FIS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
FIS Race Program — Ages 16+
Our philosophy for FIS athletes is to prepare young people with the skillset to succeed not only as world class ski racers but in whatever direction they choose to follow in life. We encourage each athlete to define their own objectives, performance targets, goals and we offer them high quality and professional coaching, world class training facilities, aligned with Alpine Canada's Long Term athlete development (LTAD) guidelines to ensure they reach their potential.
Who is this program for? Athletes who are wishing to pursue ski racing education, whether to qualify for selection to a Provincial and National Ski Teams, enroll to Collegiate Ski Teams or just to become great all mountain skiers.
When do we train? The season runs from December through early April, with training on Fridays & weekends and over the Christmas holiday break.
Athletes will compete in provincial races, zone events, and Whistler Cup during the season. In addition, week-long/weekend camps run through the summer and late autumn.
What will athletes get up to? Of course, racing is at the heart of it — but the fun doesn't stop there! Throughout the season, athletes will also have access to:
🏋️ Fitness training to is a key component
🎿 Ski tuning clinics to learn how to keep their equipment race-ready
This program is all about building confidence, making friends, and falling in love with the sport — one gate at a time!
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FIS Full Year program includes:
Coaching for off-season camps/trips, Sports Saturdays, in-season camps, trips, events, and training
Season: May 1 to April 18
Estimated available program days: 170 - 180
Best for athletes committed to 3 or more days per week during the season and planning to attend the Chile Camp
U16 In-Season program option includes:
Coaching for all in-season camps, trips, events, training, and Sport Saturdays
Season: December 3 to April 18
Estimated available program days: 110 - 120
Best for athletes committed to 3 or more days per week during the season and planning to attend fewer than 20 off-season camp days. Chile is expected to be approximately 21 days, while the November camp will be around 10-14 days
Weekend program option includes:
Coaching for all in-season weekend days, December holiday camps, and Sport Saturdays
Season: December 3 to April 18
Estimated available program days: 50
Best for athletes who can’t commit to an extended program or have an unknown variable schedule. This option can pick and choose additional training or trips that work for the athlee.
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Skis
All U16 athletes must have a pair of skis for each discipline:
Slalom (SL)
Giant Slalom (GS)
Super Giant Slalom (Super-G)
Downhill (DH)
Boots
All U18/U21 athletes are strongly recommended to have proper race boots with a regular cuff length (as opposed to a shorter junior cuff length), and a minimum flex of 110. U18/U21 skis are longer and stiffer than junior skis, so the boots must be stiff enough to bend the skis. It is strongly recommended that you communicate with your coach prior to buying new boots. Stores can point you in the right direction according to weight and foot size, but they have never seen you ski which is the biggest factor in deciding which boots actually fit you best.
Regarding canting and alignment, if you do not already know your ideal setup it is recommended that your boots be zeroed (set up straight at 90 degrees) prior to your first day skiing so any observations can be made from neutral starting point.
Boots are most important part of your kit! A wrong boot choice or an ill-fitting boot will compromise the athlete’s development and increase injury risk. Ask your Lead Coach for the upcoming season, before ordering!
Helmets
Helmets are mandatory and need to fit properly. Soft-eared helmets are only allowed for slalom, with a chin guard. Athletes will need FIS approved helmets.
Clothing
Other EquipmentPoles are a very important piece of equipment. We recommend straight to have a pair of poles for SL with handguards and a pair if GS with no hand guards and smaller or cone shaped.
Slalom (SL) protection equipment are considered basic equipment for slalom training at this age. They include shin guards, pole guards and chin guards. These can have a big influence in the athlete’s development when learning to cross block SL gates, as too small and low-quality shin guards or hand guards will protect less and tend to get caught with the plastic gates. The chin guard will avoid painful impacts which will reduce confidence significantly and might end up in expensive bills from the dentist.
Mouthguards are mandatory for gate training.
Back Protectors are mandatory. Every athlete should have one which feels comfortable and has a good level of protection from the back of the neck to the tail bone. There are models made of gel, which adapt to the shape of the back and are light and comfortable, while absorbing a lot of energy from impacts.
Speed suits are strongly recommended for racing. Athletes racing with a speed suit, need to be training usually with a speed suit too. They must be the right size, as too small and tight will restrain movements. When training with a speed suit, they need to wear certain layers on top to protect from abrasion in case of fall on hard snow, from weather and from cold temperatures.
Goggles are needed that fit with your helmet. Extra lenses and/or spare goggles are very handy when the weather turns foul, or your goggles are damaged. Not being able to see properly with different light conditions will reduce performance significantly.
Gloves must be tough, comfortable to grab the poles and protected on the back of the hand. Having a second pair of gloves is also a good idea.
Anti-cut inner layers are mandatory, as we are making the ski edges very sharp and it can happen that someone hits and edge while falling, getting deep cuts. There are several brands in the market that offer inner layers with anti-cut properties.
Ski Tuning Gear is recommended for any athlete who wants to take care of his own skis during camps or before training days in Whistler.
Uniform
FIS registration includes a WMSC Club jacket. We encourage all athletes to wear the WMSC Club uniform.
2nd hand equipment can also be found at the Ski SWAP held on Thanksgiving weekend at the Club Cabin or through our Buy & Sell FB page.
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Athletes are expected to attend all events throughout the season, turning up on time and in their gear.
Athletes and their families/support crews should understand the Code of Conduct and all policies of WMSC listed on the About page.
Volunteering at events is fundamental to the success of WMSC. The minimum commitment per family for U16 is eight (8) days of volunteering. Please review our Onboarding and Engagement Policy and the Volunteer Policy before registering for the season.
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2026-27 WMSC REGISTRATION is open for returning athletes. Register HERE asap to take full advantage of early bird pricing.
Families interested in joining for the 26/27 season, please complete the Expression of Interest Form and the club will be in touch.
The season starts on December 4th, 2026 and ends on April 18th, 2027.
Full program fees are due on or before October 31st, 2026. Zero-Interest payment plans are available for registration prior to October 1st.
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For current members, here are steps to take in ACTIVE:
Select Family membership (includes parents registration with BC Alpine)
Select your Athlete's BCA License. This includes athlete's BC Alpine Membership, competitor license and liability insurance.
Select SAIP Insurance for FIS Athletes and athletes travelling outside of Canada.
Select Program (Full-Year, In-Season or Weekend)
BCASF: Those who wish to pay part of their fees through donations to the BCASF Developing Champions Fund can be done through this link. If you are making a donation, please ensure you select the payment plan in program registration. Please forward your receipt to info@wmsc.info and a discount will be applied to your program fees for the season.
Additional days will be available to purchase for Weekend Program athletes during the Winter Season. Please ensure these are purchased a minimum of one week prior.
Families interested in joining for the 26/27 season, please complete the Expression of Interest Form and the club will be in touch.
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Purchasing a WB Season Pass
WB Seasons Pass can be purchased directly from their website. Athletes registered in a WMSC program are eligible for a Sea to Sky pass. This product is NOT available to purchase over the phone or frontline at WB.
Program Communications
Here are types of communications you can expect throughout the season.
Weekly Coach Update
Event Group Chat
E-News
Volunteer Opportunities
Member Events
Member Retail Purchase Opportunities
FIS Program Calendar