Independence Racing Team looks to future

In the past two weeks, 5- and 6-year-olds across the country have been sitting 2 feet from the television, intensely watching the Olympics.

Many are vowing, “That will be me some day,” and a handful of them will actually do it.

In eight, 10 or 12 years from now, we’ll be watching a profile of that kid, now a medal contender, who was inspired this week in 2006, to be there on that television at that moment.

What it takes to get from the floor in front of that television to the other side of the TV cameras is more than most of us can fathom. He or she will need supreme dedication, athleticism and, of course, financial backing.

Take, for example, alpine skiing, in which the athlete will need to invest in ski equipment, lift tickets, race fees and registrations – and that’s just to get started.

The Independence Racing Team, based out of Schweitzer, is geared toward those young kids with great aspirations but limited means with which to fund them.

But don’t get me wrong, this is not a team only for Olympic hopefuls. It is a team for kids that live in the Sandpoint area, who want to ski fast and who want to be there for themselves. It gives an opportunity to that kid who does want to go all the way, but would otherwise be left out because of the financial investment involved.

The team is comprised of 18 this year. It doesn’t cost any cash to join, but no one is getting off easy.

Members pick up trash at Schweitzer in the spring and fall to earn their hill space. They cut brush on the mountain to earn their season passes and they split profits from working the weekly summer car wash in Sandpoint to pay for their training camps, race fees and ski equipment. “Pole parties” each year allow the rapidly growing athletes to swap down to save on buying a new pair each year.

Shep Snow is the team’s founder, a retired military commander and the former senior Army mountaineer. Snow conducts a thorough interview when looking at a prospective team member.

“We look at the dedication of the entire family, not just the athlete,” Snow said.

Snow and other coaches are volunteers who can use all the help they can get. Participating parents help set courses and pull down gates at the end of the day because kids are too small to carry gates.

Team training is not all about running gates. Skiing is an intrinsic part of becoming a good racer. Getting vertical feet in different types of terrain and different types of snow conditions takes precedent over gate training.

Team results in the past years have been encouraging with athletes consistently qualifying and placing in NASTAR Nationals, at the top of the NASTAR national rankings and at Buddy Werner Championships. They also boast a two-time Junior Olympian.

More important, they are learning about accountability, integrity and rewards.

“They are doing what they love,” said Snow. “Winning is extra. The nature of the team and the work they do together contributes to a close and respectful relationship. I call them my ‘Band of Brothers.’ Sure, there is bickering like in any family, but disrespect is not tolerated.”

Graduates of the Independence Team may go on to become serious racers, but some are more interested in taking on a leadership role and coaching younger athletes.

During the Friday night race series at Schweitzer in January, 13- to 15-year-old graduates are paired with Masters Racers to coach teams of six to eight kids.

“This is when I started to feel like the team was making a difference, when the kids that had outgrown the program wanted to come back and contribute,” Snow said.