Cross Country (Nordic) Skiing
Overall Goal
By introducing students to cross country skiing we give most a new way to get deep into the woods and physically active in the winter.
Grade 6 Curriculum Connections
Physical and Health Education
- participate actively and regularly in a wide variety of physical activities, and demonstrate an understanding of factors that encourage lifelong participation in physical activity
- demonstrate an understanding of the importance of being physically active, and apply physical fitness concepts and practices that contribute to healthy, active living
- demonstrate responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others as they participate in physical activities
- perform movement skills, demonstrating an understanding of the basic requirements of the skills and applying movement concepts as appropriate, as they engage in a variety of physical activities
- apply movement strategies appropriately, demonstrating an understanding of the components of a variety of physical activities, in order to enhance their ability to participate successfully in those activities
Program Description
A very popular winter activity, students are given a lesson in the basics of cross country skiing. Our lesson includes a structured and/or experiential approach to learning basic diagonal stride, how to get up from a fall, double poling and simple downhill and uphill techniques.
After a basic lesson on flat terrain students have the opportunity to ski a simple one kilometer loop that takes them into the woods on groomed trails.
Given a second program block, more skills in downhill technique are taught and then more varied trails are a possibility. We have up to 20 km of groomed trails, depending on the conditions, ranging from easy through moderate and more challenging trails that also vary in length. There’s a trail to suit every group and we often split into smaller groups depending on the kind of challenge students are ready for.
We also offer a magical night ski which gives students the opportunity to ski at their own pace, a number of loops of our flat one km trail lit only by the moon, stars and lanterns.
Success Criteria/Learning Goals
1. Students will be able to put on their ski equipment themselves.
2. Students will be able to demonstrate the basic movements of diagonal stride skiing on flat ground.
3. Students will be able to get up from a fall.
4. Students will be able to demonstrate the basics of hill skiing, an emergency brake and snow plow as well as uphill techniques
Pre-Trip Activity
Please make sure that students know how to tie their own shoes tightly (not with rabbit ears) before they come to SOES, it will mean more time out skiing. Here's a great 3 minute TED talk on tying laces to help out.
- A ski lesson is a prerequisite for skiing our trails
- The ski lessons takes 1 full program block
- Talk to your SOES contact about scheduling a further program block to ski our trails for a half or full day (with cookout lunch) or a night ski