The Ski Club offers both a development and a competitive steam – the development part coming courtesy of the Nancy Greene Program.
“It’s an amazing program,” says Juvenile/Junior Racing Co-ordinator John Trimmer. “We have all professional coaches that work for us in a range of levels and abilities.”
The Nancy Greene Program is for kids five to 10 years old that already have some skiing ability and can load the chairlifts by themselves.
The Nancy Greene Ski League was created in 1968 after the Canadian skier’s World Cup and Winter Olympic victories inspired hundreds of children to learn how to ski. Greene’s philosophy that children’s competition should promote participation and fun, and de-emphasize winning, has stood the test of time across the country, and especially at the Mount Washington’s Ski Club.
“We do understand as a club that not all children are going to be competitive,” says Trimmer.
The program at Mount Washington teaches kids to be safe on the mountain and to be strong skiers anywhere on the mountain, he adds.
The Club’s goal “is to give the kids as good a foundation as we possibly can” so they will enjoy the sport of skiing throughout the years.
Aside from the Nancy Greene program, the Mount Washington Ski Club has juvenile and junior racing programs, from Kinder 1 and 2 through to J-1 and J-2. Racers compete in zone races as well as Provincial races.
Those who are in the J-programs often decide to become FIS carded and compete further afield.
Several of the Club’s ex-racers have come back to coach, and pass on tips of what they’ve learned along the way.
“The Ski Club…is an atmosphere for the whole family,” says Trimmer. “Kids are skiing in the same group the whole year.”
The Club has its own clubhouse, located behind Mountain Tech near the main lodge at Mount Washington. “It’s a nice place to relax, make yourself a snack and mingle with other club members,” says Trimmer.
The camaraderie among Club members and their families is second to none, says Normand Leduc, Past-President of the Club and father of two boys who have gone through both programs.
“It’s an awesome club for promoting skiing and friendship,” says Leduc. His older son David, 22, and Mathieu, 18, have both competed with Mount Washington Ski Club.
“It’s fun for kids while they’re learning a lifetime skill. For parents, it’s a good social club. It’s mostly families. It’s all for the kids.”
Mathieu Leduc started as a child in the Nancy Greene program, and while he is now with the B.C. Ski Team, his father says the Club is ideal for kids of all skill levels. “For a lot of kids, all they need is that focus,” says Normand.
For more information on the Mount Washington Ski Club, go online to www.mountwashington.bcalpine.com. Trimmer also recommends parents go online to www.ltad.ca/content/home.asp and read about developing sporting excellence and well-being.