Rapid development for ski club

The growing Mount Nascopi Ski Club received yet another boost.

Judy May, junior development director with Cross Country Newfoundland and Labrador (CCNL), visited Forteau to conduct two coaching clinics, Introduction to Community Coaching and Community Coaching, Jan. 23-25.

The sessions were a part of Ms. May's "blitz" of Northern Newfoundland and Labrador, holding clinics in St. Anthony and Forteau. Sessions are also planned for Port Hope Simpson, Goose Bay and Sheshatshiu.

The tour is possible through a program sponsored by StatoilHydro, an energy company based in Norway with operations in Newfoundland and Alberta, for the Canadian team and programs within CCNL and Cross Country Alberta to sponsor coaching development in remote communities.

"It's an excellent program with a lot of information, excellent manuals that have lesson plans for the whole program, very good reference material," Ms. May said.

Jocelyn Hancock and Jody Hancock Thomas, both coaches with the Jackrabbits, and Levi Snook, Tania Keats and Ginger Ryland took part in the Forteau clinic.

Ms. Hancock said a teacher such as Ms. May can teach a lot, even to a longtime coach.

"Judy's a very good teacher," she said. "She's taught me a lot in the last 24 hours. I've been in the Jackrabbit program for a long, long time, and there's always things to learn."

Because the numbers for the Jackrabbits grow each year, the coaching clinic is a natural progression for the club, Ms. Hancock said.

"Our Jackrabbit program is growing very well, and I think we're always open to new people, new faces. Right now we have three new faces that haven't been into our Jackrabbit program before and they'll now become coaches and this is exactly what our Jackrabbit program needs."

Why the growing interest in the sport?

"Because the word is getting out there," she said. "First it was new, people were hesitant to join up, they didn't know how to ski; but that's what the program is for, to teach them how to ski, and it's catching on."

Ms. May agreed.

"I think you have a key group of people who are athletic and interested," she said. "This has come from almost no skiing, to developing a club, having a Jackrabbit program, having a team that travels to competitions, having trained leaders, clubhouse. It's amazing what's happened here in a relatively short period of time."

Ms. May put off a similar clinic in Forteau two years ago and has noticed the enthusiasm grow.

Why keep coming back?

"I'm a Labrador lover," she laughed. "I just think it's beautiful here. I like the bareness, the vistas."