Cross-Country Ski Lessons

for Beginner, Novice, and Intermediate Skiers: Ages 14 and Older.

Are you interested in learning how to cross-country ski? The MTU Nordic Ski Club offers reasonably priced lessons in both skating and classic techniques at the beginner, novice, and intermediate levels. Our instructors have skied and raced with strong high school programs and several instructors were junior national or collegiate racers.

Our Fourth Year of Instruction.

Most recent update: February 4, 2008.

GENERAL INFORMATION

All lessons are one hour long and have a minimum of three skiers and a maximum of five skiers. Don't bring along a friend at the last minute without the instructor's prior approval. Unless otherwise stated all lessons are at Michigan Tech Trails. You must have a ski pass to ski at Tech Trails. Meet at the wax building, athlete's entrance. If we don't have three skiers in the class we will move lessons back one week and attempt to fill the class. If the class does not fill, you (whether it is one or two skiers) may also take the class as private instruction which is $25/one-hour lesson (two people = $12.50 each).

To register for a lesson, contact the instructor directly. The easiest contact method for each instructor is listed first.

Lessons are scheduled with one week between lessons. We hope participants will ski at least once between lessons. Lessons are taught in sequence so you should plan on attending all lessons.

Checks should be made out to the "MTU Nordic Ski Club".

Instructors can also give private lessons at $25/hour. Contact instructors directly for private lessons.

When one lesson fills we add a new lesson of the same type.

LESSON SCHEDULE

Beginner Skate. (3 lessons, $22) These lessons are intended for people with little to no background in Nordic skiing. Skills covered: falling and getting up, skiing without poles, gradual uphills and downhills, V1 (the basic skating technique), balance and weight transfer.

Non currently planned that are not already underway.

Beginner Classic (3 lessons, $22) These lessons are intended for people with little to no background in Nordic skiing. Skills covered: falling and getting up, skiing without poles, gradual uphills and downhills, the basic striding technique, balance and weight transfer.

Instructor: Gabrielle Trudeau, gjtrudea@mtu.edu (906) 458-2861, Saturdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Feb 2, 9, and 16.

Instructor: John Lyrenmann, jplyrenm@mtu.edu, (763) 228-5647 Monday 5-6 p.m. Jan 28, Feb 4, and Feb 11.

Novice Skate (3 lessons, $22) These lessons are for people who are fairly comfortable with classic skiing but would now like to learn to skate. Skiing without poles, balance and weight transfer, V1 (the basic skating technique), body position on uphills.

This lesson is now full, contact another instructor. Instructor: Dana Volk, djvolk@mtu.edu, (612) 718-8747. Wednesdays, 6 to 7 p.m. Jan 23, Jan 30, and Feb 6.

Instructor: Ben Beard, bmbeard@mtu.edu or ben.m.beard@mtu.edu, (906) 281-1598. Mondays, 5 to 6 p.m. Jan 21, Jan 28, and Feb 4.

Instructor: Lindsey Spaude, lkspaude@mtu.edu, (763) 498-1170, Mondays, 5 to 6 p.m. Feb. 11, 18, and 25 .

Instructor: Dana Volk, djvolk@mtu.edu, (612) 718-8747. Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Feb 12, 19, and 26.

Novice Classic (2 lessons, $15) Focus is on improving uphill and downhill technique, especially on steeper and longer hills. Double-pole and double-pole with kick is also covered.

Instructor: Kelsey Gossen, krgossen@mtu.edu, Saturday 3:30-4:30, January 26 and Feb. 2.

Intermediate Classic - (3 lessons, $22) These lessons are for people who want to improve speed and power. Instruction will vary with current ability of skiers but we presume skiers will be interested in specific instruction in weight transfer, uphill technique, downhill tuck, fine-tuning body position, improved double pole and transitions between techniques. If you can do these things correctly already you are beyond the intermediate stage.

Instructor: Sarah Stehn, sestehn@mtu.edu, (906) 370-7327, Sunday 4 to 5 p.m., Jan 20, 27 and Feb 3.

Intermediate Skate - (3 lessons, $22) These lessons are for people who want to improve speed and power. Instruction will vary with current ability of skiers but we presume skiers will be interested in specific instruction in weight transfer, uphill technique (happy feet light up the hill), downhill tuck, fine-tuning body position, V2 and transitions between techniques. If you can do these things correctly already you are beyond the intermediate stage.

This lesson is now full, contact another instructor. Instructor: Justin Oberg jboberg@mtu.edu, (612) 812-0633, Wednesdays, 6 to 7 p.m. Jan 23, Jan 30, and Feb 6.

Instructor: John Lyrenmann, jplyrenm@mtu.edu, (763) 228-5647 Wednesdays 5-6 p.m. Jan 30, Feb 6, and Feb 13.

Instructor: Ben Beard, bmbeard@mtu.edu or ben.m.beard@mtu.edu, (906) 281-1598. Mondays, 5 to 6 p.m. Feb 11, 18, and 25.

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General questions can be directed to Blair Orr - MTU Nordic Ski Club Advisor, bdorr@mtu.edu, 487-2291.