Ski Academy Program (Grade 8 & 9)
The GKHAT Ski Academy Program is for grade 8 and 9 students who want to learn what it takes to train at a competitive level and build the skills needed to be a high level skier in any discipline.
The Goals of the Ski Academy Program are to give athletes the building blocks of what it takes to succeed as an athlete and in life: skillfulness, physical capacity, knowledge of how to train, general athletic literacy, teamwork skills, self drive and ability to focus, enjoyment of the process and so much more.
- Age Requirement:
- Prerequisite:
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- Ski Academy athletes must be confident in skiing any terrain at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
- Weeks: 32
- Program Dates:
- Program Start Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
- No Programming during Christmas break and March break)
- Program End Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
- Program Details & Location:
- A minimum of 6 participants are required, with 9 spots guaranteed. Considerations will be given if there are greater than 9 registration requests.
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This program runs from September - May (exclusive of Christmas and March break), one afternoon a week, starting with dryland training in the fall and transitioning onto snow. During the pre-season (Sep-Nov) and post-season (Apr-Jun), there will be one dryland session per week spent on strength & conditioning, outdoor activity, athletic literacy, team-building. Dry land sessions will take place during the last period of the school day (2:00pm-4:30pm).
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Once conditions allow, we will head to Lake Louise for afternoon sessions starting in November and as soon as Kicking Horse Mountain Resort opens, we will be training at home.
On-snow training sessions will be one afternoon each week and will include time on technical skill improvement, racing and gates environment and all mountain skiing. Ski sessions will occur on Thursday afternoons and will rotate between school days 1 and 2. Sessions start at 12:30 (immediately after the high school lunch hour) and run to the end of the ski day (3:30 early season and 4:00 once the lift hours extend mid season).
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Once Kicking Horse Mountain resort closes in the spring, we will head back to Lake Louise before transitioning back to dry land activities for the remainder of the program.
Non-Skiing Training
- Running / Active wear shoes. Good for outdoors and trails
- Small backpack with water snacks
- Mountain bike with Helmet and associated equipment (not all the time but used for a couple sessions)
Skiing Training
- Skis GS race / Carving skis
- All Mountain / Powder skis
- Helmet
- Ski boots
- Poles
- Kicking Horse ski pass
- Recommend Lake Louise ski pass
Included in Program Fees: Coaching cost & GKHAT team van use.
Not included in Program Fees: Equipment, Lift passes/tickets at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort or Lake Louise
Additional Fees: BC Alpine fees (charged once per family and once per athlete) and Parent BC Alpine Insurance
