Development Team

For athletes ages 8-9 (J5), 10-11 (J4), and 12-13 (J3) as of January 1, 2013. 

The Development Team consists of J5, J4, and J3 athletes. This program is designed to:

• provide multilateral development of young athletes

• improve health and well being

• improve general fitness

• build endurance and skills specific to Nordic skiing

• develop love for sports and outdoor activities

• develop the improvement and mastering of ski techniques, both skate and classic

 

Coaches:

• Gro Lunde, J3, (406)570-3168, groaaselunde@gmail.com and Davor Danevski, davordanevski@yahoo.com
• J4 - Pat Becker, pbjbecker@msn.com and Shana Keilson, skeilson@gmail.com
• J5 - Kelly and Jenny 

J3 Group:

For athletes ages 12-13. J3 athletes may train year-round but must sign up for summer dryland and ski season training separately.

• Summer dryland training (June 14- Aug. 18)- $345 (does not include Canmore Camp).
• Ski season training (early Sept.– mid-March)- $900 (does not include Thanksgiving Camp). Installments/partial-payment plan available: minimum $600 due upon registration, remainder paid in 2 installments due Oct. 1, 2012 (minimum half of balance) and Nov. 15, 2012 (remainder of balance).

J3s train 3 days a week during the summer: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8-10AM. Ski-season practices are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school from 4-5:30PM, and Saturday mid-morning. Locations and activities vary; detailed training schedules will be posted weekly in emails and/or on the website.

J4 Group:

For athletes ages 10-11.  J4s may train year-round but must sign up for summer dryland and ski season training separately. Camps (Canmore and Thanksgiving) are for J3 and older athletes.

• Summer dryland training (June 14- Aug. 18)- $305
• Ski season training (early Sept- mid-March)- $780. Installments/partial-payment plan available: minimum $600 due upon registration, remainder paid in 2 installments due Oct. 1, 2012 (minimum half of balance) and Nov. 15, 2012 (remainder of balance).

J4s train 3 days a week during the summer: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8-10AM. Ski-season practices are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school from 4-5:30PM and Saturday mid-morning. Locations and activities vary, so detailed training schedules will be posted weekly in emails and/or on the website.

J5 Group:

For athletes ages 8-9. J5s start practice in early September and go through mid-March. Practices are Tuesday and Thursday after school from 4-5:30PM and Saturday mid-morning. Locations and activities vary, so detailed training schedules will be posted weekly in emails and/or on the website. No camps available for this age group.

• Ski season training (early Sept- mid-March)- $670

BSF NORDIC SKI PROGRAM GUIDELINES:

• Practice will start no later than 4:00 pm and 10:00am
• Pick up no later than 5:45 pm or 12:15 pm
• Group changes - possible in coordination with group coach, assistant head coach and program director.

Your coach(es) will send out weekly training schedules on Mondays. Schedule change announcements are emailed as needed.

SEE BSF HANDBOOK FOR BSF PARENT/ATHLETE POLICIES.

WHAT GEAR DO I NEED?

Recommended clothing:
Nordic skiers should dress in layered clothing that can be removed if the need arises. Please remember that most clothing designed for alpine skiing is not appropriate for cross-country skiing as it restricts movement and causes the skier to overheat. It is very often colder and windier at Lindley Park than it is anywhere else in town. Even on a warm winter day, a hat, gloves, and a windproof jacket (fleece alone is not warm enough in the wind) are important especially when it starts to get dark earlier in the evening. When the time changes, a headlamp would be nice but is not necessary--coaches will have lamps. Remember to continue to bring water to practice. Even though it's no longer hot outside, keeping hydrated is still critical. Also remember to eat a snack between school and training. Cold temperatures lead to higher energy requirements for training and keeping warm.

Recommended equipment:
Once we start skiing, each participant must bring his/her own skis, boots, and poles to training. J5 and J4 skiers can get by with one pair of "combi" skis and boots and one set of poles. Skis should be wax-able. Keep in mind, that with combi skis you will have to clean the classic kick wax off the skis before your skier will be able to skate on them. For a rough estimate on combi gear sizing: ski length should be 1-3 inches longer than the child's height. Poles should reach from the ground to the top of the child's shoulder.

Some skiers, especially J3 and older, choose to have both classic and skate skis and poles, and combi boots. For skate and classic specific gear, it is best to use the manufacturer's size charts which correlate the skier's weight and height to ski length and stiffness. At the ski swap, BSF volunteers/coaches will be on hand with a flex-test board to help match your skier with the best skis available. Please take advantage of this opportunity--skis that are too stiff or too soft can make for a very frustrating skiing experience. When purchasing new equipment through a local retailer, they will provide similar testing. Ski poles for skate should reach between the skiers chin and "mustache area." Classic poles should reach between the armpit and the shoulder.

Ski Wax:
On classic days, please send your skier with a range of inexpensive kick waxes and a cork (local ski shops can recommend a few general kick waxes--blue, extra blue, purple, red--which can be kept in a baggie in your skier's bag), and their coach will help them put it on.

Where can you find equipment?
The BSF Ski Swap is a great place to start looking for equipment and clothing. BSF representatives/coaches will be available at the swap to consult with you if you have any questions while shopping there. New equipment may be purchased from Bangtail and Northern Lights, and should be ordered early to obtain BSF discounted prices. Check with retailers for details.

If you have any questions, please talk with your skier's coach. We are excited about the upcoming ski season and want your skier to have the best experience possible!

Cold weather training policy:  Generally, if the temperature is 13 degrees Fahrenheit or lower--especially if there is wind--practice will be cancelled.  Please check the temperature where we are skiing that day (in town or at Bohart).  Whenever possible, an email will be sent out notifying everyone as soon as it is determined to be too cold to train, so please check your email or the "Training Schedule" page of the website before heading to practice on cold days.  A friendly reminder--dress warmly every day.  It is winter afterall!  On most days, a hat is preferable to a headband, and warm gloves/mittens are preferable to race gloves.