The CSU Junior ski-racing program is for high school students in grades 8-12. The program serves athletes who don’t have a school ski team or who are interested in additional coaching beyond what they receive in their high school program. We accept up to 30 skiers for our year-round program. We have coached students from Andover, Concord-Carlisle, Lincoln-Sudbury, Dover-Sherborn, Reading, Wellesley, Belmont Hill, Wayland, Newton, Brookline and other schools. Our graduates have gone on to ski for Williams, Dartmouth, Colby, University of Vermont, UNH, Bates, Middlebury and Harvard.

We are interested in athletes who are motivated and willing to make a commitment to the sport. We coach both classical and freestyle (skate) racing techniques. Most of our athletes qualify for the Massachusetts J2 and Eastern High School teams. As members of these teams they compete in the regional J2 Festival (8th-10th grades) and Eastern High School Championships. Several of our athletes have also qualified for the New England team to the Junior Olympics (national championships).

Our winter coaching schedule provides at least 2 sessions per week from November 1^st to mid December. As soon as there is manmade snow at Weston Ski Track (mid-December), we offer two weekday evenings (6:30 – 8:00 PM) and at least one weekend session each week until mid-March. We provide waxing support and coaching at all the Massachusetts team qualifying races, the regional NENSA Junior Olympic Qualifiers, and J2 and Eastern High School Championships. Many of the CSU coaches are also coaches for the Massachusetts teams at the latter two events.

We believe the key to success in winter races is a year-round training program beginning in the spring. Starting in May we offer a Monday night workout of rollerski technique and specific ski strength in Wayland from 5 to 7 PM. On Saturdays we offer a long-distance rollerski workout through Littleton from 1:30 to 3:15 PM. During the summer we have a Thursday evening rollerski. In the fall we offer daily, coached workouts for athletes who are training only for skiing and not doing a fall sport. We have a Sunday rollerski for athletes doing a fall school-sport.

To measure the progress of our aerobic fitness we have a array of physical tests held once each per month: uphill double-pole on rollerskis, 3,00 meter track run, 100 meter maximum speed on rollerskis, and uphill run.

We ask athletes in our program to set goals in the spring for the following winter. The most committed athletes train at the level of skiers who make the Junior Olympic team for New England. Most athletes are trying for the State teams to Eastern High School Championships or the J2 Festival (details of both events below). Some skiers who are new to the sport focus more on learning the fundamentals of technique and less on intense training.

We expect every athlete to maintain a training log using the spreadsheet that we provide.  We expect each athlete to email their training log every four weeks to their assigned coach.

You should have freestyle and classical equipment (details below), as well as roller skis. If you have questions about equipment, we will help you select the appropriate skis and accessories. Rental roller skis are available through CSU, and you can purchase wax through the club at a discounted price.

You do not have to attend every practice as long as you are doing alternative training approved by one of the coaches. You are expected to provide your own wax, although the club will provide some wax for major events.

Athletes may come to workouts on a trial basis for a month before deciding to join the program. When you join we require a coaching fee of $350. We allow mid-season sign-ups if there is room in the program.

Our program has the goal that each athlete in the program will acquire and master the following knowledge and skills: