Racing Development Program

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Racing Development Team/Cross Country

The race development team is for athletes interested in competitive cross-country ski racing. Athletes will register in one of two levels based on their desire to train for 7 or 11 months.

Level 6 (Ages 10-17)

Program Details

Athletes are expected to read and abide by the athlete Code of Conduct 

For athletes seeking to improve as competitive cross-country skiers by committing to training up to 7 months a year with the team.  Designed for athletes planning on competing regionally and for their schools in U12, U14, U16 and U18 categories.

Focus is on continuing to develop training and racing technique, physical strength, balance and flexibility to support their technique and educational sport components such as self-responsibility, nutrition, equipment maintenance (waxing) and goal setting. Throughout the season, athletes will participate in games which enhance various attributes needed to ski well, specific dryland and on-snow drills and activities, low key competitions of various kinds and lots of skiing! The object is to learn while having fun.

Skills focused on in Level 6:

  • Activities and drills to develop agility, posture, balance, rhythm, kick, body awareness, skills, endurance, fun. 
  • Learn to set personal goals, set race strategy and tactics. 
  • Desire to train 7 months a year and train/be active outside team training time based upon a generic plan as set by the coach. 

Our basic belief is T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More). We start and finish our practices together, so everyone needs to be ready to be active when practice starts.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with a team”

Athletes can expect to be training with others at their own chronological and developmental levels as well as within the larger group. For instance, U12/U14 will mostly be training together as will U16/U18.

Schedule

Athletes and parents will agree to the practice and race schedule as detailed by their respective coaches. 

  • Early season (dryland): Sat 9:59 am To 12pm starts September 7 / ends: October 12. 
  • Later season (dryland and on-snow): Sat & Sun 9:59 am to 12pm starts October 19. 
  • Wednesday rollerski practices will be started in the fall. 
  • On-snow practices start when snow permits, usually the first weekend of December until the first weekend of March Break.
  • January until the end of the season – Sat & Sun 9:59 am to 12pm and Wed 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
  • There will be a one-day holiday camp during Christmas break at no additional charge (Date TBD)
  • Program will not run December 24/25
  • 4, 1-day summer multi sport training camps may be made available
  • All athletes will receive a generic Seasonal Training Plan

Athlete Equipment Requirements

  • Roller ski poles 
  • Skate rollerskis will be available from HTB for first year; athletes in subsequent years will provide their own
  • Hi visibility top or reflective vest to be worn during rollerski practices
  • Striding/dryland ski poles to be purchased. Typically 5-10 cm shorter than classic poles.
  • Helmet, reflective clothing, gloves
  • Wrist watch with stopwatch/timer functions
  • Water bottle and carrier
  • Access to appropriate skate and Classic skis (owned or leased)
  • Access to early season rock skis (Classic & Skate)
  • Skate and classic poles (length suggested by coach)
  • Classic and skate boots, but combi boots are adequate
  • Blue non fluoro glide wax
  • Athlete Season Goals
  • Highlands Trailblazers Warm up Jacket and Race Suit

Registration and Fees (Please review Athlete Equipment Requirements)

Entry into the Level 6 XC program is to be cleared by the Head XC coach. 

$800.00 – Can be paid in two instalments of $412.50 at registration & $412.50 on December 1

Service Hour Obligation – see here for an explanation of this program as well as the chart of hours required by program.

Not included in program fee

  • Season Pass from Highlands Nordic is required
  • Training Camps (a $75 surcharge/camp to attend training camps)
  • Travel and accommodation to events 
  • Race entry fees
  • Race license (Discuss with coach)
  • Coaching & Waxing fees for larger events for cost recovery

Race Performance Objectives

  • Introduce the qualities (technical, physical, mental) that lead to sustainable performance and consistent improvement. These are measurable.
  • Introduce reflection on performance-training/recovery, racing, etc.
  • Bi-weekly, low key, appropriate length time trials or similar activities.
  • Selected paraffin races, 1 or 2 appropriate Ocups, Ontario Youth Championships (U12, U14)
  • Note: Children at this level should be involved in other activities as well as skiing so they can develop as competent athletes. By the end of Level 6, they should be physically literate (possess both fundamental movement skills and fundamental sport skills). See Canadian Sport for Life/Long Term Athlete Development for details and reference material. 

