Information
Freestyle Team or WMRFT at its simplest, is a group of young skiers and snowboarders ages 8-18. The team consists mostly of ‘local’ youth from all over our Flathead Valley. Some kids have graduated from our Ski & Ride School’s ‘Development Program,’ as well as athletes from our local Alpine Race Team, some who even dual train. We even have kids from other US States and Canada.
Our primary emphasis is safety on the mountain; we teach kids how to make appropriate choices when choosing terrain and snow quality. Kids learn about tree well safety and avalanche awareness. Basically, we are an all mountain team with a freestyle progression base. Meaning, if athletes want to learn how to do tricks (180’s, 360’s, grabs etc) or want to participate in freestyle competitions, we will help them learn and master the skills needed to be successful. If an athletes’ interests are not focused on learning tricks, our coaches will center their teaching around other advanced freeride skills.
We do spend a lot of time skiing and riding every part of the mountain as long as the snow is safe and appropriate for what we are doing. We, like most youth programs, give the kids time to free ski/free ride to practice and hone their skills.
Freestyle Team has a very broad spectrum of curriculum, from all mountain skiing/riding to competition preparation AND everything in between!
Our coaching is structured around the interests of each group of athletes. Our coaching staff is passionate, experienced, trained and are all positive mentors to their athletes.
Download Freestyle PDF Programs Flyer
Financial Need Based Scholarships are available through Whitefish Freestyle Inc.
For information on scholarships, please email whitefishmtfreestyleinc@gmail.com
Spaces are limited! Enroll early to ensure the preferred day and time. Registration opens in early April.
The 2-Installment Payment Plan is available through September 30, 2023. Only available when you register online, no phone orders for payment plan option.
All our programs support the Your Responsibility Code and coach our athletes to be respectful skiers and riders.
Please bottom of page for information regarding Refunds & Make-up Days and our Winter Weather Policy for all Freestyle Team Members.
For more information: Ski & Ride School at 406-862-2909, or email skiboard@skiwhitefish.com.
Level 1 Intro to Freestyle Team
Looking to participate in Freestyle or Freeride Team? Level 1 is for ALL athletes that are NEW to the Freestyle Team!
This 10-week program builds confidence and competition skills needed for freeriding/freeskiing.
Level 1 includes advanced fundamentals, intro to off-piste, intro to Freestyle terrain, and intro to competition, along with safety and awareness.
Additional Information:
- For intermediate skiers and snowboarders
- Ages 8-14
- Fall dryland training (outdoor only)
- 10 weeks of training (9:45 am – 3:00 pm on chosen day: Saturday, or Sunday)
- No Holiday Camp for Level 1
- Your child will be placed in a group that matches their ability level as best we can
Level 2 Freestyle Team
Participated in Freestyle or Freeride Team last season? This is the place to continue to develop their skills without frequently competing.
Level 2 is an 11-week program for advanced skiers and snowboarders who have a passion for all mountain terrain and are looking to improve their off-piste and freestyle skills. Groups are broken down by discipline (SKI/SB), age, and ability. The curriculum is dependent on each group, but may include freeride skills, progression to dynamic skills, competition introduction, and safety awareness involving avalanche & tree well workshops.
Additional Information:
- Advanced skiers and snowboarders
- Ages 9-16
- Fall Dryland training, and 2-3 indoor aerial training
- *Level 2 participants are eligible for 2-day Holiday Camp at an additional cost*
- 11 weeks of team training (9:30 am – 3:00 pm on chosen day: Saturday, or Sunday)
- Your child will be placed in a group that matches their ability level as best we can
Prerequisites:
- Athletes need to have completed at least one season of Level 1 Freestyle Team through WMR Ski & Ride School including coach’s approval
- Or have previously participated in a Level 2 Freestyle Team
Level 3 Competitive Team
Does your athlete have a passion for competing and participates in 2 or more competitions a season? Consider signing them up for Level 3!
Level 3 is a 14-week program for advanced skiers and snowboarders that have progressed beyond Levels 1 & 2 and is based around preparing for competitions. Program also includes Level 2 curriculum: freeride skills, progression to dynamic skills, competition introduction, and safety awareness involving avalanche & tree well workshops. Athletes will be at competitions with coaches and fellow Level 3 team members. See more details below.
