COLLINGWOOD, ON (March 8th, 2017)  — Alpine Ontario Alpin (AOA), along with Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA), the four AOA Divisions: Lake Superior Division Alpin (LSDA), Northern Ontario Division (NOD), National Capital Division (NCD) and Southern Ontario Division (SOD) and the 40 AOA member clubs are pleased to announce a new U16 Development Program (U16DP) for the 2017-18 season. The U16DP will offer development opportunities for athletes and coaches who want to take part in the high performance stream of the Provincial ski racing long term pathway. This program includes holistic athlete development including organizations, teachers, coaches, and other educational experts working together.

The program includes training, development, and supportive opportunities in the following areas:

1. Social / Emotional
2.  Physical
3. Technical / Tactical
4. Psychological

Why is AOA doing this and what is the goal of the program?
Over the last number of months AOA has been in consultation with Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA), The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) and many clubs and organizations in Ontario, across the country and around the world with the goal of learning how we as an organisation can support our clubs more proficiently to help raise the game and overall level of consistently in producing long term high performance athletes. With this program AOA & partner clubs is looking to develop high performance athletes and well-rounded human beings while also beginning to feed a coaching education system that is more unified and involved in the process. These athletes will be able to use skills that will help them to adapt to any environment, thus enabling them to focus on their personal performance in any given situation.
Program Description:
• 11 month program starting May 1st, ending March 31, 2018
•  A maximum of 30 U16 athletes will be accepted with a mix from those born in 2002 & 2003. AOA may take fewer than 30 athletes
• Approximately 28-30 days in training camps which include:
    2-day opening weekend May 6-7 at The Pan Am Sports Centre in Toronto
    7-day leadership camp July 1-8 at the Youth Leadership Camp in Orillia
    12-day on snow, August 7-20,  Saas Fee Switzerland
2-day development camp October 14-15 (location in GTA area tbd)
    5 day on snow speed camp in February (date & location tbd)
• 10/15 hours of personal mentorship – each athlete will be assigned their own high performance mentor
• 10/15 hours of reflection assignments
• 40 week fitness program design with the Canadian Sport Institute staff using a combination of teaching, guided discovery, and self-driven development
• Optional December on-snow Mont Tremblant camp (additional cost)
• Option Norway race & training camp, April 2018 (additional cost & selection process tba)
This program is designed to work alongside club and district programs and in no way replaces the existing club programs and their club/district camps and training days. Athletes would remain members of their existing teams.
More information:
Please visit the new U16 Development Program webpage here to watch a detailed powerpoint presentation, learn more about Staff, Costs, Mentor program, Fitness program & facility, plus details on two upcoming parent meetings at the U16 & U14 OCUP FINALS and how athletes can apply. Applications open March 20th via the AOA website.
“Nothing gives an athlete confidence like knowing they have done everything they possibly could
– to the best of their ability in training and preparation.”
For more information contact:
Mark Marshall
Athletic Director
Alpine Ontario Alpin (AOA)
705-444-5111 x 121
mmarshall@alpineontario.local