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The Sovereign Lake Nordic Development Academy in partnership with the Okanagan School District #22 Snowsports Academy, offers Western Canada’s only high-performance training program for Cross Country and Biathlon athletes in grades 8 through 12. This program caters to athletes with a commitment to academic and athletic excellence within the common high school timetable.
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This Program has established a pathway to post-secondary excellence, tying in with our Post-Secondary Nordic Dev Academy. For athletes who intend to ski throughout University, our program will collaborate with UBCO and Okanagan College to provide a seamless transition from high school to Post-Secondary Academics.
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The professional coaching staff will guide you through your high school racing career. Sovereign Lake is unparalleled when it comes to early and late season training opportunities, hosting the first and last on-snow camps of the season in partnership with CCBC. With multiple FIS and National calibre Biathlon races planned each season at our venue, there is a real hometown advantage for athletes attending our program.
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Eligibility:
- Currently enrolled in a Regional High School (or online program) in Grade 8 through 12. Need help finding a school? Contact Us
- Must have a valid Student Season Pass
- An online Onboarding Session is required*
- Maximum 30 participants across both Cross Country and Biathlon Programs for the 2022-23 season
- Registration Deadline: April 30th, 2022.
Cost Schedule: $3000/year
Why Join the SLNC Nordic Development Academy?
- Integration with Okanagan School District #22 provides students with daytime training in Block A/B of the common timetable permitting the entire ski team the chance to train together, regardless of school or grade.
- Any opportunity for athletes from smaller clubs to come together with like-minded high school students to train as a larger team.
- Increase scholastic resources and individual training support.
- Possible bussing support is planned for the 2022-23 season to decrease reliance on parent driving. There will be a monthly bussing fee throughout the training season to offset this cost.
- All Grade 11 and 12 students will attain NCCP Introduction to Community Coaching and Community Coaching Courses as part of their curriculum with scheduled Bunny Rabbits and Jack Rabbits Coaching sessions, giving back to the ski community is an important part of being an athlete.
- A CANSI Level 1 Instructors Course will be offered at a discount for Academy athletes.
- Full Waxing Support and Coaching Support at Team led races,
- Early and Late Season On Snow Training with almost 6 months on snow.
- Year-Round Training Program.
- Athletes receive a Physical Education credit.
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*Consultation and approval to participate in this program must be given by SLNC Head Coach Jacqueline Akerman and Snowsports Nordic Academy liaison Glen Stiven before registering. Thi
Program Details
Dates |
July 4th, 2022 - March 31st, 2023 (School Snowsports Academy Semester runs September 6th, 2022 - Jan 27th, 2023) + May and June Training Camps | |
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Sessions per Week |
3 to 4 days dryland, 5 to 6 on-snow. Year Round Weekly Training Program. | |
Length of Session |
1.5 to 3 | |
Cost |
$3000 |
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The Sovereign Lake Nordic Development Academy offers Western Canada’s only high-performance training program for Cross Country and Biathlon athletes transitioning from high school to post-secondary education streams.
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For the athlete that is looking to continue racing immediately after high school who may or may not want to attend a post-secondary institution, our program targets individuals looking to stay in the sport with a strong support network. This program caters strongly to those athletes with a commitment to academic and athletic excellence, working directly with the university or college to provide resources to ensure both scholastic and athletic success.
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Our team of full-time year-round coaching staff will help guide you through your post-secondary racing career. Sovereign Lake is unparalleled when it comes to early and late season training opportunities, hosting the first and last on-snow camps of the season.
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At an elevation of 1600m, we offer daily high elevation programming on arguably some of the best, groomed trails in the world. With FIS and National caliber Biathlon races planned each season at our venue, there is a real hometown advantage for athletes attending our program. With lower living costs, close proximity to one of the top 40 universities in the world, and an international airport less than one hour away, SLNC is an obvious choice when considering post-secondary training opportunities.
Eligibility:
- High School Graduate between 18 and 24.
- Post-Secondary School enrollment is preferred.
- An online Onboarding Session is required*
- Must have a valid Student Season Pass.
- Maximum 12 Participants for the 2022-23 season
- Registration Deadline: April 30th, 2022.
Apply for Post Secondary Programs Here: Many programs have placements available. Contact the Academic Advisor for details.
Cost: $3500/year
Why Join our Post-Secondary Nordic Development Academy?
- Students will have access to daytime training blocks on the common timetable permitting the entire ski team the chance to train together.
- An opportunity for athletes from smaller clubs to come together with like-minded high school students to train as a larger team.
- All Program Participants will attain NCCP Introduction to Community Coaching and Community Coaching Courses as part of their curriculum with scheduled Bunny Rabbits and Jack Rabbits Coaching sessions, giving back to the ski community is an important part of being an athlete.
- A CANSI Level 1 Instructors Course will be offered at 50% discount so you can use your ski skills to earn extra revenue while attending university or college.
- Full Waxing Support and Coaching Support at Team led races.
- Early and Late Season On Snow Training with almost 6 months on snow.
- Off-season Training Camps.
- Year-Round Training Program.
