Discovery Ski Education Foundation (DSEF) is a nonprofit parent run organization that provides technical training for kids, promotes enjoyment of the sport, and builds confidence. We welcome all kids who love to ski and want to improve their skills. We offer four programs for kids age 5-16.
This year we will be offering three recreational programs and two competitive programs.
Our recreational programs will run 10 consecutive Saturday’s beginning January 7th. Our competitive programs will officially begin with Christmas Camp (December 27th – December 31st).
ESP Ski & Snowboard and Advanced All Mountain ESP will meet each Saturday from 9:30-2:30. Parents must meet their children for a 1-hour lunch at 11:30 a.m. Skiers will meet back up with their group at 12:30 p.m.
LTR will train 9:30-2:30 on Saturdays and DART will continue to train both Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30-2:30.

By signing up for our programs you acknowledge that you have read and understand Discovery Ski Area’s Covid-19 policy and DSEF Refund Policy for the 2022-2023 season. The refund policy is located at the bottom of this page as well as in your confirmation email.

Stay tuned and check back often as we have program updates and changes to share.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Enhanced Skills Program  SKI and SNOWBOARD $325)

ESP – Enhanced Skier Program ($325)

10 Consecutive Saturdays beginning January 7th 9:30-2:30 p.m.

Our Enhanced Skier Program (ESP) is a noncompetitive recreational program designed for skiers age 5-16 with previous skiing experience. This program is for youth skiers who want to improve their skills and become confident life-long all mountain skiers. Coaches will teach the fundamentals of alpine skiing utilizing drills and a variety of teaching techniques to help all skiers achieve goals and progress at every level. Participants will be placed into small groups based on skier ability. Athletes must be 5 years old by December 31, 2022, in order to participate in ESP. Participants must have previous skiing experience, be able to manage their own equipment and clothing, load and unload the chairlift safely and independently, and ski independently.

ESP – Snowboard ($325)

10 consecutive Saturdays beginning January 7th, 9:30-2:30 p.m.

Our ESP Snowboard program is a non-competitive recreational program designed for snowboarders age 5-16 with previous snowboarding experience. This program is for youth snowboarders who want to improve their skills and become confident life-long all mountain riders. Coaches will teach the fundamentals of snowboarding utilizing drills and a variety of teaching techniques to help all riders achieve goals and progress at every level. Participants will be placed into small groups based on rider ability. Athletes must be 5 years old by December 31, 2022, in order to participate in ESP. Participants must have previous snowboarding experience, be able to manage their own equipment and clothing, load and unload the chairlift safely and independently, and snowboard independently.

Please note this program will require a minimum of 3 participants! 

Advanced All Mountain ESP (ages 7-16, $375)

Advanced All-Mountain ESP ($375)

10 Consecutive Saturdays beginning January 7th 9:30-2:30 p.m.

Our Advanced All-Mountain program is a recreational program designed for advanced skiers committed to improving their skiing in a challenging but fun environment. The All Mountain program will focus on adjusting techniques and tactics to improve skiing on all terrain and in all conditions. Participants can expect to ski steeps, trees, moguls and more all while reaching their full potential and excelling in all aspects of skiing. Participants can expect to ski in a group of skiers of similar ability with the same coach throughout the 10-week program.

Athletes must be 7 years old by December 31, 2022, in order to participate in the Advanced All-Mountain ESP program. Participants must have the ability and desire to ski at a high level. This means they must be able to independently and confidently ski the whole mountain, as well as load and unload all chairlifts safely and independently. Skiers should have the ability and desire to ski multiple laps off the Limelight chair. Participants without the required skills will be asked to transfer to another program and will be offered a prorated refund.

Competitive Programs

Learn to Race (ages 7-16, $460)

Beginning Christmas Camp Week (12/27-12/31) and continuing Saturdays 9:30-2:30.

Learn to Race (LTR) is a developmental race program designed for advanced skiers interested in competitive alpine ski racing. LTR is designed to develop the fundamental skills required for successful ski racing through all mountain free skiing, drill work, and gate training in all ski racing disciplines. Participants will be divided into small functional groups. All groups will be coached by a USSA-licensed coach.

A USSA alpine competitor license and a hard ear helmet will be required for participation in this program. Additionally, all LTR participants are expected to participate in 1-2 USSA sanctioned YSL races.

This program falls under the direction of DSEF’s head race team coach Ryan Ludemann.

Athletes must be 7 years old by December 31, 2022, in order to participate in LTR. No prior race experience is necessary, but athletes must have the ability and desire to ski at a high level with a focus on race training. This means participants must be able to independently and confidently ski the whole mountain. Participants without the required skills will be asked to transfer to another program and will be offered a prorated refund.

You will be required to sell raffle tickets as a part of our annual fundraiser.

Discovery Alpine Race Team (DART, ages 7-16, $575)

Beginning Christmas Camp Week (12/27-12/31) and continuing Sat. & Sun. 9:30-2:30.

Discovery Alpine Race Team (DART) is designed for advanced skiers who are ready to compete at a higher level. No race experience is necessary but athletes should be committed to training to improve their performance. This program emphasizes race training and conditioning through focused free skiing, instructional drills and gate training in all ski racing disciplines.

Participants are encouraged to attend all Youth Ski League (YSL) races during the season, which take place across Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. A USSA alpine competitor license and a hard ear helmet will be required for participation in this program.

Race skis are highly recommended. Athletes must be 7 years old by December 31, 2022, in order to participate in DART. No prior race experience is necessary, but athletes must have the ability and desire to ski at a high level with a focus on race training. This means participants must be able to independently and confidently ski the whole mountain. Participants without the required skills will be asked to transfer to another program and will be offered a prorated refund.

You will be required to sell raffle tickets as a part of our annual fundraiser.

REFUND POLICY

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DSEF has added the following clause for the 2022-2023 season: In the event that DSEF must cancel training days for a program due to COVID-19, each participant will be eligible to receive a prorated refund amounting up to 70% of the scheduled training days that were cancelled. This includes temporary or permanent closure due to local and/or state guidance, possible or confirmed cases among the team, or the closure of Discovery Ski Area.

All other refund requests will be evaluated by the board of directors on a case by case basis.

Refund options include a refund check, a credit for the 2022-2023 season, or donating the amount to DSEF.

Example

Total program cost: $295

Program cost per day: $29.50

# of days cancelled: 2

70% of 2 days @ $29.50 = REFUND OF $41.30