Athletes should plan to compete in MOST home events, at their own expense. Home events include: 2 Banked Slaloms, 1 Boardercross/Skiercross, and 2 Slopestyle events. Snowboarders should plan to participate in Nate Chute. Rail Jam and Night Park events are optional. Cold Smoke Freeride at Lost Trail is strongly encouraged. USASA regional events are available through travel team. There will be no training on relevant event days as coaches will be with their athletes at competitions listed above.
Additional Information:
- Advanced skiers and snowboarders that have progressed beyond Levels 1 & 2
- Ages 10-18
- 14 weeks of team training (9:30 am – 3:00 pm on Saturdays ONLY)
- Fall Dryland Training (6 outdoor only)
- 2 Fall indoor aerial training sessions
- 3 Winter aerial training sessions
- *Level 3 participants are eligible for 4-day Holiday Camp at an additional cost*
- Your child will be placed in a group that matches their ability level as best we can
Friday PM Terrain Park
Friday PM trainings are available to athletes age 10 yrs old or older as an ADD ON to their Freestyle Team option (Lvls 2/3) OR as a stand-alone training. To register, please call 406-862-2909.
The curriculum is Terrain Park & Competition based. Coaches will be working on a competition skills geared toward Slopestyle, Rail Jam and Big Air competitions as well as Freestyle Terrain Park skills. These also include park etiquette and safety skills used to help keep our athlete safe when skiing/riding terrain park features and in competitions.
Please keep in mind that Friday PM trainings happen after sunset SO temperatures are colder and snow is usually hard packed. We recommend additional safety gear such as knee/shin guards, hip guards, spine guards and wrist protection (for snowboarders).
Additional Information:
- Ages 10-17
- Skiers and Snowboarders
- Friday nights, 4pm – 6:30pm
- 10 sessions
- Jan through March (when night operations are available)
As a Stand Alone:
- NO Holiday Camp
- NO dryland training
Sunday afternoon Freeride Training
Sunday Freeride trainings are available to athletes age 10 yrs old or older as an ADD ON to their Freestyle Team option (Lvls 2/3) OR as a stand-alone training. To register, please call 406-862-2909.
The curriculum is Advanced big mountain Freeski/Freeride based; which entails advanced skiing/riding skills in expert terrain. Some examples of curriculum are: off-piste skills, advanced tree skiing/riding, cliffs, chutes, steep and deep powder, controlling higher speeds on steeper terrain, line choice, avalanche and tree well safety.
Athletes will learn about backcountry skiing/riding and safety, (in bounds of course). We do a couple of inbounds hikes and discuss the skills athletes would use out of bounds. We also do some competition training for IFSA events (if athletes seem interested in this sort of competition.
Additional Information:
- Ages 10-17
- Skiers and Snowboarders
- Sunday afternoons,12pm – 3:30pm
- 10 sessions
- Jan through March
As a Stand Alone:
- NO Holiday Camp
- NO dryland training
Refunds & Make Up Days
Program fees may be refunded up until November 15, 2023, except for injury or serious illness. There are no partial refunds OR transfers of payments to group lessons or other programs for those that miss class due to; a temporary sickness, another hobby or event, or any other personal choice. Refunds must be applied for in writing. Due to difference in curriculum, age requirements, coaching and training schedules we are not able to offer a different training day as a make-up for missing a practice. Please do your best to make it to your scheduled practices, making it to half a day is better than missing a whole day.
Winter Weather Policy
We plan to hold our trainings in winter weather – that’s part of the learning process and an element of winter. There will be no partial refunds for those that miss a session due to inclement weather, if we choose to hold practice. In the rare case that we choose to cancel practice due to extreme weather, we will provide an opportunity to make up that session.
“Whitefish Freestyle Inc” is a non-profit support organization separate from the WMR Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Team. It is made up of current and past parents, coaches and supporters from the community. Through fundraising efforts, there is a fund available that pays for team activities, and subsidizes team travel expenses, coaches education and athlete scholarships for Freestyle Team program fees. To contribute to this fund or for confidential scholarship application information, please contact Whitefish Freestyle Inc whitefishmtfreestyleinc@gmail.com or visit their website at Whitefish Freestyle Inc.
Feel free to contact the Freestyle Team Supervisor via email freestyle@skiwhitefish.com.