Page 52 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 95

52 Issue #95 December 2020 www.sportsenergynews.com

Learn to XC Ski For Kids and Adults

By Jean-Pierre Tibi

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

The sessions will be led by NCCP
(National Coaching Certification Program instructor Rene Sauvé shown here “doing like popcorn” with some of the kids in last year’s
Program) instructor René Sauvé, Jackrabbit Program. Photo Submitted

No Change of Opponents who has close to 30 years of Certification Program) instructor

experience in leading this program, René Sauvé, who led these programs
in Sight for the Jr. B most notably at the Pembroke last year. The sessions will be offered

Nordic Ski Club. René’s motto is, on Sunday mornings and will consist
Char Lan Rebels “Ski for Life.” He explains, “You of eight 1-hour sessions. For those

can start cross-country skiing at age who don’t own the required ski
facilities,” says Carter. 3 and enjoy it throughout your life, equipment, a season rental package
However, Carter says that the team even when you’re in your 80’s and will be offered to the participants.
continues to wonder why they are not 90’s.” FOTST president, Vic Leroux
allowed to get back up and running
This year, participants will be concludes by saying: “The
with region cases at a minimum and divided into two groups: the “Bunny Summerstown Trails provide the
having proven that they can play in a
By Molly Kett safe environment. Rabbits” for kids aged 3 to 5, and perfect setting to offer this new
the “Jackrabbits” for those 6 to 12 program: it’s outdoors, our main
“The Maritimes and Western years old. The sessions for both trail is more than two metres wide,
ccording to coach Jeff Carter, Canada have begun League play,”
Athe altered COVID-19 hockey says Carter. “The hope is that we programs will be offered on Sunday and we have developed a COVID
season continues to drag on with no get to switch to a new opponent in afternoons at 1:00 p.m., starting master plan in order to offer a safe
changes of opponents in sight for the December and play some games and January 10, 2021, consisting of eight environment to our volunteers and
Char Lan Jr. B team. The team has start the league with smaller divisions sessions for the younger group and participants in which to conduct
played six non-contact scrimmages in January. If not, most believe that ten sessions for the older group. our activities. This plan meets the
versus Alexandria Glens, with no the season will be lost, which would XC Ski Lessons - Cross-country requirements of the Eastern Ontario
games in November due to the be very disappointing to all.” Health Unit.”
region’s orange level. ski lessons will again be offered
With hockey being so important to this year for students and adults. Visit the Summerstown Trails
“The good news is our sixteen- our community, we hope to see our This year, separate classes offered website at www.summerstowntrails.
team league with 368 players and local teams continue to develop, with for classic and for skate skiing. com for more information and to
coaching staff has had zero cases of some semblance of regular game play The courses will consist of basic register for these programs.
COVID-19 up to this point as a result soon. In the meantime, continuous
of players and arenas doing a good development, and the chance to instruction for both styles of skiing. The Summerstown Trails are
job with organizing social distancing simply be on the ice needs to be seen These sessions will also be led situated on Summerstown Road, 1.6
in dressing rooms and throughout the as a positive. by NCCP (National Coaching km north of exit 804 along the 401.