Registration: See Viking’s Regular membership form.
Sessions are weather dependant; usually at least one day is cancelled due to extreme cold, lack of snow, ice storms, rain etc. If weather cooperates, lessons will be made up at the end of the season.
If a lesson is cancelled, an email will be sent and a message posted on the Viking website message board.
Parents, please note
• Arrive half an hour early: Try to arrive at least by 9:30 to get skis waxed, clothes on, bladders emptied, etc.
• We head to the pond at 9:50: If conditions are particularly cold or windy, we may head for the shelter of the forest at 10 a.m. Arriving late might mean missing the group.
• Bring snacks and drinks: It’s important (and fun) for kids to have a break during the lesson to warm up, rehydrate, and enjoy a snack on the trail.
• Bring wax: JRs should carry a temperature-appropriate wax and cork so they can apply more wax if necessary.
• Cold weather cut-off? There really isn’t one. Attendance is at your discretion, especially for younger skiers. If you don't hear from us by email before a lesson, assume it is being held. Lesson cancellations will also posted on the Viking website message board.
• Should mom or dad stay around? At this level, it’s usually best if parents are not involved (unless you’re helping out, of course!). Our instructors are great with the kids – and indeed most kids are braver this way.
About the Jackrabbit program
The Jackrabbit program is based on Cross Country Canada’s Skill Development Program for Children. The overall objective is to help kids develop a love of the outdoors, a healthy lifestyle, excellent technical skills and a good level of physical fitness. The club encourages a sense of “community” among the families who join. This program is not intended to be a “drop-off/baby sitting” activity.
The program encourages young skiers to continue their skills development, gradually focusing on more advanced techniques. The emphasis is to have fun while learning, with many games incorporated into the lessons. Children learn techniques in both classic and skating as they progress through the four JR levels.
Participants receive a booklet to track their progress throughout each season and are given sticker awards for technique and achievements.
A typical Jackrabbit lesson
For JR1, JR2, JR3
• a 10-minute warm-up with the entire group;
• a 50-minute lesson with children in their skill-specific level with their coach;
• a 15-minute snack break;
• a 45-minute "extra activity" aimed at applying skills learned during lessons. This may involve a ski on Viking ’s groomed trails.
For JR4
• a 10-minute warm-up with the entire group;
• a 90-minute ski on the trails;
• a 20-minute snack break;
• a 60-minute lesson with children in their skill-specific level with their coach. This will often involve an outing on Viking trails.
Special activities
Thanks to the nature of its trails and terrain, Viking offers opportunites for some unique outdoor activities. These can include skiing to a bonfire in the forest, orienteering, long-distance ski tours that increase in length and endurance as skills progress, and a mini-marathon held on the club’s Racing Trails (complete with feeding and drink stations). The season typically ends with a friendly club championship, season roundup and picnic on the pond.
|
