Mighty Mites Program

Mighty Mites is a “Love to Ski, Learn to Ski Race” program and try-outs will be held to ensure participants are able to ski all-of-the Mountain from the top of Chair Six.  As an introductory ski race program for ages 6-14, Mighty Mite athletes improve skills and confidence by learning to ski race and free ski the entire mountain within ability groups. Athletes are grouped according to age and ability for the season.

 

Registration for the Mighty Mite Programs will open the month of September and close at midnight November 30.  If you have any questions about registration please contact our Program Coordinator, at mightymitesprogramcoordinator@alyeskaskiclub.com.

The starting ages for both the Mighty Mite programs is 6 yrs old. ALL athletes are required to have basic ski skills and be independent from parents for the full program day.

Please Note: The “Mini-Mite” Program for 5yr olds and younger is run independently by the Alyeska Resort’s Learning Center. Please contact the Resort through their Mountain Learning Center for their information. Contact them through their website or at 907-754-2280.

Coaches needed for Mighty Mites Ski Program

The Mighty Mites recreational ski program has operated with the support of volunteer coaches since 1967.  Coaching and engagement with local sports programs is a great way for us contribute and support our ski club.

For those of you that are avid skiers, please consider an opportunity to volunteer to help with the Mighty Mite ski program on Sundays, particularly if you have children or grandchildren that are interested in the program.

Please use the button below for information about the program and additional information about registration for kids or interest in coaching.

Mighty Mites-Registration Now CLOSED

  • Sundays | Alyeska Resort | 6-14 years old as of Dec 31, 2023
  • Registration Fee – $482
  • Recommendation – The goal of the program is to introduce the fundamentals of alpine ski racing to young children. The Mighty Mite Program strives to promote self-confidence, a sense of accomplishment, good sportsmanship and a FUN, positive racing experience for children. Whether a child has an Olympic goal or just wants to have fun, Mighty Mites can provide the foundation for a lifelong love of skiing. Mighty Mites captures the balance between racing and free skiing, offering several races throughout the season, opportunities to train gates, as well as ample time to explore the entire mountain with their coach and group. Please see our web site for more details about eligibility and criteria for enrolling.
  • AMM Daily Schedule – We have adjusted our schedule to provide for increased ski hours, coach’s meetings, groups starting/ending at the same time, and lunch breaks within ski groups to limit excessive gathering in the Race Training Center (RTC).  All groups will meet at their group flags outside the RTC at 11:15 am and load lifts by 11:30. All groups will return to their Flags at 3:30 pm.  Athletes will bring sack lunches to be stored in designated Group Cubbies in the RTC.  Coaches will take a 30 min lunch break sometime during the ski day and distribute sack lunches in the RTC. We are pleased that this will allow for 3.5 hours of skiing each day which is what we provided prior to COVID. 
  • Additional Opportunities – Winter Break Camp $150, Spring Break Camp $150, Hilltop Wed Training $275 (5:30 pm -7pm). This training session is for older, independent athletes who can check-in with coaches, follow directions and get themselves to the practice courses all session long.  Individual coaches will not be assigned to groups.
  • Tuition fees do NOT include a lift ticket for athletes.  Please purchase those from Alyeska Resort.  A direct to lift pass or season pass is recommended to avoid the lines and difficulties each morning at the ticket office.

Mighty Mites + Devos-Registration Now CLOSED

 

  • Saturdays | Alyeska Resort | 6-14 years old as of Dec 31, 2023 | Devos
  • Sundays | Alyeska Resort | 6-14 years old as of Dec 31, 2023 | Mighty Mites
  • Program Cost – $824
  • Recommendation – Recommended for U10 and U12 athletes looking for the benefits of both programs.
  • AMM + Devos Daily Schedule: We have adjusted our schedule to provide for increased ski hours, coach’s meetings, groups starting/ending at the same time, and lunch breaks within ski groups to limit excessive gathering in the Race Training Center (RTC).  All groups will meet at their group flags outside the RTC at 11:15 am and load lifts by 11:30. All groups will return to their Flags at 3:30 pm.  Athletes will bring sack lunches to be stored in designated Group Cubbies in the RTC.  Coaches will take a 30 min lunch break sometime during the ski day and distribute sack lunches in the RTC. We are pleased that this will allow for 3.5 hours of skiing each day which is what we provided prior to COVID. 
  • Additional Opportunities – Winter Break Camp $150, Spring Break Camp $150, Hilltop Wed Training $275 (5:30 pm – 7 pm). This training session is for older, independent athletes who can check-in with coaches, follow directions and get themselves to the practice courses all session long.  Individual coaches will not be assigned to groups.
  • Tuition fees do NOT include a lift ticket for athletes.  Please purchase those from Alyeska Resort.  A direct to lift pass or season pass is recommended to avoid the lines and difficulties each morning at the ticket office.
Mighty Mite Groups

