I'm extremely sorry to report that this week was cancelled due to the Snow Day and bus cancellations of the Barrie School System.
We are looking forward to next week!
Friday, 26 February 2016
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Week 5 of After School
Congratulations to everyone! You guys were all fantastic today and the improvement between today and the first session was so evident. Everyone was skating really well today - we even went and tackled some difficult downhills that the kids took to with ease. Everyone seemed a lot happier and more comfortable on their skis as well.
The snow was great today because it was all fluffy which made falling a lot easier. It's always easier to work on downhills when you aren't afraid to fall.
Next week we will continue to explore some more new trails. Every week we have gone out we have skied a slightly different area, allowing the kids to explore and try different terrain.
We are really looking forward to seeing everyone out next week and seeing all the amazing improvement continue!!!!
Happy skiing!!
The snow was great today because it was all fluffy which made falling a lot easier. It's always easier to work on downhills when you aren't afraid to fall.
Next week we will continue to explore some more new trails. Every week we have gone out we have skied a slightly different area, allowing the kids to explore and try different terrain.
We are really looking forward to seeing everyone out next week and seeing all the amazing improvement continue!!!!
Happy skiing!!
Wednesday, 10 February 2016
Week 4 of Ski after School
Another week, another great ski!
Hi all :)
Today definitely made up for last weeks unfortunate lack of snow. The skiers were all great! The day started off with some fun downhill work, a few kids were even adventurous enough to try going down backwards. Not the best idea for skiing, but definitely fun! To finish off the downhill fun we had a competition for who could do the best wipe out. It was nice to see how quickly and easily everyone was able to get back on their feet - a significant improvement since the first week.
We were able to try a few jumps and fun downhills with turns before going off onto the real adventure. Starting off on a nice ski we went through the hardwood trails further than we've gone yet and mastering extremely hard uphills. I have to say, I was extremely impressed with the way everyone handled the uphills. While doubt was obvious on their faces when they stood at the bottom of the hills, not one person had any issue getting up in the end.
We thought for a fun adventure today we would turn onto some single track. The single track course is much more narrow and twisty turney - forcing skiers to stay focused and agile on their skis. Everyone did a remarkable job cornering and avoiding all the trees!
We are looking forward to more fun next week! It's so great to see all the improvement that has happened so far and I can't wait to see how everyone progresses further.
Here are some pictures from last weeks rock climbing adventures:
Hi all :)
Today definitely made up for last weeks unfortunate lack of snow. The skiers were all great! The day started off with some fun downhill work, a few kids were even adventurous enough to try going down backwards. Not the best idea for skiing, but definitely fun! To finish off the downhill fun we had a competition for who could do the best wipe out. It was nice to see how quickly and easily everyone was able to get back on their feet - a significant improvement since the first week.
We were able to try a few jumps and fun downhills with turns before going off onto the real adventure. Starting off on a nice ski we went through the hardwood trails further than we've gone yet and mastering extremely hard uphills. I have to say, I was extremely impressed with the way everyone handled the uphills. While doubt was obvious on their faces when they stood at the bottom of the hills, not one person had any issue getting up in the end.
We thought for a fun adventure today we would turn onto some single track. The single track course is much more narrow and twisty turney - forcing skiers to stay focused and agile on their skis. Everyone did a remarkable job cornering and avoiding all the trees!
We are looking forward to more fun next week! It's so great to see all the improvement that has happened so far and I can't wait to see how everyone progresses further.
Here are some pictures from last weeks rock climbing adventures:
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
Week 3 of Ski After School
Hello athletes and parents!
WOW. So this week was definitely unexpected and challenging, but I would like to say a huge thank you to all the skiers and parents who were so accommodating and flexible to allow everything to change so last minute.
It was extremely unfortunate hearing that Hardwood was closed, but we tried to make do and keep the session fun for the day. It seemed to me that everyone was enjoying the rock climbing though. We might have had a few sore hands and arms by the end of the session, but everyone definitely gained some good muscle!!
A fantastic thing about skiing, is that even the top level athletes in the World Cup races cross train. Many mountain bike, many run, and many do other things. For example, Len Valjas is a Team Hardwood alumni who raced for Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and he spends an entire month in the spring surfing in Hawaii. Cross training is important in the development of skiers. But what is even more important, is that our skiers are having fun, enjoying themselves and staying active - which is hopefully what we were able to accomplish today.
A few of our skiers even had a chance to try out "Ski - Ergs" today. These are stationary double poll machines that our racers use to practice and race each other on in the summer.
