Youth Program:

1. Where do I get skate and classic skis and boots?

You can purchase these from the ski swap, through the ENSC facebook page or at Fast Trax or Track and Trail where you can mention that you are an ENSC member and receive 10% off.

2. Why do I need to have roller skis? What else do I need to have with the skis? Where do I get them?

If your athlete is in U14 or higher, they must have roller skis because if the group is roller skiing, there will only be coaching support for roller skiing. We don’t have enough coaches to support two or more programs on the same night. Roller skis need skate boots with NNN bindings, a set of poles without the basket and a helmet. The club will be selling used roller skis for $45. We will also offer a mini workshop for parents and athletes on maintaining their roller skis. 

3. Can I use skin skis for racing?

Yes, skin skis are allowed at the Alberta Cup and Calforex races, however, we recommend trying to find waxable skis. Skate skis are required for biathlon rifles.

4. I don’t know how to wax skis for my kids (or myself). 

This year, we will offer a waxing clinic to teach parents and older athletes how to put on the best wax for your skis. 

5. I’d like to know that my coaches are trained. How or where do they get training? May I coach as well?

All of our coaches have a minimum of Community Coaching from Nordiq Canada. Many of them have further training through the National Coaching Association following the Canadian Training for LIfe model. As well, all of our coaches have submitted a current police check and done the Safe Sport module from Nordiq Canada. You are welcome to find out more about coaching for ENSC by speaking with a coach. We also encourage volunteers to ski with our groups as a parent helper. 

6. What is the Safe Sport module? Why do I have to do it? 

This module is mandatory as per Nordiq Canada for all volunteers and is highly recommended for all parents. It is also mandatory for any athletes who plan to race. It takes about 1.5 hours to complete and does not have to be repeated.  Safe Sport Training

7. What happens if I come late? What if my athlete has a conflict? Can I make up the missed time by coming on Thursdays?

If you come late, you may try to text the coach to find out where they are; however, if they do not respond, it is your responsibility to stay with your child. Coaches will not wait for late athletes - our club starts on time and ends on time. If you have a conflict with a Tuesday or Saturday, your athlete misses that class. There is no availability to make up the class on Thursdays.

8. Brrr - it's cold out. What is the cold weather policy to cancel?

For U10 and all Eco-aims we have a -15 with wind chill cutoff. Athletes at this age often don’t have the appropriate base layers and the eco-aims don’t work well at colder temperatures

For U12 and up, we have a -20 with wind chill policy. If it’s -18, we want you to make sure your athlete is dressed for the weather. This means that the athlete has a base layer that is not cotton, and a number of layers that will allow air to insulate them all covered by a wind breaker of some sort. The athlete should also have a warm coat to change into post-workout.

9. Why do I need to supply a headlamp? 

Athletes need to be visible to other park patrons and they need to be able to see where they are going. This is to keep our athletes safe. 

10. I see that the Club is offering t-shirts for sale. How do I know what size to buy? How can I make a purchase?

Here is a sizing chart. Long sleeve Sizing Chart This year, the teeshirts are long sleeved so athletes can choose to use them as an optional race shirt rather than purchasing a complete kit. You can make a purchase by filling in this google form: Teeshirt purchase form

11. Do I need to buy a racing kit (outfit)? 

No, we do not require athletes who race with ENSC to have a racing kit, however, it is certainly encouraged as the athlete will feel like a team member. Parents within the program often have kits that have been outgrown - please talk to your athlete’s coach. Here is the website to order racing gear: https://jakroo.com/store-front?storeId=HkdAMVRVY

12. Why is the cost for the Racing Program so expensive? 

Racing is expensive. Coaches need to support the racers at these events which means they need to travel, and stay at races that are away from Edmonton. Waxing is supplied for the racing team and wax costs a lot of money as does the wax technician who needs to be there to wax all the racers’ skis. As well, the club maintains both a set of TEST skate and classic skis to determine the most appropriate wax that will allow your athlete to have a great race. 

13. What if my athlete decides that they love racing? Can I pay for one race at a time? What if races are cancelled due to poor weather? Do I get a refund?

If your athlete chooses to race more than one weekend, you will be charged the fee for the racing program or alternatively you may pay $200 per weekend. This is non-negotiable. We do not give refunds due to race cancellations. 

14. Am I able to fund-raise to alleviate some of the costs of the racing program?

Yes, the club encourages fundraising. Please speak with your athlete’s coach to get more information.