Do you want to come cross-country skiing? Here is where to start. This is a weekend of professional ski lessons, suitable for anyone whether you've never seen snow or have skied a bit at the ski resort but not done cross-country. These lessons are great fun in their own right, and are an important part of our skiing program because this is how you get set up to come on all our beginners' skiing trips during the season.
The basic idea is that you go to the Perisher cross-country ski trails to do two half-day ski lessons with professional ski instructors. The cross-country trails are a groomed and well-signposted trail network that is very safe and friendly for complete beginners.
You do the two half-day lessons and then have time to practice each afternoon. This ensures your lessons are spread out, allowing practice/reinforcement time, or alternatively the chance to take a break if you find it tiring. We have found that most people who do this weekend of professional instruction are then well placed to come on any of our "beginners" skiing trips.
The total cost of the entire weekend will be about $140, consisting of two half-day lessons ($90), car costs (share of petrol, park-entry, chain hire, $30-$40), and hire of a full set of ski gear from the club ($15). Note that the $15 fee also covers any camping gear (tent, sleeping bag etc) that you may need to hire as well. (This cost compares very favourably with the ski resort, which is $115 for a one-day lift ticket alone, and of course subsequent cross-country skiing trips are very affordable because there is not even the lesson cost.)
Please sign up now so we have an indication of interest and to ensure each weekend will go ahead. We will email you about two weeks before the date to ask you to transfer money to the club to pay your $80 lesson fee and secure your spot. Please contact me (Sebastian) via email or the club Facebook page if you have any questions at all. Here are some more details about how the weekends will run:
- Once we have 8-10 *paid* signups, the lesson will be confirmed as going ahead.
- Pre-trip meeting on Thursday, 6pm @ Gear Store. Hire skis and organise car groups and cooking/tent sharing as preferred. Don't forget cash for gear hire & deposit ($15 + $50 deposit, you get the $50 back but don't forget $65 CASH on Thursday night).
- Drive to the snow: Saturday morning (if highly organised, 5.30am departure required).
- Be at Perisher car park *no later* than 8.15am. 45 minutes required to unload cars, put on ski boots, get organised and walk to the Nordic Shelter. (Directions will be provided.)
- Meet instructor at 9am sharp at Nordic Shelter. Lesson will go to 12.30pm.
- Have lunch at Nordic Shelter - this is actually a proper building, with heating, toilets, lunch area, and lounge with tea and coffee facilities, so a good place to take a break or get out of bad weather. - Spend afternoon practicing skills amongst yourselves. If bad weather or feeling tired, you can rest in the Nordic Shelter (heated).
- Return to cars, drive to Island Bend camping area. Camp near the cars. (No need to carry gear. Campsite is not "in the snow" although some snow could fall overnight. You can borrow tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear from the gear store, and this is included in your $15 gear hire fee.)
- Repeat process on Sunday. Usually by Sunday afternoon you will be zipping about the cross-country trails in great form, so perhaps ski up to a nearby hill to enjoy the views before skiing confidently back to the Perisher car park.
- Around 4pm drive back to Canberra. Bring some money for a light meal on the way back (this also gives your drivers a break).
- Don't forget to return gear clean and dry on Tuesday evening, as ski gear is in high demand during the season.
This trip is only suited to people who have been camping before. Ideally you have also been on at least one club trip before. In the additional information section please list your previous experience and clubs trips you have been on.