West River Nordic aims to support and encourage our young skiers and their families to learn and enjoy cross country skiing. All skiers will practice balance, agility and speed techniques through trail skiing and games. 

K- 8th Grades - (classic style)

All skiers in K-8 grade are welcome. Practice is on Friday and is our largest group of skiers and allows kids of all ability levels to have fun on snow. The practices typically have 45 min. of group skiing followed by group games on skis. 

Friday (classic) - typically at Wild Wings XC Center from 3:15 – 4:30pm.

Practice locations might vary based on snow conditions. All dryland practices are included for all skiers. 

2nd-8th Grades

This program is open for skiers in 2-8 grades, who have had at least one year of Friday practices. The 2-day skiers will be introduced to the Skate technique on Mondays, ski a little more distance on the trails and still include games at the end of practice.

Mondays (skating) - typically at Viking XC Center from 3:15 – 4:30pm. 

Friday (classic) - typically at Wild Wings XC Center from 3:15 – 4:30pm.

5th-8th Grades

This program is open for skiers in 5-8 grades, who have at least one year in the 2-day program. 3-Day skiers typically participate in several of the local area races throughout the season and have a desire to get a lot of time on snow. Wednesday practices can be skate or classic and normally take place at Stratton with coaching from the SMS coaches and current SMS skiers. The additional day allows skiers to work with a higher level of coaching. 

Mondays (skating) typically at Viking XC Center from 3:15 – 4:30pm. 

Wednesdays (skate or classic) typically at Stratton w/SMS Nordic coaches 3:30-4:30pm

Friday (classic) typically at Wild Wings XC Center from 3:15 – 4:30pm.

K-8th Grades

Dryland training is held at Flood Brook School from 3:15-4:30 on Friday's starting in mid-November, and until there is enough snow to have ski practice. The training consists of running and playing games on the soccer field and woods trails at Flood Brook.

West River Nordic Club is part of the larger New England Bill Koch League (NEBKL). Both entities are members of NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Association).  The mission of the New England Bill Koch League (NEBKL) is to introduce young people to the lifelong sport of cross-country skiing with all of its recreational, social, fitness, and competitive opportunities.

THANK YOU to our local ski venues - Wild Wings XC Ski Center, Stratton Nordic Center & Viking Nordic Center for their ongoing support of our program!