About Our Team
About Our Team
The University of Minnesota Alpine Ski Team is a competitive intercollegiate team sanctioned through the United States Collegiate Skiing Association (USCSA). The competition within our region, Lake Superior Division, involves UMN-Duluth, University of St. Thomas, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, UW-Madison, and St. Olaf. We have five regular season races, and qualifying for regionals and the regionals championship. The regular season races are held in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. The regionals qualifier is held at Spirit Mountain every year. All the Midwestern divisions, Lake Superior, Ohio, Michigan, and Chicago, oppose one another for a spot in the championship. Regional Championships are then held at Marquette, Michigan. From there women’s and men’s teams race to qualify for USCSA National’s slots.
The UMN Alpine team is competitive, but welcoming to skiers of all abilities and disciplines for racing. All members will race at regular season and regional races. There is no required qualifications to join the team, but we are ideally looking for skiers with racing backgrounds or with a strong skiing ability. Regardless, we accept all interested individuals, but note that renting equipment from the ski hill will not be suitable for our activities. We practice Monday through Thursday starting in late December. It is not required to attend every practice. On average, our racers attend practice twice a week, and travel to four races. It is a USCSA rule that you compete in at least four race days, two weekend races, to participate at regional races. There is no way around that rule.
Meet the 2024-2025 Alpine Executive Board
Meet the 2024-2025 Alpine Executive Board
Andrew Miller, President
Caleb Denney, Vice President
Carson Line, Treasurer
Inga Heinecke, Secretary
Megan McKenney, Community Outreach
Sophie Janzig, Women's Captain
Alex Nesemann, Men’s Captain
Meet our Coaches
Meet our Coaches
Alpine Team Bylaws
Alpine Team Bylaws
We, the members of the Alpine Team at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, do ordain and
establish this organization to compete in the United States Collegiate Ski Association and the Midwest
Collegiate Ski Association, enrich scholastic endeavors, build lifelong relationships, serve the University
community, and ensure the future of this organization, indefinitely.
Composition of Membership
The active membership of Alpine Ski Team shall consist of all those that have agreed to team bylaws, paid, membership dues in full, and are accepted by active team
Each member shall be recognized by the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association as a full-time student in order to compete.
Every member shall be enrolled at The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
If a member has left the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities for a study abroad program, sabbatical from studies, or government/military service, their membership shall be suspended. Such a member shall be granted full membership upon their return to the university.
Affiliate Acceptance:
Must be in good standing with the team.
Must be a competitor in the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard
Membership shall be adjusted case by case (i.e. study abroad, ineligibility, etc.)
Obligations of Membership
Each member shall be required to volunteer 5 hours under team sponsored volunteering event OR 10 hours of non-team sponsored volunteering.
A $50 deposit should be used in place of volunteering toward the Alpine Ski Team. (i.e. High School Invitationals)
Members are expected to attend practice.
Chain of Command
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Captains (Men’s, Women’s, and Snowboard)
Terms
The installment of all officers shall take place immediately following the end of year elections; with terms running until the following year’s elections.
Criteria for Nomination
President must reside on campus throughout the duration of school year.
The Treasurer must reside on campus throughout the duration of school year.
Anyone seeking an executive position shall disclose year-long plans for their term, including study abroad, internships or other activities that could affect their ability to conduct their role.
Election Process
Elections will take place within a week of the end of year banquet
To be considered for a position within the chain of command, a platform must be submitted.
President will administer the process by accepting nominations and platforms
Elections will be conducted in descending order of the chain of command to allow for trickled down nomination and running (Ex: a presidential candidate does not receive the position, but can still run for Vice President).
The election format shall be set by the outgoing President, who will facilitate each position’s statements, interviews, and election.
In the event of a tie the highest ranking, non-returning executive member will break it.
Refer to Article II. Section 1. for chain of command.
During the election there will be allotted time for team discussion after candidate speeches.
Vacancies
Removal from Office
Officers may be removed from office by a 2/3-majority vote of the executive board.
Officers may be removed from office for failing to perform their duties as outlined in the team bylaws.
Filling Vacancies
In the event that the President is unable to complete their term, the Vice President shall perform their duties until such time as nominations may be taken and an election held.
