Sovereign Lake Nordic Club is excited to offer the ever popular Masters Program once again for the 2020/21 season. This program is organized and lead in large part by our team of volunteer coaches. The goal of the program is to introduce Adults (19+) to the joys of cross-country skiing through a social, organized support network. All participants must be SLNC Season Pass Holders. The program costs just $60! About the same price as a single private lesson.
This program runs three times per week as indicated on the included calendar and is open to all abilities.
Do you want more focused technical training and some professional coaching? Join us on select Thursday mornings from 10:00am-12:00 with Eric de Nys (experienced National Cross Country Team coach) for this great training opportunity. Want even more? See the Masters High Performance tab on this page.
3 weekly sessions available:
- Sunday Morning (10:00am-12:00) Led by Volunteer Leaders
- Thursday Mornings (10:00am-12:00) Led by Volunteer Leaders, combined with coaching and technical expertise provided by Eric de Nys on select weeks.
- Thursday Evenings (6:30-8:00pm) Led by a top instructor.
**You are required to be an SLNC Pass holder to take part in our XC Masters Program. Confirmation is required by showing your season pass.
If you have questions regarding this program please contact our Master’s Program Coordinator for more information. If registration is giving you challenges, click the FAQ tab (above) and scroll to the bottom.
Eric de Nys (Program Coordinator, Head Coach SLNC)
- NCCP Level IV certified
- Favorite Trail: Do I have to pick just one?
- Years Coaching: 20
- Why Coach?: I love seeing people achieve things they didn’t necessarily think possible-human potential and breakthrough
- Favourite Food? A beautiful fresh bread sandwich!
- Words of Wisdom: Without risk there is no reward.
Gerry Breneman (Masters Coordinator)
- CANSI level II certified instructor
- Favorite Trail: Lars Taylor, up and down!
- Years Coaching: 4 years with the Masters program
- Why Coach?: For the love of sport and helping to develop and environment within the club that promotes the same
- Favourite Food? Seafood (see food diet) and peanuts w/ my favorite beverage
- Words of Wisdom: Take small consistent steps to achieve big gains
Pat Pearce
- Favorite Trail: The Zumas
- Years Coaching: 4 years with the Masters
- Why Coach?: Firstly, I love skiing and want others to share the same enthusiasm for this lifestyle. Also, I believe that to grow our Nordic culture we need Master skiers who are interested in skiing well and become addicted to the sport. I hope my coaching is helping Sovereign to that end.
- Favourite Food? Oatmeal-in and on everything!
- Words of Wisdom: Actions speak louder than words.
Pat Van Mullen
- XC Coaching Certifications ; PSIA, USSA, CANSI
- Favorite Trail: Silver Queen
- Years Coaching: 45 total, 15 with XC
- Why Coach?: For the love of sport
- Favourite Food? Sushi
- Words of Wisdom: If you are up to something bigger than yourself you must include others.
Cynthia Flores
- Level I USSA Coach, Level I CANSI Coach
- Favorite Trail: Passmore to Carl Wylie loop
- Years Coaching: 7
- Why Coach?: I love watching newer skiers fall in love with the sport, to see their breakthroughs and smiles.
- Favourite Food? Sushi
- Words of Wisdom: Life’s too short. Be joyful!
Gerry Furseth
- Favorite Trail: Lower World Cup
- Years Coaching: 36
- Why Coach?: Reino Keski-Salmi taught me a lot about skiing faster and even more about the value of giving back to the community
- Favourite Food? Pasta!!
- Words of Wisdom: “The only purpose of exercise is to induce recovery”-Per Gaarder
Mike Bell
- Favorite Trail: Passmore
- Years Coaching: 30+
- Why Coach?: Fun to watch people improve their technique and fitness
- Favourite Food? Pasta & Ribs
- Words of Wisdom: Ski smooth, ski smart
Shirley Pommier
Level ll CANSI, TD
- Favorite Trail: Woodland Bell, Carl Wylie
- Years Coaching: 35
- Why Coach?: I love XC skiing and want all Canadians of all ages at all stages to try it and embrace our winter.
