Jackrabbits Coaches needed. Nordiq Canada certified training is provided to Jackrabbit Coaches & an honorarium as our thanks and appreciation for your efforts to increase children’s outdoor recreation opportunities.

Contact:  jackrabbits@edmontonnordic.ca

Registration for the 2024/2025 Jackrabbits season in now open  Register HERE

The Jackrabbit Program is designed to introduce children aged 4 to 12 years to the sport of cross-country skiing.  Children become proficient when moving through a series of skill levels.

The emphasis of the Program is on fun, participation, skill development and safety. The objective of the Program is to provide the opportunity for children to learn to cross-country ski at their own pace, based on their personal abilities, skills and interests.

Location:  All lessons take place at Gold Bar Park.

Cost:   Jackrabbits & Learn to Ski $150.  Bunnies $120.  Nordiq Alberta, Nordiq Canada, and Edmonton Nordic membership fees are an additional cost, as indicated on the Zone 4 registration system.

There are 12 lessons in the Jackrabbit Program, whether permitting, with a break in December.  Lesson duration is 1.5 hours.  Bunnies lessons are 1 hour.

Rental Equipment:

Families requiring rental equipment will receive an email in early November with detailed rental information.   Skis, Boots and Poles are rented at $100 for the season.  Families take the rental equipment home with them and return rental equipment in March.

First Lesson:  December 7 & 8, 2024

Program Times:

• Saturday 1:30pm
• Sunday 1:30pm
• Sunday 11:00am (Bunnies, Level 1 and Level 2)

Planned Schedule (12 Sessions, conditions permitting)

• Dec 7&8
• Dec 14&15
• Jan 11&12
• Jan 18&19
• Jan 25&26
• Feb 1&2
• Feb 9 (Barnebirkie Festival at Gold Bar Park)
• Feb 15&16
• Feb 22&23
• Mar 1&2 (Olympic Day)
• Mar 8&9
• Mar 15&16

Additional Program Options:

• If your child is in Level 4, they may be interested in adding Biathlon training to their weekly Jackrabbits class. Click here for a full description of the Biathlon Bears program.
• After your child has completed all levels of Jackrabbits, they may be interested in continuing in ENSC’s  U12 Track Attack program.
• If your child is between the ages of 8-12, a novice skier, and would like to ski with kids his/her age, try the Youth Learn-to-Ski (Classic) group.

Parents and kids, please note: it is quite common for the kids to repeat levels – there is a lot to learn, and the season is short!

Bunnies: 4-5 years old as of January 1, 2025 (born 2019 or 2020); it is imperative that you provide the correct birth dates – if questions arise, proof of age may be required); no or limited Nordic ski experience.

Jackrabbits Level 1: Age 5-6 years old (born 2018 to 2019); If 5 years old, child must have completed Bunnies and have coach’s recommendation for Level 1; if age 6, child may join Level 1 with limited or no Nordic ski experience and no previous lessons.

Jackrabbits Level 2: Completion of JR 1 or Learn-to-Ski, and coach’s recommendation for Level 2; novice skier with minimum one year of Nordic ski experience.

Jackrabbits Level 3: Completion of JR 2 or Learn-to-Ski, and coach’s recommendation for Level 3.

Jackrabbits Level 4: Completion of JR 3 or Learn-to-Ski, and coach’s recommendation for Level 4.

Jackrabbits Biathlon Bears (Saturday only): Age 9-11 years old (born 2013 to 2015); For athletes registered in Jackrabbits Level 4 or Learn to Ski.

Learn-to-Ski (Classic): Age 8-12 (born 2012 to 2016); little or no Nordic ski experience; may take a second year of Learn-to-Ski (Classic) before joining other ENSC programs.

Flying Squirrels: Age 12-16; geared towards youth who want to maintain their skills from previous youth programs but at a recreational level.

Equipment 

Bunnies

• • Skis: A child’s first ski equipment set would include a pair of no-wax skis. 
    • Initial on-snow play does not require long skis, and they should be approximately the same height as the skier. It is better for the child to outgrow their skis than to grow into them.
  • Bindings: Select a binding that is not difficult to operate, but is not prone to releasing either.
    • If you select strap-type bindings used in conjunction with snow boots, ensure that all the straps are integrated into the binding construction.
    • Loose straps have a way of getting lost. Snow boots can be nice and warm, but unless they are laced up firmly, there is a risk of little feet coming right out of the boot. The boot will be securely fastened to the ski – and the young skier will be left standing with sock feet in the snow.
  • Poles: No poles are required for the Bunnies program.
  • If a child is on their second pair of skis, they may be ready to graduate to waxable skis

Levels 1 and 2

• Skis: Waxable skis are preferred, but waxless/skin skis are fine.
• Poles: Generally not used in Level 1, but are introduced in Level 2. Poles should be “classic” length (with the pole tip in the snow, the pole height would reach the under arm).

Level 3

• Skis: Skate equipment (skis and poles) is not yet required. The child can learn skating technique skills while using classic skis.
• For skating technique sessions, skiers using classic skis must have the grip wax removed from the kick zone and the entire length of the ski prepared with glide wax.
• For classic technique sessions, the kick zone must be in place again, and grip wax would be applied.

Level 4

• Skis: As in Level 3, in Level 4 the child can advance his/her skating technique skills while using classic skis.
• Poles: Require both skating length poles and classic length poles. Skating poles should roughly come to the child’s chin, when the pole tip is in the snow.
• Parents may wish to provide the child with two sets of equipment (both skating and classic) if their ski skills and future involvement in the sport appear to warrant the investment.

Where to Purchase Equipment

Parents are encouraged to buy suitable equipment for their children for two main reasons:

• it is an investment in a positive, fun learning experience
• good equipment retains its re-sale value – someone will always buy it when you are finished with it.

Retailers in the Edmonton area that sell ski equipment include:

• Fast Trax
• Campers’ Village
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Pedalhead Bicycle Works
• Totem Outfitters (used equipment may be available)
• Track ‘n Trail

Several of these stores offer discounts to Edmonto Nordic members – be sure to ask!

Used equipment is sometimes available at the Edmonton Nordic Ski Swap, held each November; however, the selection is usually limited.

Jackrabbit Ski Rental Program

Rather than purchasing equipment, many families may decide that they would prefer to rent the skis, boots and poles that their kids will use for the year. ENSC has started a program in partnership with Fast Trax to allow Jackrabbits and Biathlon Bears to rent one of the packages below (we will only rent whole packages, not just boots or skis or poles):

An email to all families registered in an ENSC program will be sent in early November outlining the details on how to rent equipment for the upcoming season.