MT. HOOD ACADEMY
MT. HOOD H.E.A.T.
Junior & FIS Programs
2009 - 2010
Team Applications

MHSEF athletes have earned numerous Junior Olympic and Junior Championship medals, and have won many individual and team titles in PNSA, including J3 Series titles and Northwest Cup titles.
      
The MHA Alpine Team is the primary training program for J3 athletes, ages 13 & 14, where these young ski racers are introduced to the classified racing system of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA).   J1/J2 athletes, ages 15 to 19, who need weekend training and want to compete in local USSA races, train on the MHA Alpine Team.  Often, this is a good fit for racers who also compete on their Oregon high school ski teams.
      
New this year, the Mt. Hood HEAT is the full-time training and racing program for athletes aspiring to the Junior Championship and FIS levels of ski racing; this is Mt. Hood’s premier full-time training program.  HEAT (Hood Elite Alpine Team) provides year-around athlete management, training camps, and competition support to athletes at the FIS level, ages 15 and older.  Second-year J3 athletes may join HEAT for full-time training and special training projects.

MHA Alpine team

Working with coaches, members of the MHA Alpine Team create a race schedule from the divisional USSA competitions. Any racer, new or experienced, is welcome to participate.

Weekend training begins the 2nd week in November and continues through early April.  Additional training days are included during holiday breaks.  MHA Alpine Team athletes are also invited to participate in fall training camps on Mt. Hood's Palmer Snowfield, and a November training camp in Canada. (Check the web site's training calendar.)  Athletes are encouraged to participate in the scheduled “Academy Weeks” throughout the winter, taking advantage of MHA’s academic program while training mid-week.  Additional training fees are charged for early season training, camps, and “Academy Weeks.”

J3 Athletes
The MHA Alpine Team is the primary training group for J3 athletes.  Training is designed to prepare racers for the first competitive level of USSA racing.  Competitors who are graduating from the Mitey Mite level will find this a great way to get started in USSA classified racing.   J3 athletes travel together to PNSA J3 races.  They do not have an extensive race schedule, traveling off Mt. Hood only 2 or 3 weekends each season. 
      
J3 athletes are welcome to train with the HEAT program, either full-time or part-time, however, 1st year J3 athletes will need prior approval from the coaches.  Full-time HEAT includes regular mid-week afternoon training, Wednesday through Friday.  Part-time HEAT includes Friday afternoon training as well as “Academy Week” training.  J3 athletes participating with HEAT will still race with the other J3s and regularly train with the J3s on weekends.  Also, J3 athletes will only pay the HEAT training fee.  (See below for information on the Mt. Hood HEAT.)

J1/J2 Athletes
J1/J2 athletes are encouraged to train either full-time or part-time with the HEAT program.  However, J1/J2 athletes skiing for a high school team and who primarily plan to race only in local PNSA competitions are welcome to join the MHA Alpine Team. 
      
FIS-age athletes, 15 years and older, who plan to compete in the regular PNSA schedule of races, and who wish to qualify for regional FIS events and championship events, should train either full-time or part-time with HEAT.  (See below for information on the Mt. Hood HEAT.)

MHA H.S. Training Group

The Academy’s High School Training Group is for racers who primarily compete on their high school ski teams, but want additional training opportunities.  Some Training Group racers compete in local USSA events, as well.  Additional race and travel fees apply when athletes attend USSA competitions.

Two different lengths of training season are available; the 3-Month Training Group begins on the first Sunday in December and continues through February, the 2-Month Training Group begins on the first Sunday in January and continues for 8 consecutive Sundays.  All training emphasizes skill development and includes Slalom and G.S. training, aligned with the high school racing schedule.

Mt. Hood H.E.A.T.
Hood Elite Alpine Team

Mt. Hood Heat brings together alpine athletes who are striving to compete at the F.I.S. and Junior National levels of alpine competition, and who desire a full-time training program and year-around racer management. In order to provide the best possible service and support to local elite competitors, HEAT will utilize the many natural resources that Mt. Hood offers: winter training at Mt. Hood Skibowl and Mt. Hood Meadows, early season and speed training at Timberline, and summer training on the Palmer Snowfield.

HEAT Full-time
Full-time winter training begins the 2nd week in November and continues through mid-April.  Regular training includes Wednesday through Friday afternoons and weekends.  Early season training on Palmer is included, as well as coaching at special training camps and projects throughout the season.  Second-year J3 athletes are also encouraged to train full-time with HEAT.  These J3 athletes will travel and race with their J3 teammates, and may elect to return to their J3 programs for weekend training.

Attendance at Mt. Hood Academy is not required to participate with HEAT, however HEAT will work closely with the Academy’s accredited boarding school to coordinate academics with full-time training and racing.  Athletes not enrolled in Mt. Hood Academy will need to submit an academic plan for approval.  For more information on MHA’s academic program please email Mary Gunesch or go to Academics.

HEAT Part-time
Athletes participating in HEAT Part-time will train Friday afternoons and weekends beginning in mid-November and continuing to mid-April.  Afternoon training generally begins at 1:30pm.  Training at “Academy Weeks” during the winter is also included.  Preseason training, and coaching at early season training camps is not included. 

HEAT part-time and full-time athletes train and travel together, and compete together at races.  J3 athletes are also invited to train part-time with HEAT.  Regular J3 program training fees are included in the HEAT training fee.

Team Applications