- Favourite Food? One dish meals
- Words of Wisdom: Nothing of worth is accomplished without enthusiasm (Emerson)
Bruce Sandilands
- Favorite Trail: All the Zumas’
- Years Coaching: 25+
- Why Coach?: Share the passion I have for all sorts of skiing with others
- Favourite Food? Thin crust, wood fired pizza
- Words of Wisdom: For Master skiers…”Never stop moving…ski for life”
John McHutchion
CANSI Level 3
- Favorite Trail: Revenge
- Years Coaching: 18
- Why Coach?: I love seeing people make breakthroughs in their skiing
- Favourite Food? Anything within reach
- Words of Wisdom: We’ll be fine as long as we have enough snacks.
Peggy Hung
CANSI Level 1, NCCP- ICC + CCW
- Favorite Trail: The Zumas
- Years Coaching: New to coaching this year
- Why Coach?: I love seeing people being active outdoors, regardless of age or ability. This is my way to encourage the community to XC ski and realize that it’s not as hard as they think.
- Favourite Food? Salmon
- Words of Wisdom: Progression, not perfection.
Peggy Graham-Morel
- Favorite Trail: Silver Queen
- Years Coaching: 30+
- Why Coach?: Creating positive experiences for people, makes me smile
- Favourite Food? Is chocolate a food?
- Words of Wisdom: If you believe, then you achieve.
Sherry Sandilands
- Favorite Trail: Montezuma Loppet loop
- Years Coaching: 18
- Why Coach?: to help others improve their skiing and love it as much as I do….also to meet great people!
- Favourite Food? anything Asian
- Words of Wisdom:
Johanna Tul
- Favorite Trail: Passmore/Carl Wylie
- Years Coaching: 20+
- Why Coach?: I like to see people improve and have fun and I learn at the same time.
- Favourite Food? Egyptian split pea soup
- Words of Wisdom: Laugh lots and keep learning
Franziska Plummer
- Favorite Trail:
- Years Coaching:
- Why Coach?:
- Favourite Food?
- Words of Wisdom:
There are three sessions each week: Sunday 10:00-12:00, Thursday 9:30-11:30, or Thursday 18:30-20:00.
Sunday Morning
Time: 10:00-12:00
Schedule
| 10:00-10:20 | Warm Up |
| 10:20 | Meet in front of the Tech Building for instructions |
| 10:30 | Training Activity of the Day* |
| 11:45 | Cool Down |
| 12:00 | Meet in lodge for post-work out nutrition with the group |
*Activity will be designed to raise your heart rate in a challenging event (ie team relay) or a long slow ski will always be an option for participants.
Thursday Morning
Time: 10:00am-12:00 am
Schedule
| 10:00-10:20 am | Warm Up |
| 10:20 | Meet in Stadium @ Tech Building to organize groups |
| 10:20-11:45 | Training Activity of the Day |
| 11:45 | Cool Down |
| 12:00 | Meet in the lodge for post-work out nutrition with the group |
Thursday Evening
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm (An Alternative to the Thursday morning)
Schedule
| 6:30 – 6:50pm | Warm Up |
| 6:50 | Meet in Stadium in front of Tech Building |
| 7:00-7:45 | Training Activity of the Day |
| 7:45-8:00 | Cool Down |
| 8:00pm | Meet in lodge for post-work out nutrition with the group |
More information about getting fitter, faster, and happier.
What is SLNC Masters about?
It’s summed up in the three Fs
Fitness, you don’t have to be very fit to join Masters but participation will help you to raise the bar.
Form, you will learn to ski more efficiently.
Friendly, all happens in a friendly environment.
And it’s also fun because serious is for kids!
What it’s not
It is not a boot camp, as in rigorous and intense training sessions. There is that element for those who want it but the focus is on recreational skiing with some attention to technique. It’s not structured, skill development sessions. There is little or no repetitive skill drills.
Goals of the SLNC Masters Program
- To provide the structure and support whereby club members have the means to raise their level of fitness and to improve their skiing proficiency.
- To provide training sessions which will be effective in improving levels of fitness for all program participants.
- To provide support for those who want to compete
- Keep all participants well informed of all events and activities
- What’s more, the fee, $60. SLN Masters is the best program for the money in the country, bar none.
- The program is club and membership-based, organized and delivered by club members.
- Technical support for certain sessions will be led by Eric de Nys.
New Initiatives for 2020-21
- To strongly encourage recreational club skiers to participate in SLN Masters.
- To offer a few speaker sessions over the course of the season.
- To provide small group technique sessions by representatives of BC Masters.
- To organize 3 social events.
- Focus training for competitive skiers on key events.
- To provide “no additional fee” instruction on technique from a qualified staff member, on weekly a basis.
We encourage members to join BC Masters for $23 per year.
