update

items to be reviewed at start of season: membership fees, passes, links to Zone4, PayPa, and such

Skill Development Program

sdp session

The ski lessons of the SDP program are going ahead for the 2023 – 2024 season. Lessons are expected to start in early January. Enrollment has now ended on December 9.

Ccc logo

The Skill Development Program offered to our young skiers by the Fernie Nordic Society was actually developed by the nation-wide organization Nordiq Canada. The program is standardized across the country. All our volunteer coaches are trained according to the established structure to provide a consistent level of training to our skiers.

The levels in the program are aimed at the various age groups:

  • Bunnyrabbit Program for children 5 years and younger
  • Jackrabbit Program for children from 6 to 9 years old
  • Track Attack Program for children 10 years and older

The Fernie Nordic Society provides training at these levels at our weekly Saturday morning and Tuesday or Thrursday after school sessions. Lessons run from January to March all at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. We also have additional training at other times of the year such as dry-land training during summer and autumn. Events may combine the efforts of other clubs nearby. This is a great opportunity for young skiers to improve their skills in a fun atmosphere and to challenge themselves.


Saturday Lessons

10:30 – 11:30 am
 


Tuesday After School
Lessons
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
 


Thursday After School
Lessons
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
  

Cost of lessons

Bunnyrabbit     $60 for either the Saturday, Tuesday or Thursday sessions
Jackrabbit         $70 for either the Saturday, Tuesday or Thursday sessions
TrackAttack      $80 for either the Saturday or Tuesday sessions

Please note that enrollment into the program is done ONLINE for the 2023-2024 season. Please visit the online Zone4.ca page to register your child. Classic ski rentals for the season are available for youngsters enrolled in our program at a very low cost. Be sure to select this option during the online registration.

For more information about our program, or to register your child, you may also use our Contact Us page.

Any questions? Get in touch with a volunteer.
cold weather
click for more info

Important Documents

The documents attached below are our basic guidelines for running a fair training program for our young skiers. They are aimed at our parents and our volunteer coaches. We ask all parents and coaches of the 2023-2024 season to read them, to sign the relevant release forms and return to the coaches at the first ski lesson.
 
Documents  (click to open and/or save):
Coaching Code of Conduct
Parents Responsibilities
Parents Fair Play & Photo Release

KALTIRE has sponsored the province-wide SDP program for the last few years

Kal-Tire sponsor

Ski Training Sessions for Adults

skier tarah

Coaches Emily, Susan and Tarah will be offering adult classic and skate lessons for beginner and intermediate skiers through private or semi-private lessons starting just as soon as there is enough snow to groom the staging area of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. Please note that our instructors have limited availability during this winter season.

All lessons will take place at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. Meet in the staging area outside the Warming Hut.

private lesson

semi-private lesson

Group Lessons

Intermediate to Advanced Nordic Lessons (Masters)

on Saturdays from 1:30 to 3 pm
Dec 16, 30, Jan 13, 20, Feb 10, 17, 24 plus one other session and may extend into March weather permitting.
You can register for all 8 sessions for $200 or do a drop-in fee per lesson of $35/lesson.

Preparedness

  • Payment for your lesson must be made BEFORE your lesson starts.
  • Please come prepared for all types of weather (cold, wet, snowy, windy, sunny, etc) as your comfort is your responsibility and we will not have access to the hut to warm up cold toes. Lessons may be rescheduled in the event of extreme weather.
  • Please make sure you have the right equipment properly sized for your weight/ability. We do not have rentals. Contact Tarah for questions about equipment and rentals BEFORE your lesson.
  • Please ensure that you have a day pass or club membership at the time of your lesson. Day passes are available online HERE.

Please contact us to book a session

Any questions? Get in touch with us!

Make your online payment

Once your lesson has been confirmed, you will be requested to make an online payment:

Option 1: send an e-transfer to info@fernienordic.com

Option 2: pay by credit card using the Payment button below

Frequently Asked Questions

Coach Qualifications
We currently have three instructors who are CANSI certified.

Scheduling of lessons
Each instructor will be available at different times during the winter season. Contact us with your day/time preferences and we will get you in touch with an instructor.

Lesson Types
Private lessons are offered by each instructor. It is also fun and more economical to learn in a group, so if you have some friends with similar nordic skills and goals you may choose a semi-private or a group lesson. The cost of each type is listed on this page. 

The lessons may be for absolute beginners in the classic ski or skate ski technique. Or intermediate skiers may just be looking to improve their technique and performance.

  • Beginner 1 : first time on skis
  • Beginner 2 : feel confident on various terrain types – no previous lessons
  • Intermediate : have had a lesson or have 2 + years of experience skiing

Lessons
Lessons are usually about one hour long. They are held at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre located a few minutes drive from downtown Fernie. Link to location. Meet outside the warming hut. If you have a special request, please let us know when you get in touch with us. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver prior to the lessons.

Payments
Once you have confirmed a time and the number of participants with your instructor, please make the payment in advance of the class to confirm your session. Payment details can be found elsewhere on this page.

What to Wear?
Dress in layers so that you can adjust your clothing accordingly. A hat and neck warmer are very helpful for maintaining your body warmth.  Nordic specific gloves or mittens help with grip and are more user friendly with ski pole straps.

Gear fit is Important
If you have questions about your gear, discuss with the local outdoor stores that sell Nordic gear or a specialty Nordic shop.  Fit really does matter! 

Equipment Rentals
We do not offer or arrange any rentals of ski equipment. A few local shops have cross country ski gear available for rent. They are located either in downtown Fernie or at the Fernie Alpine Resort. More details on this page.

Gift Certificates
Thinking of offering a present to a friend? We offer gift certificates for ski lessons. Just let us know the details when you contact us. Certificates may be picked up locally or mailed out.

Cold Temperatures
Fernie gets cold and windy from time to time. Sometimes conditions are not suitable for learning. Instructors or participants may need to reschedule a lesson in extreme conditions.

Your Instructors

tarah leggottemily de freitasblank
Tarah Leggott
CANSI Level 3		Emily DeFreitas
CANSI Level 1		Susan Smith
CANSI Level 1
Tarah Leggott is a CANSI Level 3 instructor that is passionate about cross country skiing as a lifelong, family-oriented sport that can be pursued competitively or as recreation in our beautiful, little corner of BC.Emily has been cross country skiing for over 20 years. She grew up as a competitive racer for Foothills Nordic in Calgary. She has coached in adult and youth programs in both Calgary and Whistler. “I’m looking forward to connecting with the Fernie ski community and helping you reach your nordic goals!”