Page 12 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 106

12 Issue #106 November 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Learn To XC Ski for Kids and Adults

By Jean Pierre Tibi

ummerstown Trails - Again this
Syear, the Jackrabbit Program
for kids aged 3 to 12 will be
offered this coming winter season
by the Summerstown Coyote
Nordiq Club, which is an entity of
the Friends of the Summerstown
Trails. The Jackrabbit Program is
a national program developed and
delivered by Cross-Country Ski
Canada.

Named after Herman “Jackrabbit”
Johansen, a Norwegian credited
with introducing cross-country
skiing to Canada and the United
States in the 1920s and 30s, the
overall objective of the Jackrabbit
Program is to assist children aged
3 to 12 in developing a love of the
outdoors, a healthy lifestyle, and a
good level of physical fitness using
cross-country skiing, focusing on
fun activities and games. Instructor René Sauvé “doing the flamingo” with the kids during a Jackrabbit session at the Summerstown
Trails Photo Submitted
The sessions will be led by NCCP
(National Coaching Certification instructor René Sauvé. The sessions
Program) instructor René Sauvé will be offered on Saturday
who has close to 30 years of mornings and will consist of eight
experience in leading this program, one hour-long sessions. For those
most notably at the Pembroke who don’t own the required ski
Nordic Ski Club. René’s motto is equipment, a season rental package
“Ski for Life”, and he states, “You will be offered to the participants.
can start cross-country skiing at Register early, as the number of
age 3 and enjoy it throughout your participants is limited.
life, even when you’re in your 80’s FOTST president, Vic Leroux
and 90’s.” concludes by saying: “The Friends
The participants will be divided of the Summerstown Trails are
into two groups: the “Bunny indeed fortunate to have an
Rabbits” for kids aged 3 to 5, and instructor like René to offer these
the “Jackrabbits” for those 6 to 12. programs. As past participants
The sessions for both programs will attest, René is a great teacher
be offered on Sunday afternoons and his enthusiasm is boundless.
at 1:00 p.m., starting January 9th. The Summerstown Trails provide
A season rental package for the the perfect setting to offer these
equipment is also offered. programs and we have even laid
out a special fun area for the kids
Cross-country ski lessons will
also be offered for adults with program.”
separate classes offered for classic For all these courses, all public
and for skate skiing. The courses health measures will be enforced in
will consist of basic instruction order to offer a safe environment to
for both styles of skiing. Whether the volunteers and participants. Visit
you’re a beginner or just want to the Summerstown Trails website
improve your technique, these at www.summerstowntrails.
courses will make your enjoyment com for more information and to
of being outdoors in the wintertime register for these programs. The
even greater. These sessions will Summerstown Trails are situated
also be led by NCCP (National on Summerstown Road, 1.6 km Playing soccer on skis during a Jackrabbit session at the Summerstown
Coaching Certification Program) north of exit 804 of the 401. Trails Photo Submitted