The Philosophy

• To develop the knowledge, ability, and commitment to enhance the athletesʼ success as a ski racer and to promote the love and respect of a life long skier.

• To develop the character and personal integrity to enhance the athletes’ success as being a part of the skiing community that we belong to. 

• Good fundamentals and technique will yield fast skiing.  

The Process

• The LVCP does not live by rules, we live by tools. 

• As coaches, we will give you multiple tools. It is our responsibility to teach you how to use these tools. 

• As a part of training, there are multiple coaches with extensive ski racing experience will help to provide a variety of perspectives to collectively contribute to the same goal. It is our goal that all athletes learn how to process this information in their own way. It is about finding the right words that help you to understand the goal.  

The Tool Box

• Respect

• Patience

• Determination

• Passion

• Courage

• Accountability

• Knowledge 

• Awareness

Respect

All members of LVCP, will learn respect. Respect for yourself, for your team, for your mountain, for parents, and for everyone that LVCP interacts with. You are a representation of LVCP whenever you wear the colors.

Patience

We all have to stop and breathe.  We have to help our athletes understand that it takes time and practice, and that there is a plan beyond what they may not conceive. Be understanding of your surroundings, ski with a purpose.“It’s not how fast you can do it. It’s how slowly you can do it correctly.”

Determination

Determination means going to practice and giving 100% every day, being

prepared for training, races, and anything else life throws at you.  Progress cannot be made unless obstacles are overcome. Obstacles cannot be overcome, unless you have the willpower to work for it. Determination is facing all of those obstacles.

Courage

Courage means embracing your fears. We encourage this in all aspects. We challenge you to try new things, to fall, to get up when you fall and finish the course. Try to feel something different. Push yourself to do something you don’t normally do. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for help.

Accountability

If you are on time, present, open, and willing to learn and try new things, you will find success. That may be uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and feel awkward. Sometimes that means it might be slower at first, but it is working towards a fundamental skill that will contribute to speed. 

Work hard! You only get out what you put into it.

• Be a sponge, all coaches have knowledge and experience, soak it up.

• Listen to what they tell you, you will learn something.  

• Ask for feedback.

• Ask for clarification.

Knowledge (technical/tactical)

You can’t do it better if you don’t understand it. The goal is to further develop your knowledge of skiing, racing, terminology,  and rules. Ski technique, racing tactics are a part of how to make you go faster. There is a learning curve.  Skiing uses not only your muscles but also your brain. The most critical aspect of a future ski racer is the mastery of technical free skiing skills and drills in all snow conditions. Learning course inspection and assessing where to start the turn, finish the turn, how to prepare for changes in terrain, changes in gate rhythm (tactics) can only happen once the technical skills are mastered outside of the course. 

Awareness (internal/external)

Distraction in any circumstance is the first thing keeping someone from achieving their goals. You must have focus and awareness. Awareness of your body and how it affects your technique. Awareness of your surroundings and how to remain safe at all times. Awareness of your goals and what you are currently working on to improve your technique.