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 full USSA Team Program for U14 and older athletes as well an Associate Program. The Associate program includes training only, U14 and older 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 - Full Program
The full Team Welch USSA program is for athlete 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. Our program caters to both Scored and FIS level athletes.
Program Fee - $1975 (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. We are still waiting for the 2026-2027 USSA Central race schedule to be released. However, the following races were included in our Team Welch competition schedule last season: Scored: Giant's Ridge (Dec 13-14), Buck Hill/Chuck Stone Race (Dec 23), La Crosse (Jan 24-25), Afton Night GS Race (Feb 13), Mont Du Lac (Mar 14-15).
*FIS age level races last season were: Giants Ridge (Dec 13-14), Buck Hill ENL FIS (Jan 3-4), Nagy/La Crosse (Jan 24-15), Atmore/Spirit Jan 30-Feb 1), Snowriver (Feb 27-Mar 1), Lutsen Spring Series (Mar 19-22).
*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.
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 - $975 (To register, please contact the main office)
Includes: Entire Team Welch Training Schedule below
2026-2027 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: Held on 8-9 weekends during the season on non-race weekends. Once the CR1 schedule is released, we will set these training weekend dates.
- Colorado Fall Race Camp in Loveland. Space is very limited. This camp includes extra cost. Priority given to Team Welch athletes.
- Thanksgiving Camp (Weather dependent)
- Christmas Race Camp
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
