Cross Country Ski Lessons

Location: Windsor Park Nordic Centre

Time: Lessons from 1:00 to 2:00 PM.
We will gather inside the clubhouse before 12:30 to sign-in, buy trail passes, rent skis if required, and get ready. If your skis require grip wax, you should probably do that at home, but Kevin & Anita will be in the clubhouse at 12:15 to answer any equipment/waxing questions. Shortly before 1:00, we'll meet our instructors and head outside via the back door.

Description: We've offered these lessons each December since 2014. Last year's was cancelled because of a lack of snow, but in December 2022 we had 35 participants divided into five groups, each with a CANSI instructor.
Depending on the desires and skill levels of participants, possible instruction groups could be:
1. Improve (or learn) diagonal stride (the basic cross country skiing technique) – beginner, novice, and participants who have not skied very much in the past few years
The goal of this lesson is for participants to learn or improve diagonal striding. The instructor will work with this group in the Practice Grid area.
2. Improve your diagonal stride (the basic cross country skiing technique) – intermediate or getting there, and have skied a fair amount in the past
The goal of this lesson is for participants to improve diagonal striding and become a more efficient skier. Some hills skills may be covered.
3. Review/refresh basic skills and learn/refresh other techniques – intermediate to advanced
The goal of this lesson is to become a more efficient (or faster) skier by dialing in your diagonal stride and then learn/refresh other techniques.
4. Review/refresh basic skills and learn/refresh more advanced techniques -- advanced
The goal of this lesson is to become a more efficient (or faster) skier by dialing in your diagonal stride and then learn/refresh other techniques.
5. Hills – intermediate
The goal of this lesson will be to ascend a moderately steep hill using diagonal stride technique, ascend a short steep hill with herringbone technique, and to descend these two hills safely and confidently. Hopefully there will be time to work on both descending and ascending; descending is the priority.

Cost: Participants will pay for their share of the instructors' fees (likely $5+ of each instructor's $35 fee) and a Windsor Park Nordic Centre trail fee.

Weather: Instruction involves some standing around, and the training grid at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre is not well sheltered. Please dress warmer than you would usually dress for skiing.

Registration: If you are interested (or might be interested) in attending this activity, please contact the leaders ASAP to register ... or if you have questions or comments. Please indicate which of the five instruction groups you'd prefer, and also specific skills you'd like to acquire. The more info you provide when registering, the more likely we can create a group that will meet your expectations. A confirmation email message will be sent as registrations are received.
The registration deadline is Friday December 13 at 11:59 PM. At that time, all registrants will be contacted and asked if they will commit to the activity by agreeing to pay in-person at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre on Wednesday December 18 (or paying later by e-transfer if they end up not attending the lessons). We will then form instruction groups and hire the instructors.

Cancellation: This activity will be cancelled or postponed if snow conditions are poor, if the number of registrations is insufficient to form instruction groups, and/or if the forecast temperature/windchill is too cold. 

Bring: Your name tag. Also your skis/boots/poles (which you've checked out and tried on a few days earlier), or you can rent equipment at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre. All rental classic skis are skin skis.