Things parents ask.
Short, honest answers. Still stuck? Email us and a parent lead will help.
Does my kid need to know how to race?
No. Most of our team had never run a gate before they joined. You need to be able to get down a groomed blue run in control — the coaches handle the rest.
What if my kid has literally never skied?
Then the Winter Sports Club's First Time program is the better first step, and we'll say so rather than take your money. Email us and we'll help you figure out where to go. Come back to us when they want to race.
Is this only for kids who already have race gear?
No. Race skis help but aren't required to start, and we have gear to lend. A helmet is the one thing that's non-negotiable, and we can usually sort that too.
My kid is in 8th grade. Too early?
No. Middle schoolers can join provisionally and race with the team before they start high school — we had one last season, and he had been with us as a seventh grader the year before. It is also a good way to walk into September already knowing a dozen people.
Are there tryouts?
No. The team is open to any Ida B Wells student who registers and completes the forms.
What if we can't afford it?
Email us before you rule it out. We have gear to lend and we work out payment plans quietly. Nobody on the team knows who is on one.
Do we need our own equipment?
Race skis help but aren't required to start. A helmet is required. We have loaner gear — ask.
How much time does it take?
In December it is Saturday training. From January, practice is Friday nights, with optional Saturday supplemental sessions. Races run on Sundays in January and February. The five-day camp between Christmas and New Year is optional.
Is this the same as the Winter Sports Club?
Different organisation, different sport. We're the alpine race team — slalom and giant slalom through OISRA and the Three Rivers League. They run snowboarding, freestyle skiing, and rec and beginner programs. Both are good. If you've never skied, start with them.
Will this actually make my kid a better skier?
Yes, and it is not close. Six weeks of Fridays, Saturdays and optional supplementals on gates is a rocket ship — it builds edge control, line choice and balance in a way free skiing never does. Kids who come for one season to try racing tend to leave as the best skiers in their friend group.
Are there costs beyond the season fee?
Yes, and we would rather you hear it from us. Saturday supplemental training and the five-day holiday camp are both optional and both cost extra, on top of lift access and personal gear. The same quiet help applies to all of it — ask before you rule anything out.
Didn't see your question? Get in touch — a parent lead will get back to you.