Happy Halloween SNSC Freeski!

Welcome to the start of the SNSC Freeski 2025/2026 season! For those that might not know, my name is Ashley Maxfield, I’m the Freeski Program Director, Head Competition Coach and the Freeride Events Director. Here is a lot of info about the upcoming season and things to expect about it. We will go over this and more at the Preseason Potluck, but wanted to get this out to everyone beforehand.

🪪IFSA:
Hopefully everyone that is competing this season has already signed up for an IFSA membership. Remember you need both IFSA and a regional membership BEFORE you can sign up for any competitions. If you are just starting out and are not sure you want to do any comps yet you can always go to the Jay Peak Friendly (in January) and the Smuggs Friendly (in March) without an IFSA membership. All other comps will need a membership, you may buy a 1 day membership as well. Talk with your coach or send me a message and we can talk about what is the right path for your athlete. No two athletes are the same, and that’s the fun part of the sport of Freeride.
-Those on the Mountain Team (MTN), if you don’t plan on competing you don’t need to worry about getting a IFSA license.

🚨Important dates coming up:

November 1st: Registration for all 3*s open. 3* events are for those ages U15-U19, who are trying to qualify for Junior Freeride Championships (JFCs). 90% of the athletes will be accepted based on their Seeding Points (IFSA 3* Guide is uploaded to documents, you can check it out there). This year registration will stay open until December 7th. There isn’t a big rush link years past to sign up. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. I plan on covering this more at the Potluck.
First year U15’s and new to freeride athletes (U15/U19): if it is your goal for the season to try to qualify for JFCs. I would sign up on the earlier side of the window to be higher on the waitlist. If you do your 2* events at the beginning of the season you have a greater chance to get in.
November 7th: 📽️ Backcountry Barn Bash will be held at the Cambridge Community Center
November 9th: 🍴Preseason Potluck- 2pm-4pm, click the link to RSVP and to sign up for something to bring. We will use the Potluck to get more information out about the groups, the season and answer any questions you may have about the club and what to expect.
November 13th: 📽️ Girl Winter Film Tour will be at Lot 6
December 13th: Comp (U15/U19) and U12 teams Season Starts. 9:30am-2pm Saturdays and Sundays until March 29th.
December 20th: MTN team Season Starts 9:30am-2pm Saturdays and Sundays until April 5th.

🗓️Eastern IFSA Comp Schedule:
Reminder- Those that are U15/U19 are only allowed 4 IFSA competitions before JFCs (if you want to do more you will have to sign up as a friendly). Please talk over your goals with your coaches so that we can help you plan a schedule that will work for you. I will go over this a little more at the Potluck.
1/23: Sugarbush 2*
1/24: Jay Friendly
1/25:Jay 2*
1/30: Stowe 2*
2/1: Smuggs 2*
2/6: MRG 2*
2/11-2/13: Smuggs 3* (Wednesday-Friday, Friday being the weather day) U15-U19 Only
2/14: Sunday River 2*
3/1-3/3: MRG 3* (Sunday-Tuesday, Tuesday being the weather day) U15-U19 Only
3/7: Whiteface 2*
3/14: Gore 2* (3* for Snowboarders)
3/21-3/22: Jay Peak Eastern Freeride Finals (these will be open to those not going to JFCs and all U12s)
3/28 or 3/29: Smuggs Friendly (waiting on what the mountain agrees on)
JFCs- TBA

📝Communication:

All communication for the season will be on Stack Team App again this season. Once we get closer to the season I will not be emailing out information, and all emails I do send out preseason will also be on the Team app. It was nice to have all the team info in one place instead of trying to sort through our email to find all of the info you may need about the plan for upcoming things. There are links on the team page to IFSA Handbooks and Guides, as well as many helpful links and places to share photos and videos of the athletes skiing.
For those that don’t have it yet: Please download the Stack Team App, search for ‘SNSC Freeski Team’ and request to join.
iOS: https://www.teamapp.com/ios-app
Android: https://www.teamapp.com/android-app

🌐Booter Blog:
We will be running the Booter Blog again this year. Meg Wilson has been a rockstar the last few years getting it up and running. There is lots of important info for new families and keeping everyone up to date with how the season is going for the athletes! Make sure to subscribe to get the latest info.

That’s the compressed info, we will go over more of this in more detail at the Potluck on November 9th, if you can’t make the potluck please feel free to reach out to me I can answer any of your questions!

Think Snow!

Ashley Maxfield