NYSEF NORDIC TRAILBLAZERS SKI PROGRAM

NYSEF XC Office
Mt. Van Hoevenberg Ski Center
Lake Placid, NY 12946

(518) 523-3098

 

Contact: Margaret Maher, NYSEF XC Head Coach

email: mcmaher@alumni.unh.edu

 

It is the mission of the New York Ski Education Foundation to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to reach their potential in snow sports – alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, cross country, Nordic combined and biathlon, through professional guidance and financial support.

 

 

 

WELCOME TO NYSEF NORDIC TRAILBLAZERS!

 

We hope you are excited for this ski season. Our team of coaches is looking forward to a season filled with new ideas and lots of adventures. Below is an outline of the NYSEF Trailblazers Program. This guide will help both parents and athletes plan for winter.

 

COACHES

Matt Cook, NYSEF Nordic Director / Head Coach Nordic Combined

Margaret Maher, NYSEF XC Head Coach

Sean Burke, NYSEF Assistant Nordic Combined / XC Coach

 

TRAILBLAZER SEASON

December 2, 2006 – March 14, 2007

 

AGE CLASSES

USSA Age Groups

J3 ages 12-13 (born in 1993-94)

J4 ages 10-11 (born in 1995-96)

J5 ages 8-9 (born in 1997-98)

 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE  

Tuesday:   3:15 – 4:30 pm at Mt. Van Hoevenberg

Wednesday:   4 –   5:30 pm at the Olympic Ski Jumps

Saturday:   10 am – 12 noon at Mt. Van Hoevenberg or other announced locations for adventures. Some Saturday Adventure days will require longer time periods.  

Ski times and places are subject to change depending on snow and weather conditions.  

 

TRAILBLAZER BKL RACES

TBA: Several race opportunities will be provided throughout the season.  

Mid-Atlantic BKL Ski Festival: February 17-18, 2007 in Old Forge, NY

New England BKL Ski Festival: March 2-4, 2007 at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT

 

SKI FOR K’s PROGRAM

This year we will be promoting a Ski for K’s Program to encourage kids to ski as much as possible throughout the winter. Get outside and enjoy winter while taking an adventure through the many beautiful places in the Adirondacks. Skiing a lot of kilometers at a young age will provide a solid athletic base for racing in later years. Athletes will receive a Ski for K’s sheet to record their kilometers throughout the season. There will be a surprise at the end of the season for those athletes meeting their goal.

 

ATHLETE GOAL BOARD

There will also an Athlete Goal Board where kids can earn stars by completing goals throughout the winter. This will include goals such as skiing all the trails at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, being able to name the trails, name members of the US Ski Team, ski 5k without stopping, demonstrate skate technique (V1, V2, V2 alternate), demonstrate classic technique (striding, double pole, kick double pole), downhill tucks and corners, no-pole skiing, going off a jump, know safety and rules for the biathlon range, do a skate race, do a classic race, explain basic body position for skiing and explain how to wax skis for skating and classic.

 

WHAT IS THE COACHING PHILOSOPHY FOLLOWED BY NYSEF?

Our main goal is to promote Nordic Skiing as a way of life. This way of life is healthy, active and rewarding. Skiers in this program are provided ski instruction in a very fun and positive environment. Racing opportunities are provided but the primary focus is on developing athletic aptitudes through skiing. Athletes should have a good work ethic, positive attitude and be excited about improving their skiing. Through teammates and competitors, kids will develop friendships that can last a lifetime. At the same time, they will learn how to interact and motivate each other in a positive and productive manner. Throughout the season, Trailblazer kids will play many ski games, work on both classic and skate techniques, improve their athletic ability, go on adventures and most importantly have fun on the snow.

 

IS NYSEF TRAILBLAZERS A RACING PROGRAM?

Yes. NYSEF Trailblazers is a youth racing program for kids in the Adirondacks. Our ultimate goal is to produce skiers who will move through the pipeline of regional racing, national junior racing, collegiate and eventually move up to the National and World Class level of competition. However, at this age our focus is on making kids better athletes through skiing and improving ski skills needed for racing in their teenage years. We believe that every kid enrolled in our program will become a highly competent skier with an appreciation for a healthy and active lifestyle.

 

WHAT ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS MUST WE JOIN?

  • NYSEF

 

  • USSA: This isnecessary for NYSEF’s liability insurance, this is the National Governing Body (NGB) of our sport

 

  • NYSSRA: The NY State Ski Racing Association is responsible for putting on most of the races in NY State. It is required for participation in the Empire State Games and the Mid-Atlantic BKL Ski Festival. Their website (www.nyssranorodic.com) provides the most detailed race schedule available in NY. NYSSRA members also have a reciprocal agreement with the New England Nordic Ski Association ( www.nensa.net) to participate in New England events.

 

  • Lake Placid Ski Club (optional): The LPSC supports our program with an annual financial donation and once a skier has been a member for two years he or she is eligible for some race expense reimbursement. The Club also provides gifts and a reception for athletes named to the Elite team and sponsors a slide show party at the end of the season.

 

  • Lake Placid Biathlon Club (optional): For kids and adults interested in biathlon.

 

DO WE NEED TO BUY A PASS TO MT. VAN HOEVENBERG?

No. Athlete passes to MVH Ski Center are included with the NYSEF Program fee.

 

WHAT EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED?

All skiers should have reasonably up-to-date skis, boots, poles and bindings along with proper attire for the weather. We encourage kids to have both skate and classic skis. However, combi skis can be used as long as parents clean the kick wax off the combi ski before skating practices. Combi boots may be used for both techniques. Bindings should be either the SNS or NNN system. Expensive poles are not necessary at this level. Please bring a water bottle to every practice.

 

SHOULD WE HAVE OUR OWN WAXING SUPPLIES?

Yes. We will help with waxing on race days and provide kick waxes for training but is important to take good care of equipment ahead of time and show up at ski practice with clean skis. Cleaning and re-waxing at the start of a practice prevents the session from starting on time and is unfair to those kids that are ready to go. Expensive race waxes are not necessary for this age group.