PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION
The club is dedicated to fostering fun, enjoyment, and excellence in freestyle skiing, instruction, coaching, and competition for competitive and non-competitive skiers in our region. Nationally, freestyle skiing disciplines including aerials, halfpipe, moguls, and slopestyle/big air, and most recently freeride (skiing big mountain alpine faces). Most skiers in our club have traditionally participated in slopestyle/big air (park skiing and big air) and moguls, for which the club has easiest access to terrain, features, facilities, and coaching. We are sanctioned and operate according to Freestyle BC, our Provincial Sport Organization (PSO), and Freestyle Canada, our National Sport Organization (NSO). We teach freestyle skiing and need participants to arrive already having sufficient downhill skiing ability—which can be learned at local snow schools and which we continue developing in Fundamentalz and Freestylerz programs. Our coaching develops needed technical skiing elements as well as specific and greater opportunity for freestyle skier development towards competitions and long term sport for life.
We expect our coaches, athletes, and parents to:
Uphold a culture of safety and respect on and off the hill
Create an environment that is encouraging, fun, and supportive for everyone
Refrain from and actively counter bullying or harassment when it’s encountered
Be positive, do the best they can, learn from mistakes, and celebrate success
Registration
The SnowReg online portal is used by local clubs as well as Freestyle Canada and Freestyle BC for programs as well as events.
General Scheduling
For 2023-2024 all on-snow Northern BC Freestyle Club programs run Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:00 – 8:00 at the Hart Ski Hill, as well as Saturdays all day 9:00 am – 2:30 pm (alternating between the Hart and other local mountains –Troll and Murray Ridge).
Freestyle BC Licenses (Mandatory for all participants)
Your child MUST purchase an athlete license from Freestyle BC. You only need to purchase this once annually. Memberships run July 1 to June 30 each year. The membership is for insurance purposes; additionally, it enables tracking of athlete points (from competitions) and certification of inverted and off-axis qualifications (i.e. inverted manoeuvres like front or back tucks performed in training and competition).
If your child will not compete at all you can purchase the Club Athlete license ($115).
If your child will compete in the Timber Tour category (ages 12 +) or beyond, you must purchase the
Provincial Athlete license ($195).
You will be prompted to purchase a license when you register (linked in SnowReg), or you will need to provide this before programing starts after your child has been acceptance following assessment day.
Clothing and Equipment
Athletes provide their own clothing and ski equipment (helmet, goggles, skis, boots, poles), skis must be suitable for freestyle for the skier’s level and discipline. Twin-tips are highly recommended for slopestyle (which we do a lot of), but not necessary when starting FUNdamentalz, for moguls, or always the best choice for all-mountain skiing. All equipment needs to be in good working order. Clothing must be able to handle snow, cold, and poor weather conditions, and should not risk catching or tangling in ski lifts. Proper ski helmets are mandatory. Our athletes will wear club bibs or team jackets while skiing with the club. If you need advice on clothing or equipment, let us know.
We expect our coaches, athletes, and parents to:
Uphold a culture of safety and respect on and off the hill
Create an environment that is encouraging, fun, and supportive for everyone
Refrain from and actively counter bullying or harassment when it’s encountered
Be positive, do the best they can, learn from mistakes, and celebrate success
Registration
The SnowReg online portal is used by local clubs as well as Freestyle Canada and Freestyle BC for programs as well as events.
General Scheduling
For 2023-2024 all on-snow Northern BC Freestyle Club programs run Monday and Wednesday evenings 6:00 – 8:00 at the Hart Ski Hill, as well as Saturdays all day 9:00 am – 2:30 pm (alternating between the Hart and other local mountains –Troll and Murray Ridge).
Freestyle BC Licenses (Mandatory for all participants)
Your child MUST purchase an athlete license from Freestyle BC. You only need to purchase this once annually. Memberships run July 1 to June 30 each year. The membership is for insurance purposes; additionally, it enables tracking of athlete points (from competitions) and certification of inverted and off-axis qualifications (i.e. inverted manoeuvres like front or back tucks performed in training and competition).
If your child will not compete at all you can purchase the Club Athlete license ($115).
If your child will compete in the Timber Tour category (ages 12 +) or beyond, you must purchase the
Provincial Athlete license ($195).
You will be prompted to purchase a license when you register (linked in SnowReg), or you will need to provide this before programing starts after your child has been acceptance following assessment day.
Clothing and Equipment
Athletes provide their own clothing and ski equipment (helmet, goggles, skis, boots, poles), skis must be suitable for freestyle for the skier’s level and discipline. Twin-tips are highly recommended for slopestyle (which we do a lot of), but not necessary when starting FUNdamentalz, for moguls, or always the best choice for all-mountain skiing. All equipment needs to be in good working order. Clothing must be able to handle snow, cold, and poor weather conditions, and should not risk catching or tangling in ski lifts. Proper ski helmets are mandatory. Our athletes will wear club bibs or team jackets while skiing with the club. If you need advice on clothing or equipment, let us know.
