Welcome to the Team Hardwood Membership and Program Registration

As of September 25 all of our programs are now full. We have created a waiting list for the Junior program and the Provincial program. You can join the waiting list by going to the individual registration page and checking the box for either the Junior Team waiting list or the Provincial Team waiting list. There is no waiting list for the National program.

Skiers registering on the waiting list will be contacted and each skier will be considered on a case by case basis. When you register please select that you will pay by cheque/e-transfer. You will not be charged until accepted on the team. As well, please send an email to teamhardwood@gmail.com to provide us with your contact information.

This process is to register athletes into our programs as well as to register other key participants (e.g. coaches, wax techs, board members) who contribute to our club and are required to be paid registered members of Southern Ontario District(SOD)/,Cross Country Ski Ontario(XCSO)/Nordiq Canada.

Safe Sport

On July 1, 2023 XCSO adopted the Nordiq Canada Pan Canadian SafeSport Policy Suite for the 2023-2024 membership year. Adopting these policies is a condition of membership to XCSO and Nordiq Canada. While Team Hardwood and XCSO have had many of these policies in force for several years, it is a condition of membership that Team Hardwood is in compliance with the Nordiq Canada policy by November 1, 2023.

As a part of this compliance Team Hardwood is requiring that all athletes enrolled in the National and Provincial programs take the Canadian Coaching Association (CAC) Safe Sport Training Module and the Understanding the Rule of Two eLearning module. The modules will take approximately two hours to complete and you will learn a lot about how to keep everyone safe in our programs. Please complete these modules by 22 September 2023. Any athletes who has not completed the modules by that point, will not be permitted to attend team training sessions.

Here is the link:

https://clubsafesport.nordiqcanada.ca/training/

Jeff Verheyen is the Safe Sport Monitor for Team Hardwood. Once you have completed both modules please email confirmation (ccing your parents) of completion to Jeff at jefv@rogers.com .

Please proceed to select the appropriate registration category for each person you are registering.

2023-24

Sr. National Program

Program for post-secondary athletes, who are committed to racing, and training year-round with the ultimate goal of performing at their personal best at the Canadian National Championships.

Program starts September 2nd, 2023 with training days Monday/Tuesday/ Thursday/Saturday/Sunday in the fall and winter.

These athletes will attend World Jr/U23 Trial races, Eastern Cups, OCups, OUACs, and Nationals, as well as select other races as determined by the coach.

Program overview

September to 1st snow – winter program starts Sept. 2nd, 2023 with training Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday. Monday will be strength sessions held on Zoom.

1st snow through December -start training on snow Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday & early season races, Monday will be Zoom strength sessions – Canada Cup and December OCup/Eastern Cup and local races.

January / February – local races, OCups, World Jr/U23 Trial races and Canadian Eastern Cups, and OUACs

March/April – Nationals at Nakkertok, OCups, local races

Program cost – $1875 + HST + SOD, CCO, CCC fee of $23. Discounted winter trail pass (Super Early Bird pricing) for Hardwood Ski and Bike. Skiers aged 13-19 is $376 + HST. Skiers 20 and over is $440 + HST. Skiers aged 6-12 is $120 + HST. This pass will be available for purchase through a Hardwood Ski and Bike portal. The discounted winter trail pass also extends to parents and siblings of program skiers. Program skiers receive a 20% discount on race entries to Hardwood Ski and Bike organized races. Skiers and immediate family members also receive a 15% discount on regularly priced items in the retail and service department.

Those athletes wishing to develop coaching skills will be given the opportunity to assist the head coach with coaching and mentoring younger Team Hardwood athletes. Interested athletes may also get support for coaching certification.

Program fees include all waxing fees. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the wax trailer during the season.

Athletes will also incur all costs associated with travel and racing licence and race fees in addition to program fees.

Graduate Non-Resident Program

The program is for post-secondary skiers who have moved away from the area to go to school or work and would still like to be a part of Team Hardwood. These skiers would train with the team when they are at home, be coached by the coaching staff and receive race support when they attend races where the team is racing.

The fee for this program would be based on how often the skier is with the team for training, how much coaching they receive and how many races that they attend, and will be negotiated on an individual basis.

Those athletes wishing to develop coaching skills will be given the opportunity to assist the head coach with coaching and mentoring younger Team Hardwood athletes. Interested athletes may also get support for coaching certification.

