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Racing Development Program

Level 6, 7 and 8 is Highlands Trailblazers competitive ski team. These athletes are focused on continuing to build their ski skills and their endurance through a seven or eleven month training program.

***** A U18 athlete must be an active member of an HTB program in order to list HTB as the home club when registering for any races, camps, etc. *****

Level 6 (Ages 11-18)

Program Details

This competitive group was developed for athletes interested in training, attending local races including the Ontario Youth Championships (13 years old and younger) and up to two O’Cup races. 

The athletes are continuing to develop training and racing technique, physical strength, balance and flexibility to support their technique and educational sport components such as self-responsibility, nutrition, equipment maintenance (waxing) and goal setting. Throughout the season, athletes will participate in games which enhance various attributes needed to ski well, specific dryland and on-snow drills and activities, low key competitions of various kinds and lots of skiing! The object is to learn while having fun.

Skills focused on in Level 6:

  • Activities and drills to develop agility, posture, balance, rhythm, kick, body awareness, skills, endurance, fun. 
  • Learn to set personal goals, set race strategy and tactics. 
  • Desire to train 7 months a year and train/be active outside team training time based upon a generic plan as set by the coach. 

Completion of Ski Skills Development Level 5 is required.

Our basic belief is T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More). We start and finish our practices together, so everyone needs to be ready to be active when practice starts.

Schedule

  • Early season (dryland): Sat 9:59 am To 12pm starts September 10 / ends: October 22.
  • Later season (dryland and on-snow): Sat & Sun 9:59 am to 12pm starts October 29; on-snow practices start when snow permits, usually the first weekend of December until the first weekend of March Break.
  • January until the end of the season – Sat & Sun 9:59 am to 12pm and Wed 430 pm to 
  • There will be a one-day holiday camp during Christmas break (Date TBD)
  • Program will not run December 24/25

Athlete Program & Equipment Requirements

  • Roller ski poles
  • Striding/dryland ski poles to be purchased. Typically 5-10 cm shorter than classic poles.
  • Helmet, reflective clothing, gloves
  • Wrist watch with stopwatch/timer functions
  • Water bottle and carrier
  • Access to appropriate skate and Classic skis (owned or leased)
  • Access to early season rock skis (Crown & Skate)
  • Skate and classic poles (length suggested by coach)
  • Combi boots
  • Blue non fluoro glide wax
  • Athlete Season Goals

Fees (Please review Athlete Equipment Requirements)

$800.00 - Can be paid in two installments of $412.50 at registration and $412.50 on December 1
 

Not included in program fee

  • Season Pass from Highlands Nordic
  • Training Camps
  • Travel and accommodation to events
  • Race entry fees
  • Race license (Discuss with coach)
  • Coaching & Waxing fees for larger events for cost recovery

Race Performance Objectives

  • Introduce the qualities (technical, physical, mental) that lead to sustainable performance and consistent improvement. These are measurable.
  • Introduce reflection on performance-training/recovery, racing, etc.
  • Bi-weekly, low key, appropriate length time trials or similar activities.
  • Selected paraffin races

Note: Children at this level should be involved in other activities as well as skiing so they can develop as competent athletes. By the end of Level 6, they should be physically literate (possess both fundamental movement skills and fundamental sport skills). See Canadian Sport for Life/Long Term Athlete Development for details and reference material. 

Level 7 (Ages 13-18)

Level 7 is intended for athletes with a desire to train 11 months a year on a yearly training plan set in consultation with the lead coach. Athletes will be required to attend 3 of the monthly training camps from May to August.  They will be required to ski two O’Cup races and have a desire to ski regionals and Easterns. 

Eligibility

Recommendation from the Level 6 Lead Coach

Schedule

Level 7 is a year-round program which runs from May 1 to March 31. The training season (May to November) focuses on fundamental physical conditioning, team building, and mental skills. Sport specificity will increase as the year progresses. Athlete development is focused on a path towards provincial level competition and higher.

The focus of summer training will take the form of training camps with the team and coaches. Daily/weekly training will be pursued by athletes themselves following their Yearly Training Plan, in consultation with the Lead Coach.

 

Eligibility

Travel

  • Regular practices + Weekend Camps will take place at Highlands Nordic, or within a ~45 minute radius
  • Potentially 2 ‘Away’ Training Camps during the training season
  • Priority races: Ontario Cup Nordic racing circuit 
  • Other races depending upon scheduling and athlete commitment level:
  • Local/Regional races
  • National Championships 

Dryland Equipment Requirements

  • Skate rollerskis (Classic recommended but not required)
  • Skate and Classic rollerski poles with rollerski tips
  • Helmet
  • Skate and Classic rollerski boots
  • Reflective vest or bright colored tops for roadside training
  • Drink Belt
  • Stopwatch
  • Ski walking/striding poles (classic length or 5cm shorter)
  • Trail Running shoes
  • Mountain bike
  • Heart Rate Monitor with chest strap (optional but recommended for athlete development)
  • Wrist based monitors are not accurate enough for our purposes

Winter Equipment Requirements

  • HTB Warm up Jacket and Race Suit
  • >/= 1 pair of skate race skis*
  • 1 pair of Skate training skis
  • 1 pair of skate or classic rock skis
  • >/= 1 pair of Classic race skis*
  • 1 pair of Classic training skis
  • Skate length poles (upper lip height)
  • Classic length poles (shoulder height)
  • Skate boots
  • Classic boots
  • Drink belt for fluids, snacks, and grip wax
  • Heartrate Monitor with stopwatch 
  • Basic wax kit (including a scraper, groove scraper, and nylon brush for glide + a cork and training waxes (3+ hard waxes covering 0 to -15 degrees C) for grip)

* Head Coach can help with guidance in building a race ski fleet when necessary

Fees

$1400 - Single payment at registration OR 2 instalments of $712.50 each (one at registration and one December 1st) OR 11 instalments of $130/month 

Not included in program fee 

  • Season Pass from Highlands Nordic
  • Training Camps
  • Travel and accommodation to events
  • Race entry fees
  • Race license (Discuss with coach)
  • Coaching & Waxing fees for larger events for cost recovery

 

*Program will not run December 24/25

Level 8 (Ages 13-18)

Level 8 is an extension of level 7. The main difference is level 8 athletes have a desire to excel at Nationals.

Athletes in the level 8 program will:

  • Attend 4 summer training camps and any fall and on snow camps provided
  • Maintain a training log/journal, either virtual or hard copy
  • Have age-appropriate level of specialization either Cross Country skiing or Biathlon
  • Communicate with the Lead Coach (this is the athlete’s responsibility)
  • Have more direct involvement with the Lead Coach than those in Level 7
  • Have appropriate level of technical support at Nationals as well as other races

Training, team rules and equipment requirements are the same as level 7. 

Fees

$1900 - Single payment at registration OR 2 instalments of $962.50 each (one at registration and one December 1st) OR 11 instalments of $175/month

Not included in program fee

  • Season Pass from Highlands Nordic
  • Training Camps
  • Travel and accommodation to events
  • Race entry fees
  • Race license (Discuss with coach)
  • Coaching & Waxing fees for larger events for cost recovery 

*Program will not run December 24/25