Fall Camp Nordic Ski Clinics

The 2008 Yellowstone Ski Festival Fall Camp Nordic ski clinics will be conducted during Thanksgiving week from November 25^th through 29^th. The Fall Camp Nordic ski clinics are open to skiers of all levels. With the exception of the Junior Racer's clinic, participants must be 16 years of age or older to register. There is information about our offerings for kids toward the bottom of the page!

The 3 and 5 day clinics teach both classic and skate skiing techniques. Our most frequently asked clinic question is: I just want to learn to skate ski - why do I need to know how to classic ski? The answer to that question is that the fundamentals of skate skiing (high hips, weight transfer, balance, etc…) lie in classic skiing technique. With years and years of coaching under our belts, we feel that to be a good skate skier you must also learn to be a good classic skier. Clinic participants should be sure to bring both classic (waxable) and skate skis to West Yellowstone.

On the morning of the first day of your clinic, our staff of elite instructors will assess each skier's level of ability and divide clinic participants into small groups based on ability. You will ski with that group for the duration of your clinic. Each day is broken up into two on-snow training sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Additional evening classroom sessions will focus on technique, waxing and training. There are several different clinics to choose from:

1. The traditional three day clinic will take place from November 27th – 29^th. The fee is $240.00

2. The three day women's clinic will take place from November 27th – 29^th. The curriculum for the women’s clinic is the same as that of the traditional three day clinic. The only difference between the two is that the women’s clinic is coached by women and, of course, enrollment is limited to women. The fee is $240.00

3. The five day clinic will take place from November 25^th – 29^th. The fee is $340.00

4. The one day skate clinics will take place on November 27th, 28th, or 29^th. The fee is $75.00. This clinic is also limited to 8 people per clinic per day - sign up now!

5. The two day Junior Racer's clinic for ages 11 to 15 will take place on November 28th and 29^th. The fee is $140. We need a minimum of 8 participants to conduct this clinic. Payments will be refunded in full if minimum participation is not met.  The clinic is full when we reach 16 participants.

Deposit Information for the Three and Five Day Clinics: A 50% deposit is due when you register for the three and five day clinics. Generally speaking, deposits are non-refundable though clinic organizers reserve the right to make exceptions to that rule.

Deposit Information for the One Day and Two Day Clinics: Full payment is due when you register for the half-day, one day and two day clinics. We collect full payment for the short term clinics to minimize administrative time on the day the clinic is scheduled to take place. In case of cancellation, 50% of the payment for these clinics is refundable.

A Little Clinic History: The Fall Camp Nordic ski clinics started in the mid-1980's. Drew Barney and a few other ski enthusiasts and professionals started the ball rolling by teaching a series of coaches' clinics. By the winter of 1991 - 1992, Drew had combined forces with Dick Hunt and Torbjorn Karlsen and they were offering clinics for citizen racers and individuals who just wanted to improve their technique. Over the years, Drew and Dick have managed to assemble coaching staffs composed of retired world class skiers and professional instructors. John Aalberg, Craig Searls, Emily McWatters, Dennis Oliphant, Scott McGee and Jack Hart are just a few of the many outstanding coaches that have coached our Fall Camp Nordic ski clinics.

Our goal is to make you a better skier and to ensure that you leave West Yellowstone with the knowledge and confidence you need to care for and prep your skis. Come and join our staff to get a "jump start" on your skating and classic techniques for the 2008 - 2009 ski season!

To register for your clinic, please follow this link: registration form  

Kid’s Ski Clinics and Activities

We are thrilled to report that the Montana Outdoor Science School will again be conducting our kid’s clinics. We are still working out the details for the week but we will update this site as soon as we have something worked out.