Online registration (program plus trail pass) at zone4.ca will be open late August.

Athletes will also incur all costs associated with travel and racing license and race fees in addition to program fees.

National Program

Team Hardwood National Program forms the foundation of the Team Hardwood racing team and is geared for athletes in grade 9 and up, (Grade 8 upon coach’s assessment) who are committed to year round training for xc skiing with the ultimate goal of performing at their personal best at the Canadian National Championships.

Our goal is to help athletes improve their technique and racing skills and we aim to expose skiers to as many racing opportunities as possible in a year- round program that builds skills, endurance and familiarity with what it takes to be a full-time skier. Athletes benefit from training with a group of peers who motivate and support each other.

Program overview

September to 1st snow – winter program starts Sept. 2nd, 2023 with training Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday. Monday sessions will be strength sessions held on Zoom

1st snow through December -start training on snow Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday & early season races. Monday will be Zoom strength sessions – Canada Cup and December OCup and local races.

January / February – local races, OCups, World Jr/U23 Trial races and Canadian Eastern Championships.

March/April – Nationals at Nakkertok, OCups, local races

Program cost: $1875 + HST + SOD, CCO, CCC fee of $23 (for those not in summer program). Discounted winter trail pass (Super Early Bird pricing) for Hardwood Ski and Bike. Skiers aged 13-19 is $376 + HST. Skiers 20 and over is $440 + HST. Skiers aged 6-12 is $120 + HST. This pass will be available for purchase through a Hardwood Ski and Bike portal. Discounted winter trail pass also extends to parents and siblings of program skiers. Skiers receive a 20% discount on race entries to Hardwood Ski and Bike organized races. Skiers and immediate family members receive a 15% discount on regularly priced items in the retail and service department.

Program fees include all waxing fees. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the wax trailer during the season.

Athletes will also incur all costs associated with travel and racing licence and race fees in addition to program fees.

Provincial Program

The Provincial program is focused on athletes in Grade 8 and high school who want to train for cross country skiing in a structured, competition-oriented group but who are not ready/available to commit to training for xc skiing full time. The racing focus for this program is on local Ontario Cup and SOD Paraffin Cup and other local loppet and high school races. The training and technique instruction is designed to push athletes to achieve at a higher level of fitness and competency. The full value of the program is derived from the consistent day to day relationship the skier develops with their coach and teammates.

Coaches will provide solid, consistent training and racing opportunities for motivated athletes while simultaneously fostering a lifelong love for an active, outdoor lifestyle. The Provincial program will start on September 9th, 2023 for skiers not in the Summer program or September 2nd for those who were in the Summer Program and will run until the second week of March. Training sessions will be available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday and Sundays; Monday will be a strength session on Zoom and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday will be group training sessions. Due to the lower level of commitment that the National Program, Provincial Program Athletes will attend 3 sessions (of their choosing) per week.

There are a number of travel opportunities for provincial program athletes who are interested in racing the Ontario Cup level races, as well as attending local & regional races. Participation at Nationals is not included in this program. Athletes in the provincial program who request to participate at Nationals will be assessed by the coach and will pay an extra coaching fee (TBD) and trip costs for this event.

Program Overview

September to 1st snow – winter program starts Sept. 9th, 2023 (September 2nd for those who were in the Summer Program) with training Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday. Monday sessions will be strength sessions held on Zoom.

1st snow through December -start training on snow Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday as in the fall & early season races – December OCup and local races. Mondays will be Zoom strength sessions

January / February – local races, OCups and Eastern Cups, high school races

March – local races and OCups

Program fee: $1264 + HST + SOD, CCO, CCC fee of $23. Fall trail pass (for those not in summer program), 20% discounted winter trail pass (Super Early Bird pricing) for Hardwood Ski and Bike. This pass will be available for purchase through a Hardwood Ski and Bike portal. Skiers aged 13-19 is $376 + HST. Skiers 20 and over is $440 + HST. Skiers aged 6-12 is $120 + HST. Discounted winter trail pass also extends to parents and siblings of program skiers. Program skiers receive a 20% discount on race entries to Hardwood Ski and Bike organized races. Skiers and immediate family members receive a 15% discount on regularly priced items in the retail and service department.

Program fees include all waxing fees. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the wax trailer during the season.

Athletes will also incur all costs associated with travel and racing licence and race fees in addition to program fees.

