Exciting news for our local Nordic ski team: Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club (ANSC) has received two awards from the national governing body for cross country skiing, Cross Country Canada (CCC). Arrowhead Nordic was the Most Improved Club Overall from the previous year in the medium-sized club category. The club also ranked second for Growth in Athlete Participation with the second-highest percent increase in points for the number of licensed skiers in a medium-sized club.
Cross Country Canada’s Club Podium program is a national racing club ranking system designed to recognize and promote club success in regard to the development of high performance and cross country skiers, explained Arrowhead’s club president, John Cowan. The final standings are determined based on a variety of metrics including membership, programs, leadership, organization, and racing. Arrowhead’s recognition reflects the efforts of the entire club from the membership to the leadership.
“Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club is a full service club,” said Cowan. “We offer program opportunities for all ages to meld with the Canada Sport For Life model. The base of the pyramid to success starts with the club’s skills development program (Bunny Rabbit and Jack Rabbit programs) with youth from as young as age four to the age of 10 learning how to ski. Although skiing is the sport, athletes at this stage are developing and consolidating the fundamental movement skills which are transferable to other sports, in addition learning how to ski.”
To ensure a quality program, all of the Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club instructors and coaches are certified with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) through Cross Country Canada. Trish Wendell is the coordinator of the Skills Development Program and has a crew of twenty instructors. Holly Strickland and her staff of five lead the next level of athlete development program called the Track Attack designed for participants from ages nine to 13. This program introduces athletes to a variety of skiing activities including refining technique, backcountry exploration, overnight camping and racing.
After Track Attack is the Arrowhead Race Center (ARC) program which is open to ages 13 to senior level racers. This program is led by former Czech coach Katerina Dokoupilova-Jakl. Many of these racers travel the province and this year’s season had several attend the 2017 National Ski Championships in Canmore, Alberta.
The Masters program, which is under the guidance of former Czech National coach Petr Jakl, is growing with people older than 25 wanting to learn how to compete in both long distance events such as a Loppet or in Olympic distance races. The club also offers a Learn to Ski program for adults wanting to enjoy the technique and those who like being active in the winter months.
Cowan recognized the efforts of the volunteers who support the club for their part in its success. “The ability for our members to improve their personal goals in skiing requires the club to host events. The number of volunteers in the club who help to organize and implement our successful events such as elementary school races and the Muskoka Loppet is remarkable. The club is fortunate to have so many people willing to give their time to ensuring opportunities are available to our sport community.”
Arrowhead Nordic Ski Club uses the Arrowhead Provincial Park Nordic trail system and the organizations support one another, said Cowan. “Park Superintendent Peter Briand and his staff and superiors have been instrumental in the recognition that has been given by Cross Country Canada to ANSC. Arrowhead park staff are meticulous with their grooming and as a club it is so much easier to provide programs without having to manage the infrastructure and rentals.”
These two awards received from Cross Country Canada reflect the commitment of the entire club to developing high-performance athletes. The awards presentation will take place in Canmore, Alberta on June 8 – 10, 2017 in conjunction with the Cross Country Canada Annual General Meeting.
Along with the team awards, two individual members of the Arrowhead Nordic Ski Team, Fiona Shearing (2002, 1st year Juvenile) and Sophia Marshall (2003, 2nd year Midget) made the Ontario Talent Squad Team for 2017/18 Congratulations, Fiona and Sophia!
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We came to Huntsville in the spring of 1973. Having just bought the Big East River Motel, now known as the Tulip Inn. The property is situated across from Arrowhead Park, with the Big East River dividing it. Our first winter in Huntsville, we were surprised to see snowmobiles all over the park. The feeling was that the park was not large enough for snowmobiles and should be limited to cross country skiing.
I had joined the Huntsville Rotary Club and expressed our feelings about the snowmobiles in the park and we formed a committee to look into the mater.
The town council was approached and we suggested that the park should be limited to cross country skiing and not snowmobiling. They agreed and ever since hasn’t been used for recreational snowmobiling.
During the last winter we went for a drive through the park and we were amazed at the number of cross country trails and the popularity of the skiing in the park. It is wonderful that our local park has become a top winter tourist attraction in Canada.
Congratulations Arrowhead Nordic! Great job.