Thunderbolt Youth Training
​2020-2021 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.
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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 6 and 9, 2021. 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 $375
12 sessions / twice per week $4575

PINE KNOB OPTIONS
6 sessions / once per week $375
12 sessions / twice per week $475
18 sessions / three times week $575

Register by mail with the Thunderbolt Brochure or with the online links near the top of this page.
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.

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. It's all about FUN! 
Race camp takes place December 27, 2020 - December 31, 2020 and the cost is $475.00. Beginner Terrain Park Camp takes place December 28-30, 2020 and the cost is $475.00. Drop in for one day at either camp for $150.00. Register by mail with the Thunderbolt Racing brochure or with the online link near the top of this page.

What is NASTAR?

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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.

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.


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We appreciate your patience and understanding with any necessary program changes due to current Covid-19 regulations

Contact Us

Pine Knob Ski School
pkskischool@gmail.com
Phone: 248-625-0800 ext: 4 

Mt. Holly Ski School
mhskischool@gmail.com
Phone: 248-634-3249 

I think the most important thing in skiing is you have to be having fun. If you're having fun, then everything else will come easy to you. - Lindsey Vonn