As explained by Jacques Reid, U14 AOA Athletic Consultant.

(For the full article, please visit: https://alpineontario.ca/sod-cup-vs-ocup-explained/)

OCUP: (Competitive Stream)

OCUP (short form for Ontario Cup – One Province, One Program) was introduced to the AOA system in 2016. Its goal was to start a series of races open to all four AOA divisions.  This series includes a four day mid-winter series and a 5-day OCUP Finals (formerly called Provincials) series. Both series bring together the best skiers in the province for their age, and can serve as a qualifier for subsequent national or even international events.

SOD Cup: (Recreational, Skier for life Stream)

SOD Cup (short form for “Southern Ontario Division” Cup) replaces the former Team and/or Division 2 racing series. The SOD Cup is comprised of a series of races throughout Southern Ontario and culminates in an SOD championships, “Race Fest” where kids of the same age (same yr. of birth) compete against each other.

Last season the top ranking skiers from the SOD Cup races and Race Fest have the opportunity to qualify for the OCUP Finals which allowed these skiers the option of competing at a more competitive level at the end of the season while still skiing at the regional level during the season.

Still, as you are faced with this decision, what factors do we need to look at?

• Program options at your ski club
  • It could be that the OCUP program is not offered at your club due to the enrollment where two “streams” per age group is just not possible. For athletes in this situation who are truly eyeing the OCUP I recommend looking at other ski clubs that may offer the two streams.
• Love of Skiing
  • Above and beyond anything else an OCUP athlete needs to really love this sport. The time on snow can be a lot; in particular at the U16 level. Some clubs are training Thursday – Friday – Saturday & Sunday.  If skiing is your child’s true love I would look for the OCUP.
• Skill level
  • Skill level is next on the list of priorities when making this decision. Sport Science and Long Term Athletic Development research shows that if the sport fundamentals have not been mastered by the age of 12, it is very difficult to progress in the sport chosen by the athletes at later stages. In Southern Ontario, this age is U14. Keep in mind, some kids can be “late bloomers” and only start to display a true understanding of the sport and start showing physical maturity later in their teens. Typically if your child is an all- round athlete they can typically find their stride at U16. Remember, all kids develop at different stages!
• Commitment level & Time away from school
  • The level of commitment to skiing and time away from school are also big factors when making this decision. Your child could be playing another sport, interested in other things like music or just plainly not ready to give ski racing a full commitment at this stage in the game. The OCUP does include the mid-winters and then the Finals (that’s two weeks) plus if selected in U16, your son or daughter, could attend Nationals and Can-Ams. Yes, time away from school can be challenging. Remarkably many athletes experience greater academic success when enrolled in elite sport. Many U16 skiers are enrolled in sport schools and others simply find the organizational tools to learn on their own, which in turn can lead to success. It can be done!

The great thing about skiing in this area is that from one year to the next, things could change dramatically in your child’s motivation and skill development. Perhaps after one year in the SOD-Cup they will be ready for the OCUP. The other nice thing is that this process is generally open, where parents, with the advice from program coaches, make this decision. In most team based sports, this decision is made by the coach – full stop. As long as good communication with the coaches is in place, families can clearly chose which stream is best for their child.

So, there you have it…Talk to your coaches and program directors and ask them what program your club is offering. Next, be realistic about how much they love this sport, also be realistic about their skill level. Now, ask yourselves how much can you commit to as a family to the sport of alpine ski racing? Finally, make a decision to best suit the current progression of your child so that they can continue to learn, work hard and have fun at the same time.”

A Few Tips on Kids Racing Equipment …

Purchasing ski racing equipment for your child can be confusing and an more than an education for many! Let us provide you with some advice so that you make an informed decision on behalf of your child.

Some Advice:

Skis
Racing skis, in particular, are very different from regular recreational skis.  In Ontario, we ski mostly on ice or very hard cold snow and as such the ski has to be relatively stiff and well constructed.  Most race skis have a wood core and a specific shape designed to deal with hard pack and ice.  Trying to race with recreational skis would be similar to driving a 2-wheel drive car in a snowstorm with summer tires.  The odds of ending up in the ditch or stuck are much less with an AWD SUV and good winter tires.  The same goes for race skis vs. recreational skis. 

There are race skis for each discipline (e.g., Slalom (low speed and lots of turns), Giant Slalom (high speed and fewer turns)). 
For U8/10 racers we recommend that racers have “junior race” slalom skis or multi-discipline skis made by Rossignol.  The size of the ski depends on the ability, height and weight of the racer but at a minimum the length of a slalom ski should be no taller than the racer.

For U12 and above, their performance will be affected if they don’t have the proper ski for each discipline.  

Boots

Ski boots need to be the correct size and not something to grow into.  Boots need to fit snuggly (toes should be able to be wiggled but the heel should not be able to be lifted at all).  The boots should be easy to flex (move the top of the boot forward). Your child should be able to flex the boot when they have them on with a little effort.  

Helmet

The helmet should be certified for racing with a hard shell around the ears.  The helmet needs to fit snuggly on the head so there is no forward aft or side to side movement of the helmet on the head. 

Goggles

Goggles should not let air in and around the face.  The top of the goggles need to fit snuggly against the rim of the helmet so there is no gap to allow air to hit the forehead.  

Ski Pole Sizing

To fit a pair of ski poles to you, wear shoes or stand in your ski boots. With the poles upside down—grips touching the floor—grab the pole just underneath the basket so that the top of your thumb touches the basket. Your elbow should now be at a 90° angle. If the angle is less than 90°, try a shorter pole.

We recommend you purchase ski wear that is Canadian, made well and can last the rigours of both kids usage and our Canadian winters ! Ski pants should have suspenders and full zip on each leg.

Racers should have leather mitts that fit well (and so you’re able to put in a hand warmer).

For U8/10s a race suit is not recommended. Most U12s, U14 and U16s wear race suits.  So not having one would place your child in the minority.  You can purchase a new race for about suit for about $350, or ask parents if anyone has a slightly used one.  The least important piece of equipment, from a performance point of view, is a race suit, so try find a second hand one.

Also, some of you may be going to the Ski Show or a Ski Swap to purchase your child’s equipment. Many vendors will be clearing their stock and selling old equipment that didn’t sell in previous seasons. A caution when buying ski racing equipment: make sure you do your homework before you go. I suggest you don’t go to to the usual sporting goods places, there are plenty of ski shops whose staff have expert knowledge about racing equipment and can help you out.

Used equipment may be found at Kijiji, Sport Swap and Play It Again Sports, but you have to know what you’re doing.

Take your time to make the right choice.