U.S. Ski Team World Junior / U23 World Championship Team

U.S. Ski Team World Junior / U23 World Championship Team
As U.S. Nationals in Anchorage, A.K. approaches, the U.S. Ski Team is pleased to announce the coaching staff for the 2009 World Junior and U23 World Championships. Listed below you will find a list of coaches, in addition to important trip information and qualifying criteria. For questions, please contact Matt Whitcomb at mwhitcomb@ussa.org.

Trip Staff:
Matt Whitcomb U.S. Ski Team (Head World Junior Coach)
Pat Casey U.S. Ski Team (Head U23 Coach)
Randy Gibbs U.S. Ski Team (Head Serviceman)
Chris Mallory Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
Eileen Carey Maine Winter Sports Center
Karyn Thull U.S. Ski Team (Physical Therapist)
Scott Johnston Methow Valley Ski Team
John Callahan Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Team

U23 Trip Dates: Jan 19 – Feb 2, 2009
WJ Trip Dates: Jan 24 – Feb 7, 2009

Qualifying criteria: www.ussa.org/magnoliaPublic/ussa/en/sports/crosscountry/advancement.html

Team Size: The World Junior Team will consist of at least 5 men and 5 women, and not more than 6 of either gender. The U23 Team will consist of 5 men and 5 women.

Lodging: Praz de Lys, France. Hotel name TBA.

Trip Cost: $1750 (does not include air, check must be presented to Matt or Pat at team naming and made out to USSA)

Airfare: Athletes named to the team after the coaches meeting on Jan 7th will receive information on purchasing their plane ticket through the World Tek Travel. Athletes will receive the necessary dates and the agent’s phone number, and will need to purchase their ticket by Jan 9. The agent will coordinate athlete / coach arrival times to work for everyone. The team will use Geneva as its airport.

Race Schedule:
Jan 29 U23 10/15 F
Jan 30 Training
Jan 31 U23 PURSUIT 7.5/7.5, 15/15
Feb 1 JUNIOR / U23 Sprints C
Feb 2 Training / U23 athletes travel home or to WC pre-camp in Ramsau
Feb 3 JUNIOR PURSUIT 5/5, 10/10
Feb 4 Training
Feb 5 JUNIOR 5/10 F
Feb 6 JUNIOR RELAY, 3.3/5 (C, C, F, F)
Feb 7 Juniors and coaches travel home or to WC pre-camp in Ramsau

Informational Meeting: Trip coaches will hold a meeting for all qualified athletes and their parents immediately after coaches meeting on the 7th for the team sprint. An information packet will be distributed at this point.