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Nordiq Alberta News

Nordic News October 5th-16th

Online Core Training Workshop 

Please make note of the following online Core Training for Learning Facilitators workshop. The first step in becoming a coach developer is to complete the core training:

27 – 28 Nov, 2020, AB
Core Training for Learning Facilitators

*Participants do not need to be affiliated with the province of delivery in order to register.

Consult the Locker Calendar or your Provincial/Territorial Multi-Sport Organization for further updates and information.

 

Nordiq Canada Welcomes Stéphane Barrette as New Chief Executive Officer

 

CANMORE, Alta.—Stéphane Barrette will be counted on to play an integral role in leading the team focused on putting all Canadians on cross-country skis and more athletes on the international podium as new chief executive officer of Nordiq Canada, the Board of Directors for the national body announced on Friday.

After an extensive national search, Nordiq Canada found its new leader in their own backyard. Barrette, who has been the interim chief executive officer of the organization since May, brings more than three decades of experience in sport management, planning, programming, coaching and mentoring in the sport of cross-country skiing to his new position.

“Stéphane is a highly-motivated, passionate leader who brings the energy, drive and skillset required to lead this organization that is focused on achieving excellence both on and off the ski trails,” said Jennifer Tomlinson, chair, Nordiq Canada. “He stands out on the basis of his unique mix of experience, leadership qualities and profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our sport.”

Located in Montreal, Barrette has a deep history within Canada’s cross-country ski community, and specifically with Nordiq Canada since 2006. He has been the director of the national sport organization’s Coaching and Athlete Development (CAD) program since 2014 where he has helped grow the pool of licensed cross-country ski athletes by 50 per cent while also redesigning the introductory- and development-level programs for the sport: Jackrabbits, Bunnyrabbit, and Track Attack programs.

In his first eight years with Nordiq Canada (2006-2014), he was promoted to assistant director of high-performance after serving a four-year term as high-performance development coordinator (East).

“I am honoured to be given this opportunity to lead and develop the sport in Canada,” said Barrette. “We need to work diligently as a team to maintain our existing relationships while finding innovative ways to bring new partners to the cross-country ski family who share our vision of getting our athletes back on top of the international podium which will, ultimately, help accomplish our goal of inspiring more Canadians to get on skis.”

Over the last five months, Barrette has rediscovered the thrill of taking on the challenge of leading a sport governing body into a new era, reminiscent of his role prior to joining Nordiq Canada when he was Ski de fond Quebec’s executive director from 1994 to 2006.

“This organization has proven in the past we can stand on top of the Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship and World Cup podiums. We have a strong team of professionals to help lead our sport across the country in an effort to get back to where we want to be, but we also have a long road ahead of us,” added Barrette. “We need to build on our successes and learn from our mistakes, to help guide us towards accomplishing our future goals. This will be done by encouraging a culture of trust, collaboration and respect throughout our community from coast-to-coast-to-coast.”

No stranger to the high-performance cross-country skiing community, Barrette was a member of the National Ski Team (1990-92) and has also served as head coach of ski teams at both the provincial and club levels in Quebec. He has also worked as a television commentator with Radio-Canada and TVA Sports at the Olympic Winter Games (2006), World Nordic Ski Championships and World Cup Finals.

“It is an absolute gift to have the opportunity to marry my deep-rooted passion for cross-country skiing with my professional career in order to help positively advance this sport I care so much about,” said Barrette. “I truly believe we have an incredible opportunity to shape a brighter future while delivering the tools our athletes and coaches need in an effort to create more Olympic and Paralympic heroes for Canada in cross-country skiing.”

Barrette will remain based mostly in Montreal while the head office will continue to operate out of the Canmore Nordic Centre.

 

Provincial Early Snow Camp Cancelled

It is with heavy hearts the Nordiq Alberta officially announce that the Provincial Early Snow Camp will not be running this season. After many meetings to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission coupled with the increase in case counts provincially, we have decided that it would be irresponsible of us to forge ahead with a provincial camp. We appreciate all your support and patience as we continue to evaluate the changing situation and develop safety measures for the upcoming season.

