• Practice Information

  • High School
    • Competitive Skiers
    • Recreational Skiers
  • Middle School
  • Elementary School
• General Club Information 2007-8
• Suggested Clothing/
  Minimum Temperature
• Calendar/Upcoming Events
• Coaching Assignments
• Weekly Newsletter -
  ie. Doug's Memo
• Equipment Inventory
• Grooming Updates
• Ski Trails/Ski Websites

  • Local Ski Trails
  • Skiing Info
• Membership Information
• Club Mission/Board

  • Mission of 4HCANSKI
  • Board Members
• Contacts/Feedback

  • Feedback
  • Contact Us
• Races
• Results
• Pictures
• Exec. Committee Meeting Minutes

Welcome to the 2007-2008 Cross Country Ski Season! The 4-H CANSKI xc ski club (Chequamegon Area Nordic Ski Club) is going into our 3rd year. It is our hope that we can use the Valhalla as our main ski area (Forest Service grooming permitting), with trips to the Ashwabay xc ski trails as well.

Our goals for the club are to provide a fun place to learn a lifetime skill, help each skier to reach the goals they have set for themselves, and to get out and enjoy the best season of the year. We will emphasize technique, conditioning, safety and fun.

We ask recreational skiers to commit to a day a week on snow. Recreational skiers will start af in January (January 8th). We will check gear out at that time. Skiing will be once a week for 6 weeks with a bit of instruction, a chance to ski on several local trails, some off track skiing back in the woods, and the Book Across the Bay as a non-competitive culminating event.

Competitive skiers will ski 4-6 times each week. As a club, we’ll do two days a week dry-land or snow training in December (with captains practices for another 1-2 sessions/week) to start conditioning for the season. Skiers will practice together three or four days a week once the snow flies, with clinics and races most weekends. Skiers are expected to get themselves to the trailhead on days that we don’t have access to the van (at least 2 times a week). Carpooling is encouraged.

We will occasionally travel to a variety of excellent local trails, so skiers should plan on returning to school or home as late as 6:30pm on travel days (usually by 6pm). We are late coming home from practice on occasion due to road conditions or skiers who become temporarily disoriented on the trails (we always get them back!). Practice will be 4-5:30pm on days that we practice at Valhalla.

Skiers who want to enter local events such as the Korteloppet or race on the high school racing circuit should see one of the competitive coaches for training plans/details. We will also meet jointly some days with Ashland high school and middle school skiers who are part of the 4-H CANSKI regional ski club. We will put a calendar together of citizen and high school races. We will encourage and help coordinate car pools to these events. Racers and event participants will have to pick up their own entry fees, so we’ll have a list of events that are easy on the pocketbook ($2-$20)

Waxing equipment is available to club members and the club has wax to use. Skiers using school equipment will be expected to maintain it. We will have a wax clinic during the season (TBA).

Parent Support

As always, we ask that parents help out if possible in one of the following ways: a. Support your son or daughter and the club by buying or borrowing skis for them. b. Help out with driving. C. Host a team dinner (usually on a Friday or Saturday night). D. Come ski with us (you don’t have to be an expert).

We are going to ask a $15 donation to the club again this year. It will help out with wax and expendable ski goods. This donation will include a club t-shirt or hat for skiers. If the donation asked is prohibitive, we will work something out. If you are inclined to donate more, we’d welcome it. Parents, make sure that you have signed a co-curricular card this year. High school skiers will be eligible for a varsity letter (thanks Janine Johanik for your help on this)!

For those for whom getting a pair of skis is prohibitive, we have several pairs of team skis available for use. We will ask a $20 equipment donation for the use of skis (we put quite a bit of money into equipment repair from wear and tear each year).

Budget, Funding and Costs
Each year we are able to raise about $1000 - $3000 for the club through fundraising efforts, donations, and small grants. We have added to our team equipment this year (poles, boots, and skis). If you have equipment that you can donate or know of equipment, we are always soliciting. If you need equipment, talk with us.

Equipment Purchase
If you want to buy equipment, Midnight Sun in Duluth (Canal Park) has some great prices on skis and package deals for high school team members (tell them that you ski for 4-H CANSKI). New Moon in Hayward is also willing to work with high school racers (10% discount on skis, boots, poles). Bill Damberg has special pricing for skiers in the Club at Bodin’s on the Lake. Don’t hesitate to check in with us on equipment questions.

Coaching Qualifications
In case you don’t know us, our coaching/leadership staff this year includes: Doug Liphart (MS & HS), Scott Nesvold (HS), Tom Steckling(HS), Paul Belknap(HS), Beth Reed (Elementary & MS), Curt Ellson (MS), Dennis Liphart (Sunday Family Ski), Ian meeker (HS Recreation), Jeff Van Hooser (MS & HS). More info on our coaches is available on our website. Our coaches have NCAA, HS, and touring club experience. Mostly they love to ski and share their knowledge with skiers of all ability levels and commitment levels! We will have other coaches working with us as well and always welcome new volunteers.

Most of the information that you will need on a week to week basis will be published on our web-site: www.4hcanski.org.
There is a coaching clinic and ski clinic scheduled for Dec. 8th (1pm Wolverine ski trails in Ironwood). Coaches will train for the first hour and skiers can join in the 2nd ½ of the clinic).

We’re looking forward to a great year! -Ian Meeker (Bfld. Cty. UWEX 4-H youth Development 373-6104) & Doug Liphart (Ash. Co.UWEX 4-H Youth Development 682-8385)