This Team Runs on You
YOU'RE NOT JUST PARENTS. YOU'RE THE BACKBONE.
You're the reason this works. The 6 AM wake-ups, the frozen toes at the finish line, the gas money, the volunteer hours—this team runs on you. Here's everything you need to keep crushing it.
Welcome to the LMRT Family
Ski racing is not a drop-off sport.
You're going to be cold. You're going to be tired. You're going to wonder why you're standing on a mountain at 7 AM on a Sunday in January when you could be home drinking coffee in your pajamas.
And then your kid's going to cross that finish line—maybe in first place, maybe in 47th, maybe disqualified because they hooked a tip on the third gate—and they're going to look for you. Because you're the one who got them here. You're the one who believed they could do this before they believed it themselves.
Welcome to LMRT, parents. You're not just spectators. You're race crew. You're volunteer coordinators. You're hotel bookers, and carpool organizers, and equipment managers, and emotional support specialists. You're the scaffolding that holds this whole thing up.
We're here to make it easier. Below, you'll find everything you need to support your racer—from "I have no idea what I'm doing" to "I can set B-nets in my sleep."
Let's go!
A NOTE ABOUT PODIUMS
You're going to watch your kid fail. You're going to watch them finish 40th. You're going to watch them DQ. You're going to watch them stand at the bottom of a course crying because they blew it.
Here's what we need you to remember: that's part of their podium too.
The kid who learns to get back up after a bad run? That's a win.
The kid who high-fives a competitor who beat them? That's a win.
The kid who shows up next weekend after the worst race of their life? That's a podium we celebrate just as loudly as the one with three steps.
Your job isn't to fix it. Your job is to help them remember why they started—and that getting better is the whole darn point.
What To Expect
August - November: Dryland Season
Weekly conditioning sessions
Team bonding and fitness building
Equipment prep and tune-ups
Season kickoff meeting
December - January: Early Season
First snow training (weather dependent)
Holiday training camps
Technique focus and skill development
Local practice races
January - March: Peak Racing Season
Weekend and weeknight training sessions
Regular race weekends
Championship qualifiers
Travel races for upper age groups
March - April: Season Finale
Final competitions
End of season celebration
Awards and recognition
Real Talk
This is a commitment—weekends on the mountain, gear taking over your car, becoming a connoisseur of resort coffee. Your Sundays will look different than they used to.
And you're going to love it.
You'll watch your athlete grow in ways that have nothing to do with race results. You'll join a community of 75 families who genuinely show up for each other. You'll discover that standing at a finish line at 7 AM in January, cheering for every single kid who crosses it, is actually one of the best parts of your week.
Yes, it's a lot. But it's the kind of "a lot" that becomes the stories you tell at dinner tables for years to come.
HOW WE STAY CONNECTED
TeamSnap - Your command center
Official roster and registration
Coach announcements and schedule updates
Long-form team communications
Race schedules and coordination
The Rule: Miss a TeamSnap message = miss race registration
Instagram & Facebook - Celebrations
Race highlights and team photos
Community engagement and updates
Behind-the-scenes moments
Follow @libertymountainraceteam
Email - Official communications
Board updates and announcements
Season information
Important deadlines
The Bottom Line: Check your platforms regularly. We promise not to spam you, but we also can't help you if you don't read the messages.
VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS
LMRT runs on parent volunteers. Every race, every training session, every team event happens because families show up and pitch in.
Liberty GS Race (REQUIRED)
All LMRT families are required to volunteer at our home Liberty GS race
This is our biggest team event of the season—we need everyone
Exception: If your athlete has a conflicting race at another mountain
Roles include: course crew, timing, gate judging, registration, hospitality, and more
Schedule and sign-ups announced via TeamSnap - more details to come
Weekend Course Setup (APPRECIATED)
Help setting up training courses on weekends
B-net installation and takedown
Course maintenance during training
Your help means more training time for all athletes
General Support (ONGOING)
Moving equipment around the mountain
Helping transport gear to/from training venues
Ad hoc assistance as needs arise
The more hands, the smoother everything runs
The Bottom Line
The coaches can't do it alone. Your athlete is watching—and learning what it means to contribute to something bigger than themselves. Show up when asked.
SUPPORTING YOUR ATHLETE
Do's
Celebrate effort over results - "You skied hard today" beats "Why didn't you podium?"
Let coaches coach - Trust the process, trust the staff
Be positive at the finish - They need encouragement, not a debrief
Ask "Did you have fun?" before asking about times
Cheer for every LMRT athlete - We're a team, not just individual racers
Model good sportsmanship - Your attitude sets the tone
Remember: it's their journey - Not yours
Dont's
Don’t coach from the sidelines - Confuses athletes, undermines coaches
Don't compare to other kids - Every racer's path is different
Don't make it about the podium - Progress > placement
Don't critique right after racing - Let them decompress first
Don't talk negatively about other teams - Respect all competitors
Don't add pressure - Racing is hard enough without parent stress
Remember
Your athlete chose this sport. Your job? Help them keep loving it while pushing their limits. Trust the coaches. Celebrate the journey. Freeze your butt off with pride.
QUICK ANSWERS
Can I watch practice?
Yes, but stay far enough away that you're not a distraction. Let coaches coach.
Do we need two pairs of skis?
One pair of race skis is fine for younger athletes. U12+ athletes benefit from having separate GS and SL skis, especially if they're aiming for State Championships.
What if we're running late?
Contact your coach via TeamSnap or text. Athletes should head straight to the training venue posted on the bulletin board.
What if it's raining/icy/miserable?
We practice if the mountain is open. Dress appropriately. Quality training matters more than quantity, but showing up in tough conditions builds character.
Can my athlete miss practice?
Life happens. But consistent attendance matters for skill development and team cohesion. Athletes must attend 75% of practices to remain in good standing.
How do I know which races to register for?
Your coach will provide race recommendations for your athlete. Follow their guidance—they know your athlete's skill level and readiness.
