West Team

Purpose (established 1994):
The Western Elite Ski Team (W.E.S.T.) is designed to provide appropriate training and preparation for athletes on track for national team selection. The goal of the team is to enhance future performance through the application of sound planning and training experiences. The team is also intended to provide appropriate recognition to the best club racers from the region. Its primary target is for athletes who are FIS eligible and on target to become members of the USST D or C team. The team serves to enhance development opportunities for future national team members. It is not intended to be an All-Star team.
All current members of the USA National Alpine Team, and former USST members still actively racing in international alpine competition with the intent of regaining team status who are from the Western Region, are honorary members of W.E.S.T.
Team Size: Normally this number is under 12 per gender, but includes all athletes who meet the objective criteria listed below, and the evaluation of realistic potential to be named to the national alpine C or B team according the published objective criteria of those squads. Team size may exceed 12 based on in-season promotion described below. Team members may also be named subjectively based on the agreement of the regional staff and the Vice-chairperson.
Methods:
A regional training group will be named in the spring of each year based on past season performance and future plans of the athlete. This process uses an objective selection method for the identification of 4/5, eighty percent, of the group utilizing the NDS Clear Path methods and the standings of the prior year Kyle Warren awards. This group will be camp invitees for the preparation period of the elite regional team candidate level camps. The regional coach will establish a performance contract with training group members that outlines training goals for the preparation period.
The regional coach will participate in the management of the athlete via communication with the home program coaches and the monitoring of the athlete‟s individual program. The training group will include the exceptional J3s of the Whistler group as well as other Junior Olympic standouts.