Skiers will be placed in ability groups for free skiing, training and races. Placement will be commensurate with ability, which will be determined by initial free skiing, training sessions, grouping races, and age. These groups allow children to compete more equitably with those of similar skills instead of competing only within age groups. The ability groups, ranked in ascending order of ability, are as follows:

Ages 6–9:  Chipmunks, Otters, Beavers, Lynx, Tigers
Ages 10–14:  Cougars, Rams, Wildcats, Snow Leopards

Children will race throughout the season in the ability group to which they are assigned following the grouping race. Adjustments in ability groups will only be made with coaches’ input up to the first pointed race. After this, all races count toward Season Awards and children will to remain in their ability groups to compete for the end-of-year awards.

MOVING UP GROUPS

1. Coach observes mastery of fundamentals and free skiing ability.
2. Skier finishes a grouping race with a time in the midrange of the next highest group.
3. At age 10 by December 31 of the ski season, unless already a Snow Leopard, the racer becomes a Cougar.

Note: Ability Groups may be adjusted to ensure appropriate numbers within each group to allow for appropriate coaching levels.
Upward mobility in Mighty Mite ability groups is based on the mastery of ski fundamentals in free skiing, drills, gate training and race results. The first grouping race of the season is a combination GS and slalom grouping race. After this race and Coaching review, movement of Mighty Mites into new groups will be done conservatively. The following Sunday coaches will further assess free skiing ability and make recommendations on final grouping movements. If a child misses the grouping race, then group placement will be based on coach’s recommendation. Parents with concerns on grouping can discuss this with their child’s coach prior to the first Pointed Race. Once Pointed Races begin, no movements between ability groups are allowed as this will render the child ineligible for Season Awards.

Safety & Conduct

Safe behavior and good conduct are expected at all times while Mighty Mites is in session. Rude and unsafe behavior is discouraged and not tolerated. The Mighty Mites are examples to all young skiers as role models.

The inherent dangers involved in alpine skiing combined with the size of Mighty Mite groups require that children promptly obey the rules established by the coaches and parent helpers.  Children who are unable to obey the rules pose a threat to the safety of others as well as themselves and put an unfair burden on the coaches, other children, and parents. Children who are unable to follow the rules established by the coaches will not be allowed to attend practice. Normally, the following procedures will apply:

  • First infraction:  formal warning to skier
  • Second infraction: return to RTC for the day/ discussion between coach, parent, and athlete
  • Third infraction:  suspension for two weeks
  • Fourth infraction:  termination from program

At the discretion of the program director, certain serious infractions (such as fighting or situations involving risks of physical harm) may result in deviation the above policy, up to and including immediate suspension.

In addition, Alyeska Resort has great information and resources for mountain and skiing safety and education:

  1. Know the Code (Alyeska Resort skier responsibility code)
  2. Safety Violation Enforcement Guidelines
  3. Alyeska Resort Mountain Education Test. All results will be kept with the Alyeska Ski Patrol.
Proper Dress & Equipment

Children should come to Mighty Mites dressed for the weather! On very cold days, hand and toe warming pouches could mean the difference between skiing and sitting in the lodge. Mittens tend to be warmer than gloves. On rainy days, wear rain jackets AND rain pants. Helmets are required for participants. There are so many options available today in the area of children’s ski gear, so the best advice is to “Keep It Simple and Affordable.” Ski swaps and used gear are a great way to meet the needs of young skiers. Find your comfort zone ($) while paying attention to ski length, boot flexibility and pole height.

Skis should reach between the skier’s chin and nose. If in doubt, go shorter. Shorter skis are easier to handle. Look for side-cut, this means a wide tip and tail with a narrow waist.

Boots need to fit and be flexible. To determine if a boot fits lengthwise, take the bladder out, have child put his foot in the shell and slide toes to the front. He should have 1/2 – 1 inch of space between the back of his heel and the back of the shell. Put the bladder back in and try on boot for comfort. Have child flex the boot – this should be easy!

Pole Height Have child hold a ski pole upside down and grip just below the basket. You are looking for a 90 degree angle bend in the skier’s elbow while the lower arm is parallel to the ground.

Helmets must fit properly to be of any use; they should fit snugly. While not required, yet, it is recommended that helmets cover the ears. It is not advisable to buy used helmets for your racer, as it is often impossible to determine if a helmet has sustained a blow merely by looking at it. Children tend to drop helmets on the floor, throw them into the back of vans and cars, and each time the helmet receives a knock, it may well be sustaining minor fractures that are not visible on the outside, but reduce the effectiveness of the helmet.

