Mountain Sports strives to deliver as many opportunities for students to engage with their fellow athletes, the Western Campus and the Gunnison Valley as possible. Below you will find answers to many questions about the program including particulars on costs and approximate season dates. If you are unable to find an answer to your question, please contact:
Director of Mountain Sports, Greg Chase –
Q: What sports does Mountain Sports compete in?
A: Western’s Mountain Sports Program has teams that compete in:
  • Gravity and XC Mountain Biking
  • Alpine Ski Racing
  • Nordic Ski Racing
  • Freeride Skiing
  • Freestyle Skiing
  • Endurance or Skimo Racing
  • Freeride Snowboarding
  • Freestyle Snowboarding
Q: When does the season start?
A:
Gravity MTB
Mountain bike season starts with the first day of classes and runs until the end of October.
XC MTB
Mountain bike season starts with the first day of classes and runs until the end of October.
Alpine Ski Racing
Dry-land training begins in the first week of September and moves onto the hill in the beginning of December.
Nordic Ski Racing
Dry-land training begins in the first week of September and moves onto the hill in the beginning of December.
Freeride Skiing
Dry-land training begins in the first week of September and moves onto the hill in the beginning of December.
Freestyle Skiing
Training begins in early December, Crested Butte’s terrain park generally does not open until after Christmas break, but there will be rails early in the season.
Endurance Skiing
There is no official training, the first race is generally in early December.
Freeride Snowboarding
Dry-land training begins in the first week of September and moves onto the hill in the beginning of September.
Freestyle Snowboarding
Training begins in early December, Crested Butte’s terrain park generally does not open until after Christmas break, but there will be rails early in the season.  Also, Crested Butte generally does not construct a half-pipe.
Trail Running
Competition and training take place in the Fall and Spring.  Also, training during the winter. 
Q: Does my sport have a coach?
A: Sports that are not coached are 100% student lead.
Gravity MTB
Yes
XC MTB
Yes
Alpine Ski Racing
Yes
Nordic Ski Racing
Yes
Freeride Skiing
Yes
Freestyle Skiing
Yes, but the coach may be a skier or a snowboarder.
Endurance Skiing
No
Freeride Snowboarding
Yes, but freeride coaches are generally skiers.
Freestyle Snowboarding
Yes, but the coach may be a skier or a snowboarder.
Trail Running
Yes
Q: What does training look like?
A: All teams generally do not practice during Thanksgiving and Winter Break
Gravity MTB
4 days per week.
XC MTB
4 days per week.
Alpine Ski Racing
2 afternoons per week and most weekends.
Nordic Ski Racing
5 days per week.
Freeride Skiing
Two afternoons per week and on Saturdays.
Freestyle Skiing
Two afternoons per week and on Saturdays.  Crested Butte usually does not build a half pipe.
Endurance Skiing
No organized training schedule.
Freeride Snowboarding
Two afternoons per week and on Saturdays.
Freestyle Snowboarding
Two afternoons per week and on Saturdays. Crested Butte usually does not build a half pipe.
Trail Running
5 days per week.
Q: What are my dues?
A: Dues are listed below.
Combined MTB (XC and Gravity)
$600
Gravity MTB
$500
XC MTB
$500
Alpine Ski Racing
$1000
Nordic Ski Racing
$1000
Freeride Skiing
$700
Freestyle Skiing
$700
Endurance Skiing
$500
Freeride Snowboarding
$700
Freestyle Snowboarding
$700
Trail Running
$500

Apply Multi-Sport Discount

Two Sport Discount
 ($200)
Three Sport Discount
 ($400)
Four Sport Discount
 ($600)
Five Sport Discount
 ($800)
Q: What do my dues cover
With the exception of MTB teams, all uniforms are loaned out for the season.
Gravity MTB
Coaching, uniforms, travel, entry fees, lodging and food.
XC MTB
Coaching, uniforms, travel, entry fees, lodging, lift tickets and food.
Alpine Ski Racing
Coaching, uniforms, travel, entry fees and lodging.
Nordic Ski Racing
Coaching, uniforms, travel, entry fees and lodging.
Freeride Skiing
Coaching, uniforms, travel and lodging.
Freestyle Skiing
Coaching, uniforms, travel and lodging.
Endurance Skiing
Entry fees.
Freeride Snowboarding
Coaching, uniforms, travel and lodging.
Freestyle Snowboarding
Coaching, uniforms, travel and lodging.
Trail Running
Coaching, travel, lodging, uniforms and entry fees.
Q: What’s not covered by my dues?
A: Mountain Sports tries to cover as much as possible, but participation in these sports is often expensive.
Gravity MTB
Your bike, licenses, CBMR ski pass, tools and parts.
XC MTB
Your bike, licenses, tools and parts.
Alpine Ski Racing
Lift tickets at races, CBMR ski pass, licenses, food and equipment.
Nordic Ski Racing
Food, licenses, and equipment.
Freeride Skiing
Lift tickets at comps, CBMR ski pass, licenses, entry fees, food and equipment.
Freestyle Skiing
Lift tickets at comps, CBMR ski pass, licenses, entry fees, food and equipment.
Endurance Skiing
Everything except entry fees.
Freeride Snowboarding
Lift tickets at comps, CBMR ski pass, licenses, entry fees, food and equipment.
Freestyle Snowboarding
Lift tickets, CBMR ski pass, licenses, entry fees, food and equipment.
Trail Running
Equipment.
Q: What type of competitions do we attend?
A: Please contact Greg Chase at  for a more detailed schedule.
Gravity MTB
USAC Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference races.
XC MTB
USAC Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference races.
Alpine Ski Racing
USCSA Rocky Mountain Conference Races and USCSA Nationals if we qualify.
Nordic Ski Racing
USCSA Rocky Mountain Conference Races and USCSA Nationals if we qualify.
Freeride Skiing
IFSA Collegiate Freeride Series and other FWQ Events.
Freestyle Skiing
4-5 independent events including USCSA Nationals. No USASA events.
Endurance Skiing
Irwin Cosmic, Gothic Mountain Tour, Crested Butte Nationals, Grand Traverse.
Freeride Snowboarding
IFSA Collegiate Freeride Series and other FWQ Events.
Freestyle Snowboarding
4-5 independent events including USCSA Nationals. No USASA events.
Trail Running
Various events from 10k’s to ultras.
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