We are full for 2025 season, but we have group private lessons available -- register through your Ski Club Pro membership.  And private lessons (individual or group) are also available at your convenience.  Email xckids@blackhawkskiclub.org to learn more.

Welcome to Nordic Kids! We are so excited to have your skiers join us to learn how to cross country ski!

Nordic Kids provides:

• Weekly lessons for kids ages 5-12 for $50/skier and free parent-tot classes
• Ski rentals for $30 for the season (to be used during lessons and other times at Blackhawk trails only)
• Energetic instructors and assistants to help your skier grow in technique, endurance, and having fun in the snow!
• Fall & Spring Nordic Kids sessions for $30/skier to learn nordic hill bounding, improve agility,  and increase strength and fitness pre and post-winter season.  Limited to 30 skiers
• Junior Ski Team for experienced skiers interested in racing (all 4 NK color levels completed or equivalent and approval by director or coach)

What we need to make this year a success:

• YOU!  We need all parents to volunteer to help in many ways from early season ski prep to handing out gear to mixing hot cocoa!  Every parent needs to volunteer in some capacity to keep our program safe, fun and a great learning experience.  Sign up instructions will be sent following registration. 
• Instructors and Assistant instructors.  Email xckids@blackhawkskiclub.org to see how you can help.
• Early arrival times: We need all skiers, but especially those renting gear, to arrive 20 minutes ahead of lesson time. 

General Program Information:

The Blackhawk Nordic Kids Program is for children of all ages and abilities, parent-tot through age 12.*  The focus of this program is learning the fundamentals of cross country skiing (classic and skate technique) and having fun outdoors in the winter. Participants are separated into color groups, based on age & within an age group by ability, for instruction and ski games.

Nordic Kids Lessons are offered Sunday afternoons from 2:00-3:00 beginning on January 5, 2025 or Wednesday afternoons from 4:30-5:30pm beginning January 8, 2025. Lessons limited to 70 skiers per day. 

Parent-tot class (no charge) will be offered during Nordic Kids lessons as volunteers are available. This class is for parents who want to ski with a young child in a backpack or in a polk or ski alongside their young skier.  Children under 5 must begin in parent-tot class until they are ready to ski independently without a parent attending their lesson.

A parent or guardian is required to remain on the Blackhawk Ski Club premises during lessons.

Requirements: All participants must be members of Blackhawk Ski Club. All families must volunteer in some capacity. This program relies 100% on the time and effort of parents and volunteer instructors. 

Program Fee: $50 per child for the season.

Equipment: The club owns and maintains a fleet of youth cross country equipment (skis, boots, poles for classic skiing; skis, poles and most boot sizes for skate skiing). This equipment is available to rent for use during Nordic Kids sessions and at other times on Blackhawk trails. The rental fee is $30 per child for the season. 

Registration: Register online at www.blackhawkskiclub.org beginning September 10, 2024 (returning members) and September 24, 2024 (new members).  A confirmation email will be sent early October with details on volunteer sign up.  Updates for lessons (dependent on snow conditions) are sent via email prior to each week's lesson.

Nordic Combined: On Sundays from 12:30-1:30 Intro to Ski Jumping will be offered for skiers interested in learning Nordic Combined, which is an event that scores both ski jumping and nordic skiing. Separate program registration and fees (for both programs) is required.

Nordic Kids Junior Ski Team (JST): Meeting on Sundays and Wednesdays during Nordic Kids lessons, the Junior Ski Team welcomes those skiers who have a desire to take their love for skiing to the next level. The Junior Ski Team looks to provide skiers with a transition to the Middle School team. Goals of the program include building efficiency in climbing, descending and cornering, using kick-double pole and double pole effectively, improving proficiency of v1, v2, and v2 alternate, and learning racing tips/strategy.  The program will work with both classic and skate technique. All skiers will be expected to have equipment (owned or rented) for both skate and classic technique. Skiers are highly encouraged to have their own boots if they are renting skis and poles. The program is open to skiers who have completed all 4 color levels of Nordic Kids or reached the equivalent at another program.  If interested, please email xckids@blackhawkskiclub.org with a description of your skier’s interest in the team and skiing experience prior to registration. Program cost $100.

Blackhawk Nordic Ski Team (BNST) is a great opportunity to ski with others from around Dane county and enjoy the winter outdoors.   Curriculum is based on racing, and skiers are encouraged to race.  Practices are twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays 5:30-7.  Email chris.lawn@blackhawkskiclub.org for more info.

Questions: Questions can be directed to Amy Grunewald Mattison at xckids@blackhawkskiclub.org