Parent Handbook

Grand Targhee Ski and Snowboard Foundation

Parent & Athlete Handbook

"Setting the Course for Success on the Slopes, on the Trails, and in Life"

Revised October 2023

Organization Overview

The Grand Targhee Ski and Snowboard Foundation (GTSSF) is a Registered Trade Name operating under the Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation (TVSEF). We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit ski and snowboard team located in Teton Valley, Idaho/Wyoming.

We offer competitive training and race pathways for youth looking to take their skiing and snowboarding to the next level, alongside hosting premier regional competitions and events. As a non-profit, we rely heavily on donations and fundraising to keep these world-class programs affordable for local families.

1. History, Mission & Statement of Values

Our History

Founded in 1988 by local ski racing legends Deb and Dana Mackenzie, Brad (Squeak) Melehes, Mark Melehes, and John Borstelman, the foundation launched its operational budget with the first annual “Tug Boat (Terry Palmer) Memorial” Ski Swap. Built on values of discipline, respect, physical fitness, and healthy competition, GTSSF has produced standout athletic talent and ski professionals. Notable alumni include freeride icon Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Olympic Silver Medalist Jaelin Kauf, and Red Bull athlete Kai Jones.

Mission Statement

To provide affordable ski and snowboard programs for young athletes to meet their individual potential for excellence through education and opportunity for competition.

Vision

Inspiring future stewards of the mountains to pursue personal development and engagement in the community by providing sustainable, affordable access to all athletes and their families.

Core Values Exploded

Personal Development: Assisting each participant in reaching their individual on and off-snow potential.

Inclusivity & Teamwork: Fostering unified team cultures to ensure the community success of all members.

Safety First: Implementing industry-best coaching standards and environmental management rules.

Affordability: Actively running dynamic scholarship structures to mitigate financial athletic pipelines.

Community Integration: Building intentional partnerships with local infrastructure, resorts, and supporters.

Academic Balance: Coordinating carefully with school districts so sport tracking mirrors classroom excellence.

Non-Discrimination Mandate: GTSSF enforces strict equal employment, operational, and membership frameworks. Discrimination based on color, religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, age, or disability is strictly prohibited and subject to immediate institutional dismissal or operational exclusion.

2. Safety, SafeSport & Codes of Conduct

In compliance with US Ski & Snowboard and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), providing a protected environment free from abuse, molestation, and harassment is at the center of all operations. GTSSF strictly implements the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAP).

Need to file an official SafeSport misconduct or safety report? Submit Report Directly Here →

Athlete Responsibilities

Sportsmanship: Act as broad ambassadors on/off-snow, in/out of uniform, and across all social media.
Respect: Zero tolerance for bullying or verbal abuse directed at officials, peers, or coaches.
Participation: Full compliance with fitness, on-snow modules, recovery phases, and drylands.
Substance Bans: Absolute prohibition of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, vapes, and illegal/banned supplements.

Parent Behaviors & Arena Rules

Orientation: Mandatory attendance for at least one parent at the fall orientation.
Autonomy: Hold your child accountable for their own gear prep, timing, and conduct metrics.
Competition Limits: Stay exclusively within official spectator boundaries. Do not enter starting gates or wax rooms.
No Co-Coaching: Allow professional staff to direct training without immediate pre/post-race interference.

Social Media Framework Summary

Posts by parents or athletes must remain respectful, constructive, and aligned with club image profiles. Do not air personal grievances or share confidential logistical metrics online.

Violations are evaluated strictly by the Executive Director and are subject to forced post-removal, suspension, or comprehensive team expulsion.

3. Program Policies & Academic Requirements

Mandatory Safety Mandates

Policy Target	Operational Requirement
Avalanche Beacons	Required for any/all out-of-bounds or slack-country access (e.g., Mary's, Road Runs to Sac, Upper Das). Must demonstrate user testing capacity.
Lift Chair Bars	Must be lowered and kept down completely during any GTSSF-related training, transit, or competition sessions.
Helmet Use	Mandatory at all times across downhill training, structural events, or dynamic cross-resort traveling blocks.
Schedule Adjustments	Committed to selected registration days. Additions or date shifts require absolute approval from the specific Head Coach.

Academic Standing

Student-athlete performance is balanced carefully with education pathways. General members must stay in complete good standing with their resident local school system.

