Info & FAQ’s

S.W.A.Team Racing Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ document is geared towards new S.W.A.Team members and potential new members.

What is S.W.A.T.?
S.W.A.T is a competition junior ski race club. We have programs for competitive athletes from age 6 - 18.

How does S.W.A.T. differ from ski school?
S.W.A.T. is not in the business of teaching your child the basics of skiing. We take proficient skiers and help them reach their full potential as competitive athletes. If your child has outgrown ski school and has expressed an interest in competing, you’ve come to the right place.

How do I enroll my child in S.W.A.T.?
Open enrollment takes place each fall, usually starting in September/October. All enrollment forms are available as PDFs on our website under the Member Info area. However, you cannot directly enroll on-line; print out all of the forms, fill them out and mail them to the S.W.A.T. business office:
     S.W.A.Team Racing
     W327 S8068 Oak Tree Dr.
     Mukwonago, WI   53149

Which program is right for my child?
This is difficult for us to answer. Only you know your child well enough to really answer this question. We offer basically two programs. One is the WJR program and the other is the USSA program. WJR is a recreational club race program that includes 6 races at local hills. S.W.AT. provides supervised training (see training schedule for your racers age group), and race day supervision at each event. WJR is a volunteer organization made up of members from each race team. Parents will be required to participate, working one to two events during the season. Races usually start around 9:30am and finish near 2:00pm (see WJR race schedule). Racers must purchase a lift ticket at these events. S.W.AT., along with Alpine Valley will play host to one race this year. All racer families are expected to participate as needed on S.W.AT. Race Day.
USSA program is available for racers wishing to pursue competition on a Regional and National level. S.W.AT. is part of Region 2 in the Central Division. S.W.AT. will provide supervised training and race day supervision at 3 - 4 events (TBA) during the 2007-2008 season. USSA races (see USSA race schedule) run multiple days; require considerable travel and expenses not covered in the application fee. You must be a member of USSA and also register in the Region 2 program. If you are considering USSA racing, please contact us for more information.


What are the prerequisites for enrolling my child in S.W.A.T.?
As mentioned above, your child needs to be a proficient skier: blue runs should pose little or no problems for your child and some black runs should be manageable as well. Children should also be old enough and self-sufficient enough to spend a day on the hill. From experience, we have generally found the youngest age to be successful in our programs to be 5 or 6 years old. Your child should have the stamina to ski from 9:00-noon, willingness to participate, ability to communicate clearly about basic needs (cold, hurt, hungry, thirsty, bathroom), ability to be away from Mom & Dad all day, and the ability to stay warm on 0°F days, etc. Of course, our coaches spend the day with the athletes, but the coaches are not babysitters.

Will my child have the same coach all season long?
The same group of coaches and athletes generally stay together for the entire season. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and occasionally a couple members of a group may be reassigned to better match a group of athletes with similar skill levels. Especially in the entry level programs, we try to group athletes together that are similar in skill level and age.

Are competitions mandatory?
Competition is part of our programs. Athletes are encouraged—but not required—to participate in competitions. Athletes learn new skills and experience different emotions and energy levels on competition days than they do on training days. If your child chooses not to participate in competitions, there may not be training available on those days.

Where are the drop off and meeting locations at each of the ski areas?
This varies by individual program and sometimes by individual coach. Check with your primary coach for details about the drop off and meeting locations. But in most cases we meet in the Fairview Café (formally the pizza room) at Alpine Valley.

What time is training?
Again, this varies by individual program and sometimes by individual coach. In general, weekend training runs from 9:00am to noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesday evening practice starts at 6:00pm and goes to 8:30pm.  Please confirm training times with your primary coach.

What are the licensing requirements for S.W.A.T.?
S.W.A.T. is a member club of the Wisconsin Junior Race League (WJR) and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). If your child chooses to compete at the USSA or higher level, they are required to hold a USSA license. Older athletes may also need an FIS (International Ski Federation or Fédération Internationale de Ski) license to participate in national or international competitions. There is no license requirement to compete at the WJR level.

The S.W.A.T office has USSA applications, or you can go online to www.ussa.org and print an application. For youth that will not race in a scored USSA race (J4 and under) you need a youth license. If you are skiing in scored USSA races (J3 and over) you will need a competitor’s license. You will also need to pay your Region II Division dues.

Does my child need a helmet?
Absolutely! A good fitting, a helmet manufactured specifically for skiing is MANDATORY for all S.W.A.T. training and free skiing.

Who are the 2007/2008 Board of Directors?
Program Director: George Loomans
President: Denny Severin
Vice President: Dave Birkle
Treasurer: Mary Jo Loomans
Secretary: Debbie Hunt