Cross-Country Ski Lessons

for Beginner, Novice, and Intermediate Skiers.

Are you interested in learning how to cross-country ski? The MTU Nordic Ski Club offers reasonably priced lessons in both skating and classic techniques at the beginner, novice, and intermediate levels. Our instructors have skied and raced with strong high school programs and several instructors were junior national or collegiate racers.

"You really did a great job teaching! I skied for over 3 hours today (Sat) and could tell how much your instructing helped. I even skied Hemlock and Skidder (?) with complete confidence and felt in control. I think I was faster than I have ever been, but of course that is still slow.Thanks for your help." --- A satisfied skier.

Our Sixth Year of Instruction.

Most recent update: January 18, 2010.

GENERAL INFORMATION

New Format for 2010. The Nordic Ski Club will hold two sets of lessons: One on Sunday afternoons, January 17, 24 and 31 starting at 2 p.m. and one on Wednesday evenings, January 13, 20, and 27, starting at 5 p.m. The sets will be three one-hour lessons. Show up a bit early the day of the first lesson and we will assign skiers to groups based on their preferred technique, skate or classic, and current ability level. The lesson descriptions, below, show what is covered in each level. We will have plenty of instructors available so that no group will be larger than five skiers. The cost for a set of lessons is $25. Community lessons are for skiers 14 years and older. Skiers under the age of 18 must have signed parental permission.

Meet at the Nordic Ski Club Wax Room, the second door on the right in Wax Building. USE THE ATHLETES' ENTRANCE TO THE WAX BUILDING.

Checks should be made out to the "Michigan Tech Nordic Ski Club".

Instructors can also give private lessons at $25/hour (not $25/person/hour). Contact instructors directly for private lessons. The easiest contact method for each instructor is listed first. Since you are arranging the lessons, there are no age limits on students. Instructors have given lessons to families, but be aware of the physical limitations of younger skiers. Skiers under the age of 18 must have signed parental permission.

If you need ski equipment both Cross Country Sports (Calumet: 337-4520; Houghton: 483-2453) and Downwind Sports (Houghton: 482-2500) rent complete packages.

TYPES OF LESSONS:

Beginner Skate. (3 one-hour lessons for $25) These lessons are intended for people with little to no background in Nordic skiing. Skills covered: falling and getting up, skiing without poles, gradual uphills and downhills, V1 (the basic skating technique), balance and weight transfer.

Beginner Classic (3 one-hour lessons for $25) These lessons are intended for people with little to no background in Nordic skiing. Skills covered: falling and getting up, skiing without poles, gradual uphills and downhills, the basic striding technique, balance and weight transfer.

Novice Skate (3 one-hour lessons for $25) These lessons are for people who are fairly comfortable with classic skiing but would now like to learn to skate. Skiing without poles, balance and weight transfer, V1 (the basic skating technique), body position on uphills.

Novice Classic (3 one-hour lessons for $25) Focus is on improving uphill and downhill technique, especially on steeper and longer hills. Double-pole and double-pole with kick are also covered.

Intermediate Classic - (3 one-hour lessons for $25) These lessons are for people who want to improve speed and power. Instruction will vary with current ability of skiers but we presume skiers will be interested in specific instruction in weight transfer, uphill technique, downhill tuck, fine-tuning body position, improved double pole and transitions between techniques. If you can do these things correctly already you are beyond the intermediate stage.

Intermediate Skate - (3 one-hour lessons for $25) These lessons are for people who want to improve speed and power. Instruction will vary with current ability of skiers but we presume skiers will be interested in specific instruction in weight transfer, uphill technique (happy feet light up the hill), downhill tuck, fine-tuning body position, V2 in varying conditions and transitions between techniques. If you can do these things correctly already you are beyond the intermediate stage.

Complete Instructor List:

Primary contact is listed first for each instructor:

Lindsey Spaude, lindseyspaude@gmail.com, (763) 498-1170.

Gabrielle Trudeau, gltrudea@mtu.edu, (906) 250-0180.

Eric Volk, ejvolk@mtu.edu, (612) 618-6597

Joe Webb, jwebb@mtu.edu, (989) 464-1032

Sean Boyden, scboyden@mtu.edu, (906) 370-9123

Sheridan Ethen, slethen@mtu.edu, (763) 234-3487

Peter Enz, paenz@mtu.edu, (952) 406-1598

Kelsey Gossen, krgossen@mtu.edu, (763) 607-1527.

Helena Keller, hrkeller@mtu.edu, (763) 227-5936.

Steve Klimowicz, sgklimow@mtu.edu, (906) 483-9121

Ben Mitchell, brmitche@mtu.edu, (614) 556 - 7963.

McKinley (Mac) Olsen, msolsen@mtu.edu, (715) 892-6845

James Robinson, jmrobins@mtu.edu, (651) 263-4429

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General questions can be directed to Blair Orr - Michigan Tech Nordic Ski Club Advisor, bdorr@mtu.edu, 487-2291.