Just learning to cross country ski, need a tune up on your technique, or just want to feel more comfortable on different terrain and become more proficient at skiing? Join our instructors for group adult learn to ski lesson series in classic or skate skiing at various ability levels.
Qualified Nordic ski instructors will teach up to eight students per course in four (or more) one-hour courses in Classic Ski or Skate Ski techniques. Using an inclusive and student-centred approach, instructors will teach the principals of balance, coordination, propulsion and direction change on flat to gentle uphill terrain.
Clinic prices are $120 per four-lesson series and do not include trail fees. All participants must either be a member of Nelson Nordic Ski Club or purchase a day pass for trail access.
Minimum class size is 4 people in order to run the sessions. Maximum is 8 people, so don’t delay in signing up as programs begin in January.
We also have a couple of special programs this year, including a drop-in social ski on Thursday nights and a pre-registered women’s only long-distance skate ski group on Monday mornings. See more details below.
Be Prepared: Important Information
· Meet outside the Apex Day Lodge for all courses (unless otherwise stated).
· Be ready, with skis waxed (if necessary), boots & skis on, at the start time of the clinic.
· Be prepared for the weather (toque, mittens, jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, drinking water, headlamp for evening sessions, etc.)
Don’t have Classic or Skate skis and boots? No problem, our friends at Gerick Cycle and Ski will give you 15% off the cost of your rental package for your lessons when you rent Nordic skis and boots from them.
For more information, contact adultprograms@nelsonnordicski.ca and join the fun!
TUESDAY NIGHT ADULT GROUP LESSONS
SKATE & CLASSIC TECHNIQUE
Level 1 and 2 Classic and Skate Ski lessons on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7 pm.
Register for a session of four one-hour lessons on Tuesday nights in January (Jan 7, 14, 21, 28) or February (Feb 4, 11, 18, 25). This program is intended to be a social way for skiers of any level to improve their technique and have fun together, including the option of a social ski involving all of the lesson groups in the fourth week of each session.
Sign up for Classic only, Skate only, or both techniques. You are welcome and encouraged to sign up for both the January and February sessions if you so desire. We are hoping this format may lead to more a more robust offering of adult community ski programs in the years to come! Get involved and let’s build this program together! And if you’d like to become an instructor, see the information on CANSI instructor courses at the bottom of this page or email adultprograms@nelsonnordicski.ca
Instructors: Jakob Dulisse, Jaime Frederick, Jason Rusu
SATURDAY MORNING SKATE LESSONS
SKATE ONLY
Level 1 Skate Ski lessons for beginners on Saturday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 am.
Register for a session of four one-hour lessons on Saturday mornings in January (Jan 11, 18, 30, Feb 1) or February (Feb 8, 15, 22, Mar 1).
Instructor: Linda Homeniuk
Not sure which level you should be in? Check out our ability levels.
WOMEN’S LONG DISTANCE Skate Ski Group
Monday Mornings, Women Only, Six-Week Session, Level 1-2 Skate
ARE YOU WANTING TO BUILD YOUR DISTANCE SKATE SKIING? Are you training for a loppet or a personal goal?
If you are a woman into skate skiing and would like to add regular trips up Clearwater to your repertoire, now is your chance to do so in a committed, positive and supported environment. Monday mornings for 6 weeks from 9 am. We will start with a 15 km distance and build up to 30 km by the end of January (we will take until noon or later that day). We will primarily use Clearwater trail while exploring ski tips for climbing, pacing, double poling and one skate. There will be a pre-determined route for each ski session and the aim is to find a partner or two with a similar pace that you can ski with and make some new connections!
Technique: Skate
Level: Level 1-2 (not newbies)
Prerequisite: Fitness level that allows you to skate ski continuously for 30 minutes, familiarity with offset and one skate techniques.
Location: Meet at Busk/Clearwater Trailhead
Time: 9 am
Instructor: Kim Horrocks
Cost: $180
Dates & Times:
MONDAY JANUARY 6, 2025: 9 to 11 am, up to 15km
MONDAY JANUARY 13, 2025: 9 to 11 am, up to 20km
MONDAY JANUARY 20, 2025: 9 to 11 am, up to 25km
MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2025: 9 am to 12 pm, up to 30km
MONDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2025: 9 to 11 am, up to 25 km
MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2025: 9 to 11 am, up to 20km
Social Ski Nights (Thursday Nights)
Social Ski Nights are new this year. These evenings will be organized as a social ski but will not involve a formal lesson format. This is a group ski led by certified instructors who may offer some technique tips along the way. We plan to have an instructor for both classic and skate leading the group each week. Enjoy skiing with new friends while improving your technique!
Drop-in ski on Thursday nights at 6 p.m. from the Apex trailhead. This is not a pre-registered program, but there will be a $5 drop-in fee for all skiers and trail fees will apply for non-members.
If you’re interested in skiing with us on Thursday nights, please fill out this brief survey (2 minutes, tops).
Private Lessons
For private or semi-private lessons, please contact adultprograms@nelsonnordicski.ca with your request (name, phone, technique, number of people, ability level, date and preferred time) and we will put it out to our instructors for availability. Fees for private lessons are $50 for individual one-hour lesson, $35 per person for two people and $30 per person for a group of three or more. Trail fees apply for non-members.