Eldora Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club (EMSC) started life back in 1975 as The Lake Eldora Race Team Association, also known as LERT. For many years, the team changed and many different leagues were formed and ended life as interests changed. As the front-range ski seasons changed, so did the team and programs offered. Over the last 10 years, EMSC has emerged as a top Team and Program in the Rocky Mountain Division. Our programs have experienced tremendous growth, success and we proudly work with a professional, dedicated staff that demonstrate the necessary credentials and experience for a top-level, athlete centered program.
Our primary goal is to provide excellence of all abilities for the youth ages 7 – 19 who plain love to ski and snowboard.
Our Mission Statement:
- To provide an exceptional youth program for athletes with diverse abilities in skiing, snowboarding and cycling.
- To create an athlete-centered environment that fosters competition, personal responsibility, sportsmanship, hard work and confidence.
- Our organization is dedicated to providing opportunities and inspiring our athletes to attain their goals with exuberance.
Programs Overview
Skiing
FreeStyle
Our programs are geared towards the competitive freestyle and free ride worlds, however, races are optional (although highly encouraged.) They provide valuable learning experiences we want our young athletes to personally experience. The more things we experience, such as winning respectfully or losing gracefully, at the younger ages, the better prepared we will be in the future.
Jr Race (USSA YSL Race Series)
The Jr Race program is for athletes from 5-15 years and is staffed by expert skiers and former racers, most of whom are USSA coach certified. This program is an excellent introduction to competitive skiing that focuses primarily on developing solid fundamental skiing skills and introducing young athletes to the competition routine and environment. The Jr Race program athletes are eligible to compete in 5 optional USSA sanctioned competitions in the Colorado Youth Ski League (YSL).
The Jr Race program runs on Saturdays for 12 weeks of the season. For athletes interested in moving to a higher level of competition, there is additional training available by joining the Jr Race “Sunday Program”. The Sunday Program trains both Saturday and Sunday on non-race weekends, ski a longer season and provides exposure to our more competitive Core Program athletes.
(additional detail for the Jr Race program)
Athletes who have achieved competency in their skiing fundamentals and who have the necessary maturity, confidence, independence and desire to commit to ski racing at a higher level should consider transitioning to the Core Program.
Core (USSA Age-Class Series)
The EMSC Core Program builds on the foundation establish by the Jr Race program. The Age-Class race series is the highest level of competition for the athletes up to 15 years. Core program staff are USSA certified coaches, most of whom have experience competing at the FIS level (the highest level competition in the sport). The Core Program runs from approximately November 1st through April 15th, with optional, but recommended pre-season conditioning and post-season free-skiing. Athletes in this program are expected to train with the greater intensity and focus required for success at the Age-Class level.
(additional detail for the Core programs > U10: under 10 years, U12:10-11 years, U14:12-13 years)
Ability (USSA Age-Class/FIS Series)
The Ability Program trains athletes from 14 years and up in preparation for FIS level competition. The ability program includes athletes from the U16, U19 and Post Graduate (PG) age groups. This program is staffed by coaches who have achieved the highest level of success at the FIS and intercollegiate levels and trains athletes to take on the best ski racers in the sport.
(additional detail for the Ability programs > U16:14-15 years, U19:16-18 years, PG: High School Grad)
Snowboarding
Carve
The Alpine Snowboard Carve Program is a season long (Nov – April) competitive program that focuses specifically on slalom and giant slalom training and race events. Athletes compete within the USASA Colorado race series on weekends, culminating with Nationals at Copper in April (Slalom / Giant Slalom).