TEAM WELCH Alpine Race Team
TEAM WELCH Alpine Race Team is advanced ski racing program fully supported and administered by Welch Village Ski Area. Our program offers a USSA Scored Team Program (age 14 & older), A FIS Team Program (age 16 & older), and an Associate Program (Training Only).
Team Welch features low coach to athlete ratios which increases the amount of personal feedback and training reps each athlete receives. Our athletes also receive exclusive access to be best terrain in the Twin Cities market and beyond. Our race coaches use the PMTS Racer Development system, a modern and proven movement-based system that is designed for advanced race athletes in both slalom and giant slalom disciplines.
Training sessions are meant to maximize the speed and technical skills required to be more competitive in both slalom and giant slalom events. A combination of gate drills, full gate training, video analysis, and regular timed runs are used in this program. TEAM WELCH athletes also have exclusive access to our new Tow Pro rope tow lift and Sweeny slalom training hill.
Team Welch - SCORED
The Scored Program is for athletes 14 years of age or older as of January 1st. Scored racing offers a more competitive ski racing environment for US Ski and Snowboard Club athletes to race against other athletes across MN and parts of WI.
Program Fee - $1350 (To register, please contact the main office)
Includes: The entire Team Welch Training Schedule below as well as licensed coaching support at five CR1 region races during the season. These races include Giant's Ridge (Dec 13-14), Wild MT (Dec 20-21), Buck Hill (Dec 23), La Crosse (Jan 24-25), Afton Night GS Race (Feb 13), Mont Du Lac (Mar 14-15).
Team Welch - FIS
Our FIS program is for athletes age 16 and older as of Jan 1st. FIS racing offers a highly competitive ski racing environment for US Ski and Snowboard athletes to race against other FIS athletes across the Midwest, USA, and Canada. Most CRI FIS races, NMU Mid-Am races, are held on Fridays-Sundays, some are 4-day events. FIS racing requires athletes to obtain a FIS competition membership.
Program Fee - $1950 (To register, please contact the main office)
Includes the entire Team Welch Training Schedule, Camps, and licensed coaching support at the following races this season: Giants Ridge (Dec 13-14), Chuck Stone scored (Dec 23), Buck Hill (Jan 3-4), Nagy/La Crosse (Jan 24-15), Atmore/Spirit Jan 30-Feb 1), Lutsen GS (Feb 2), Snowriver (Feb 27-Mar 1),
Lutsen Spring Series (Mar 19-22).
Team Welch - Associate (Training Only)
This is an advanced race training program for high school athletes motivated to take their skiing & performance to the next level. This program was formally called the Welch Village Race Academy and is geared towards athletes who wish to train with our Team Welch athletes but are not planning to attend weekend Scored or FIS races.
Program Fee - $950 (To register, please contact the main office)
Includes: Entire Team Welch Training Schedule below
2025-2026 Team Welch Training Schedule
Training offered to all Team Welch Scored, FIS, and Associate program athletes:
Weeknight training 2x a week every week on Monday 6-8pm and Wednesday 5-8pm.
Weekend training on following dates: Dec 6-7, Dec 20-21, Jan 10-11, Jan 17-18, Feb 9-10, Feb 16-17, Feb 23-24, Mar 7-8, March 14-15
- Thanksgiving Camp (Weather dependent) on Nov 29-30
- Christmas Race Camp Dec 28-30
Team Welch Coaching Staff
Peter Zotalis - Program Director/Head Coach
Bill Sonnega - FIS Coach
Brianna Berg - FIS & USSA Coach
Curt Storlie - USSA Coach
This is an advanced training program for advanced race athletes. If you are interested in registering for any TEAM WELCH programs this season and have not been in this program before, please contact via email HERE before registering
Questions? Email is HERE
