U14
Parent Guidelines
Introduction
Top tips
Performance
Time on task
Best camps
Equipment
Facts and figures
This is the stage when young sporty kids become aspiring athletes. We should refer to them as ‘young athletes’ from now on. The emphasis is still on refining the fundamentals and consolidating skiing and snowboarding technical skills. Developmentally appropriate tactics become more important.
This age can still be the entry level into the sport for some, so these athletes may need to be trained and coached at the u12 level for a bit longer.
Sophie Anderson, ranked number one U14 in SG 2019/20
Top tips
U14s
Here are some invaluable tips for parents from the best coaches in the business.
Andy Freshwater
Hey Andy…
What are your top tips on snow for U14s?
Make a list of what you need to cover for the next day (technical, tactical and equipment).
What are your top tips on camp for U14s?
Write down your key words, like FORWARD or OUTSIDE SKI, on your pole or pole guard.
And what about equipment for U14s?
You need to be looking at getting boot fit. If you are going to a camp in the summer then get it done before that camp, with insole and some shaping as a minimum.
A very useful bit of kit is a boot dryer - get one.
One pair of skis for each discipline will do fine, and a SG pair if you are going to race SG.
Slalom and GS poles are required - 5cm longer with GS poles. Get a helmet with an easily removeable chin guard. Poc make a great one that is fast to change.
Have a packing list laminated on the top of the bag. This helps kids manage on a camp.
Iain Innes
Hey Iain…
Which camps abroad best suit U14 for a first camp?
Without a doubt the top of your list should be the October camp in Hintertux. Get the GS skis on and rip safely on huge pistes. The New Year week in Italy is a good follow up as it has some racing after a week of training.
Any other tips?
Go out and have fun, mountain bike, go climbing, run up a hill, race your mates, don't take skiing too seriously. Keep it simple and enjoy the fun stuff. You will have plenty of time for intensity and focussed training when you’re older.
Kate Angus
Hey Kate…
What are your top tips for training in the UK?
If you can get on snow then that should always be a priority. If you live in Scotland try to get to the mountains even if the weather is rubbish. Sometimes the bad weather days are more fun.
Hillend and Braehead are a good substitute for the real thing but do something different like pro slalom, combi or some training in the park. This will help you more than racing as the surface is just not the same as skiing.
Any other top tips?
Ski the parks and pipes, try twin tip skis, learn to snowboard, practice freestyle tricks, ski off piste - all skills that will help your ski racing.
Advice from parents of the best racers in the world Learn more
Performance
U14s
Below are some key areas of focus for the under 14 age group. It is important to give all these areas equal consideration. It is hard to progress technically if the equipment is inappropriate for the skill level of the racer.
Technical
Maintain technique through growth spurt / Refining carving skills and develop SPEED and EFFICIENCY
Tactical
Strategy and line / Develop line for the individual’s strength / Manage different course sets and changes of rhythm
Physical
Two conditioning sessions per week / Increase agility, balance and coordination / Begin light weights and focus on form and aerobic
Psychological
Positive self talk / Good work ethic and perseverance / Process orientated - not results / Imagery and visualisation techniques
Equipment (see section below)
Must fit within FIS regulations / Fitted boots / Skis + training skis for GS / Back, head (FIS approved) and shin protection / Chin guard on helmet
Environment
Intro to children’s racing / Try a variety of races like skierX, SG and some freestyle / May involve some international races
Race day advice for parents Learn more
Time on task
U14s
The matrix information is a guide for young athletes whose goals include National Team selection. ATC and other clubs encourage and facilitate training for all young skiers no matter how much snow time you can manage.
This information is gathered from an Alpine Training Matrix chart, which was created using data and research from multiple areas, including the United States Ski Association, Canadian Alpine Ski Team, as well as our own experiences and projects in UK snowsports.
The ATC Alpine Training Matrix is flexible enough to suit our specific situation in the UK. For example, if the average 13 year old requires 75+ days on snow to become nationally competitive, this can include indoor snow and a percentage (10-15%) of dry slope days. The remaining dry slope days should be logged under ‘activity days’.
