• Skill Development Program
  • The Program
  • Fitting Equipment
  • Coaching
• Bunnies
• Jackrabbits
• Jackalopes
• Track Attack
• Junior Racers
  • Dryland Training
• Masters Loppet Program
• Para-Nordic

Junior Racers--skiing and biathlon

The Junior Racers gratefully acknowledge the sponsorship from Westcana Electric for their ski waxing supplies.

Take a look at the Junior Racer's 2011-2012 Activity/Race Schedule and website, follow these links:

2012 Activities Schedule

September

October

November

December

• Junior Racer Website

1. Introduction

The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club Racers consists of skiers and biathletes who wish to improve their skills and develop as athletes. The primary focus of the group is to train young skiers as a group with the intention of entering competitions up to the National Championship level. The program is aimed at skiers in the Learn-to-Train, Train-to-Train and Train-to-Compete stages of the National Long Term Athlete Development model. Skiers of all ages who wish to train with the group are welcome to join and participate.

This is just an overview, for more detailed information contact one of the coaches.

2. Ages

The Junior Racer Program (for Cross Country and Biathlon) is targeted for athletes 12 years old and up.

Specifically, this training group follows the LTAD "Training to Train' (T2T) and 'Learning to Compete' (L2C) stages of development.

T2T

Males: 12-16

Females: 11-15

L2C

Males: 16-20 +/-

Females: 15-19 +/-

3. Skill Level

It is anticipated that skiers entering the Jr. Racer Program have completed the Skill Development Programs (Bunnyrabbits, Jackrabbits, and Track Attack), or have at least two (preferably three) years of skiing experience, irrespective of age.

4. Biathlon Versus Cross Country

Athletes in both sports (Biathlon and Cross Country) train together as a group throughout the season for ski training, but the biathletes have shooting practices scheduled separately. It is necessary to choose a program at the beginning of the year, long before registration as space and rental rifles are limited. Skiers entering biathlon must go through a range and firearm safety session with the biathlon coaches (held at the beginning of September) before they are able to participate in shooting practices and compete in biathlon events. Biathletes are encouraged to compete in both biathlon events and cross country events.

5. Coaches

For the 2012-13 ski season, the coaches are:

Cross Country: Andrew Casey, Erik Jensen, Nadine Neil, Robbie Martin, Carolyn Seip, Jacqui Benson & John Hagen

Biathlon: Pierre Beaudry, Vern Neil, Erica Erasmus, Ed Hoffman, Allie Dickson

6. Parental Involvement

Parents are expected to:

• Ensure skiers get to practices on time, appropriately dressed and with appropriate equipment in good order;
• Ensure skis are waxed appropriately;
• Ensure rifles are cleaned and ready to shoot;
• Ensure biathletes have sufficient appropriate ammunition;
• Volunteer to help at races both at Otway and away;
• Share in providing transportation to races and chaperoning at races;
• Volunteer to help at Ski Swap;
• Participate in the organization of the challenge group.

7. Skiing Equipment

The Junior Racers skiers train in both classic and skating techniques. It is expected that skiers will have both a set of classic skis and a set of skate skis.

8. Shooting Equipment

All biathletes must have a biathlon rifle. There are a number of club rifles available to new biathletes on a first come first served basis, rental is $100 for the first year and $150 for subsequent years. For those who would like to try biathlon the charge is $20 for up to three shooting sessions. Athletes who intend to compete for several years in biathlon are encouraged to purchase their own rifle so that it may be adjusted to their particular requirements.

A firearms PAL (possession acquisition license) is required before anyone can take a rifle home for dry firing practice.

All biathletes must pay for the ammunition they use. Typical ammo cost for a year is between $50 and $100.

9. Races

The Junior Racers organize participation in the CCBC Teck Cup race series sanctioned by Cross Country BC and the BiBC Cup race series sanctioned by Biathlon BC. In addition the group may attend club level races, Noram races, provincial and national championships. A typical race weekend for a BC Cup series consists of two races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday in slightly different race formats.

Cross country racers are skied in two techniques, skate and classic, with two different starting formats, an individual start, or mass start race. These races vary in distance from sprints (600-1400m), up to long distance races (5km-50km) with lengths dependent on age categories.

Biathlon races are a series of loops between which the skiers must shoot five targets. The distance of each loop varies from one to five km dependent on age categories and between three and five loops are skied dependent on race format.

The cost for a race weekend away is typically in the order of $150 to $200 per athlete and $120 for a parent. This includes $15 per race for entry fees, $50 gas, $60 for two nights hotel, $25 for a Saturday night banquet plus miscellaneous food costs. The Junior Racers pay the coaches costs and organizes accommodation and ride sharing.

10. Program Costs

Click here for link to program fees

Who should I contact--I'm interested!

• Andrew Casey at coachcasey@caledonianordic.com