BSRA Parent Guide

First-Year Parent Guide

Welcome to ski racing! If this is your family’s first season with Brantling Ski Racing Association, you probably have questions. That’s completely normal.
Ski racing has its own language, schedule, equipment, and race-day rhythm. The good news is you don’t need to know it all on day one. Your athlete will learn. You will learn. And we are here to guide both of you.

What to Expect Your First Season

Your first year in youth ski racing is about development, confidence, and learning the flow of the sport. At BSRA, our younger and first-year racers focus on:

Fundamentals and technical skill
Comfort skiing gates
Race-day routine
Team culture and sportsmanship
Building independence

Progress looks different for every athlete. Improvement is measured in skill development and confidence, not just results.

Understanding Age Groups (U8–U18)

Youth ski racing in New York is divided by age as of December 31 of the competition year.

U8 / U10 – Introduction to racing and fundamentals
U12 – Skill refinement and consistent race participation
U14 – Increased competitiveness and sectional-level racing/potential for high school racing if qualified
U16 / U18 – Advanced competition and high school racing/ Section V overlap

If your child is racing for the first time, their season is about learning how to race, not just winning races.

Equipment Basics for First-Year Families

Sanctioned Racers

You do not need the most expensive gear.
For your first season at the U8-U12 ages, focus on:

Properly fitted ski boots (this is most important)
Age-appropriate skis (work with coach to determine size)
A race helmet (must have FIS sticker)
Basic wax and tuning support- or plans to have Brantling tune them at the shop as needed
Race Suit
Warm Jacket
Race Pants (full side zip Snowpants)

As athletes progress, you will need to add additional skis, guards, speed suits, and more specialized equipment.
If you’re unsure, ask. We would rather guide you early than have you overspend unnecessarily.
For U14+ Please speak with your coach to determine the most appropriate equipment as the requirements change with age.

Unsanctioned Racers

You do not need the most expensive gear.
For your first season at the younger ages, focus on:

Properly fitted ski boots (this is most important)
Age-appropriate skis (work with coach to determine size)
A ski helmet
Basic wax and tuning support- or plans to have Brantling tune them at the shop as needed
Race Suit (not required)
Warm Jacket
Race Pants (full side zip Snowpants)- ONLY if wearing a race suit

When in doubt or to verify before purchasing, reach out to your coach or our program director Michele! They all are well versed in the exact needs of each racer based upon their program!

We have many families who rent or buy used equipment! We highly recommend this as your racer is still growing! We have a gear swap page as well as many other local clubs!

As a parent, if your child will be racing at venues other than Brantling (Bristol, Hunt Hollow, Holimont, etc...) we highly recommend you purchase a pair of spikes for your boots if you won't be skiing! The mountains can get slippery to walk on and spikes can make all the difference!

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR NAME ON EVERYTHING

Communication

We communicate through our team App- Heja. We have our schedule where you can notate attendance information, group chats, private chats, etc...

When in doubt, ask. There are no “dumb” first-year questions. Shoot the program director, Michele, or President Caitlyn a message on Heja and they are happy to help!

Response Times & Where to Look First
We communicate mainly through our team app, Heja, where you’ll find:

Practice schedules
Attendance notes
Group chats
Private messages
Coach updates

Before sending a message, we recommend:
Check the latest Heja schedule.

Look at recent team messages.
Ask questions there first — many answers are already shared!

Coaches are frequently on snow or traveling for races. While they read messages daily, responses may not be immediate during peak times. Heja keeps everything in one place so you always have a reference.

Practices

Our training schedule is designed to build confidence, consistency, and race-day readiness.
Practices are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Midweek sessions focus on skill development, technical progression, and repetition in gates. Generally alternating Slalom and GS practices, however if there is a race in the upcoming weekend we may do two types in a row for extra practice.

Saturday Timed Training
Our Saturday practices are especially valuable for first-year racers. For six weeks each season starting the first weekend in Jan, athletes complete three timed runs per Saturday. These timed sessions:

Help racers become comfortable with race-day structure
Build confidence skiing under pressure
Teach athletes how to manage nerves and pacing
Provide measurable progress throughout the season

By running timed courses at Brantling, our athletes gain experience in a familiar environment before competing at other mountains. This structured repetition helps eliminate the “unknown” factor when race day arrives. For many first-year families, these Saturdays are where everything starts to click.

Race Day 101: What Actually Happens

Race mornings can feel overwhelming the first time. Here’s the simple version:

Arrive early.
Pick up your bib.
Athlete inspects the course with their coach.
Two timed runs (usually).
Combined time determines placement.

There are obviously exceptions to the above and that will be communicated clearly prior to each event, when possible.

Parents typically:

Help carry gear
Keep athletes warm
Keep athletes fed
Cheer
Avoid coaching from the side of the course

Coaches handle inspection, strategy, and feedback.
Your job is support and calm energy.

The Parent Role at BSRA

Ski racing works best when:

Coaches coach.
Parents support.
Athletes compete.

