For beginner skiers choosing where to start, both Classic (CL) and Skate (SK) could be great starting points in your skiing journey. However, based on your background and your skiing goals, your choice might become more obvious.

1. Does your sporting background give you a head start?

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If you come from downhill skiing background, skate skiing might feel more native, as it is very similar to skiing up toward the chairlift. Those with hockey or ice skating backgrounds also might relate more naturally to SK. If that's not you, CL is probably the easier starting point, because it feels more like walking.

2. Why you might want to start with CL:

• More trail choices. In Kananaskis and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, for example, there are more places groomed for CL than for SK.

• CL is more forgiving when you feel gassed, because you can still shuffle along in CL tracks, even out of breath. On skate skis, if you're gassed and can't push forcefully, you're walking in herringbone pattern = slow & no fun.

• Prep is minimal. With skin skis (that little strip of "hair" under the ski), you don't have to apply any kick wax, nowadays, so for skis maintenance, CL it's just as simple as in SK.

3. Why you might want to start with SK:

• Beginners usually move faster in SK almost right away, which is way more fun (for some).

• You get a terrific workout in a very short amount of time, because beginner SK skiers tend to struggle with finding a relaxing pace, and thus hammer and get a very efficient, fast and fun workout.

• No skis prep required!!!

4. Do you plan to ski with family or friends?

If you've got other ski buddies you plan to ski with, it's worth learning the same technique they do, so that you can all ski the same trails together and be closer to the same speed.

5. Do you need different gear for each? = YES!

• Boots: SK boots have higher, stiffer cuffs; CL boots look more like a cycling shoe.

• Skis: SK skis are shorter and stiffer; CL skis are longer and more supple.

• Poles: SK poles are longer, CL poles are shorter.

In general, if you’re totally new to gliding and winter sports, we recommend you start in CL. If you have downhill skiing, ice skating, or cycling background, or are blessed with terrific cardio shape, & you love going fast, then SK might feel more fun for you to start with.

Finally, if you end up loving either SK or CL, you don't have to master one before starting the other. You can actually learn CL and SK during the same winter season, concurrently (which you totally should do, by the way!!! 😊). 

Being able to ski both makes you a more versatile skier, since the trails are groomed differently for each, and being flexible means you can adapt to ski any trail and in any condition.

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We have skiers of all abilities and all fitness levels join the ski club. If you're feeling out of shape and doubting whether you can ski, please reach out to us first. Best is to send an email to Dasha at skidash@gmail.com or text 403-679-1699, and we can chat about where you're at, and whether our programs are a good fit.

That said, most people at an average fitness level fit right in with the club. The difference makier isn't where you're starting from, but more about how much time you can commit to skiing over the winter. Those skiers who clear out their schedules and commit to skiing regularly in group sessions are the ones who really show improvement and finish the ski season noticeably stronger and fitter. If you're not feeling very fit right now but you're keen to get out and ski as much as possible and keep learning, you'll fit right in, and you'll see real improvement, both in your skiing technique & your stamina.

We recommend you commit to showing up 2 times / wk for club sessions, from early November to the end of March. And then, as an added bonus, also try to ski on your own on 1-2 extra times / week (say, on Sundays or maybe another weeknight or weekday).

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How Exciting! You're doing a Loppet!

Congratulations, but also don't put too much pressure on yourself. What matters most is finding gratitude (and a smile on your face!) that you're so fortunate that you get to do this skiing and ski evening thing: your body is healthy enough to ski, you have time for it, the financial means, and loved ones who lets you go ski your heart out for hours on a Saturday or Sunday (or both?).

Find your joy in skiing long distance and chasing downhills, kilometers, and the finish line celebration.

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Now, a few practical notes: start bold - dress cold, because you'll warm up quite a bit once you're moving. And if your race will take more than an hour, bring fuel (gels or gummies work great - easy to chew and do not tend to freeze solid) and fluids. Also, consume more than you think you'll need. You're burning a lot of energy skiing vigorously for a long time, and it adds up faster than it feels like it should.
 

As for how to actually prepare? Join Space Dogs club for the season, and come learn during out club ski sessions!

All of our coaches come from racing backgrounds and are quite accomplished racers who raced 100's of events and know exactly what a loppet asks of you, and how to get you ready for it.

Technique Clinics

A technique clinic usually has a theme and runs about an 1 hour 15 minutes, with very low coach to participant ration (all our programs are 8 skiers to coach, or fewer). Expect the following clinic flow:

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First 10–15 minutes: You ski a bit, and we assess your level & your abilities. The coach establishes your baseline by watching you ski, asking questions, and getting a feel for where everyone's at. This assessment shapes how the rest of the lesson is designed.

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The next 45 minutes: Learning & practicing technique progressions. We always start with the simplest movements and explaining the theory behind it (why you should move a certain way, and what happens when you don't), and then gradually increasing the progression’ complexity as the skiers learn each step.

Everyone learns at their own pace, and that's completely normal. Some are fast learners and some take longer to really understand a movement but then execute it beautifully once it clicks. Skiers with more muscle mass, better body awareness, better balance or lots of experience in other sports often learn faster, while those newer to gliding sports or winter in general may need a bit more time practicing the progressions and that is totally ok. We always try to teach to the pace of the individual.

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Last 10-15 minutes: Recap what was covered, answer questions, give more personalized feedback, and point you toward what to practice next. Sometimes we assign a bit of “homework" if you want to keep improving on it on your own.

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Season Membership Sessions: these sessions usually run differently depending on the day of the week:

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Weeknights (~1.5 hrs) at Confederation Golf Course

• 15-minute warm-up: easy skiing at your own pace, feeling the snow, finding glide and balance, and getting the blood moving.

• Drill-based work on technique, or interval training on snow for stronger groups, that still incorporates plenty of technical elements.

• A cool-down, or sometimes a skiing-based game in lieu. Games are a great way to internalize movement patterns naturally, and they're fun.

Weekends (2 hours): We head out to the mountains, location is grooming-dependent, and mileage is an important focus, plus technique!!! We usually start with a quick chat about the session’s theme and goals, then get out and ski as a group, working on technique along the way, rather than stopping a lot. We also typically try to film video on weekends to help with technique feedback.

We have the best coaches and the best participants!!!! Most come back year after year after year. We simply cannot get rid of them, they're all a bunch of resilient old dogs! Other clubs have told us that we have the best coaches. You gotta think we're doing something right!