Total ski training days = 75+-
On camp training days = 36+-
Percentage competition training = 30%
Percentage technical / drills = 30%
Other skiing and training = 40%
Training to racing ratio = 6-1
Multi-sport activity days = 210
Holiday skiing = 6+
See the full Alpine Matrix for all ages Learn more
Best camps
U14s
These are our recommendations for the best camps and training for U12s:
Best first camps for under 14s
Cairngorm / Braehead Camp of Champions / October Half Term
Best not to miss for under 14s
Bormio English Championships Camp and Backcountry / Mountain Biking days
Best alpine racing camp for under 14s
New Year Italy Camp or Bormio English Championships Camp
Best Scottish snow training for under 14s
Scottish Ski Club - Cairngorm Mountain and Braehead Super Tuesdays
Best programme on a budget for under 14s
SSC winter weekends and ATC Cairngorm Mountain holiday camps
Best thing to learn for under 14s
Be kind and support your team
Equipment
U14s
Andy’s Top Tip:
You need to be looking at getting boot fit. If you are going to a camp in the summer then get it done before that camp, with insole and some shaping as a minimum.
A useful bit of kit is a boot dryer.
One pair of skis for each discipline is fine at U14 age.
If you are doing a lot of training and racing you may consider buying two pairs of skis for SL and GS. Just one pair of SG skis required if you are going to race SG.
Slalom and GS poles are required - 5cm longer with GS poles. Get a helmet with an easily removeable chin guard. Poc make a great one that is fast to change.
Skis - age 12
SL 142-149 (big for their age)
GS 165-170 (big for their age)
SG 180 (23+m)
Skis - age 13
SL 149-150 FIS (big for their age)
GS 170-175 FIS (big for their age)
SG 180 (23m+)
Boots - age 12-13
Four-clip, flex 90-110 for age 12
Four-clip, flex 100-120 for age 13 (big for their age)
ATC BluesSki on line racing catalogue and pro deal coming soon
Ranking System
U14s U16s
Sean’s top tip:
The following will get you within 10% of the points a racer will make in a race: Take the average BASS points of the top 5 racers in the the race. Then add 8 points (17 in SG) for every second your little Jonny is behind the winner.
The seeding system is a complicated mathematical process to determine ranking. The BASS system of seeding for U14 and U16 racers works on a similar way to FIS points for international racers (World Ranking).
How do points work?
Depending on the ranking of the best racers, every race has a penalty calculation. In effect reflects the standard of the race.
The winner is awarded the race penalty calculation (plus 0 points).
Every racer behind the winners overall time is awarded the penalty calculation, plus a number of points reflecting the amount of time they are behind the winner. More time - more points.
The less points a racer has the higher ranking they have
Best two results are averaged to set a racers points for the next list or next season
New BASS seeding list are published several times a season.
Whats not so important to know?
How to work out the calculation - it is very complicated!
How many points a racer has
Whats really important to know?
How far you are behind the winner
How many points you are behind the best in the UK (divide by 8 in SL and GS, and 17 SG) and you have a very rough idea of how many seconds you need to catch up)
Click here the latest BASS list
Click here to see the snow racing calendar
Click here to see the latest GBski racing news
For officials and geeks Click here for more detail
Facts
& figures
U14s
U14s need to pre-qualify for the British Championships with under 400 BASS points in one discipline before the last BASS (British Alpine Seeding System) list prior to the races
U14’s need to be registered with their home nation (Snowsport Scotland) and then they will automatically be given a BASS registration
The closer you are to the winner in a race the lower your BASS points will be. The fewer you have the better
U14 race and train SL GS and SG disciplines
U14s do need a chin guard for SL (see Andy’s tip)
Race suit is needed to be competitive in U14 racing
FIS rules apply for racing with regard to helmet and skis
Regulation helmet (FIS) and back protector are mandatory for training and racing
U14 race with full SL gates (27mm). Full protection is required
Burn out is real at this age. It is caused from over-training, and lack of motivation (no fun)
U14s learn routines and use simple key words and terminology to master and understand technique (separation and angulation etc.)
Confidence building is important for U14s and comes from positive reinforcement
Girls work well in groups of their peers
Girls’ cognitive skills develop faster and earlier Learn more