriculum
The Mountain Adventure Curriculum will be rooted in skill development with opportunities for athletes to explore the following projects:
- Wilderness First Aid
- Delivered by Wilderness Medicine Institute
- October/November
- http://www.nols.edu/wmi/
- Step One Avalanche Awareness to be coordinated through the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, and the Sun Valley Ski Patrol.
- One-day clinic targeting high-school aged athletes.
- December 5 on Baldy.
- http://www.sawtoothavalanche.com/
- Avalanche 1 Certification or Mountaineering Skills offered through Sawtooth Mountain Guides (SMG)
- December 19-21.
- This three-day avalanche certification program will base from the Williams Peak yurt in the Sawtooth Range.
- The course is limited to 11 students, with three professional guides
- http://sawtoothguides.com/
- Backcountry Experiences in mid-March
- Day trips to the Idaho backcountry with SMG guides and SVSEF coaches.
- Implement and practice associated Mountain Adventure Skills.
- These day trips will be guided professionally by SMG and will present an opportunity to create, experience and execute “real world” application of backcountry skills.
- Blanket Glacier Chalet helicopter drop and touring trip outside of Revelstoke, BC Canada
- March 31-April 4 (not including travel days)
- Group size limited to 12 students
- http://www.blanketglacierchalet.com/#blankethome
- Preference will be given to athletes who participate in the full project lineup.
- Periodic MAC sessions throughout the season designed to support the vision and objectives of the team (skin up Baldy, transceiver part practice and guided big mountain style freeskiing).
For additional details, please contact program directors Scott McGrew or Andy Ware, or call the SVSEF office at (208) 726-4129 ext. 101.
Photo courtesy of Sawtooth Mountain Guides
Team-Specific Air Barn Training Starts Today
Team-specific training begins this week at the Air Barn for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation athletes.
SVSEF Program Director Andy Ware, who heads the freestyle/freeski and snowboard divisions, sent the following correspondence to his athletes.
"Just a reminder that after school Air Barn training begins this week. The schedule is on the SVSEF website calendar, click here; https://svsef.org/events/
I know many athletes are playing other fall sports and that is great. Come join us once your season is wrapped up or if you have a day off and want to come bounce or ramp.
Sessions are $25 per session and I bill your SVSEF account weekly. After-school sessions are now team-specific so check the calendar to see when your team is training.
Please make sure you have renewed your USSA license and completed the SVSEF online registration prior to coming to the Air Barn, which is located at 100 Arrowleaf Road at Community School's Sagewillow Farm.
The new air bag is open and winch is on its way. Athletes can bring skis or snowboards now to get the feel of riding the ramp and we have a rail set up for athletes to try too. I currently do not have any inventory of extra skis or snowboards so athletes must bring their own gear."
For details or additional questions, contact Ware at aware@svsef.org.
Idaho Mountain Express reports on SVSEF expansion of USOC designation
The Idaho Mountain Express today reported on the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's expanding United States Olympic Committee designation as an official Olympic Training Site for four winter disciplines: alpine, cross country. freestyle/freeskiing and snowboard. Click here to read reporter Amy Busek's story.
US Jr. Nationals - Alex LaFleur
Based on his stellar results at U.S. Junior Nationals and overall national ranking, SVSEF Freestyle Team member Alex LaFleur has been selected to attend the 'Young Guns Project' this summer at Utah's Olympic Park. LaFleur, one of three young men chosen for the U15 age group, will work with U.S. Team coaches.
Rising Juniors, Seniors encouraged to apply for True North Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of the Kalik Family, three SVSEF student/athletes will be given merit scholarships covering 50 percent of their tuition for the 2015-16 season. Recipients are chosen solely for merit, financial need is not a consideration. Last year’s honorees were Renee Shapiro, Grace Gorham and Wyatt Smith.
Here is the topic question for this year’s essay:
Has your experience as a member of the SVSEF empowered you and how will you carry this with you into the future?
The True North Award celebrates the spirit of John Randolph Kalik who found his best self in Idaho. Inspired by mountains and starry skies, he discovered inspiration, meaning and purpose. He delighted in joyful fun, transcendence, gratitude, and love. John was killed in a plane crash in 1980 at age 24. We are grateful for John’s legacy and the Kalik Family’s generosity that profoundly and positively impacts the lives of our SVSEF student/athletes.
Student-athletes are asked to submit essays to Jody Zarkos by Monday, June 15. Completed essays may be sent via e-mail to jody@svsef.org, USPS to P.O. Box 203, Sun Valley, Idaho 83353 or fax (208) 3548.
Olympic Day is a program-wide celebration that features field games and relays for SVSEF team members of all ages. Kids are asked to register for the event by clicking HERE.