A high school alpine ski club: shared coaching and training, school-team racing, and a winter spent learning together.
Alpine racing means skiing downhill through a marked course of gates against the clock. Slalom has closer turns; giant slalom (GS) has more widely spaced turns. Athletes compete individually and as part of a school team.
A race normally has two timed runs, with course inspection beforehand. Weather or time constraints can change that format. Training is where skiers develop technique and learn to navigate a course.
OISRA’s race rulesSouthwest Mountain brings skiers from several schools together under one coaching program. Our school teams race in the Metro Ski League, which is part of the Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (OISRA).
We’re an independent club supported by families, volunteers, and fundraising. Joining involves more than entering races: it means training, preparing equipment, and contributing to a team.
OISRA’s introduction to high school racingThe word “club” can mean two different things in skiing.
Ski-club racing usually refers to a dedicated ski-racing program, often organized around age groups and competition through U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Athletes train together, but most competition centers on individual results and advancement.
High school racing adds something special: you race for a team. Your teammates aren’t just the people you practice with. Individual performances contribute to your school’s team result, so you’re competing for something together. Improving your own skiing and cheering a teammate through the finish are part of the same goal.
That shared purpose brings recreational skiers discovering racing and experienced racers into one school community. It combines real competition with school pride, friendship, and the chance to contribute to something beyond your own time.
Southwest Mountain is also a club, but that describes how we’re organized: an independent, self-funded program supported by coaches, families, and volunteers. Several school teams share our coaching and training while competing under their school identities.
You don’t need to have grown up in a racing program to become part of that team.
Explore the history: Listen to Chris Dawkins discuss the history of Oregon high school ski racing on the Mt. Hood Podcast.
Recreational skiers and experienced racers both have a place in high school racing. You can learn about the program before buying race equipment or committing to a season.
If you have never skied, let us know before registering so we can confirm the right starting point and instruction for you.
You can be eligible by living within the attendance boundaries of a school SWMST serves, or by attending one of those schools while living elsewhere. The school names on this site are not an exhaustive list of eligible students.
ISB racers join Southridge or Mountainside. For placement questions, share your school and general attendance area with us. If another team serves your area, we can help point you there.
We train mostly at Mt. Hood Meadows, with training and races at Skibowl and Timberline as well. See our season-pass recommendations and race-day ticket guidance.
Plan for training, race days, travel, and equipment preparation. OISRA describes a winter season from early November into early March; that is a general framework, not our 2026–27 schedule.
See season statusConsider team and association fees, lift access, equipment or rentals, clothing, transport, and any overnight travel. Our confirmed 2026–27 fees and inclusions are not available on this site yet.
Plan equipment purchasesHigh school racing relies on volunteers. Budget time for team communication, travel arrangements, race-day help, and fundraising alongside the athlete’s training.
Ways to support the seasonRead the eligibility and commitment information above. Explore team life and the gear guide with your student.
Visit the 2026–27 season page for calendar and registration status. Registration instructions are not posted here yet; do not use an older season’s forms or payment links.
When you’re ready, contact the team with your grade, school, general attendance area, skiing experience, and any remaining questions. A message is an inquiry, not a registration or commitment.
Students from other schools may also qualify through attendance boundaries. Use the eligibility guide above to find your next step.
Racers join Southridge or Mountainside.