Understanding SSRT and the Far West Division

Snow Summit is our home resort, and Snow Summit Race Team is our team. When SSRT athletes enter sanctioned alpine races, they become part of a wider structure under U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Understanding that structure makes the names on a race calendar easier to follow and helps families see how local training connects with competition beyond our home mountain.

From the national organization to Far West

U.S. Ski & Snowboard provides the national organizational umbrella. Within its Western Region, the Far West Division covers California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Far West oversees alpine competition within that area, including scheduling and competitive programs.

SSRT is one of the clubs within that division. A team membership and the applicable U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Far West memberships serve different purposes, so check that your athlete has the required affiliations before entering sanctioned races.

Where South and Central fit

Snow Summit Race Team participates in the South/Central racing community. Far West formally identifies North, Central, and South geographic subdivisions, while race information also refers to the combined South/Central or Central/South series.

For younger racers, geographic series help limit travel and leave time for skill development. Families can become familiar with other clubs through repeated race weekends, then encounter a broader field at divisional events. The appropriate calendar still depends on the athlete’s age group and event eligibility.

Mountains in our racing community

Dodge Ridge, China Peak, Bear Valley, and Snow Summit are familiar South/Central race destinations. Their teams and organizers help bring the series to life, giving athletes opportunities to race at different mountains and meet competitors beyond their own training group. Mountain High is another Southern California resort name families may encounter in conversations about the South racing community.

Participation and hosting are different roles: a team may attend a race without its home resort hosting an event that season. Use the published calendar to confirm which mountains are hosting, rather than treating a list of resorts as a guaranteed schedule.

Meeting the wider Far West community

Beyond South/Central, Far West includes Mammoth Mountain Ski Team, Team Palisades Tahoe, and Sugar Bowl Ski Team Academy. Other clubs include Diamond Peak, Northstar, and Mt. Rose. These names may appear on start lists, results, and championship information as athletes take part in broader competition.

You do not need to learn the whole structure before the first race. Begin with your athlete’s program and the SSRT calendar, then ask the coach which events fit their development. Follow Far West’s age-group schedules and each organizer’s announcement for entry details. Your athlete continues to represent Snow Summit Race Team while becoming part of this larger ski-racing community.