The Snowsport Scotland Nordic Training Group (SSSNordicTG) is aimed at Scottish 12-16 year olds who like a challenge and have a sense of adventure. Challenge because cross-country skiing is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world and adventure because, well, it is a road less travelled. Last year was the first intake to the programme.

The programme offers monthly sessions with the aim of giving participants a route onto the Scottish Nordic performance pathway (this is the road from being a participant to a competitor). Programme participants have a couple of things in common. Firstly, they are excited by the prospect of competing in cross-country skiing; and secondly, they’ve loved their experience in other sports.

 

At the first session in June last year, very few of the 2019 / 20 programme participants have been on roller skis before. Fewer had experienced cross-country skiing on snow. Once participants were comfortable on roller skis, Snowsport Scotland lent them kit so they could practice between sessions. With 12 coaching days planned, we had an aspiration, but no real idea of how much the programme participant could achieve in a year. Fast forward to this spring and 3 of the programme participants had met the selection criteria to be nominated for the British Nordic Development Squad (BNDS), the national training squad for their age group.

 

The programme focuses on fun, challenge and getting better. Over 9 sessions (we lost the final 3 to coronavirus lockdown) we tested ski skills; raced the train along the Bathgate Cycle Path; competed in the Scottish Roller Ski Championships; did the floss on top of the Salisbury Crags in the rain; and skied on snow (for the first time for some) at Glencoe at the end of Storm Ciara.

 

The programme aims to support potential competitors from all over Scotland, especially those in areas not currently serviced by Nordic Ski Clubs. Last year’s intake came from across the Central Belt and Barra in the Outer Hebrides.

 

Follow what the programme participants are getting up to #SSSNordicTG.

Applications for 2020 /21 are now open. If you would like to apply or know someone else who should, drop an email to info@snowsportscotland.org to register your interest and tell us about your sporting experiences.

Applications will close on 27th July 2020.

For more info on how to get involved in cross-country skiing in Scotland head over to our Roller and Cross Country Skiing website page: https://snowsportscotland.org/learn-to-roller-ski/.