FUNDAMENTALZFocus: Fundamental freestyle skiing skills (formally Jumps & Bumps)
The FUNdamentalz program includes technical skiing, jumps/air, slopestyle (park), and moguls development all while having a whole lot of fun! To register, skiers need to be able to consistently ski parallel on blue level trails, and load and stay on T-bar, plater lift, and chair lift (if you’ve had access). The program runs Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Hart Ski Hill, as well as all-day Saturday (alternating between the Hart and other local mountains – usually Troll and Murray Ridge). The program runs 10 weeks starting Wed. January 3rd and ending Mon. March 11th . The program cost does not include ski lift tickets/passes, food, or transportation to and from the hill. Cost: $450.00 |
FREESTYLERZFocus: Skill development and introduction to competition
The Freestylerz program continues technical skiing, jumps/air, slopestyle (park), and moguls development, which are needed for athlete development and introduction to competition. We also have piles of fun! To register, skiers should be confident skiing parallel on black level trails, and be comfortable using all types of ski lift on their own. The program runs Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Hart Ski Hill, as well as all-day Saturday (alternating between the Hart and other local mountains usually Troll and Murray Ridge). If desired and available, these athletes may choose to participate in club events, regional competitions, as well as BC Freestyle Super Youth events (ages 6-12), though this is not an expectation. The program runs 10 weeks starting Wed. January 3rd and ending Mon. March 11th . The program cost does not include ski lift tickets/passes, food, or transportation to and from the hill. Cost: $450.00 |
GIRLSTYLERZFocus: Skill development and introduction to competition
Girlstylerz caters to athletes who identify as female, and who are looking for a welcoming and accessible introduction and skill progression. The program supports and increases women and girls’ participation and excellence in freestyle. Girlstylerz is part of the Freestylerz program and continues technical skiing, jumps/air, slopestyle (park), and moguls development, which are needed for athlete development and introduction to competition. To register, skiers should be confident skiing parallel on black level trails, and be comfortable using all types of ski lift on their own. If desired and available, these athletes may choose to participate in club events, regional competitions, as well as BC Freestyle Super Youth events (ages 6-12), though this is not an expectation. Note: Every attempt will be made to create a “Girlstylerz” program from interested registrants; doing so will depend on registration numbers. If it is not possible, participants will join our Freestylerz program. When available, The program runs 10 weeks starting Wed. January 3rd and ending Mon. March 11th at the Hart Ski Hill, as well as all day Saturday (alternating between the Hart, and other local mountains – usually Troll and Murray Ridge). The program cost does not include ski lift tickets/passes, food, or transportation to and from the hill. Cost: $450.00 |
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Focus: Technical development, team cohesion, and competition
The Development Team (11+) builds our group of highest-performing athletes. In the team, freeride athletes (11+) may be less competition focused (but can still compete in some events) while wanting to develop and enjoy their skills while shredding more of the mountain. Other athletes (12 +) are more competition focused while developing their disciplinary skills and representing the club at local, regional, and/or Timber Tour events (usually ages 12-19). Freestyle BC events at this level (e.g. BC Winter Games) often require participation in all disciplines (moguls, slopestyle, big air, and halfpipe). Athletes may go on to compete in higher levels or decide to turn their attention to instruction and coaching. The program runs Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Hart Ski Hill, as well as all-day Saturday (alternating between the Hart and other local mountains – usually Troll and Murray Ridge). The program runs 10 weeks starting Wed. January 3rd and ending Mon. March 11th. Program cost does not include ski lift tickets/passes, food, or transportation to and from the hill, nor for events and other camps and their cost of registration. Note on inverted maneuvers. Over time, the club will help athletes train and work towards their Freestyle BC certification of inverted and off-axis maneuvers. Getting certified, however, may involve additional camps, trips, costs, and our own coach development. Important information about the qualifying process can be found in Freestyle Canada’s Air Qualification System. Operating outside of the air qualifying system jeopardize safety, gets athletes disqualified from events, and risks closing programs and the club. This system enables athletes to do exceptional things, while improving their relative safety. Cost: $450.00 |
TRAMPOLINE AND DRYLAND
Focus: fitness, fun, and technical progression in control and maneuvers in the air.
Working on stamina, strength, balance, and agility all benefit kids’ freestyle skiing. Trampoline training is essential to advancing awareness, skill, and ability in the air while learning and refining tricks for the hill. Trampoline work supports and leads to practicing on air bags and/or water ramps. For inverted maneuvers (flips, tucks, corks) trampoline work is the first step towards qualifying for snow. Trampoline work starts February 2nd, 2024. One 90 minute session per week on Friday nights from 7pm to 8:30pm. We train at the Hart Community Centre at 4900 Austin Rd. Price is for 1 month (4 weeks) training with two 90-min sessions weekly. Bring a water bottle. Wear athletic wear with socks. Bring Running shoes. Please leave outdoor boots inside by the front door. Cost: $120/month |
ADDITONAL CAMPS
Periodically, additional training opportunities arise that can help support our athletes. We will try to
communicate and coordinate participation in these with our athletes and parents/guardians. Costs will
be additional, based on the event/opportunity.
communicate and coordinate participation in these with our athletes and parents/guardians. Costs will
be additional, based on the event/opportunity.