 

Frozen Thunder: Know Before You Go

Register here

What:

Frozen Thunder is an early season 2km long ski track allowing training on snow for High Performance Athletes as well as public skiing for Frozen Thunder/Fall Season Pass holders.

When:

October 19 – November 13, 2020

Reserved Track times are Monday to Sunday 7:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.

Anyone using Frozen Thunder during this time purchase (and wear) a bib and trail pass.

Bibs can be purchased on Zone 4 starting October 13 at 10:00 AM. $100/all access, $30/day.

No bib is required to ski Frozen Thunder after 12 PM each day.

Where:

Canmore Nordic Center, Alberta

***Due to COVID 19 capacity restrictions, users are required to schedule a training time. This is done during the bib purchase.

Details:

Frozen Thunder is financed and operated through a partnership agreement between: Nordiq Canada, Biathlon Canada, Alberta World Cup Academy, Alberta Biathlon, Nordiq Alberta, and WinSport with support from the Canmore Nordic Centre.

Frozen Thunder Reserved Track Time – Monday-Sunday 07:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

  • Skiers must purchase and wear a Bib to use Frozen Thunder during reserved track time, as well as a Canmore Nordic Centre trail pass, which can be purchased at the day lodge or online. Anyone not wearing a bib or without a trail pass during reserved scheduled times will be asked to leave the Track even if they are a member of a funding partner.
  • Reserved time periods have high performance athletes training at high speed and intensity. Slower skiers MUST yield to faster skiers so as not to interfere with or impede this training.
  • November 3, 5, 12, and 13 are scheduled for National Ski Team high performance events during the reserved Frozen Thunder track time. Only users invited or registered to participate in the events will have access to Frozen Thunder on those dates.
  • Non-reserved Frozen Thunder track times: Monday – Sunday from 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
    • Users do not require a bib to ski during this time period.
    • A Canmore Nordic Centre trail pass is required to ski between 12:00 – 5:00 PM.
    • Use of Frozen Thunder after 5:00 PM is free.

COVID-19

  • Users are required to schedule their training time on Frozen Thunder to ensure COVID-19 safe capacity standards are maintained. Anyone on the track outside of their scheduled time will be asked to leave.
  • All users are required to follow the COVID-19 protocols posted on the entrance to the Frozen Thunder track. Users who do not comply with the protocols will be asked to leave.
  • Users must be in good health and free of any COVID-19 symptoms unrelated to pre-existing health conditions (asthma, allergies).
  • Bibs will be sanitized and packaged according to COVID-10 Government protocols.
  • Nordiq Canada and Biathlon Canada offices are closed to the public. For this reason bibs will not be available for purchase onsite nor will users who forget their bib be able to access a temporary one.

BIBS and SCHEDULING TRACK TIME

  • Cost for Bibs during the reserved Track times are:
    • $100 for All Access (4+ days of skiing)
    • $30 for Single Day access
  • All bibs are purchased online through Zone 4 starting October 13, 2020 at 10:00 AM MST. No bibs will be sold in person.
    • There is a $25 bib deposit fee. The deposit will be refunded upon return of the bib. Bib refunds will not be accommodated after Dec 20, 2020.
  • During the bib purchase process, users will select a training times on Frozen Thunder.
    • Scheduled daily time slots are:
      • 07:00 – 8:30 AM
      • 08:30 – 10:30 AM
      • 10:30 -12:00 PM
    • Once a time slot has reached capacity it will not be available for selection.
    • Only one time slot can be booked per day.
  • Bibs must be ordered by Noon the day prior to the pick up date so they can be properly packaged and prepared. Bibs to be picked up Saturday or Sunday must be purchased by Noon on the Friday.
  • Bibs are picked up from and returned outside the Nordiq Canada office located at the Canmore Nordic Centre (100, 1995 Olympic Way).
  • A schedule will be posted at the entrance of the Track listing the bib numbers of users schedule to use the Track at that time. Anyone on the Track with a bib number not on the schedule for that time period will be required to leave.

For more information or assistance contact: