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Dates: Starts early January for approximately 10 weeks, ending in early March (Our instructor is sometimes unavailable for the weekend of the Canadian Ski Marathon; all Challenge members are encouraged to ski in the Marathon.)
While lessons are almost never cancelled, if the weather does not cooperate, the lesson will be made up at the end of the season (again, weather permitting).
About the Challenge program
The Challenge program is aimed at the accomplished adolescent skier who has honed his technique through Jackrabbit lessons and is ready to venture out for longer skis on more varied terrain.
Coach Rick Nesbitt provides individual instruction on the trails, skiing with each participant from time to time throughout the day. In this way, participants improve in both their technique and endurance throughout the season.
The emphasis in the program is on learning through fun on skis. From spontaneous games of handball played on frozen lakes, to campfires with hotdogs and marshmallows enjoyed on the trails, to a skiathlon featurning jumps, slalom races and downhill runs, the Challenge group has a blast in the outdoors. The program caps off its season with a weekend of winter camping. As Rick puts it, the aim of the program is "to extract the most out of winter: the most trails, the most terrain, the most air, the most fun."
About the Instructor
Rick grew up in Montreal, but spent his weekends and summers in Morin Heights. A skier since childhood, he became a devoté of Cross Country skiing in his teenage years, when his father opened up Scan Sport, a store specializing in the sale of imported Nordic ski equipment.
Rick began teaching Alpine skiing at the age of sixteen, and started teaching Cross Country skiing at nineteen.
As an adult, Rick settled with his family in Morin Heights. He has been involved in the sport ever since. Here are some of his accomplishments:
- Instructeur pisteur-secouriste
- Supervisor of the Cross Country trail network system for the municipality of Morin Heights
- Head coach, the Challenge Program, Viking Ski Club, 1998-2008; 2011-2012.
- CANSI (Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors), level 3
- NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program), level 2
- Telemark Course Conductor
- CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors' Alliance), level 1
- Experienced leader of outdoor expeditions (including weeklong expeditions in the Rocky Mountains, the Laurentians, and other places)
- Coureur de Bois, Canadian Ski Marathon (2 gold bars)
Cross Country skiing remains a family affair with the Nesbitts. His wife, Sylvie Bouffard was the Eastern Canadian Telemark Champion for two years in a row. His eldest daughter Audrey Bouffard Nesbitt was a member of the Quebec Cross Country team for two years, while his youngest daughter, Olivia Bouffard Nesbitt, is a current member of the Junior National Team. She is also the 2011 Junior Canadian Champion in Nordic Skiing.
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