North Series Philosophy

The North Series Team serves as one pathway for athletes and families to experience many of the elements of the ski racing world before it is necessary to make a full-time commitment. We provide the opportunity to gradually become involved by incrementally introducing aspects of racing with additional training days and by traveling to a limited number of races within the Intermountain Division.

BBSEF always keeps our focus on interjecting a high degree of fun on the mountain and learning to be a safe participant in snow sports for a lifetime.

2022-23 North Series Race Schedule

Athletes participating in IMD Races are required to have a current USSA Membership.  Create a new membership or renew here.

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Coach Updates

12/7/22

Greetings North Series Families, 

I hope you are all having a great Wednesday!

We are making a change to how we register the North Series athletes. You as parents or guardians will be registering your athlete through your US Ski and Snowboard account. We will be doing a tutorial via Zoom after Christmas so each of you can follow along and register your athlete for their first race on your computers as I share my screen and show how this is done. It is a really easy process and we are here to help if you have problems. 

This will streamline things for coaches and for coaches credit cards. 

Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns about this new process.

Have a wonderful rest of your day,

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September 2022

Hello BBSEF Travel Team Families,

The past couple of years has taught us that we cannot take things for granted.  It has also shown us the power of teamwork.  For this season an emerging challenge is the availability of race skis and race boots.  There is a high likelihood that these items will be sold out, long before we are back on snow.  To help facilitate equipment needs, we have created a private Facebook group “BBSEF Team Swap” for our BBSEF families only.   Our intention is to make it easier for you to buy and sell gear.  This group/page will be open through September, replacing our internal swap.  Buyers are responsible for knowing the bindings and having them serviced or adjusted by a licensed tech. You should not use equipment that has not been properly adjusted or is not currently indemnified.  BBSEF is not responsible for and does not accept any responsibility in the buying or selling of products.  It is up to the buyer and seller to understand and know the product. Please follow/like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bbsef.org then, request to join the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/bbsefinternalswap

THIS DOES NOT REPLACE OUR ANNUAL SKI SWAP NOV. 3-6, at Expo Idaho

If you have questions regarding equipment, please contact coach Dave@bbsef.org.  

Reminder Equipment night will be Friday, September 16, (time TBD)

WHERE:  McU's, Greenwoods and Eco Lounge

EQUIPMENT INFO:  Reps will be in attendance from POC, Leki and Swix.  Please note:  U14s and older must use FIS-approved helmets for all events!

COACHES:  The coaching staff will be there to assist with sizing, and answer questions.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND JUMPING ON EQUIPMENT ORDERS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

North Series (U10/U12) 2022-2023 Comp Schedule 

US SKI AND SNOWBOARD MEMBERSHIP

Athletes participating in IMD Races are required to have a current USSA Membership.  Create a new membership or renew here.

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News From the Coach

Date: 8/4/22

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer and some time away for some fun.  It is time to at least temporarily, put on your winter hat and think equipment for your child.  Let me give you the down and dirty, quick version.  Order ASAP, don't delay, gear is limited (VERY LIMITED), gear is going fast, you snooze you lose.  See the pattern here?  

A) HOW SHOULD YOU PROCEED?  

If the shop does not have what you need, don't panic.  Contact Dave Hall at dave@bbsef.org and he may be able to help out.

B)  IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Let me know if you have any questions.

Hello to the BBSEF families from Shawn Smith, BBSEF Athletic Director shawn@bbsef.org  

I hope everyone is getting ready to jump into summer.  I wanted to write to you for a while now but we have been very busy with wrapping up the season, USSS online meetings, IMD meetings, summer camp planning and the spring membership enrollment.  I can finally draw a breath.

I am so pleased to join a well established club with top notch people running the show.  Working for Shannon Carrell is a real pleasure.  I am so impressed with her knowledge of the programs’ club history and ability to get things done properly and on time.  Working with the talented Kelly Mullens on any communication project is very enjoyable and informative.  I hope the membership appreciates the performance standards of those individuals and all they bring to our organization.  The talent of those individuals combined with a very supportive, committed and involved BOD, were major influences on my decision to remain with the club.

I was hired last fall to coach the alpine U16 and FIS athletes.  The season gave me a wonderful opportunity to work with a great group of kids and make personal observations and evaluations of many aspects of the club.  It was evident that there are many areas that are going well and should be supported.  I also saw areas of opportunity to advance our programs in the coming seasons.  I would like to outline some of the ideas that I plan to begin to implement changes next season and into the future.  So here we go:

1. COACHES EDUCATION

I can tell you that this is an area where a vast majority of programs neglect.  IF there is any education, it centers around operation procedures and perhaps broad discussions about the technical aspects of racing.  They totally miss the importance to train the coaching staff on how to teach.  That’s right, the delivery skills of making connections and really affecting outcomes for the athletes to a great extent is the “art” of coaching.  The technical pieces are more the “science” of coaching.  Coach/instructor education has been a great passion of mine and I have had the pleasure for the last 45 years to train coaches of all levels from entry level to national team coaches from several nations.

2.  PROGRAM CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUITY

Coaches are frequently left to create the focus and directions for their group of kids.  The problem that I have found with this approach is the lack of “flow” of development and growth as an athlete moves up in age groups.  The coaching staff needs the framework of what is to be covered and their personal delivery style brings the information to life.

3.  IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS

This is another topic that does not get addressed with clubs.  Coaches are “too busy” to get this work done.  During the late summer and fall families will be receiving info pieces periodically on a wide variety of race-related subjects that I hope will help you broaden your knowledge of our sport.  I know everyone receives a bunch of messages so we will be prudent about the amount of messages that go your way.  During the season, the coaches will give you a weekly report of progress and significant outcomes.

4.  EQUIPMENT RESOURCE

I am very aware and sensitive to the costs of our sport.  Shops and reps mean well with their recommendations but do not always get things “right” for the athlete.  The coaching staff is a resource for parents to ensure the gear follows age appropriate rules and is optimally functional for the athlete.  I have been traveling to several families homes to check gear for next year.  Skis - length, radius and bindings; boots - sizing, flex, height, power straps, sole wear and tear; poles - length for SL, GS, SG, strap system (about 75% of the kids are using poles that are too short) and brand recommendations; helmets - fit and legality; back protectors if appropriate and finally any need for boot fit work or leveling (ramp angle, canting).

5.  PROGRAM STRUCTURE

For next season we will be making a few adjustments in the coaching structure of 2 programs.  The North Series group will have its own head coach and 2 additional coaches.  Rather than working as one large group, athletes will be split into 3 smaller groups based on experience and needs.  Each coach will be responsible for coordinating the lesson/training plan for the week and communicating that plan to the head coach.  The U14 program will have a new coach this season due to the departure of Ben.  She/he will coordinate their weekly game plan with me to be sure we have continuity.

There will be some other changes of note.  Our young kids run too many gates - and oftentimes on the wrong terrain!  Basic skills need to be developed and enhanced while the kids explore all the mountain has to offer having fun with their coach, seeking out new challenges.  Time in gates should start on green terrain with short courses with intermittent sessions.  There is ample time for gate training when a solid skill base has been established and the kids get older.

Thank you for taking the time to read this information.  I hope it is helpful.  I am gradually meeting more of the families of our club and look forward to getting our new season under way.

Shawn