Academy Tracking Details:
Requires maintenance of a 3.0 GPA minimum. Athletes must submit report card updates monthly to Head Coaches. Failure to execute scholastic profiles prompts temporary program suspension.

Concussion & Injury Management Protocol

Pursuant to US Ski & Snowboard concussion profiles, any athlete suspected of sustaining a head trauma or traumatic brain injury must be removed from participation immediately.

Clearance Letter: Requires explicit, signed written validation to return from a healthcare provider specialized in concussion metrics within 3 years of their continuing education cycle.

Baseline Metrics: Athletes age 10+ or entering competitive tiers are strongly pushed to take the 2-minute King-Devick baseline evaluation hosted with Teton Valley Health.

General Injury: Any standard physical tracking injury triggers structural parental notification and demands medical authorization paperwork submitted directly to the Executive Director.

4. Fees, Financial Deposits & Refund Matrix

Event Deposit Deadlines

Competition deposits are due via Ski Club Pro by the Thursday prior to each event. Failure to post deposit results in suspension from active competition fields.

Deposits are used directly toward registration costs, processing lift tickets, travel mileage tracking, and coach per diems. GTSSF passes event expenses with zero transactional markup.

Outstanding Balance Policies

Payments posted always fulfill the oldest outstanding ledger balances first.
End-of-season outstanding family accounts must be fully cleared by May 1st.
Open family balances carried forward prevent active future registration across any subsequent GTSSF seasonal timelines.

Official Refund Timelines

Prior to November 1st 100% full program fee refund applies if an athlete voluntarily or involuntarily exits the program profiles.

November 1st or Later Voluntary: GTSSF retains 30% administrative fee plus a calculated operational prorated fee.
Involuntary: (Relocation/Injury) Prorated usage fee retained, rest refunded.

Exceptions & Strict Rules Cross Country Rec deadline is Dec 1st. Alpine 2nd Session is Jan 1st. No refunds given for missed single days, resort force majeure closures, or event cancellations with sunk operational expenses.

5. Lodging, Travel & Fleet Transportation

Discipline Travel Profiling

Cross Country & Snowboard:
Typically moves and lodges as a collective team unit to streamline programmatic costs. Rooming structures group same-gender competitors with clear shared or dedicated bedding.

Alpine & Freeride:
Families remain individually responsible for tracking and booking travel/lodging at away events. Head coaches publish hotel recommendations, but parental booking is mandatory.

*Note: On-snow coaching is the sole operational responsibility of travel coaches at away locations. Chaperoning and continuous tracking off-snow remain a parental task unless official team lodging configurations are activated.

GTSSF Fleet Management Policies

GTSSF owns and rotates passenger fleet transport across the four functional disciplines. Travel targets focus primarily on athletes ages 14 and up. Vehicles are clean-entry blocks; teams must clean after tracking use. Damage is billed directly to offending family portfolios.

Standard Billing: Split equal shares of mileage calculated directly via formal IRS mileage tracking metrics.

Rental / Commercial Bus Use: Divided directly by the specific total volume of traveling athletes.

Seatbelt Mandate: Strict compliance is mandatory at all times. Unsafe personal vehicle driving to events results in disciplinary review.

6. Disciplinary Framework, Grievances & Critical Incidents

Disciplinary Steps

Code of Conduct infractions prompt direct intervention by the Executive Director. Code violations witnessed by coaches are actioned immediately. Third-party reports trigger explicit reviews. Self-reporting protocols may mitigate progressive disciplinary weight.

Serious infractions (e.g., vandalism, substance usage, severe disrespect, or state law arrests) invoke immediate structural suspension or program termination without financial credit or event refund.

Grievance Escalation Chain

Direct conversation with the athlete's immediate coach.
Formal referral to the discipline's specific Head Coach.
Official review requested with the Executive Director.
Escalation to the GTSSF Personnel Committee.

*Complaints will not be heard on the snow, during travel blocks, or mid-competition. Universal listserv broadcasting is strictly forbidden.

Critical Incident Communication: Serious fleet transit accidents, bodily trauma, internal abuse complaints, or natural events (e.g., avalanche tracking) deploy a centralized Crisis Response. The Executive Board establishes communication parameters and designates an isolated single spokesperson for all external public media outlets.