Mount Hood’s Mitey Mite racing teams are gearing up for a big 2013-14 season with four races at Mt. Hood Meadows, two at SkiBowl and one at Cooper Spur. As you can see from the slideshow below, these kids can rip it, and they train all over Mount Hood.

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Kids ages five to 13 compete in Mitey Mite races representing five teams: Cooper Spur Race Team, MAC Ski Team, Mt. Hood Race Team, Meadows Race Team and Cascade Winter Sports Club.

All five teams have regular training on the weekends and sometimes on weeknights at well. Other than the MAC team, which is open to Multnomah Athletic Club families only, the teams are all open to new members. It’s not cheap, but there’s no better way to raise a child’s skiing level – and independence – than to get her sking fast and having fun with friends who can rip it down any course and in all conditions.

Unaffiliated racers can also compete independently, provided they pay the entry fees and sign the waivers.

All of this year’s races on Mount Hood will be covered by Shred Hood with near-instant results via live-timing.com. The same goes for High School races (alpine and nordic as well as snowboarding), PACRAT races and Master’s races on Mount Hood. Or at least we will cover as many of the races on the mountain as we can. Coaches and captains: Please e-mail us schedule details, results and story ideas.

Here is the 2013-14 Mt. Hood Mitey Mites Race Schedule:

Jan. 5: Diamond Dual Slalom, Cooper Spur

Jan. 19: Kids Kandahar Giant Slalom, Skibowl

Feb. 7-9: Oregon 4-Way Championship, Skibowl (Slalom, Giant Slalom, Nordic Racing and Nordic Jumping)

March 1-2: Meadows Challenge, Mt. Hood Meadows

March 8-9: Oregon Zone U12 Finals, Meadows

March 14-16: Buddy Werner U14 Finals, Crystal Mountain

April 5: Kandy Kup Giant Slalom. Meadows

April 6: Mitey Mite Spring Final Super Giant Slalom, Meadows

Older competitors can also qualify to compete in the year-end Golden Rose race at Timberline in April. The Golden Rose is the longest-running scored alpine race in North America. It has been held annually since 1936.

Race-day registration starts at 7:30 am, and the racing generally begins at 10 am.

Last modified: September 13, 2013