Four Lakes Race Team builds kids' skills, self-confidence
Members of the Four Lakes Race Team greet early December's arrival with great anticipation as they eagerly head to the hill in Lisle to prepare for upcoming races.
The nonprofit ski team is part of the Wisconsin Junior Alpine Racing Association (WJARA) and gives kids a chance to develop their skiing abilities and grow personally as they learn to work with a team and compete. The team practices three times per week and is split into age groups of 12 and under and 13 and older.
Skiers train under head race coach and race director John Bendik. Parents are encouraged to be involved with the team and regularly volunteer on the hill and during races in Illinois and Wisconsin. Tom Eckert, snowsports director at Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports, describes the team of over 60 skiers as one giant family.
"It's a very relaxed team," said Eckert. "The focus isn't on winning and losing. It's really about using the team and competition to improve the kids' abilities to ski."
That approach is clearly working. Many of the racers ski with the team from age 8 to 18 and the majority of the coaching staff competed on the ski team when they were children. The Four Lakes Race Team is nearly 45 years old, just celebrated 30 years of racing with WJARA and is experiencing some of its highest enrollment numbers to date.
Families pay a minimal fee for their children to participate on the Four Lakes Race Team. Equipment, coaching fees, race entries and travel costs can make ski racing an expensive sport. The team relies on donations to keep costs low for families. Gerald Subaru of Naperville has sponsored the Four Lakes Race Team for five years. The team is grateful for their contribution, which provides funding for equipment for young racers.
"We're grateful for the support we receive and the opportunity to continue teaching our skiers to be respectful and honorable competitors who are focused on skiing their best in every race," said Eckert.
For more information on the Four Lakes Race Team, visit www.fourlakessnowsports.com/four-lakes-race-team.