Information on the Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team will be provided on our website at www.grnordic.org The meet schedule is posted. The practice schedule will also be posted and updated weekly.
IMPORTANT - Please get your activity paperwork completed with fee. Forms can be obtained at the high school activity office or online at the District 318 website. A current physical must be on file (every three years you need a physical). The School will give you a yellow receipt which must be given to one of the coaches before you can practice, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Equipment -
Skis, Boots & Poles
Everyone will need: a pair of skating skis, a pair of classic skis skate boots, classic boots, skate poles, classic poles
There is equipment out there sold as ‘Combi’ skis or Combi boots. We would not recommend Combi skis to anyone on the team. Each ski type has a specific flex associated with the appropriate skiing style, a combi ski will not allow us to teach proper technique and will be a pain for the student and parent as you will have to re-wax the ski almost every day because of the waxing requirements of the two different ski styles.
Younger or new skiers may be able to get by with a combi boot. Again, each boot type is specific to the two skiing styles. Skiers at the JV or Varsity level should have a set of boots for each style.
Each skier will need two sets of poles. Skate and Classic.
Please contact me if you have old equipment you might wish to sell or give to another person on the team. Equipment for sale, trade or available will be listed on the team website
If you are going to purchase new equipment we would suggest,
Varsity skiers - Come talk to coaches for different options.
JV or Jr High skiers - Our local shop (Itasca Trail Sports), you might be able to find something at the ski swap November 22nd at the Central Square Mall (sometime in the morning)
If you purchase equipment at a ski shop make sure you let them know that you are a ski team member, they will give you some sort of discount (usually 10%)
Clothing
__ Wind protection -Jacket/shell / wind pants / wind vest
__ Breathable outer layer - heavy jersey, ski suit, tights
__ Underclothes (polypro) - 1 or 2 pair of different weights, sports bra
__ Socks
__ Gloves - 2 pair (warm and cold)
__ Hats 2 (warm and cold), balaclava for cold mornings
__ water bottle and carrier
Ski team uniforms will be handed out as we get closer to competition. Please do not wear Grand Rapids uniforms as practice gear. It needs to last for many seasons.
Ski Jackets will be available for sale for a skier cost of $70. The Parent’s club subsidizes the remainder of the cost ( about $40 per jacket) These Jackets are excellent quality and are very useful as a top layer during practice and as a warm up during events. If you are interested in purchasing a Jacket, please notify Coach Carter. In addition, we will be selling team warmup pants for $70 and may have team ski hats for $25.
Waxing and Waxing Equipment
We will be holding a waxing clinic which will be open to ski team members and parents, soon. We’ll let you know the time and location.
Practices
We will be holding practices primarily at Mt. Itasca (four days per week). There will be a season pass required which costs $40 for Jr. High, $60 for High School or Adult and $135 for a family. We will let you know how to purchase the pass soon. The coaches feel that Mt. Itasca provides the best teaching facility and with the snow making, we are guaranteed early season snow close to home.
Practices will start at 3:30 for High School students and at 4:00 for Jr High students. High School skiers are expected to practice every day. Jr High, at least three times per week. Please, if you can’t be at a practice, notify one of the coaches. Practices will be over at 5:30 or sundown.
The first practice will be on November 9th at the High School. Meet out front. We will probably be doing dry-land training until we get snow or the snowmaking starts at Mt. Itasca (December 1). Get out and run and start some push ups and sit ups this week so you won’t get sore after the first week back. REMEMBER to STRETCH before and after working out.
Other Nordic Ski Team Information
Fees:
GRHS Activity fee
Nordic ski parents’ club contribution for ski wax: $25.
Season pass for Mt. Itasca: $40 for middle school, $60 for high school, $135 for a family pass.
Parent assistance at ski meets:
We need a lot of volunteers for our home meet. There are several ways to help with the meet: helping timers, starting, picking up bibs, sorting bibs, helping in the concession stand, and setting up and taking down the venue. We will have information on our web site about different volunteer options.
Carbo loads:
These are usually held the night before a ski meet at the high school. Skiers will have the opportunity to wax skis before the carbo load.
Transportation to practice: skiers/parents are responsible for transportation to Mt. Itasca. We will occasionally hold practice on the Legion Trails behind the high school.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions:
Tony Carter - 218-256-1870
or at tcctbc@q.com