FAQs

1. How do I registor my child for a race?

2. How do I cancel from a race entry?

3. What happens if I don't return my bib?

4. What are the expectations of a parent?

1. How do I registor my child for a race and do I have to registor for each race?

To enter a race, send an entry form (voucher) to the Race Secretary for each race you plan to attend at least 10 days before the race. For WMAEF J3-J6 racers this applies ONLY to Open Races such as Schneider Cup or Sap Run (as listed in the NHARA handbook). Coaches enter racers in J3 series and Buddy Werner League series.

Copy the voucher from the NHARA website or the WMAEF handbook. Do not enlarge or reduce the form. Complete it legibly using the SAME name as appears on the USSA membership card. To save time, fill out the information that is common to all your entries, (name, etc.) but not the race and date, then make copies of the filled out form for future entries.

Send with a check made out to ‘Race Secretary” to the appropriate address found on the NHARA website or the WMAEF Handbook. A SEPARATE CHECK MUST BE SENT FOR EACH RACER FOR EACH RACE. If you have 2 children going to the same race – write 2 checks. You may send the 2 entries and checks in the same envelope. It is helpful to put the race date on the outside of the envelope.

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2. How do I cancel from a race entry?

If you wish to cancel your entry you must call by 9 a.m., 3 days before the race. See NHARA website for numbers to call. If you do not call your check will be cashed.

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3. What happens if I don't return my bib?

Return your bib on race day – there is a $20 charge for any bib not returned. Keep your bib with you (not on the lunch table).

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4. What are the expectations of a parent?

The “expectations” that we have generate the most questions. All too often parents may hold one expectation, the coaches another and the athlete still another.

A. STEP BACK AND OBSERVE: The hardest but most important thing for us to do with our children as they become involved in a sport is to step back and let them develop their independence and begin to learn through guided self-discovery. Whether at a training session at Wildcat or a Buddy Werner Race at Attitash, or a NH J3 SL Championship at Sunapee, the young racer performs best when the parents stay in the background.

The most important thing at these ages is to let them play and have fun at their sport. Praise their efforts and not results. Help develop love for sport. Encourage their dreams. Support and guide their goals and choices.

B. BE A VOLUNTEER: Share the experience in sports with your children by becoming involved in the organization and logistics of the sport. Work races, maintain race equipment, carry gates up and down from training sessions or help in any way you can think of (newsletter, social event, fundraising). As you watch your child work and play with fellow racers and their coaches, you will learn from the process and learn more than by any other means, including psychological testing, about your child. Your child will appreciate you being there in an “official” capacity and will learn that you care enough to become more involved.

C. FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT: Your children are at a prime skills development age when they are in our race program, and therefore we are a skills-development focused program. Our goals are to teach your children to become the best skiers they can be first, and to be racers second. The developmental work we do now must not be underrated. When you have questions about how much racing or gate training your children are doing, please come discuss this with coaching staff.

We as parents and coaches have to be careful not to take the race too seriously and the child not seriously enough.

This is why we believe it to be more productive to direct the racers’ focus on why they are there in the first place. They love it and want to race because it is fun and exciting. These are things they can control and which will ultimately determine their performance.

D. IS YOUR CHILD HAPPY? This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself and the coaches. If your child is happy in the racing program and is having a positive experience, you can relax and let the learning take care of itself.

E. QUOTE FROM CHRIS MCALEER, FORMER CHAIR OF WMAEF JR RACE PROGRAM; “One more thought, but this time strictly as a parent who has been there. It is perfectly all right NOT to show up for every race. Matter of fact, it is better not to. Let the kids have fun without being under pressure from us to perform. That goes for training too. Somehow having Mom and Dad standing on the hill watching training runs doesn’t always help. If you want to help and show them you’re interested, helping the coaches put up and take down courses and safety nets is a great way and it saves time for training.”

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