Alpine Race Team
Ages 8–9
The U10s.
Race-specific fundamentals and a few local races, on every kind of terrain and snow the hill has.
At a glance
- Ages
- Ages 8–9
- Practices
- Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings 5:30–6:30pm plus Saturday mornings 8:30–11:00am. Two-day or three-day options.
- Tuition, 2026–27
- $675 for two days a week, $875 for three. Every group’s price, and rentals
- Memberships
- US Ski & Snowboard, and NHARA for an athlete who races. Which ones to buy
What this year is for
Fundamentals of agility, balance and co-ordination
Athlete development is a long-term process. Abenaki athletes begin a two- to four-year plan to develop properly for the next level of ski racing. Athletes are exposed to all kinds of terrain and snow conditions, including corduroy, bumps, powder, and ice.
Coaches design seasonal programs that promote basic skiing and mental skills in a fun and structured atmosphere. These skills are essential for athletes to succeed at the next level and beyond. Racing at this level is for fun and experience, not results.
What to bring
Must have
- One pair of multi-event skis, sized for your child. No twin tips.
- Ski poles, sized for your child. Race poles are not the same as recreational poles.
- A hard-ear helmet with a chin-bar attachment.
- Durable leather mittens or gloves, the Kinco sort. Other materials do not survive the rope tow.
- Goggles with both a light and a dark lens.
Nice to have
- A GS suit.
- Zip-off snow pants.
- Rock or powder skis.
Phase 2
What a U10 coach is working on
These are the development goals US Ski & Snowboard sets for phase 2, and what our coaches plan a season around. GS is giant slalom, SL slalom, SG super-G and DH downhill.
On the skis
- General focus
- Adventure stage — skiing all terrain, exploring the mountain.
- Athletic stance and balance
- Can balance on the outside ski. Leg rotation is independent of upper body (torso and pelvis) to initiate short radius turns. The body stays perpendicular to terrain changes.
- Skills: rotary, edging and pressure
- Skier demonstrates outside ski dominance throughout the turn and becomes aware of the skis orientation on the snow. The skier demonstrates rotary, edging and pressure skills individually and within a ski turn.
- Turn strategies
- Turn size and shape is dictated by the skier. Activities emphasize a wide variety of turn shapes and sizes. Athletes can make short, fast rhythmical turns.
- Coordination of movement
- Leg rotation is smooth and may be complimented with leg flexion and extension movements. Lower body rotation starts to show separation from upper body. The upper body shows discipline complimented with an arm carriage that may facilitate contributory pole action.
On the course
- Terrain
- Tactics are learned through self discovery by skiing around the mountain and adapting to different terrain. Respects and skis challenging terrain or difficult snow conditions.
- Giant slalom and slalom
- Continue drill course focus around skill development. Begins to work on tucking in GS turns.
- Downhill and super-G
- Refining tuck on increasingly steeper terrain. Focus is on body position and balance while in a tucked position. Jumping of any type is considered exciting.
- Course sets
- Round turns are utilized in GS and slalom. Able to link turns of variable turn size and radius.
- Competition strategies
- Focus on skill development as a competition. Inter-club events and a possible local state competition. Fun comps such as dual, obstacle and kombi formats.
Who’s on the hill
U10 coaches
U10 CoachGordon Ling
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Gordon is a volunteer coach for the Abenaki ski team. After college from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota Gordon moved to Vail, Colorado for eighteen years as an owner operator of a successful restaurant in Vail and chasing Colorado powder whenever he had time. Starting a family prompted a move to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire where he now lives with his wife and their three children, two dogs and several chickens. Gordon operates Garwoods Restaurant, his family's business on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, and serves on the Abenaki Outing Club's Board of Directors.
U10 CoachWalton Green
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Walton learned to ski in northwestern Connecticut on a town-operated rope tow like Abenaki and switched to telemark gear in high school and to backcountry skiing in college. Now that he has three daughters on the Abenaki team, he realizes he will need to update his 80s-vintage touring skis and leather boots if he wants to keep up. He divides his time between Wakefield, NH and Boston, MA, where he does research on ancient plants and plant ecosystems.
U10 CoachHenry Hudson
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Henry Hudson is a Wolfeboro local who spent many years ski racing before transitioning into coaching Abenaki’s U8 team. He loves being part of Abenaki because of the welcoming people and strong sense of community that make it such a special place!
U10 CoachEmma Lyons
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Having grown up racing at Abenaki, Emma is now entering her fifth year as a coach on the hill. Abenaki has always held a special place in her heart, which she credits to its welcoming atmosphere and close-knit community. Emma loves the opportunity to give back to the mountain that helped shape her own racing experience and is passionate about creating a fun, positive, and memorable experience for the next generation of Abenaki racers!
Andrew Moore
Taylor Peterson
The other age groups
- Ages 6–7U8For a kid who can ride the big rope tow, with very little racing.
- Ages 10–11U12Slalom, giant slalom and speed skills trained in gates, with racing around the region and a shot at states.
- Ages 12–13U14Slalom, giant slalom and speed skills built toward mastery, and for some athletes, super-G training.
Ready to sign up?
Registration runs through Ski Club Pro. Every athlete needs a season pass and a US Ski & Snowboard membership before the first day on snow.