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*Consultation and approval to participate in this program must be given by the Sovereign Lake Nordic Development Academy Head Coach Jacqueline Akerman. Thi
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Program Details
Dates |
May 9th, 2022 – March 31st, 2023 | |
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Sessions per Week |
3 to 4 days dryland, 5 to 6 on-snow. Year-Round Weekly Training Program. | |
Length of Session |
1.5 to 3 | |
Cost |
$3900 | |
Registration Deadline |
April 30th, 2022 |
Head Coach: Jacqueline Akerman
A career ski and biathlon coach, Jacqueline has been involved as a high-performance coach for 25 years in a professional capacity. The Canada Winter Games started her off as both an athlete then a coach. As a former head coach of the Camrose Ski Club and Augustana University teams, she brings extensive and diverse experience to our programs. Jacqueline, a former Jr National Development Biathlon Team athlete, transitioned into a long-term leadership career with Biathlon Canada, coaching athletes, national and junior national teams at all levels, at countless national and international events, including Youth Olympic Games, four University Games, multiple World Cups, and Championships. Her role as Coach and Athlete Development Manager and Master Coach Developer has laid a foundation on which to build a strong training environment and talented athletes. Jacqueline is a member of Nordiq Canada’s – Coach Technical Committee, proudly serving our members across the country. She has an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and a Master’s degree in Coaching.
Sport has always been a focal point for Jacqueline – starting as a distance running athlete then skiing and biathlon, Jacq has a passion for the pursuit of excellence for herself and those around her, this laid the foundation to be an incredibly skilled coach. “I learned from a young age that knowledge and long-term excellence come from hard – smart work, dedication, and patience. That the key to success in sport and in life is enjoying the work of continual improvement in technical, tactical, physical, mental and life skills, the best athletes are those that are very well rounded and love the pursuit of excellence through sport”.
Assistant Coach: Paul Hardy
Welcome to the Sovereign Lake Ski Club! I have been coming to Sovereign/Silver Star to ski since 1989. My wife and I moved here in 2006 with our young children and are happy to call Vernon our home. I’ve been a life-long skier since age 4, cross country and alpine. I love skiing and ski racing – and I love seeing kids develop into capable, confident skiers who share my passion.
Role: Assistant SLNC Academy Head Coach and Wax Tech since 2014. SLNC program coach since 2006, I have coached all levels from Jackrabbit 1/2 through to Academy, including JR 3/4 lead coach and Track Attack lead coach. SLNC Lead coach for 2018 Midget Championships and am NCCP T2T Trained. I’ve been a regular competitor in the BC loppet series, BC Cups & BC Champs since 1990.
Other athletic experience: Member of National Kayak Team 1985 to 1991. Competed in 14 national championships, 12 podiums including 2 gold medals. Numerous international competitions including World Championships 1987 & 1989, Tour de Suisse 1985, Tour of Corsica 1988 & 1989. I also enjoy marathon kayak/surfski racing, kayak touring, canoe tripping, hiking, trail running, mtb, and roller skiing. I hold a BScFor, from UBC in 1986.
V-Learn Coordinator: Glen Stiven
Hello! I moved to Vernon for work in 1993 and that same winter bought skis, joined SLNC and have been learning to ski ever since. Our whole family now skis at Sovereign and Silver Star and we even have a racer in the house. A long weekend ski on the Sovereign trails is right up there with my favourite things to do. I believe that Sovereign Programs is a quality choice for families and support it as a parent, coach and race official.
Role: Snowports Nordic SD22 liaison and Sport Development teacher. I teach Science in SD22’s Alternate and Online Programs as well as the online Sport Development course that our Academy skiers do to facilitate their daytime training. My philosophy, as the Sport Development teacher, is to support the vision of the Sovereign Coaching Staff and build the course around what is happening during the Academy daytime training and other Club activities. I have coached in Sovereign Programs from Jackrabbit 3/4 through to JD and have NCCP training to T2T for cross country. I also coach Youth Rowing where I am certified as a Learn to Row and RCA Coach. I hold a HBSc (Biochemistry) and M.Kin (Coaching Specialization – Rowing) both from UWO.
Other athletic experience: Basketball was my favourite sport in high school, but I also learned to row in the summer. I continued rowing at UWO as a member of the men’s lightweight varsity crew, ’86-’90. Rowing introduced me to friends (like my wife Pam), coaches, training, and racing. Along the way, we enjoyed memorable wins (because it took a while and we had come up short before) at Canadians, Canadian Henley, OUAA’s, and Head of the Charles. I still row and also enjoy skiing, biking, bocce, and an annual round of golf.
Eric Schryer – Biathlon Lead Coach
Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Eric began his journey in skiing and biathlon by striding and gliding around his property with his parents. After discovering biathlon he patiently waited until he was old enough and then began learning to shoot in his local air rifle biathlon program. This quickly evolved to teaching himself how to shoot .22 rifles with a small group of athletes. After racing domestically, Eric was quickly scooped up by the coaching world. Eric began coaching with the Chelsea Nordiq ski & biathlon club. Along with leading this talented group of biathletes, Eric coached at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and a multitude of Jr. IBU cups, IBU cups, and World Youth / Junior Championships with Team Canada. Eric is a member of Biathlon Canada’s Domestic Committee and is continuing his education in the field of psychology.
