KSEF Junior Development (Jr. Devo) Program - 4013 | FY26/27 Season

Program Overview

KSEF is a ski race team. For over four decades, we have trained racers and all-mountain skiers at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, the most demanding and rewarding mountain in the Sierra. The Jr. Devo Team is where that journey begins: the entry point into our racing program for athletes aged 6 to 9, built around small ability-based groups with a maximum 7:1 athlete-to-coach ratio, real coaching, and a race team culture from day one. Every participant receives personalized attention from coaches invested in developing the whole athlete: building physical skill on the hill, nurturing confidence and character off it, and preparing young skiers for progression into the KSEF U10 Alpine Race Team.

At KSEF, every family belongs.

Skill Prerequisites

This is not a beginner program. Kirkwood is a real mountain with real terrain, and Jr. Devo athletes need to arrive with a foundation of basic skiing skills already in place. Athletes must meet the following minimum standards:

• Independently load and unload chairlifts (athletes under 51 inches may ride with an adult or coach).

• Make linked turns on intermediate (blue) terrain and stop independently.

• Ski off of Kirkwood Chairlifts #5, #11, and #7 without assistance.

• Participate in a full day of team activities (up to 6 hours) without parent assistance.

• No edgie-wedgies, leashes, or other training aids.

• New athletes must complete a pre-season on-snow skills assessment.

Not quite there yet? Kirkwood's Ski and Ride School can build the skills needed for Jr. Devo the following season. Reach out to us, and we will help you find the right path.

Why Kirkwood: The Best Mountain in the Sierra to Build a Racer

If you end up at Kirkwood, it is because you made a deliberate decision. You chose the mountain that sits at 7,800 feet in a horseshoe canyon deep in the Sierra Nevada, higher than any other ski area in Tahoe, with terrain that tilts toward challenge and snow that other resorts can only talk about. You chose the mountain where legitimately good skiing is the main event, where the terrain builds skiers instead of flattering them, and where a race team has been training athletes for over four decades.

That is exactly why it is the best place in the Sierra to develop a young racer.

Storms funnel into the horseshoe canyon from the Pacific and get stuck, swirling for days. The locals call it the K-Factor: the geographic reality that when the rest of Tahoe is waiting for snow, Kirkwood is buried in it. With 2,300 acres of skiable terrain, 2,000 feet of vertical drop, an average annual snowfall that regularly exceeds 350 inches, and a terrain mix that tilts heavily toward challenge (38% advanced, 20% expert), this mountain produces fundamentally stronger skiers and sharper racers than any resort in the region. It teaches athletes to read terrain, adapt to variable conditions, find their balance in real snow, and build the kind of independent confidence and technical foundation that translates directly to the race course.

For Jr. Devo athletes, that means something specific: the skills they develop here transfer. An athlete who learns to ski and race at Kirkwood can ski and race anywhere.

The KSEF Community: Your Athlete's Tribe

Deep roots. Strong community. Bright futures. That is not a slogan. It is what four decades of race team families have built at Kirkwood.

Kirkwood has always been a place where the community is the mountain and the mountain is the community. There are no crowds to disappear into. Coaches know every athlete by name. Families tailgate in the parking lot, swap stories at the end of the day, and show up for one another through powder days and storm days alike. This is not a drop-off program at a mega-resort. This is a race team family.

KSEF is the heartbeat of that community. When your athlete joins Jr. Devo, they are not just signing up for ski coaching. They are joining a tribe of families, coaches, and young skiers who share a deep love for this mountain and for the sport. The friendships your athlete makes on Chair 5 or in the lunch line at the village become the friendships that carry through seasons, years, and eventually into the U10 program and beyond. The parents you meet become your people. The coaches become mentors your athlete trusts and looks up to.

We take that seriously. KSEF fosters an environment built on respect, compassion, grit, and fun. Our athletes learn to support each other, push through hard days, celebrate each other's breakthroughs, and treat the mountain with the reverence it deserves. The moments that define us happen just as often off the race course: in the lodge, on the chairlift, and wherever our families come together. That culture is not something we market. It is something you feel the first day your young skier clips in with a KSEF group and comes home buzzing about their new friends, their coach, and the line they skied that they did not think they could do. One Team. One Dream. That is how we ski, how we race, and how we show up for each other at Kirkwood.

FY26/27 Seasonal Training Mix

Great racers are built on great skiing. Jr. Devo develops the complete all-mountain foundation every successful racer needs. The mountain is the curriculum.

75 to 85% All-Mountain Freeskiing and Exploration. Coached, directed skiing across Kirkwood's terrain: open runs, natural features, variable snow, and progressively steeper lines as ability grows. This is where the mileage gets logged, and the athletic foundation for racing takes shape.

10 to 20% Coached Drills and Skill Development. Focused exercises on turning fundamentals, balance, edge awareness, and the athletic movements that translate directly to the race course.