Level 7 (Ages 14-17) 

Athletes are expected to read and abide by the athlete Code of Conduct

Level 7 is an expansion on level 6, providing athletes with four additional training camp opportunities (May to August)  and an individual yearly training plan. It is designed for athletes seeking to develop their cross-country skiing abilities, racing results in U16 and U18 categories at a regional and inter-provincial level and a desire to train 11 months a year on a personalized yearly training plan.

Our basic belief is T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More). We start and finish our practices together, so everyone needs to be ready to be active when practice starts.“If you want to go fast, go alone.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with a team”

Eligibility

Recommendation from the Level 6 Lead Coach

Schedule

Athletes and parents will agree to the practice and race schedule as detailed by their respective coaches. 

Level 7 is a year-round program which runs from May 1 to March 31. Sport specificity will increase as the year progresses. Athlete development is focused on a path towards provincial level competition and higher. 

The focus of summer training will take the form of training camps with the team and coaches. Daily/weekly training will be pursued by athletes themselves following their Yearly Training Plan, in regular consultation with the Lead Coach.

  • 4-Summer Training Camps
  • Early season (dryland): Sat 9:59 am To 12pm starts September 7 / ends: October 12. 
  • Later season (dryland and on-snow): Sat & Sun 9:59 am to 12pm starts October 19. 
  • Wednesday rollerski practices will be started in the fall. 
  • On-snow practices start when snow permits, usually the first weekend of December until the first weekend of March Break.
  • January until the end of the season – Sat & Sun 9:59 am to 12pm and Wed 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
  • There will be a one-day holiday camp during Christmas break at no additional charge (Date TBD)

Travel

  • Regular practices + Weekend Camps will take place at Highlands Nordic, or within a ~45 minute radius
  • Priority races: Ontario Cup Nordic racing circuit and Eastern Canadians 
  • Other races depending upon scheduling and athlete commitment level:
  • Local/Regional races
  • National Championships 

Dryland Equipment Requirements

  • Skate and classic rollerskis 
  • Skate and Classic rollerski poles with rollerski tips
  • Helmet
  • Skate and Classic rollerski boots
  • Reflective vest or bright colored tops for roadside training
  • Drink Belt
  • Wrist watch with stopwatch/timer
  • Ski walking/striding poles (classic length or 5cm shorter)
  • Trail Running shoes
  • Mountain bike
  • Heart Rate Monitor with chest strap (optional but recommended for athlete development)
  • Wrist based monitors are not accurate enough for our purposes

Winter Equipment Requirements

  • Highlands Trailblazers Warm up Jacket and Race Suit
  • 1 pair of skate race skis*
  • 1 pair of Skate training skis
  • 1 pair of skate or classic rock skis
  • 1 pair of Classic race skis*
  • 1 pair of Classic training skis
  • Skate length poles (upper lip height)
  • Classic length poles (83% of height when in ski boots as measured from floor to attachment of strap)
  • Skate boots
  • Classic boots
  • Drink belt for fluids, snacks, and grip wax
  • Heart Rate Monitor 
  • Wrist watch with stopwatch and timer
  • Basic wax kit (including a scraper, groove scraper, and nylon brush for glide + a cork and training waxes (3+ hard waxes covering 0 to -15 degrees C for grip)

* Head Coach can help with guidance in building a race ski fleet when necessary

Fees

$1400 – Single payment at registration OR 2 instalments of $712.50 each (one at registration and one December 1st) OR 11 instalments of $129.50/month.  Service Hour Obligation – see here for an explanation of this program as well as the chart of hours required by program.

Not included in program fee 

  • Season Pass from Highlands Nordic is required
  • Travel and accommodation to events
  • Race entry fees
  • Race license (Discuss with coach)
  • Coaching & Waxing fees for larger events as cost recovery