Is Masters for Me?
Are you a mature skier (18+)? Do you want to glide farther, go faster, and gain confidence on both classic and skate skis? Do you want to ski with others in a fun social atmosphere? The Telemark Masters program is for skiers of all ages and abilities looking for an inspiring ski experience.
This year we are changing things up a bit. There will no longer be a split between Master Blasters and Smooth Cruisers. Instead everyone will be a Smooth Cruiser with two options for number of sessions. Groups will be split at each session depending upon ability and the ski technique used at that session. The Telemark Masters Program is focused on learning technique with a fitness component in a fun, social environment. Our goal is to ski longer and more efficiently while having a blast on snow! Registration is through our Season Pass Registration page on Zone 4
2020-2021 Season
This year sessions will be on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings and we will be starting sessions in December (weather permitting) and continuing through to March.
Benefits:
- Improve your skate and classic skiing technique
- Develop strength and endurance on skis
- Ski with others in a fun atmosphere at your speed
- Learn to ski more efficiently (go faster with less work! Keep up with your kids!)
- Two streams of the Master’s program (see below)
- Intro to waxing & ski maintenance
- Fun local loppets (races)
Telemark XC Masters Program Prices 2020-2021 Season
Smooth Cruisers – Light – $210 – 7 x 2hr sessions on Saturdays 10:00 – 12:00 Dec to March with the flexibility to join Tuesday evening sessions. This program is for the skier who wants to ski smoother, faster and farther but does not have the time to commit to the full program. Expect beautiful skis with lots of technique work in both Classic and Skate skiing. We encourage everyone to do both techniques but if you are interested only in skate skiing please contact us and we will work to accommodate you. Our goal is to improve your confidence and fitness and have some fun. Some ski experience is required. Please contact us with any questions – all fitness levels and abilities are welcome.
Smooth Cruisers – Full – $420 – 14 sessions – Saturdays 10:00 – 12:00 and Tuesday 6:00 – 7:30 from Dec to March. (7 sessions Classic + 7 sessions Skate). This program targets the keen skier who wants to ski smoother, faster, and farther in a fun and social atmosphere and has more time for more sessions. Expect beautiful skis while working on technique in both classic and skate. There will be some longer skis for those who want to build their fitness. Our goal is to improve your confidence and fitness and have some fun. Some ski experience is required. Please contact us with any questions – all fitness levels and abilities are welcome.
* We will be combining the Smooth Cruisers-light and Smooth Cruisers-Full in some sessions where appropriate to increase exposure to different coaches, allow for differing abilities and to increase the social aspects of the program.
Coaches – Coaches are being confirmed for 2020-21 so there may be some changes.
Aengus McCullough discovered the delights of cross country skiing when he moved to Alberta from the UK in 2011. After floundering in the snow for his first winter season he realized that skiing was not as effortless as it looked and decided to join Edmonton Nordic to develop his technique. Aengus progressed through Edmonton Nordic’s adult skiing program through to their Master’s program after which he went on to take CANSI instructor courses so he could help others on their skiing journey.Before he discovered skiing, Aengus was a keen mountain runner who competed in British Fell Running events for several years as well as the occasional ultra-marathon, including the 300Km PTL in 2010 and the 160Km Sinister 7 in 2015. He is also a certified rock climbing instructor and since moving to BC has been dabbling in ski mountaineering racing.
Aengus has a PhD in Geoinformatics and a Certificate in Outdoor Recreation from Tai Poutini Polytechnic in New Zealand. He works as a Software Development Manager at TELUS Health, and in his free time is working on building a data analytics app for cross country skiing.
Annika Ackermann was born and raised in Kimberley, B.C., where her parents threw her on skis before she could walk. She began racing competitively for the Kimberley Nordic Racers in 2011, with numerous podium results provincially, two top 6 finishes in sprints at Canadian National Championships, as well as several podium results representing Club Ski Nordique La Feclaz in France. She also represented France at the 2014 ISF World Championships in Estonia, contributing to a 4th ranking overall as a country. After spending her final two years of high school racing for the BC Ski Team, Annika moved to Kelowna to study biochemistry at the UBC Okanagan campus, where she is currently in her second year. She raced for Telemark Nordic during her first year but now hopes to spend more time coaching and giving back to the sport while still actively pursuing her post-secondary education.
New for 2019-20 Olympian Brittany Webster will be joining our team.
Inviting, energetic and full of positivity, Brittany is passionate about offering her knowledge of cross-country skiing to everyone. A 7 year National Team member, and 2-Time Olympian, Brittany lived and trained in Canmore until 2015. She then became coach and program manager of the Bow Valley’s first High Performance Junior cycling team. Last year, Brittany moved to the Okanagan and is thrilled to be involved with Telemark and the surrounding community. Brittany aims to empower people of all ages and abilities through her vibrant personality, sense of humour, and passion for the outdoors.
Brittany is an NCCP T2T coach in both cycling and skiing. She is also a certified yoga instructor and strength coach. She has a broad knowledge base of sport physiology, nutrition, and leadership.
When she’s not hitting the ski trails, Brittany can be seen exploring the woods with her loving partner, mountain bike extraordinaire Evan Guthrie, on her yoga mat, or spending time with her beloved animals.