PSIA Nordic Team
Central Division Rendezvous
Hosted in conjunction with the PSIA National Nordic Team and PSIA Central
Telemark and Cross Country Ski Clinics
January 26-28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
*Open to non PSIA members too!
The PSIA Nordic Team is hosting a 2 day divisional camp for PSIA members and non members.
Telemark team specialist Greg Dixon (Bachelor Mountain, OR), cross country team specialists Emily Lovett (Steamboat, CO) and cross country specialist Greg Rhodes (now in Portland, OR) will host two days of skiing, teaching and clinicing around the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.
Whether you're looking to sharpen your free heel turn or get the most out of your skate or classic nordic ski season, the PSIA Nordic Team has designed a one or two day camp around you. Once you arrive, you'll be able to choose a variety of on snow topics...
- Technique Improvement Clinics
- Teaching Drills and Progressions
- Movement Analysis
- Group Management
- Personal Ski Improvement
Cross Training? Absolutely! If you want to telemark one day and cross country ski the next, you can do it. Or would you rather just cross country ski or telemark only? Absolutely!
Deadline to Register: We Still Have Room, please call 720.963.4836
OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS, ALL DIVISIONS! ATTENDING FROM ANOTHER DIVISION THAN CENTRAL? NO PROBLEM!
NOT AT PSIA MEMBER? NO PROBLEM, YOU'RE INVITED TO ATTEND.
Event Cost:
$89 per day or
$178 for two
*Non PSIA members will be charged an additional $25 processing fee. If you're a non PSIA member, please call Frances Walsh, Manager of Operations and Events for PSIA, at 720.963.4836 to sign-up.
*Please note, trail passes and/or lift tickets are not included. We are trying to work with each area to get the most affordable prices available.
download or print event flyer here
LINK COMING SOON!
More Information...
One, Two or Three Days?
3 days of clinics are the best we offer. Each day includes incredible coaching, individual feedback and a treasure trove of tips, tricks, drills and lessons. But attending all 3 days gives you the most value. You get to ski with more coaches, experience an array of clinic topics, but most importantly, you get to experience the multi-day breakthrough - the moment when you develop more confidence on skis, ownership of the skills and the fun of bonding with the group and coaches.
What Does Each Day Look Like?
Clinics are open to all level skiers who want to become more efficient in both classic, skate or tele techniques. Each day begins with check-in at the designated meet place (more information coming soon in an email after you register). After a short indoor briefing, we quickly move on snow with your clinic leaders. Each day is divided into two on-snow sessions, a morning session and an afternoon session.
The focus for the clinics are usually designed around technique improvement, movement analysis, teaching strategies and/or the most cutting edge, how to, technique tips, drills and strategies.
Participants will be divided into groups based on the clinic you're most interested in.
Cross country clinic participants should be sure to bring both classic and skate skis. Telemark participants should bring your favorite skis and, if available, your carving skis.
Coaches – Who Are They?
The coaching staff is composed of an elite group of XC and Telemark ski professionals who have been selected by the Professional Ski Instructors of America as USA's top instructors in the country. They were selected to represent USA snow sports instruction because of their skiing ability, their high caliber teaching methodologies and their deep technical knowledge of their sport and profession.
Group Sizes?
For all clinics, our goal is to have groups of 6-8 skiers per coach. We feel this allows for optimal learning experiences.
What to Bring to Each Session?
During the on-snow clinics, participants should dress in breathable layers. Temperature ranges in January can be varied with mean average temperatures ranging from 10 – 34 degrees Fahrenheit. However, we’ve also woken up to below zero temps on occasion. Our goal is to keep skiers moving during clinic sessions. There will be some discussion time while coaches present ideas and give feedback. Therefore, you may want to dress in 1 extra layer so that you are comfortable. We suggest that you bring a water bottle/hydration system and an energy bar or gel so that you can keep energy levels consistent.
Snow Conditions and a Special Evening Adventure!
Skiing may be on man-made snow. `The Twin Cities' is an exciting ski community with an enormous variety of trails and terrain for us to choose from. Which means snow conditions could be wildly variable. Bring your skate skis, bring your waxable classic skis and if you have a pair of non-waxable/waxless classic skis, bring those too. We may also do some night skiing.
Agenda and Schedule
Click Here for Detailed Schedule
General Outline:
8:30-9:00 am - Check-in
9:00-11:30 pm - On snow clinics
11:30-1:00 pm - Lunch/break, technique specific presentation about XC or Tele topic
1:00-3:30 pm - On snow clinics
Clinic Topics
Motor Learning, Agility & Skills Model (classic and skate) - The concepts of Motor
Learning are well established in the fields of Kinesiology and teaching human
movement. In this clinic we will explore some of the ways we can use Motor Learning
concepts to help structure our lessons. We will approach this topic through the use of
different on-snow agility tasks and connect these tasks with our Skills Model and Motor
Learning.
