About the Team

We consist of all area Rochester High Schools and co-op with other SE MN schools to create our team of kids who love to ski. We practice three days a week, and race during the week as well.  If you race at Welch or Coffee Mill you can do that, in addition to racing with us.  

We welcome all intermediate skiers!*  No race experience needed.

*Intermediate ability is the ability to ski on slopes more difficult than the bunny hill or "green" runs. If you are a beginner we recommend taking lessons at Welch, or joining the Community Ed Ski Club.

Still have questions? Email Rochester HS Alpine

New to the team? Explore the tabs below

1. This program is a Sanctioned, Funded High School sport. It is run by the Rochester High School Athletic Departments. FASTOR (Friends Alpine Ski Team of Rochester) is a 501(c) 3 in charge of raising/managing money to help fund the team and to help in the goal of promoting high school Alpine Ski Racing.
   • This program is open to 7th through 12th grade Rochester students that are attending Rochester Public and Private Schools. We also co-op with local high schools, including Lourdes, Byron, Wabash-Kellogg, Lewiston-Altura and Chatfield.
2. Dry land training:
   • Stay in shape by following this workout: click here.
3. On-snow training:
   • Held at Welch Village Ski and Snowboard Area
4. Equipment (video to explain equipment: click here.)
   1. Mandatory: Helmet with face guard and goggles (most kids have clear because we practice and race mostly at night)
   2. Not mandatory but recommended are: Ski bag, boot bag, shin guards, poles with hand guards, specific skis that are racing skis, racing boots (stiffer than regular boots) and a race suit. All can be purchased used. Skis, boots and poles can be seasonally rented from Tyrol Ski Shop in town-a good idea if your child is still growing. 
   3. MARK YOUR SKIERS EQUIPMENT. Bag, boots, poles etc. Every year someone goes home with the wrong stuff-take a sharpie to everything! 
5. Bus to and From Welch
   1. The bus ride allows many kids to work on their HW. If your skier has trouble understanding the need for a quiet bus they will be asked to alter their behavior and/or be moved to a different section of the bus.  There isn't time to eat the food at Welch (they often close the kitchen early as well), so send a dinner and/or snacks with them. There is a vending machine in area at Welch where they get ready for drinks, most kids bring their own water bottle.
   2. The kids put their equipment-except the boots, they bring on bus to keep warm-under the bus in the storage area. The ski bags help keep boots and poles together and from getting banged up. Boot bags hold boots, and all the rest.
   3. Race days: students are dismissed 15 minute before load time: example we load at 1:45 so skiers will be dismissed at 1:30-if weather is inclement they will give us more time but that doesn't happen often)High School kids from The Rochester Public Schools are pre-excused. Middle School kids, Co-op kids must have a parent excuse them from school and also need transportation to get to bus.
6. Lift Tickets
   1. The team pays for lift tickets when we ski at Mankato, Buckhill, or any other ski hill other than Welch

Team Fees

1. Normally the team fee is $125.  This may be subject to change year to year, but this is the usual fee.

2. The school pays for transportation and coaching; the team will pay for equipment costs. 

3. The team fee covers: team race registration fees; replacement/maintenance of team equipment (gates, drills, bits, pinneys, team parkas, timing equipment, etc), lift tickets when we ski at Buckhill or Mankato.

4. Timing Chip

5. There is an additional, OPTIONAL, fee for individually assigned timing chips.  These are given out to each skier and are returned at the end of the season, or when the skier leaves the team. 

6. The damage deposit fee is $100.  The annual rental charge is $25.  The average lifespan of a chip is four years. 

7. (So, for example, if you join the team as a sophomore you will deposit $100 and will be provided with a timing chip for your personal use throughout the next three seasons.  You will receive $25 reimbursement when you return the chip at the end of your Senior season in good working order.)

8. Additional/ optional charges

9. The skier will  be responsible for his/ her own pass from Welch Village, as well as all the equipment necessary to race.

10. Team t-shirts and sweatshirts are OPTIONAL and paid for by skiers.

11. Any extra skiing days or OPTIONAL overnight trips.

Team Communication

1. Be sure both you and your racer are on the team distribution list. Email rochesterhsskiteam@gmail.com to be added.
2. Download REMIND App for practice/race communication. To join our team, text @FASTOR to 81010
3. For student- led events/ captains' practices, text @skiracer to 81010

1. Top 15 in 2 races -Or- Top 30 in 3 races