Team Welch

Junior D-Team

A ski development program that gives junior racers a venue to build their skills, with safety, enjoyment, fun and learning emphasized at all times. Any skier can join as long as they meet the age and ability requirements.

The Program

D-Team is an 11-week program for kids ages 7-17 and includes 7 practice sessions and four race days, all on Saturdays. Athletes race against kids in their own age group only, with separate girls and boys divisions. Age eligibility and racing age group are determined by the athlete’s age on September 1 of the current year. Much more detail is covered at the pre-season parents meeting, which is held virtually on Dec. 3rd at 7pm. Space is limited in this program.

2026/27 Schedule

Date	Session
December 12	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
December 19	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
December 26	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
January 2	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
January 9	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
January 16	Race at Wild Mountain
January 23	Race at Welch Village
January 30	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
February 6	Race at Trollhaugen
February 13	Practice, 9:30 – 12:30
February 20	Race at Buck Hill

Program Fee

$750

Seven practice days and four race days.

The coaching fee does not include a Welch Village season pass or lift tickets. Registration opens September 22 at 9:00am.

Ability Requirements

D-Team is a family-friendly, recreational junior race league built to develop racing skills and all-mountain technique. It does require some basics before registering.

Strong intermediate skiers only. A strong intermediate can ski all blue runs at Welch Village while controlling speed with parallel turns most of the time.
Still snow plowing? Start with Welch Carvers, our six-week development program that prepares skiers for D-Team the following season.
Independent chairlift riding. Athletes of all ages ride the chairlift without an adult at certain times, and coaches do not always ride with them. Kids who cannot ride independently on the first week of practice should not enroll.

The first two weeks are a trial period for all first-year racers. If our coaches determine the program is not the right fit, we will contact the family and arrange another lesson program if space allows, or a partial credit or refund. Athletes who do not meet program requirements may owe added fees to process a transfer or refund, and once a racer participates in a practice, any refund or credit is pro-rated.

Questions

Contact head coach Christine O’Brien via email at christine@welchvillage.com.