Teaching Improvement (classic and skate) - We all love to improve our own
technique, but what about our teaching and coaching? During this clinic, we’ll break
down the key components all great teaching shares. Bring your ideas, drills and
exercises. We’ll examine and explore how we can further our craft!
Uphill Technique (classic and skate) - Cross country skiing is a human powered sport
and does not have the luxury of having chair lifts to get us to the top of each hill. Refining
our technique of skiing uphill will allows us to be more efficient and possibly even look
forward to skiing the uphills. We will address V1 technique while skating and striding and
herringbone while classic skiing. This will be a combination of personal ski improvement
as well as teaching strategies for instructing students on uphill skiing technique.
Skier Improvement w/ & Movement Analysis (classic and skate) - Movement
Analysis is a valuable tool for skill improvement. How do we execute this process with success and build excitement for the learning process? We’ll practice Movement
Analysis with each other in a safe and stimulating environment.
Ski Strength Drills for Technique Development (classic) - Cross country skiing
requires both a lot of endurance as well as strength. We will share a variety of on-snow
drills that focus ski specific strength development as well as help improve technique.
Many times skiers inefficient skiing (less than ideal technique) might be caused by a lack
of ski specific strength. These drills will provide you with tools to improve your own technique and strength as well as give you drills to utilize with your students.
The Fundamentals of Telemark Skiing - This clinic will let you dive into the world of
modern telemark technique. Ski through the fundamental concepts that form the basis of
telemark instruction in the US. This clinic will help you build your own telemark skills as well as give you the knowledge you need to pass on to your telemark students.
Tipped Up Telemark - Tip it and rip it! This clinic will focus on telemark carving
technique. Learn how to utilize ski design to maximize your skiing performance. We’ll cover the movements and the tactics that are necessary to get the most out of your equipment. A high energy clinic that will look to push your skills and excitement!
Telemark Teaching Progressions - Get ready to become an expert educator. Learn a
series of telemark teaching scenarios to help you teach to any student. Progressions will be
focused on skill development that works at multiple ability levels. Use these progressions in your teaching or in your own personal development. Expect to gain a greater understanding of modern telemark skiing and teaching techniques.
PSIA Nordic Team Members:
David Lawrence, current PSIA National Nordic Team coach, 2 term PSIA Nordic Team Cross Country specialist. Owner and contributor to the online video blog XCSkiAcademy.com. Snow sports director at Lookout Pass, Idaho. Author of dozens articles in magazines like Master Skier, 32 Degrees, Trax and Cross Country Skier. PSIA Northwest Cross Country examiner, divisional clinic leader, apline level 3, telemark level 2, XC level 3 and children's specialist level 1. Owner of Pangaea River Rafting, Inc.
Emily Lovett lives in Steamboat Springs Colorado. PSIA-AASI National Nordic Team Cross Country Specialist. Co-director of West Yellowstone Ski Festival Camp and the Steamboat Nordic Camp. Ski school director and women’s program lead at Lake Catamount Touring Center. Head Coach, Steamboat Springs High School Ski Team (2009 – 14). PSIA Rocky Mountain Cross Country education staff, examiner, XC level 3 and rocky mountain trainer. Trip developer and guide, biking/hiking trips in North America and Europe.
Greg Rhodes is a PSIA Nordic Team Cross Country specialist and owner of online based coaching company called Endurance Athlete (www.enduranceathlete.com). He is a PSIA Snowboard, alpine, and telemark instructor for Aspen Ski and Snowboard School, Aspen, Colorado. He holds a PhD in Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology) with research focused on sport performance and metabolic adaptations to endurance training. He is PSIA certified XC level 3, snowboarding level 3, and children’s specialist level 2
Greg Dixon, is the PSIA National Nordic Team telemark specialist. He resides in Bend Oregon, working at Mt Bachelor as a 19 year ski instructor, training manager and adults program manager for the last 5 years. Greg is PSIA certified level 3 telemark & alpine, level 1 cross country, snowboard, freestyle and a children’s specialist level 2. Greg is also a professional mountain bike guide & instructor at Cogwild in Bend Oregon, holding a PMBIA certification. He also is a SUP instructor, AMGA certified technical rock climbing guide and instructor.
Grant Bishop, a Jackson Hole native, grew up with the Jackson Hole Air Force family led by Benny Wilson. Grant is a polyglot speaking German, Spanish, and Italian. He’s the current PSIA National Team member for Telemark, a PSIA Intermountain Nordic Educational Manager, PSIA Intermountain Telemark Examiner, certified Telemark 3, Alpine 3, Children's Specialist 2, Freestyle 1 and AAI Avalanche 2. At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, he is an Alpine trainer, Telemark trainer, multi discipline instructor and Steep Camp coach. He has written articles in 32 degrees mag and been featured in Soul Slide Magazine (Japan).