All programs take place at Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre.
Club membership, trail fees, and rentals are not included in program fees.
Golden Nordic Ski Club members receive a 10% discount towards their program fee. To claim your 10% discount, you will need to sign up in person at the Chalet at the time of your registration. Contact programcoordinator@goldennordicclub.ca for any questions.
GREEN programs cover the basics.
BLUE programs aim to ski blue trails comfortably.
BLACK programs focus on high level skiing technique and fitness.
Winter Fit (BLUE & BLACK options this season): Thursdays 6 - 7:30 pm
December 11 (classic), December 18 (skate)
January 8 (classic), January 15 (skate), January 22 (classic), January 29 (skate)
February 5 (classic), February 12 (skate), February 19 (classic), February 26 (skate)
March 5 (classic), March 12 (skate)
Yoga at the Chalet: Sundays 5 - 6 pm with Lori Meyers
Every Sunday from Jan 4 through April 26 (except April 19)
Bring your yoga mat, wear comfortable clothing
Informal warm-up ski get-together at 4 pm. Meet in front of Chalet.
More programs will be added before the season starts.
Want to propose a program for us to offer? Please reach out: programcoordinator@goldennordicclub.ca
2025 - 2026 PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
Winter Fit
Eager to push yourself on your skis? This season, Nils will be joined by former Whistler Nordics head coach Nicholas Pigeon to host weekly training sessions on Thursdays from 6 to 7:30pm. Skiers start by doing their independent warm-up. Participants can then chose which group to join. A post-workout social in the Chalet is always an option!
Nils leads a workout-style session (black program) on the trails. Quick technique tips will be imparted along the way but the focus is on training. Expect long and short interval training, hill work, time trials/casual races, and sprints.
Nicholas leads a technique-focused session (blue/black program) in the Stadium which then will be applied on the trails for the last part of the session.
Your Coaches:
Nils Asfeldt (L2T) grew up in the cross-country skiing racing scene, and started coaching Jackrabbits in Athabasca, AB at 16. With his father as head coach of the community club and racing team, Nils learned to ski early on and has continued in the sport ever since. From 2014 to 2019, he raced for the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings on the Canadian College & University Nordic Championship circuit and began coaching and waxing for the junior race team in Camrose, AB at provincial races. This is Nils’ fifth season with GNSC and he is excited to share his expertise with you and get out training!
Nicholas Pigeon (T2C) was assistant coach to the race team at Chelsea Nordic in 2020-2022 and head race team coach for Whistler Nordics 2022-2025. He is looking forward to not be as fully immersed in the sport as before while still having some involvement that’s fun. He is new to Golden this season.
Who: This is for motivated adults who are keen to build their fitness, improve technique, and perhaps attend a few races this season (not required), as well as teens 13+ who are self-directed and self-motivated.
Times: Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Dates: See above.
Cost: $100 plus 5% GST for all 12 sessions or $10 plus 5% GST drop-in fee (please prepay online the # drop-ins you plan on doing). This program doesn’t offer the 10% discount for members. Please note that the fees are lower for this program because the coaches are volunteering. All other programs are taught by paid and CANSI certified club instructors.
Max: 16 participants
Age: 13 and older
Technique: alternating skate and classic
Registration: Buy however many drop-ins you plan on doing this season or buy each time you go. Full season registration opens soon.
Rentals: available from Dawn Mountain Rentals for $10 for during this program use only.
Trail fees: This program does not include a $15 day fee which is required unless you have a current club membership.
past season programs below
Learn to Skate Ski
This is offered as a GREEN program. This beginner program and will be progressive over 2 weeks. These lessons are designed to have you attend both sessions.
The Learn to Skate Program is geared towards teaching the fundamentals of skate skiing. Have you been classic skiing for a while and now want to try skate skiing? Or maybe you just wish to jump into the sport on skate skis? Through this course you will become familiar with the skate skiing techniques of free skate, one-skate, and offset-skate to help you negotiate the trails. This 2-week course will get you started on your skate skiing skills.
Instructor: Annette Boelman, Level 3 CANSI certified. She has been teaching for over 30 years.
Times: Sunday afternoon from 1:30 am to 3:00 pm
Dates: January 26, February 2
Cost: $90 plus tax
Max: 6 participants
Age: 18 years and older
* Rentals and trail fees are not included. Note that if you’re only taking the lesson and not intending to go on the trails before/after, you don’t need to pay a trail fee.
Learn to Ski for Never Evers
This is offered as a GREEN introduction program for those who have never tried cross-country skiing. Classic style. Special rate!
Cross-country skiing is a tricky sport to learn so a lesson will help you get started on the right track. A lesson will help you develop proper technique to enjoy the sport of cross-country skiing. You will focus on developing balance, propulsion, and coordination.
This is a beginner program and will be progressive over 2 weeks. These lessons are designed to have you attend both sessions.
Instructor: Luca Signorile, Level 1 CANSI certified
This is Luca’s second season as Golden Nordic Ski Club instructor. He started cross-country skiing a several decades ago and reignited his love for the sport during a week-long ski expedition in Scandinavia.
