U16
Parent Guidelines

 

Introduction

  • Top tips

  • Performance

  • Time on task

  • Best camps

  • Equipment

  • Facts and figures

 

The most important thing to remember with the U16 age group is that these athletes are still kids. While we train hard in these years they need to enjoy every part of the process to stay motivated. Ambition and wanting to win is not enough. You only need look at the age of World Cup athletes to see that the road is long in Alpine skiing. Pretending to train like a 25 year old when you are still a teenager will only lead to burnout, disappointment and athletes leaving the sport altogether.

At the age of 14 and 15 athletes can now improve aerobic capacity as well as their power, agility, suppleness and speed of movement. They should develop under more challenging and tighter courses on harder snow conditions. There are still growth issues at this age that may make athletes more vulnerable to injury. Care must be taken and growth variation in children should reflect the type of physical activity they do.

Keeping teenagers in sport and motivated is essential to their wellbeing. They should also be exposed to other areas of skiing like backcountry ski touring.

Top tips
U16s

Here are some invaluable tips for parents from the best coaches in the business.

 
Andy Freshwater

Andy Freshwater

Hey Andy…

What are your top tips for training in the UK?

While perfect training conditions are often hard to achieve for U16 level, Scotland can still offer great free skiing, backcountry and a unique sense of community. After all, what’s better than skiing at home?

And what about equipment for U16s?

I recommend a minimum of four pairs of skis at 14 years old. One pair of SL, GS, SG, and a set of powder skis.

For training days after waxing your skis just scrape the edges and leave a thin layer of wax on the base. The wax will be off by the third run. Note: For race days scape and brush.

When you buy new ski boots make sure and tighten all the screws on the buckles before you use them.

Many athletes of this age have cut resistance underwear to protect against lacerations from the ski edges in a crash. I recommend L4 protection (Poc).

 
 
Iain Innes

Iain Innes

Hey Iain…

What are your top tips for U16s?

Now’s the time to really start dialling in a strong stable technique.

Trust your coaches and adjust your skiing with their help.

Don’t go chasing fast times or trying to copy your pal’s ‘cool’ technique. Build your own strong and stable technique and the speed will come. Take your time - it’s a long road to the top!

Sean Langmuir

Sean Langmuir

Hey Sean…

What are the best races for U16s?

In order of best conditions for a race I’d say Bormio and Champery should be top of your list. Tignes is the National Championships but it is often warm with soft snow conditions.

Which camps abroad best suit U16s?

At this age and being from a non-Alpine country U16s need to take advantage of the summer months. This is the time when technical performances will grow. Norway glacier and Oslo indoor are the two camps where your skiing will develop.

What about training on mat?

I used to love the racing element of mat skiing but it is not a good substitute for snow. It is however good for developing specific skills. I suggest short swings for developing strength, fitness and coordination, Timed starts and freestyle for movement skills.

 

Advice from parents of the best racers in the world Learn more

Performance
U16s

Dan Leitch training indoors on the ATC summer camp

 

Below are some key areas of focus for the under 16 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

  • Increase strength and power in technique and body / Refine technical stability 

Tactical

  • Tactical refinement that is event-specific / Advanced tactic practice in difficult situations

Physical

  • Three conditioning sessions per week / Strength and power and into anaerobic training, complex agility and balance

Psychological

  • Develop race day plan and mental rehearsal routines / Athletic planning / Parents continued support 

Equipment (see section below)

  • FIS regulations - see section on equipment / Fitted boots / Cut resistance underwear / Back, head (FIS approved) and shin protection 

Environment

  • National and club racing / Club full-time programme

 

Race day advice for parents Learn more

Time on task
U16s

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 15 year old requires 100+ days on snow then 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 = 100+

  • On camp training days = 42+

  • Percentage competition training = 40%

  • Percentage technical / drills = 40%

  • Other skiing and training = 20%

  • Training to racing ratio = 5-1

  • Multi-sport activity days = 200+-

  • Holiday skiing = 6+

Training specifics for Under 16 age group.
 

See the full Alpine Matrix for all ages Learn more

Best camps
U16s

IMG_8818 copy.jpeg
 

These are our recommendations for the best camps and training for U16s:

Best first camps for under 16s

  • October Half Term

Best not to miss for under 16s

  • Norway Summer Camp

Best alpine racing camp for under 16s

  • Champery or Bormio English Championships

Best Scottish snow training for under 16s

  • ATC Backcountry

Best programme on a budget for under 16s

  • SSC winter weekends and ATC Cairngorm Mountain Camps

Best thing to learn for under 16s

  • Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard

Equipment
U16s

Andy’s Top Tip:

I recommend a minimum of four pairs of skis at U16, one pair of SL, GS, SG, and a set of powder skis.

When you buy new ski boots make sure and tighten all the screws on the buckles before you use them.

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.

Many athletes of this age have cut resistance underwear to protect against lacerations from the ski edges in a crash. I recommend L4 protection (Poc).

 

Skis - age 14

SL   150FIS 

GS  170-175 (big for their age)

GS  185 (23-28m)

Skis - age 15

SL   150-157 FIS (big for their age)

GS  175 FIS (25m) - 180FIS (big for their age)

SG  190-197FIS (30m) 

Boots age 14-15

Four-clip 110 to 120 flex - age 14

Four-clip 130 flex - age 15 (big for their age)

 

ATC BluesSki on line racing catalogue and pro deal coming soon

Facts
& figures
U16s

 

Bass points

  • U16s need to pre-qualify for the British Championships with under 400 BASS (British Alpine Seeding System) points in one discipline before the last BASS list prior to the races

  • U16’s need to be registered with their home nation (Snowsport Scotland) and then they will automatically be give 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

Equipment

  • U16s race and train SL GS and SG disciplines

  • Training skis and race skis are advised (not SG)

  • FIS rules apply for racing with regard to helmet and skis

Selection

  • U16s can be selected to the Scottish Team

  • You can be selected to the Scottish Team and train with your existing club. In 2020/21 only 20% of all Scottish Team athletes trained with the Scottish Team

  • ATC and other academies recommend that U16s accept their status on the Scottish Team but stay with their club or academy programmes, which offer better support and training for the U16s

  • ATC supports and provides a pathway to Scottish FIS Team

  • GB selection for international races is based on results from the previous season and coach recommendations

  • There is no GB Team selection for athletes leaving U16 and going into FIS

FIS Camps

  • ATC normally run a small select Summer FIS camp in Norway for ATC alumni and friends