An appointee, as determined by the President, shall fill other vacancies until such time as nominations may be taken and an election held.
Officers Roles
President
Manage the overall operations of the ski team.
Ensure executive board members uphold their responsibilities
Read through bylaws at beginning of season with executive board
Act as a resource for the executive officer team.
Direct communication with external organizations such as:
The University of Minnesota
The United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association
Midwest Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association
Coaches
Alumni
Ski areas and staff
The Parent Booster Club (along with Captains)
Plan the team budget along with the Treasurer.
Preserve order on the team.
Assist the Secretary in the planning of the end of the year banquet.
Administer the election process.
Apply for the Explore U Fair in July of each year.
Lead officer meetings with the Executive Council or the Board.
Ensure that team members, and the team itself, register with the Midwest Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association.
Attend mandatory Student Services Fees Grant Informational Meeting between October and December.
Coordinate with the Captains to carry out dry land practices, beginning at the Captains’ discretion.
Finalize and coordinate weekend Midwest Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association races.
Apply for the Student Services Fees Grant
Assist Vice President in the team’s fundraising efforts.
If applicable, plan and carryout Nationals operations with the treasurer and the rest of executive board.
Vice President
Reserve meeting space for Information Sessions, Registration Meetings, Executive Council Meetings, and fundraisers.
Chief of Fundraising Efforts
Plan at least two fundraising activities per season.
Be the primary contact for organizing fundraising efforts.
Chief of Philanthropy
Plan at least 1 philanthropic activity per season.
Monitor the hours each member of the team contributes towards philanthropy.
Act as a resource for the executive officer team.
Assist the President in registration efforts, specifically, the USCSA registration.
Apply for Student Services Fees
Plan SSF Presentation
Send out car and room assignments promptly prior to races
Write end of the year thank you letters.
Lead recruitment efforts throughout the year.
Treasurer
Ethically manage the financial assets of the ski team.
Maintain the budget throughout the year.
Keep an updated, ongoing ledger to accompany bank statements.
Make purchase and expense reports for the team.
Make biweekly report to executive board about financial standings of the team during the season
Plan and make hotel/housing/lodging reservations throughout the entirety of the year.
Manage gas reimbursements and ensure that members of the team are reimbursed for team-sanctioned expenditures.
Plan the team budget with the President at the beginning of the year.
Direct communication with TCF bank and be the primary contact in any case of interaction.
Coordinate with the President/Captains during race days in order to deliver checks to the Midwest Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association.
Receive fall and spring Student Services Fees Grant checks from the Office of Student Unions & Activities
Collect all fees from team members.
Secretary
To maintain, and have available, typed copies of Executive Council or Board meeting minutes.
Distribute the Executive Council minute summaries to the entire ski team, via email, to ensure transparency with the team.
Plan, coordinate and ensure ski team apparel gets delivered before the season’s first race.
Assist the VP in any and all Fundraising and Philanthropic activities.
To coordinate internal communications with the team.
Manage all social media accounts on behalf of the team.
Conduct senior interviews and spotlights via the website and the team’s social media accounts.
Plan end of the year banquet and formal social events.
Captains
Act as a resource for members of the team
Coordinate with the coaches to set and submit run orders before every race
Run orders are based on skill, seniority and coaches discretion.
Organize Food Contributors- an organization formed to support (e.g. food coordination at races, events, etc.) our team.
Coordinate with Food Contributors members to inform them of unclaimed food dates leading up to, and throughout the entirety of, the season.
Plan and run all dry land practices, this entails:
Determining when the dry land starts, both date and time.
Figuring out where to hold the practices.
Communicating practice schedule with the team and coaches.
Attend all Captains/Coaches meetings at races.
Recruit potential members.
Preserve order on the ski team.
Officer Transitions
Officers Exchanging Responsibilities
Once an Executive Council is formed, these roles can be changed marginally if necessary, given such changes are beneficial to the overall operations and welfare of the team.
Officers may not drop one of their roles without another officer performing that duty.
Position descriptions and standard operating procedures will be written by current executive members and handed down to the transitioned officers.
To continue reading the remaining bylaws please click here.