Times: Sunday morning from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Dates: January 12, January 19
Cost: $100 plus tax (includes complementary equipment rental)
Max: 6 participants
Age: 18 years and older
* Rentals are included from Dawn Mountain Rentals. The program does not include your $15/day use fee if you are not already a member of the GNSC. You don’t need to pay this if you are just taking the lesson and not hitting the trails afterwards.
Early Season Tune-Up Program with Annette: Classic and/or Skate
This is offered as a BLUE/BLACK program.
Shake off the early season "bad habits" with this 4-week program. This program is for those skiers who have already tried skate skiing and/or classic skiing and are looking to start the season off with "good habits"! We will stretch and strengthen the joints and muscles needed for skate and classic techniques so that your season begins with ease. Sign up for just one technique or both! In the skate portion we will review the 5 techniques of skate skiing: i.e., free skate, one-skate, two-skate, offset skate, and diagonal skate. You will gain more confidence in when to do what technique based on the terrain and the snow conditions. In the classic portion we will work on diagonal stride, double poling, and one step double poling. We will work on the hill techniques as well. Overall we will strengthen our balance muscles, get a better stride and glide, and just have fun!
* Lessons are curated to suit skill set and goals each week, are based on the snow conditions and grooming conditions, setting each individual up for success.
* If the snow still has not allowed for grooming of the trails as sometimes can happen, we will still meet and do dryland training skills and fitness.
Instructor: Annette Boelman, Level 3 CANSI, L2T certified.
Annette has been cross-country skiing for a long time. She has been teaching cross-country skiing since 1991. She has taught in Edmonton, at the Canmore Nordic Centre, even in Australia, and off and on now for 20 years here with the Golden Nordic Ski Club. She is committed to making cross-country skiing fun and challenging for all! Whether it's learning the basics or mastering a technique, she will cheer you on and pass along all of her tips and tricks!
Times: Sunday morning from 11:00am to 12:30pm
Dates Classic: December 1, 15 (2024)
Dates Skate: December 8, 22 (2024)
Cost: $180 plus GST for all sessions; $90 for classic-only OR skate-only sessions.
Max: 6 participants
Age: 18 years and older
* Rentals are available from Dawn Mountain Rentals. The course does not include your $15/day use fee if you are not already a member of the GNSC.
Grip Wax Clinic with Nils
Join Nils Asfeldt for a 2-hours clinic to learn the ins and outs of grip wax. This clinic is for classic skiers who want to learn how to get the best kick for their glide. This hands-on clinic will include how to use different base binders, apply and remove grip wax, and some tips on how to choose which wax to use!
What to bring:
Notebook and pen (write down processes step-by-step for reference at home)
Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Waxable classic skis (and if you’re keen, boots and poles so you can test your wax!)
Your own grip wax equipment (don’t worry if you don’t have any!)
Your instructor: Nils Asfeldt, coach with Golden Nordic Ski Club and former ski racer.
Nils grew up in the cross-country skiing racing scene, and started coaching Jackrabbits in Athabasca, AB at 16. With his father as head coach of the community club and racing team, Nils learned to wax early on and has continued in the sport ever since. From 2014 to 2019, he raced for the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings on the Canadian College & University Nordic Championship circuit and began coaching and waxing for the junior race team in Camrose, AB at provincial races, learning the tricks of the trade from veteran high-performance wax techs. Now, in his third season with GNSC, Nils is excited to share his experience with you! Come discover the ins and outs of grip wax on Monday night. What does a base binder do? How can I stop my grip zone from icing up? How do I choose what wax to use? How does grip wax even work? find out on Monday night!
Time: TBD
Date: TBD
Cost: by donation to help support club’s ski athletes with new wax for their wax box and for gas going to races.
Max: 12 participants
Age: n/a
Glide Wax Clinic with Nils
Join Nils Asfeldt for a 1.5 - 2-hours clinic to learn the ins and outs of glide wax. This clinic is suitable for classic and skate skiers alike as we're all after that maximum glide, aren't we? This hands-on clinic will include proper technique for glide waxing your skis with an iron (without damaging your skis!), care of tools and which ones you really need, as well as how to choose a wax.
What to bring:
Notebook and pen
Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Skate and/or Classic skis
Your own glide wax equipment (don’t worry if you don’t have any!)
Your instructor: Nils Asfeldt, coach with Golden Nordic Ski Club and former ski racer.
Nils grew up in the cross-country skiing racing scene, and started coaching Jackrabbits in Athabasca, AB at 16. With his father as head coach of the community club and racing team, Nils learned to wax early on and has continued in the sport ever since. From 2014 to 2019, he raced for the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings on the Canadian College & University Nordic Championship circuit and began coaching and waxing for the junior race team in Camrose, AB at provincial races, learning the tricks of the trade from veteran high-performance wax techs. Now, in his third season with GNSC, Nils is excited to share his experience with you! Come discover the ins and outs of glide wax on Monday night.
Time: TBD
Date: TBD
Cost: by donation to help support club’s ski athletes with new wax for their wax box and for gas going to races.
Max: 20 participants
Age: n/a