PROGRAMS

Thunderbolt Youth Training
2019-2020 Overview

Thunderbolt Training Centers offer ski race training for school-age skiers.
This program will improve your overall skiing ability as well as prepare you to become a serious racer.

Our program includes balance development, gate drills, course tactics, starts and finishes, slalom and giant slalom training, plus individual and video analysis.
All training is implemented using US Ski Teams Training Standards.

Please Note:
Helmet and goggles are mandatory.
Racers clearing gates must have a chin guard.
Hand, shin, forearm, and spine guards recommended.

Picture of high school racing teams. Many of these students are a part of the Thunderbolt racing programs. This photo is of nearly twenty youths dressed in winter ski gear and racing clothes, wearing helmets, skis, goggles, ski boots, and gloves, all smiling at the camera. They are outdoors at Pine Knob on a cloudy day, standing together on the snow on the race hill. You can see chairlifts in the background and the racing shack at the top of the hill.

What is Gate Training?

Gates are thin poles or squat stubs on ski slopes through which skiers pass (if set in pairs) or turn around (if set singly). They are used to produce a course for skiers and offer a variety of challenges. Gates are used for timed races. Coaches train their students to learn how to proficiently navigate the gates on a race course.

Thunderbolt Junior Development Program

What is Junior Development? This is a term commonly used in the racing industry to describe youth programs that are designed to take developing skiers to greater levels. Participants receive instruction on racing, moguls, and working on steeper terrain according to their individual skill level. Some programs travel but we do not. We keep it affordable and fun by keeping things close to home. Students demonstrate their skills by competing in the Sunday Race Series.

This six-week racing program will begin between January 8 and 11, 2020. This is our base level of commitment for skiers of all abilities and race experience. It is for grades K - 8. This program is offered at both Mt. Holly and Pine Knob.

Our successful and most popular program will remain the same plus all Sunday Morning Race Series are included in the price along with a Thunderbolt T-shirt.

Racers will be grouped by age, ski ability and race experience. We will work on free skiing drills each week for 45 minutes and then be in the gates using gate drills and full courses. We will start with Giant Slalom (larger turns) on week one and alternate between slalom (short turns) and giant slalom.

This program begins on January 8, January 9,
or January 11 depending on your registration preferences:

MT. HOLLY OPTIONS
6 sessions / once per week $350
12 sessions / twice per week $450

PINE KNOB OPTIONS
6 sessions / once per week $350
12 sessions / twice per week $450
18 sessions / three times week $550

Mt. Holly Junior Development Training:
Thur 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Pine Knob Junior Development Training:
Wed 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Thur 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

2020 RACING BROCHURE

HOLIDAY CAMPS

Join one of our popular Holiday Race Camps in late December. Choose the Thunderbolt Race Camp designed to give both competitive and recreational ski racers early season gate training and coaching. Or try the Beginner Terrain Park Camp to begin learning how to use Pine Knob's awesome terrain parks. These camps typically take place between December 27 and 31. Watch our website and social media for updates beginning in the late autumn and to reserve your spot. It's all about FUN!

What is NASTAR?

NASTAR stands for National Standard Race and is the largest public grassroots ski racing program in the world. Founded in 1968, NASTAR gives recreational racers an opportunity to compete and compare their scores to friends and family regardless of when and where they race using the NASTAR handicap system.
Visit the NASTAR website and learn more.

NASTAR RACING AT PINE KNOB

Enjoy unlimited NASTAR racing for $220.00 at Pine Knob for the entire 2019-2020 Season.

PURCHASE UNLIMITED NASTAR AT PINE KNOB

What is Pinnacle Racing?

Founded in 2008, Pinnacle Racing is a non-profit educational alpine ski racing program dedicated to providing elite levels of coaching and training in a competitive environment. We are dedicated to giving each athlete the optimal training experience by providing both on and off snow guidance, one- on- one or small group coaching, and state of the art facilities. Pinnacle is an USSA Central Region III club.

Pinnacle Race Program Calendar

ALL RACERS - PLEASE NOTE:
Helmet and goggles are mandatory.
Racers clearing gates must have a chin guard.
Hand, shin, forearm, and spine guards recommended.