Windsor Park Nordic Centre

Become a Special Olympics Manitoba Coach

Help make a difference in an athlete’s life today by joining the team of program volunteers and coaches who directly provide training for athletes in cross country skiing. They work with athletes to improve basic motor skills and prepare athletes for competition. The time commitment is one to two sessions each week for 1 to 2 1⁄2 hours (up to the coach). Some weekends are required for competition. Be a part of athletes achieving their goals and capture the spirit of Special Olympics! 

We are currently searching for a Head Coach (or 2 people to Co-Head Coach) in the Winnipeg Region to be able to start up our cross country skiing program. Appropriate training and screening measures will be provided.

Qualifications:

  • Able to work in a team setting as well as one-on-one with athletes.
  • Have some knowledge about cross country skiing.
  • Some coaching experience is preferred. 
  • Able to communicate instructions effectively.
  • Must be 18 years of age or older.

Main Responsibilities:

  • Plan club activities for the season.
  • Regularly communicate with athletes, volunteers, and caregivers.
  • Facilitate practices with assistant coaches with the safety and well-being of the athletes always coming first.
  • Attend competitions with athletes regularly.

For more information on the role, please contact Kayla Kasian at kkasian@specialolympics.mb.ca.

Windsor Park Nordic Centre Opening Day – Saturday December 3rd, 2022

Windsor Park Nordic Centre trails and clubhouse will be official open this weekend, Saturday December 3rd (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM).

Please purchase your season or day pass online or in the clubhouse.

The café will be open and rental equipment is first-come-first-serve.

Online lesson registration will open soon. In the meantime, you can book a private or semi-private or family lesson with the clubhouse staff.

More information here: windsorparknordic.ca

Become a Certified CANSI Instructor

Have you ever thought about becoming a nationally certified cross country ski instructor?

If you are passionate about skiing, want to continue to improve your technique, and want to help new, beginner or intermediate skiers to ski with confidence, becoming a certified instructor could be the right fit for you!

Perks of becoming a certified Level 1 Ski Instructor with Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (CANSI) include: 

  • Improving your technique and teaching ability through the course
  • Insurance coverage included with your annual membership
  • Access to fantastic professional development workshops locally with coaching by experienced instructors
  • Opportunities to join national CANSI courses
  • A reward each lesson when you see skiers improve while enjoying being outdoors on the snow.

There is a huge demand for ski instructors each winter at Windsor Park Nordic Centre. Only CANSI certified instructors are able to teach at the facility, and are paid an hourly fee for group and semi-private lessons taught throughout the winter, another perk!

This winter, there will be a CANSI Level I certification course at Windsor Park Nordic Centre on January 7 and 21, 2023 (plus some on-line sessions).  This course occurs only every few years, so take advantage of this opportunity! 

If you are uncertain about your skiing ability or want more information about CANSI, come out to our CANSI Meet Up and Info Session at Windsor Park Nordic Centre on Saturday, December 17 at 1:00 pm.  

Contact Ken Schykulski at kschyk@mymts.net to register or for any CANSI-related questions!  

Swap Shop Cancelled (for the 3rd year in a row)

CCSAM has again decided to cancel the annual Swap Shop. It had been held in mid November for over 30 years.

In recent years, the vast majority of equipment for sale at the Swap Shop has come from local ski shops who are clearing out previous years’ stock. Again this year, there is little to clear out, so the Swap Shop would have had a shortage of items for purchase.

There are a number of online buy & sell platforms that individuals can use to buy or sell cross country ski items — Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji are the two most obvious. In particular, there is a Manitoba Cross Country ski gear Buy, Sell and trade Facebook group that has almost 2600 members.

Hopefully you’ll find what you need.