WELCOME TO OUR MASTERS TRAINING GROUP FOR THE 2025-2026 SEASON!
Applications for this program will be wait-listed and only considered if a space opens.
This Program is designed for Masters athletes ( +30 years old) who want to improve their ski technique, increase speed and efficiency and train to compete in ski races. Participants are expected to be self- motivated and have an interest in training with other Masters athletes in a fun social group setting. All participants should be comfortable skiing varied terrain including the trails at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club.
The Masters Training Group Program follows a structured training plan designed by Nordic Team Solutions (NTS) (Andy Newell), and is best suited to participants who maintain a high level of physical fitness during the summer and fall.
Program Description:
● The training season will include 18 weeks – from the start of the program on November 17th until the S2SS Ski Marathon (late March/ early April).
● The Training Plan will be individually purchased from Nordic Team Solutions (NTS) (Andy Newell), and individuals will be supported in adapting the plans as appropriate (such as the overall amount of training time). Training Plans from NTS include periodization and training zones as well as an overarching yearly plan. They follow a consistent weekly schedule as summarized below.
● All group sessions are held in the mornings.
● The training sessions will be led by the group’s Leader with the support of other participants taking leadership roles as deemed appropriate.
● Technique sessions on Tuesday will occur 12 times in the 18 weeks of the Program and will be led by the group’s team of coaches. Each participant will receive individualized instruction and video analysis. Our coaches will be available for a 2-hour block, and participants will be scheduled into small groups with time on snow for instruction, technique review and analysis.
● In addition to the base training model, as described above, clinics will be offered periodically throughout the winter season by willing expert coaches and these will be on a cost recovery plan.
Schedule summarized:
Tuesday – Technique Coaching a.m
Wednesday – Intervals a.m. 1.5 hours
P.M. – a strength-specific pm session for those who are doubling.
Thursday – Strength Specific training a.m. approx 45 minutes plus distance ski
Friday – ski on your own
Saturday – Intervals and/or Time Trials 2.0 hours
Sunday – Over Distance in organically formed groups
Cost: $1000.00
This program is not first come, first serve. There is limited space available, and only those who are best suited for the program will be considered. If you wish to be considered, please fill in the following application and submit it to [email protected].
The selection process will consider suitable applicants based on their Year Long Training Goals and their interest in participating as a group. There is also an understanding that not all suitable candidates are available to train with the group 4 times per week. Committed skiers will be invited into the Training Group on the understanding they will complete the training hours as best as is possible with their own schedule constraints.
All participants must also have a current Season Pass in order to register in SLNC Programming.
Pat Pearce
Coaching Credentials:
Level 3 NCCP – old standards
Level 3 CANSI – current
Coaching Experience:
Current:
Master’s Training Group Head Coach – 2 years
Super Camp Coach for Advanced skiers – 8 years
Past:
High Performance Program for level female skiers, Bulkley Valley Nordics –
5 years
Head Coach – Bulkley Valley Nordics – 2 years
Led BC Team skiers on a competitive trip to Norway –
Female Coach for BC – Canada Winter Games –
Josee LeClerc
My love of winter started as a young child with snowshoeing and cross country skiing to my father’s logging camps for family gatherings. Here my brothers and I had rabbit snaring competitions and ski games. It is at a very young age that my parents taught us to be real Coureur des bois!
I would say what gave me a solid foundation for coaching is my bachelor in rehabilitation.
Subsequently, While living in Whitehorse, I took my national coaching certification during 1997 – 1998 in level 3 road cycling and mountain biking. In early 2000 I continued with my coaching training and obtained my level 3 national certification in cross country skiing. During that time, I also completed my CANSI level one and two and avalanche training, but I hope we don’t need this latter for Cross country skiing!!! I recertified my CANSI level one in 2024.
I was the assistant coach for the Yukon Territory junior and senior road cycling and mountain biking teams for 6 years which entailed preparing arhletes for the Canada summer games and other national events.
I was also involved as the assistant coach for the Yukon Territory junior and senior cross country ski team for six years where we prepared athletes for national events and supported some of the athletes’ development for the national team. Through out those years I also supported some individual athletes with yearly training plans in cycling, triathlon and cross country skiing.
I moved to B.C. In 2005 and I am in my Third year coaching the Masters Training group at Sovereign Lake.
Favorite trail: Wherever I go there I am and it’s alwys the best place
Fun fact: I learned to swim at the age of seven years old by asking my neighbor to tie me up with a rope and throw me into the deep water of their swimming pool, asking that if I did not make it to pull me back. I made it back by dog paddling!!
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Technique Coaching a.m | Intervals a.m. 1.5 hours
PM- Strength pm session for those who are doubling |
Strength Specific training a.m., approx 45 minutes plus distance ski | Ski on our own | Intervals and/or Time Trials 2.0 hours | Over Distance in organically formed groups |
