In my firstever ski race, I missed my start, broke the strap on my ski, and ran into a large tree at speed. But I stuck with it, skiing poorly for decades until I took lessons and received coaching. I've been a member of ENSC for about 30 years. I taught and coordinated the Sunday Jackrabbits program for about 8 years when my children were of that age. I coordinated and raced in the biathlon program for 5 years, and I've been coaching in the Masters ski program for the past 4 years. Sharing the wonders of skiing and winter with others is personally fulfilling and satisfying. It's part of why I love winter and live in Edmonton.

Wietske has been the Lead Coach for the Adult group for 11 years, while passing on her passion for cross country skiing and competing. Like many other athletes, she started taking ENSC lessons as her children became better skiers and progressed through the groups after which she started to coach. 

Her favourite ski memory is finishing the last hill during the Masters World Cup at Sovereign Lakes, passing an American athlete while tons of spectators cheered and rang their bells. 

She competes in events from local loppets to the Masters World Cup level and is keen to take as many of her athletes to these races as she can.  She competes in the 55km with pack Canadian Birkebeiner every winter. Her goal is to help every cross-country skier be the best they can be.  She works as a Public Health Nurse in St. Albert and competes in triathlons in the summer from Sprint to Ironman distance.

Liz started skiing through the woods at a young age with her family and then picked it up again as an adult. After taking a few lessons with ENSC and getting hooked, she sooned joined the Masters program and is still participating 10 years later.  Liz’s favorite ski memories are journeying to Whitehorse to participate in the Buckwheat Loppet with husband Jeremy and the World Masters in Canmore. Her favorite place to ski is right from her front door to a nearby ravine on a ‘once a year’ snow day. 

Anand has been skiing with ENSC since he was eight, enjoys running, and has studied outdoor recreation. He brings an interest in learning from people and their understanding of Nordic ski technique, and collaborating with other coaches. Anand has been a Track Attack coach since the 2023-2024 season. His favourite place to ski is Lappe Nordic (Thunder Bay, Ontario) and skiing idol is Jessie Diggins of the US National Team.

Adam loves to ski, enjoy the outdoors, stay active in the winter and experience the sensation of gliding over snow. The science of gliding is of particular interest. Adam has been a member of ENSC since 2015, raced up to a nationals level, and has been a part of international teams as an expert wax technician. One of his favourite memories from skiing was a trip to Skoki Lodge and beyond around Deception Pass.

Gerhardt has been with the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club since 1991 when he started in the biathlon program. He won several National and North American Championship titles and went on to represent ENSC and Canada on the World Cup and at 3 World Championships.  Gerhardt is most happy when he’s gliding on two skis of any type including his telemark skis on back-country slopes. He is thrilled to be giving back as a coach for the Track Attack Program and helping others develop a life long love for skiing. 

Congratulations to Gerhardt for being the 2024-2025 Nordiq Alberta Coach of the Year!!

Although skiing for many years Nola only truly learned how to ski after joining ENSC. She joined the club in 2016 and has been coaching the Masters group since 2020. She came for the skiing and stayed for the people. She loves that there is always improvement to be had, and enjoys the camaraderie of working hard with like minded people.  

Allison started skiing at 5 years of age in Falls Creek, Australia where she grew up. During the winter months from Grades 3-6, Thursdays was skiing day at school!

Allison is new to Edmonton Nordic as of 2024-25, and is thoroughly enjoying coaching with the YD team. She has been coaching for more than 20 years, having worked as a coach for the Australian, Canadian, Portuguese and Filipino national ski teams at World Cups, World Junior/U23 Nordic Championships, World Nordic Championships, the 2024 Youth Olympic Games and countless AB Cups, NorAms, Loppets, FIS races and Nationals. Since moving to Canada she’s had the great fortune of being part of the amazing ski Club communities of Canmore Nordic and XC Bragg Creek where she coached wonderful athletes and worked with some brilliant coaches.

Allison loves cross country skiing because you're outside and you're solely responsible for propelling yourself through nature. There is no better feeling.

Favorite World Cup skier: Lihn Svahn

Alex Maycock is a PhD student at the University of Alberta and a certified exercise physiologist. He has been skiing for over two decades, first starting in Orangeville, Ontario at Mono Nordic, then racing with Nipissing University in North Bay. The 2024-25 season is his first year coaching with ENSC. A favourite ski highlight is the 2018 Canadian Ski Nationals in Thunder Bay.

Emma learned to ski when she was 5 with the UofC bunnies program. She loves skiing because it keeps her physically active during her graduate studies! But more so, she fell in love with biathlon during her years competing with both Foothills Nordic Ski Club and the Biathlon Alberta Training Center. Emma has been with ENSC for one year, and can't wait for more! Her favourite skiing memory is her first race on the world stage in Lenzerhiede, Switzerland- the energy from the crowd was amazing! Favourite world cup skiier is Rosanna Crawford, who Emma really looked up to when she was younger. 

Paul loves cross country skiing because it’s a great sport for any age and one can do it the whole life. It also gets him out in the winter and keeps him happy. Paul joined Edmonton Nordic back in 1985 to learn better how to skate ski. Seven years later he decided to take coaching courses and has coached ever since. It’s wonderful to see others making progress and to share the love of skiing. 

Bio coming… stay tuned!

Bio coming— stay tuned!

Dan is our Youth and Master’s biathlon coach. His highest level of coaching training is Gold Level Biathlon. Favourite place to ski: Goldbar! Or maybe Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

Dan’s favourite World Cup skier: Alison Mackie! And his favourite biathlete: Quentin Fillon Maillet, from France.

Trent began cross-country skiing at a young age with the Jackrabbits program in Camrose. Skiing casually through university and while raising a family, he returned to the sport eight years ago when he joined Edmonton Nordic. Mentored by Roy Merritt, Trent was inspired to take up coaching, a role he’s embraced for the past five years. Living in Alberta, Trent  has learned to fully enjoy the snow and embraces the winter season with enthusiasm. One of his favourite places to ski is Goldbar as it always has snow. He also loves to ski at Silverstar near Vernon BC in each November, where the conditions and scenery are always perfect. Grateful for the supportive ski club community, he feels honored to share his  love of the sport with others. 

Anders learned to XC skiing in Finland, where small club races frequently took place. When growing up, he always had a training buddy, competitor, and motivator in my identical twin brother, who was more interested in skiing than I was at first. 

Now years later, I am interested in passing on a great sport and a healthy lifestyle to the next generation, therefore coaching with ENSC.