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The JIII program is for athletes ages 13 and 14. Athletes recognize the importance of commitment,
dedication, and teamwork, and are beginning to make these life skills and ski racing priorities in
their lives. Athletes train four sessions per week and race slalom, giant slalom, super g and
downhill in USSA*-sanctioned events. Competing and training at the JIII level is essential to the
success of the athlete at the JII and JI levels.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Technical – Athletes already possess strong skiing skills and are using their free skiing skills to
enhance their gate tactics. Athletes must be proficient in USSA’s BASE** test.

Tactics – Athletes continue to improve slalom, giant slalom and super g tactics through the training
of longer courses on more varied terrain and enhance ability to train and race speed through the
addition of the downhill discipline.

Equipment – Coaches help athletes ensure their race and free ski equipment and apparel is quality,
but the primary responsibility now rests with the athlete. Athletes are responsible for making sure
all equipment is race ready and tuned on a regular basis to ensure quality performance.

Physical – Athletes are expected to attend dryland training or be involved in a quality fall program
to build strong muscle groups needed for ski racing. On-snow training will continue to build fast-
twitch and slow-twitch muscles, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, and core strength to enhance ski
training and racing ability. Healthy diet and nutrition and year-round physical fitness are a must to
ensure quality on-snow performance.

Psychological – Coaches will continue to guide athletes in goal setting, mental focus, and inspection,
but with more direction from the athletes. Athletes should be using visualization on a regular basis
as preparation for races.

Terrain – The entire mountain is used for directed and undirected free skiing. Gate training will be
on West Wall lift and Upper Championship.  Paradise lift trails will be used during early morning
training. Terrain parks will be used for super g and downhill skill training.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES (summary)

JIII athletes will focus more on gate training and utilize their free skiing skills to enhance their
gate tactics. The discipline of downhill is introduced at this level. Athletes are expected to be
proficient in USSA’s BASE test. Fall training, either the Ski Club’s dryland or another quality
program, must be a part of the athlete’s preparation for the racing season. Coaches continue to
help athletes with goal setting, mental focus and inspection, but athletes are expected to provide
more direction. Athletes are responsible for tuning and making sure equipment and apparel are
race ready with the supervision of the coaches. Entire mountain is used for free skiing, both
directed and undirected, and terrain parks are used for both super g and downhill skill training.
Training courses are on West Wall lift, Upper Championship and Paradise lift trails.

ACTIVITIES

Undirected        Directed                Drills w/o        Drills        Gate Training        Race                Races
Free skiing       Free skiing           Gates              w/Gates                                  Simulation

5%                   10%                      20%               20%          20%                     10%                15%

ACTIVITIES (summary)

At the JIII level, focus continues to move more towards gate training. Athletes ski the entire
mountain but with more emphasis on drills and USSA’s BASE test. Four training sessions are
offered each week and early morning training is essential to the success of the athlete.

* United States Ski Association is the national governing body for Olympic skiing. Please log onto
www.ussa.org for more information.

** Basic Alpine Skills Evaluation was designed by the U.S. Ski Team to provide ski clubs, coaches,
and ski schools with individual skill tests to monitor skiing progressions and to encourage
systematic development and refinement of fundamental skiing skills.