We encourage positive sideline energy and trust in the process. Our goal is long-term development, not one weekend results.

First Year Parent Concerns

“My child didn’t finish.”
DNF (Did Not Finish) happens to all athletes — and every racer learns from it. It’s a normal part of development, not a setback.“My child isn’t fast yet.”
Speed comes with technical development and confidence.
“I don’t understand the scoring.”
That’s okay. Your athlete doesn’t need you to be a timing expert.
The first year is about exposure and experience.

Ski Racing Organization

Ski racing is organized at multiple levels, from local club races all the way to the Olympic Games. As a first-year family, you do not need to memorize this structure, but it helps to understand how everything connects.Your athlete will move through this system gradually over time

🌍 International Level
FIS – Fédération Internationale de Ski
FIS governs ski racing worldwide. This includes:

World Cup events
World Championships
The Olympic Games

Older elite athletes compete under FIS rules and earn international ranking points.

🇺🇸 United States Level
U.S. Ski & Snowboard (formerly USSA)
This is the national governing body for ski racing in the United States. It oversees:

Regional competition, National Championships, Athlete development pathways, Coaching standards

The country is divided into three major regions:

Western Region, Rocky/Central Region, Eastern Region

BSRA athletes compete within the Eastern Region structure for our sanctioned racers.

🗽 New York State Level
NYSSRA – New York State Ski Racing Association
NYSSRA governs ski racing across New York State and is divided into two main divisions:

East & West

📍 NYSSRA East Councils: Mountain, Rip Van Winkle, Adirondack
📍 NYSSRA West Councils: Niagara, Central, Genesee Valley

Brantling Ski Racing Association competes within the Genesee Valley Council in the Western Division.

🏔️ Local Clubs in Our Council
These are some of the clubs that BSRA athletes compete against in NYSSRA (AKA Sanctioned) races:

Hunt Hollow Race Team
Swain - Snowmellow
Brantling Ski Racing Association
Bristol Mountain Race Club

What This Means for First-Year Families
In your first season, your athlete will compete locally within our council structure at the U8-U12 level with a culminating event called Kandahar Champs (sanctioned racers only).
As they grow and develop, opportunities may expand to:

Larger regional races
State-level events
National-level competition

The system is designed to support long-term development. Each level builds on the one before it.
For now, focus on learning the flow of race days and enjoying the experience. The pathway becomes clearer each season.

High School Racing

Many BSRA athletes also compete in Section V high school ski racing. Club training provides the most in-depth technical development and consistent gate volume throughout the season. Because we train multiple days per week in both Slalom and Giant Slalom, athletes build strong fundamentals that translate directly to high school competition.
As athletes grow, they often balance both environments successfully. High school racing offers team camaraderie and school pride, while BSRA provides the structured technical training that supports long-term progression. In fact, many of our U14 racers, who are often in 7th and 8th grade, compete at the varsity level for their schools. The foundation built through club training allows them to step confidently into that role.
Our goal is not to choose between club and high school racing. It is to prepare athletes to succeed in both.

Volunteer Expectations

Ski racing is a volunteer-driven sport.
Throughout the season, families may be asked to assist with:

Course setup and tear down
Gate slipping
Race-day hill support
Fundraising events

No experience is necessary. We will guide you. Parent involvement keeps our program strong and allows us to provide high-quality racing opportunities.

Team Culture at BSRA

At Brantling Ski Racing Association, culture matters.
We are committed to building not only strong ski racers, but strong teammates and families. The environment we create on the hill directly impacts our athletes’ confidence and enjoyment of the sport.
Positivity First
Ski racing is challenging. There will be great runs, tough runs, DNFs, cold days, and long mornings.
Our expectation is simple:

We cheer for all racers.
We celebrate effort, not just results.
We support growth over perfection.

Athletes perform best when they feel encouraged, not pressured. The tone on the sidelines matters.

Coaches Coach, Parents Support
We believe in clear roles:

Coaches handle technique, feedback, and strategy.
Athletes focus on learning and competing.
Parents provide calm support and perspective.

The most powerful thing a parent can say after a race is:
“I love watching you ski.”

Volunteer-Driven Program
Ski racing is a volunteer-supported sport.
Throughout the season, we need your help

Respect for All Clubs & Competitors
We compete hard, but we compete with integrity.
We respect:

Fellow racers
Coaches from other programs
Race officials
The mountains that host us

Sportsmanship is not optional. It is foundational.

Why Culture Matters
The skills learned here extend beyond ski racing:

Resilience
Accountability
Leadership
Team support
Work ethic

When athletes look back on their time at BSRA, we want them to remember more than results. We want them to remember how it felt to be part of something positive.

In Conclusion...

Expect:

Cold mornings
Early alarms
Nerves at the start gate
Huge smiles at the finish

The first season flies by. Focus on progress, not podiums.
Welcome to Brantling Ski Racing Association. We’re glad you’re here.