Training is the fastest way to get comfortable in a race course. Adult racers use these camps, programs and leagues to learn gates for the first time, shake off a decade away from the sport, or sharpen up before championships. Choices range from multi-day camps with full-time coaches to casual weeknight beer leagues, at mountains across the East Coast. If you know of a training opportunity we have not listed, email us at [email protected] and we will add it.
2026–27 season. Last updated: September 2026.
Which Kind of Training Is Right for You?
| Option | Time commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-day camp | 2–5 consecutive days, usually early season | Learning gates from scratch, or making a real technical change with video review and full-time coaching |
| Seasonal program | One morning or evening per week, all season | Steady improvement over the course of a season with the same coaches and a consistent group |
| Drop-in training | One session at a time, no commitment | Getting gate time and coaching when your schedule is unpredictable |
| Beer league / NASTAR | One evening or morning per week | Affordable, low-pressure race reps close to home |
Upcoming Adult Race Camps
Race camps are two to five consecutive days of coached course time, and they are the biggest jump in skiing you can make in a single week. Most run in late November and December. Expect small groups, several runs per session through slalom and GS courses, video review, and expert level coaching. Camps are the most expensive option and usually require travel and lodging, but for a racer who wants to fix something specific, or who has never run gates and wants to learn properly, nothing else compresses that much progress into so little time.
| Dates | Mountain | Camp | Cost | How to Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30 – Dec 4, 2026 | Mt. Tremblant, QC | Pratte International Race Camp | CA$1,056.33 | Sign up here |
| Dec 7 – 11, 2026 | Mt. Tremblant, QC | Pratte International Race Camp | CA$1,056.33 | Sign up here |
| Dec 7 – 11, 2026 | Killington, VT | Andy Barnett’s 5-Day GS Race Camp | TBD | Email Andy Barnett at [email protected] for details and sign-up instructions |
| Dec 12 – 13, 2026 | Killington, VT | Andy Barnett’s 2-Day Slalom Camp | TBD | Email Andy Barnett at [email protected] for details and sign-up instructions |
| Dec 14 – 18, 2026 | Mt. Tremblant, QC | Pratte International Race Camp | CA$1,056.33 | Sign up here |
| Jan 4 – 7, 2027 | Hunter, NY | Mid-Atlantic Masters & Lisa Ballard Camp | TBD | Sign-up coming soon |
| Jan 11 – 14, 2027 | Mt. Snow, VT | NEMS Racing & Lisa Ballard Camp | TBD | Sign-up coming soon |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Plattekill, NY | Endless Winter Training Day + Races | $285 | Sign up here |
| Jan 29, 2027 | Plattekill, NY | Endless Winter Training Day + Races | $285 | Sign up here |
Seasonal Masters Training Programs
Seasonal programs are weekly coached sessions at a home mountain, running from December through the end of the season. Because you work with the same coaches and the same group week after week, they build technique more steadily than a single camp. Some are full-season commitments paid up front; others sell drop-in spots week by week, which suits an unpredictable schedule. The table below shows which programs offer each. Sessions are usually one morning or evening a week.
| Program | Drop-in | Full Season | Mountain | Cost | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Morning Masters Training | ✅ | ✅ | Hunter Mountain, NY |
$445 for full season (9 sessions) $TBD for drop-in Lift ticket separate |
Email Jim Tomassetti to register. Limited drop-in spots available each week. |
|
NYSEF Masters Program (3 days per week; Fri/Sat/Sun) |
❌ | ✅ | Belleayre, NY Gore, NY Whiteface, NY |
$2,895 before Sep 15 $3,095 after Sep 15 Lift ticket included |
|
| Tuesday & Thursday Masters Training | ✅ | ❌ | Mt. Peter, NY |
$50 training fee $50 lift ticket |
Details here |
| Masters Training Saturday Drop-In | ✅ | ❌ | Stowe, VT |
$104 training fee Lift ticket separate |
Details here |
|
Masters Alpine Racing — for experienced racers (2 days per week; Sat/Sun) |
❌ | ✅ | Stratton, VT |
$2,220 Lift ticket separate |
Details here |
|
Masters M1 — for new racers (2 days per week; Sat/Sun) |
❌ | ✅ | Stratton, VT |
$1,900 Lift ticket separate |
Details here |
Weekly NASTAR & Adult Beer Leagues
Beer leagues and weekly NASTAR sessions are easy ways to get into ski racing. You run a short course against the clock, usually one evening a week under the lights at a local hill, with standings kept over the season and no coaching involved. Most are open to any adult skier. These sessions are great ways to get lots of practice reps in gates, and socialize with other racers after work. Listed by state below.
| Series | Mountain | When | Cost | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evening NASTAR GS | Bear Creek, PA | Tuesdays, 6:30 PM | $10 for two runs $20 for unlimited runs $90 for NASTAR Season Pass Lift ticket separate |
Details here |
| Evening NASTAR SL | Bear Creek, PA | Wednesdays, 6:30 PM | $10 for two runs $20 for unlimited runs $90 for NASTAR Season Pass Lift ticket separate |
Details here |
| Adult Race League | Montage, PA | Thursday evenings |
$199 Per Racer Includes Race Fee & Lift for Season |
Details here |
| Adult Race Leagues | Mt. Southington, CT | Monday & Tuesday evenings | $40 for race and lift | Details here |
| NASTAR | Ski Sundown, CT | Thursday evenings |
Free unlimited timed runs Lift ticket not included $195 per hour for race coaching |
Details here |
| Race League | Wachusett, MA | Monday through Thursday evenings | TBD | Details here |
| Ski Bum Series | Stowe / Mt. Mansfield, VT | Tuesday mornings | TBD | Details here |
Training Questions
Do I need racing experience to attend an adult ski camp?
No. Masters camps and clinics are built for adults across the whole ability range, and coaches routinely work with skiers running gates for the first time.
Do I need to be a Mid-Atlantic Masters member to train?
No. Every camp, program and league on this page is open to skiers who are not members, and most do not require a U.S. Ski & Snowboard license either. You only need a USSS license to enter sanctioned races.
Do I need race skis for a training camp?
No. Masters racing sets no ski length or radius requirements, and recreational skis work for slalom and GS course training. A helmet is the one thing you do need — hard-eared and FIS-approved if you will be training GS. See our equipment guide and race ski guide for the details.
What is the difference between gate training and a beer league?
Gate training is practice: you get multiple runs through a course, usually with a coach giving feedback. A beer league is a timed weekly race series, typically one or two runs against the clock, with standings over the season. Training makes you faster; leagues make you comfortable racing. Many of our members do both.
When does adult ski race training start?
Early-season camps run from late November through early January. Seasonal programs and weekly leagues generally start once local mountains open in December and run through February or early March.
Ready to Race?
New to all of this? Start with Adult Ski Racing 101 for the full picture, or browse the mountains where we race. Training is optional, and plenty of our members enter their first race without it. If you have not held a U.S. Ski & Snowboard license in the past year, we will cover your short term license for your first race day.