Intro Letter To Parents

CRMS Nordic Ski Team 2007-8

Intro Meeting October 27

Coaches:

Hannes Thum

Email: jthum@crms.org

Cell: (208) 720-1879

Mark Clark

Email: mclark@crms.org

Cell: (970) 379-6960

Kathleen Jones

Email: kjones@crms.org

The Nordic Ski Team at CRMS has a history as long as the school itself. From the first days of the school, students have been taking to the hills in the winter time with their skis in order to test their fitness and dedication against themselves and against other young athletes from Colorado and from around the country. I whole-heartedly believe that few other sports exist that so develop a young person’s commitment, mindfulness, or perseverance. We will work hard, but it is not your average “hard work”. The training and racing that make up a ski racer’s lifestyle have daily rewards that you can’t find anywhere else.

The “ski season” starts this week! Dryland is an integral part of the nordic skiing experience and we will start right up with the second academic quarter. We will meet four times a week during dryland period for aerobic and strength workouts and get as much fitness under our belts as we can before the snow reaches Spring Gulch and we can start getting out on our skis.

During the race season, we will pick and choose races from the high school league (CHSSA) and from the Junior Olympic Qualifying races (JOQs) based on the progress we’ve made and where we think the athletes will get the most benefit (see attached schedule). More info on all that, and the specifics of the races, when the snow begins to fly. We’ll be in touch.

For now, there are two pertinent conversations I look forward to having with the athletes and their family’s. First, the ski team traditionally spends a few days at the beginning of Thanksgiving Break skiing at Grand Mesa, CO for a short training camp. It is often the first opportunity to get on snow, and there is no finer life than having a few days off of school to just ski, relax, and get in some quality practice sessions. We don’t want to miss turkey dinner, though, so we will plan to end camp with plenty of time for travel plans to get everybody home to their families. We need to get an idea ASAP about whether or not you can attend. Please consider it as a very important part of the ski team commitment.

Secondly, the kiddos will need some gear to get them around the ski trails. Skis, boots, and poles are the core of any skier’s list of possessions. We should work on that soon as well, and it will involve some communication between coaches and parents about how we should purchase/lease/borrow gear for each individual skier.

Ski racing and coaching mean a lot to us. With proper preparation and commitment on the part of the athletes and the coaches, wonderful things can happen. Please don’t hesitate to call or write with and questions or comments or concerns. This is a special team and we see it as our job to convey our passion effectively to the boys and girls who chose to see what skiing is all about.