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The local snowboarding scene will be getting a new look this winter.

Snowboard Yukon will introduce several new elements to their program, including a Travel Team.

Geared towards those hoping to ride on a national level, the Travel Team will be the highest level of training available with Snowboard Yukon.

Running from early fall to late spring, the program will include dryland and on-snow training and local and outside competition.

Open to those 13 and older, participants will be encouraged to have competitoin experience at the territorial level and above.

This past winter, local boarder Max Melvin-McNutt became the first Yukoner to make the B.C. provincial freestyle team, where he trained five days a week on the slopes and three days a week in the gym.

Before his season was cut short by a broken collarbone, Melvin-McNutt finished first in the men's 15-18 age division of the BCSA Provincial Slopestyle event at Big White Ski Resort in January.

The Yukon also boasted their talent in the Arctic Winter Games this past winter where they collected 16 medals in snowboarding, including five gold from Lara Bellon.

Timmy Schirmer, who placed third in Sandor's Icebreaker Rail Jam in January and wowed the crowd with his fearless and high-flying style, also collected three medals at the Games.

The season came to an end with the Yukon Championships in March that solidified the growing love for the sport in the territory.

So many athletes showed up to the annual event that organizers were forced to draw additional numbers on old bibs once they ran out numbers.

Snowboard Yukon will also introduce trampoline training for Shredders level riders this season.

The Shredders program, sponsored by Sandor's Clothing Ltd., is an introduction to competitive snowboarding.

Participants will gain the skills to be competition ready and receive instruction from certified coaches.

The next level up is the E-Team, where advanced riders will focus on skill progression in freestyle and snowboardcross events.

Snowboard Yukon will also feature more extensive dryland training programs this year, including strength, conditioning, trampoline training, balance, flexibility and yoga sessions.

The Women in Snowboarding program will also be back for a fifth season.

The sessions focus on riding development and basic freestyle tips and tricks under the instruction of certified female coaches.

The program gained momentum last year when Snowboard Yukon was named one of the 12 national recipients for the "The Women in Sport Encouragement (WISE) Fund鈥� which supports individuals and organizations that offer or create sports programs targeted to girls and women.

For more information and registration dates and fees, visit www.snowboardyukon.com