One thing that I might suggest of parents is that (if they pack their child's lunch) they send a couple extra snacks that can be eaten either before or after ski practice. And if you don't pack your child's lunch and they pack it themselves, maybe remind them to bring an extra snack or two. We are finding that by the end of each session we have a few rumbling bellies after all the hard work they're putting in.
We are really looking forward to having plenty of snow next week!! Everyone please do your snow dances and we should be on snow whipping around the trails again in no time.
Below are some ski pictures from last weeks session :)
WOW. So this week was definitely unexpected and challenging, but I would like to say a huge thank you to all the skiers and parents who were so accommodating and flexible to allow everything to change so last minute.
It was extremely unfortunate hearing that Hardwood was closed, but we tried to make do and keep the session fun for the day. It seemed to me that everyone was enjoying the rock climbing though. We might have had a few sore hands and arms by the end of the session, but everyone definitely gained some good muscle!!
A fantastic thing about skiing, is that even the top level athletes in the World Cup races cross train. Many mountain bike, many run, and many do other things. For example, Len Valjas is a Team Hardwood alumni who raced for Canada at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and he spends an entire month in the spring surfing in Hawaii. Cross training is important in the development of skiers. But what is even more important, is that our skiers are having fun, enjoying themselves and staying active - which is hopefully what we were able to accomplish today.
A few of our skiers even had a chance to try out "Ski - Ergs" today. These are stationary double poll machines that our racers use to practice and race each other on in the summer.
One thing that I might suggest of parents is that (if they pack their child's lunch) they send a couple extra snacks that can be eaten either before or after ski practice. And if you don't pack your child's lunch and they pack it themselves, maybe remind them to bring an extra snack or two. We are finding that by the end of each session we have a few rumbling bellies after all the hard work they're putting in.
We are really looking forward to having plenty of snow next week!! Everyone please do your snow dances and we should be on snow whipping around the trails again in no time.
Below are some ski pictures from last weeks session :)
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
Week 2 of Ski After School
Hello parents and skiers!
Today marks our second week of Team Hardwood's Ski After School program and I have to say it has been a great success so far. Everyone showed tremendous improvement between our first Wednesday and this Wednesday.
Today, we were able to get all the skiers suited up in skis and boots much quicker than last week. This allowed us to play a fun game of rubber chicken (like Ultimate; except with a rubber chicken and on skis) before heading out onto the trails for a real ski. The ski was great; we broke into three different groups each led by Ron, Heather and Madi. The smaller groups were nice for the ski because it allowed the coaches to give more specific and individualized feedback to each of the skiers.
After our group ski we all congregated in the "teaching flats" and spent a considerable amount of time working on and improving our double poling. Double poling is a fundamental and necessary skill that all skiers must learn before they can progress to more complex technique lessons. That is because double poling by itself is used in classic skiing and it is the rudimentary movement that skiers do with their upper bodies when skate skiing.
The practice today was wrapped up by a fun relay race allowing skiers to show off the skills they had learnt at speed! We can't wait until next week when everyone comes back to learn and improve more.
For those parents who were wondering, Ron starts the pickup in the Team Hardwood van at 3pm at Steele Street and then continues on to St. Monica's, Johnson and then W.R. Best before arriving at Hardwood around 3:45pm.
Below are some pictures that were taken last week (week 1) - More pictures will follow next week!
Today marks our second week of Team Hardwood's Ski After School program and I have to say it has been a great success so far. Everyone showed tremendous improvement between our first Wednesday and this Wednesday.
Today, we were able to get all the skiers suited up in skis and boots much quicker than last week. This allowed us to play a fun game of rubber chicken (like Ultimate; except with a rubber chicken and on skis) before heading out onto the trails for a real ski. The ski was great; we broke into three different groups each led by Ron, Heather and Madi. The smaller groups were nice for the ski because it allowed the coaches to give more specific and individualized feedback to each of the skiers.
After our group ski we all congregated in the "teaching flats" and spent a considerable amount of time working on and improving our double poling. Double poling is a fundamental and necessary skill that all skiers must learn before they can progress to more complex technique lessons. That is because double poling by itself is used in classic skiing and it is the rudimentary movement that skiers do with their upper bodies when skate skiing.
The practice today was wrapped up by a fun relay race allowing skiers to show off the skills they had learnt at speed! We can't wait until next week when everyone comes back to learn and improve more.
For those parents who were wondering, Ron starts the pickup in the Team Hardwood van at 3pm at Steele Street and then continues on to St. Monica's, Johnson and then W.R. Best before arriving at Hardwood around 3:45pm.
Below are some pictures that were taken last week (week 1) - More pictures will follow next week!
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