Registration Lottery Process

The Alyeska Mighty Mite (AMM) and Devos Programs work to involve as many families as possible in quality, volunteer run, recreational ski programs. Given the popularity of these programs we have had to institute a maximum capacity to preserve both programs quality. Based on management of the participants and volunteer coaches, we have determined 200 participants is an appropriate cap for each program. The Alyeska Ski Resort also requests we institute a cap of 200 for each program.

This season we will institute a Lottery Process for both new AMM and Devos participants. The intent of the process is to provide transparency, support family involvement, encourage coaching commitments and ensure we maximize the programs capacity.

The following are the important components of the process:

  • All potential participants, new and returning, will register during the open registration period and pay fees for each program. Registration questions will capture each applicant’s status. All new applicants to any Alyeska Ski Club (ASC) program will be placed in a pending status until it is determined if a Lottery Draw is required.
  • At the close of the registration period, if the capacity of either program exceeds 200, significantly, the Lottery will be enacted for that program. All new potential participants in pending status will be placed into priority group status as listed below. Names will then be randomly drawn by the system in each category until the program is filled.
  • The following is the priority group status for drawing new potential participants, with notifications done by email:
    1. Siblings of returning ASC participants.
    2. Current Coaches’ children or grandchildren.
    3. Former Athletes in other ASC Ski Programs.
    4. New potential participants & New potential participants’ siblings: If more than one sibling of a family register as new participants, they are all entered into the program when one is drawn. This preserves family participation in the program.
  • New potential participants not drawn in the Lottery Process will be encouraged to participate in other ASC programs and will be notified by email.
  • If a new potential participant does not meet the ski tryout requirements, another participant will be randomly drawn pursuant to the above priority group status and notified by email.
  • Any new potential participants that are not chosen through the Lottery or do not pass the ski tryouts will be fully refunded their registration fees.

Tail Gunner Program

Athletes 14 and older are encouraged to consider serving as a Tail Gunner.
Great option to learn about coaching, increase volunteer experience and stay involved.

Alyeska Mighty Mites

Annual Trophies

Special Annual Trophies awarded each season to a deserving female and male athlete. Records captured below that are engraved on our traveling trophies displayed in the Race Training Center. These special awards have been given out for decades!

Tanaka Trophy

Tanaka Trophy

Awarded to the boy and girl that exemplify excellence in sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship is marked by a positive attitude no matter the weather or conditions, encouragement given to fellow racers, helpfulness to coaches and volunteers, politeness, and respectfulness of authority

2022-2023 Tanaka Trophy

Alma Kinney
Andreas Ovod-Everett

2021-2022 Tanaka Trophy

Kaitlyn Walker
Andreas Ovod-Everett

2020-2021 Tanaka Trophy

Chelsea Eldridge
Grant Eldridge

2019-2020 Tanaka Trophy

Nichole Walker
Owen Severson

2018-2019 Tanaka Trophy

Spencer Hemry
Savannah Willis

2017-2018 Tanaka Trophy

Katie Reinbold
Colton Merriner

2016-2017 Tanaka Trophy

Taylor Hartman
Cole Flower

2015-2016 Tanaka Trophy

Avery Collins
Will Hubbell

2014-2015 Tanaka Trophy

Kintla Penn
James Reinbold

2013-2014 Tanaka Trophy

Lexi Patten
William Wrigley

2012-2013 Tanaka Trophy

Talia Halverson
Simon Keffalos

2011-2012 Tanaka Trophy

Jenevia Wika
Hunter Eid

Most Improved

Most Improved

The most improved award goes to the Mighty Mite boy and girl who have shown the most improvement for the year.

2022-2023 Most Improved

Kimberly Jenson
Owen Martin

2021-2022 Most Improved

Rosalie Burke-Brandstetter
Adrian Cryan

2020-2021 Most Improved

Marin Walter
Maksim Millwood

2019-2020 Most Improved

Amber Maynard
Harlow Wilson

2018-2019 Most Improved

Iulian Ovod-Everett
Anna Green

2017-2018 Most Improved

Taryn Miller
Reuben Jeffers

2016-2017 Most Improved

Lola Woodward
Dylan Autrey/Spencer Hemry (tied)

2015-2016 Most Improved

Mia Rossi
William Reinbold

2014-2015 Most Improved

Hailey Hand
Thomas Hartman

2013-2014 Most Improved

Kennedy Kane
Eli Seaver

2012-2013 Most Improved

Lexi Patten
Kai Penn

2011-2012 Most Improved

Emily Workman
Ryan Brubaker