Junior Program

The Junior program is designed to motivate skiers in Grades 5 through 8 (and younger athletes upon coach’s assessment) who consider Nordic skiing their favorite winter sport. Skiers will further develop skate and classic technique through coordination and agility drills, demonstrations and trail skiing adventures. Program content is age appropriate and FUN! The program will be led by Jason and Sarah Vurma with support from Head Coach Jack Sasseville, Bronwen Lash & volunteers.

Program Overview

Sept to 1st Snow - Program starts on Saturday, September 23th for all new and returning athletes.

Two training days in the fall (Tuesdays - at Hardwood until the time change, then zoom strength until the snow arrives & Saturday mornings)

1st Snow to Ontario Youth Championships - Three training days, Tuesday evening, Saturday & Sunday mornings.

Athletes will attend local and regional races like the SOD paraffin series and loppets.

Race trip to one OCup race and to the Ontario Youth Championships.

Program cost: $899 + HST + SOD, CCO, NC fee of $23. Discounted winter trail pass (Super Early Bird pricing) for Hardwood Ski and Bike. This pass will be available for purchase through a Hardwood Ski and Bike portal. Skiers aged 13-19 is $376 + HST. Skiers 20 and over is $440 + HST. Skiers aged 6-12 is $120 + HST. This discounted winter trail pass also extends to parents and siblings of program skiers. Program skiers receive a 20% discount on race entries to Hardwood Ski and Bike organized races. Skiers and immediate family members receive a 15% discount on regularly priced items in the retail and service department.

Online registration at zone4.ca will open in late August (2 separate registrations for program & trail pass) under registration page search for Team Hardwood

Program fees include all waxing fees. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the wax trailer during the season.

Athletes will also incur all costs associated with travel and race fees in addition to program fees.

The Coaches

Jack Sasseville - Head Coach

Jack is the Founding Head Coach of Team Hardwood in 1995 and coached the team until he took over the management of Hardwood Ski and Bike in 2008. Jack is an NCCP Level V coach who has been coaching for 48 years, including 13 years and 4 Olympics with the National Ski Team. He is a former Alberta and Ontario Coach of the Year. He has coached national and international champions of all ages. His skiers have won over 300 medals at Canadian Championships.

Sarah and Jason Vurma

Sarah has over 15 years of experience in coaching Young Adults and Children in Nordic Skiing and is a long-time High School Nordic Ski Coach. Both Sarah and Jason have completed the NCCP Community Coaching for Cross Country Skiing and Learn to Train Course as well as holding coaching certificates in Mountain Bike. Both Sarah and Jason have raced in Triathlons, Cross Country Skiing, and Mountain Biking for 20 years.

Junior Team Assistant Coach - Brownen Lash

Bronwen Lash originally raced for the Nova Scotia provincial team in numerous provincial and national level events and later Laurentian University. Bronwen has coached school teams and at club level for over 20 years, achieving NCCP level 3 coaching certification.

Coaches - Declan Barber

Declan is a Team Hardwood graduate with over 10 years of racing experience as a junior and senior skier. His role is to help Jack to coach the Performance and Development programs while providing a positive example on how to train and to ski with good technique.

Parent Volunteers

Team Hardwood depends on parent volunteers to keep the program running smoothly. In order for athletes to get the most out of the coaches’ expertise in coaching, we expect parents to share responsibility for fundraising, trip planning, waxing and other functions as needed.

Trip Planning - Typically, a different parent (or group of parents) undertakes planning for each major race trip (O’ Cups, Canadian Eastern Champs, Nationals, Youth Ontario Championships). This usually involves securing accommodation, coordinating transportation and arranging one or more team meals. For families new to Team Hardwood, there are lots of experienced parent volunteers to provide guidance on expectations.

Waxing - assistance with waxing, especially for races where TH has a large number of athletes. This is an opportunity for those who want to learn more about waxing to get guidance from more experienced parent volunteers

Fundraising - TH participates in a number of fundraising events throughout the year. We always need parent volunteers to help make this successful.

The Junior Devo program led by Sarah and Jason Vurma, will require coaching and leadership support from parent volunteers. These volunteers will be expected to manage small groups of skiers or individual skiers who need one-on-one assistance, leaving Sarah and Jason to coach the larger group. These parent volunteers will benefit by receiving training from Jack, Sarah and Jason on proper training, technique, teaching and coaching skills in early season training sessions.