5 to 10% Introduction to Gate Training. This is where the racing begins. Low-pressure introduction to race courses, building comfort and confidence in gates. Athletes may participate in Tahoe Race Series events.

New for FY26/27: On-Mountain Race Facility

This season marks a milestone. After years of planning and investment, KSEF will be operating out of our new on-mountain race facility at Kirkwood: a permanent home on the hill that upgrades every aspect of our program and positions KSEF to compete at the highest levels in the region. For Jr. Devo athletes, it means training alongside the full KSEF race team in a facility designed for developing racers from the ground up.

Athlete Assessment and Progress Tracking

Every athlete is seen, coached, and challenged at the right level. New athletes complete a pre-season on-snow skills evaluation before group placement. Each athlete receives personalized development goals, a mid-season written progress report, and an end-of-season skills card documenting their growth and readiness for the U10 program.

FY26/27 Schedule and What to Expect

The season runs December through early April, subject to snow conditions and mountain operations. Weekend training is Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. School break weekdays follow the same schedule, with dates published on the KSEF calendar. Athletes should aim to attend at least 60% of scheduled sessions. Consistency matters: progress is built on mileage, and mileage is built on showing up.

On training days, athletes arrive fully dressed and ready to ski at the designated meeting point (communicated before the season). Coaches organize groups and begin with a safety review. Your athlete will be on the mountain within the first hour. The day includes a mid-morning snack break (parents provide a healthy pocket snack and water) and a lunch break. Athletes are supervised at all times, including snack breaks. Coaches communicate with families through KSEF's TeamSnap and direct email. Any training changes due to weather or conditions are communicated promptly.

FY26/27 Registration and Pricing - Earlybird Registration ends on May 31st

Prices increase with each registration window and will continue to climb through November 2026. The best pricing is available now. Once a window closes, it does not reopen.

Season Pass: All athletes must hold a valid season pass for Kirkwood for all training days: Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Tahoe Local Pass, Tahoe Value Pass, or Kirkwood Only Pass. Lift tickets and day passes are not accepted. A season pass is a separate purchase, not included in tuition.

Payment plans are available. Need-based financial assistance is available through KSEF because every family belongs on this mountain. Contact the Program Administrator for pricing details, payment plan options, pass guidance, or membership questions.

Required Equipment

All equipment must receive prior approval from KSEF coaches before on-snow training. Families are responsible for providing:

Skis. One pair of all-mountain carving-style skis, chin to forehead length (no twin tips). Owned or seasonal lease (no daily rentals).

Boots. Snug-fitting ski boots, properly sized for flex and fit (no rear-entry boots).

Poles. Ski poles at the appropriate length (coaches will advise).

Helmet. MIPS ski helmet with chin/face guard, meeting current safety standards. Required at all times.

Goggles. Ski goggles suitable for varying weather conditions.

Gloves. Waterproof ski gloves or mittens.

Ski Pants. Waterproof ski pants.

Layers. Appropriate layers for Kirkwood conditions (base, mid, outer). Kirkwood sits at 7,800 feet, and conditions change fast. Dress for the mountain, not the parking lot.

Equipment Guidance: Consult KSEF coaches before purchasing equipment. Proper fit and functionality are critical. We encourage families to explore ski swaps and used equipment markets for growing athletes.

New for FY26/27: Helly Hansen Official Team Uniform Program

For the FY26/27 season, KSEF is proud to announce an official uniform partnership with Helly Hansen. Our leadership team spent countless hours working alongside both the local and main Helly Hansen teams to design and build the best kits for our athletes and coaches: purpose-built, race-ready, and unmistakably KSEF.

When your athlete shows up on the mountain in the new KSEF x Helly Hansen kit, they will look like they belong to something serious. Because they do. This partnership ensures that our look, our feel, and our brand will be consistent for the foreseeable future, across every program from Jr. Devo to FIS. One Team. One Dream. And now, one kit to match.

Early Order Incentive: 10% Off Before May 31st. Purchase your full kit or individual items (jacket, pant, or mid-layer) before the May 31st deadline and receive 10% off the item or the kit. This is an introductory deal to launch the partnership, and it will not last. Prices will increase after the deadline, as will program pricing.

Visit the KSEF Uniform Pages at kirkwoodskiteam.com for current pricing and kit details, or contact Kylese or Dana directly for the latest pricing information.

Contact and Registration

Since 1984, this foundation has been built by people who love this mountain and believe in its young people. Ready to be part of it?

• Kylese Markt, Athletic Director: Kylese@kirkwoodskiteam.com

• Dana Keith, Program Administrator: Dana@kirkwoodskiteam.com

Sign up for the monthly KSEF newsletter for the latest updates and season information.

Kirkwood Ski Education Foundation

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit  |  Training Racers Since 1984

Deep Roots. Strong Community. Bright Futures.

One Team. One Dream.