Deirdra (Holmwood) Frank Joins the SLNC Programs Family

 

Deirda grew up in Vernon skiing with her parents and has been part of the Sovereign Lake ski community for many years. She started out as an athlete on the cross country and biathlon teams, competing in numerous races and events as part of the SLNC Ski Team. Following her younger years of racing, she has worked at Sovereign instructing in our S’Cool Ski Program and as lodge front counter staff.

More recently, Deirdra was co-leader for two seasons on the growing WinterFit Program at Sovereign Lake. Deirdra’s love for this sport has only ever grown throughout the years. She has always wanted to combine sports with her business management degree. Deirdra is excited to start her new position as the Programs Administrator and Skill Development Programs Lead.

“Sovereign Lake is like a home away from home for me.”

Deirda will be starting her new position with the club on September 2nd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Roach Joins the SLNC Coaching Team as Masters Lead Coach

 

Jessica began her nordic ski career with Team Hardwood, based in Ontario and ended it as the top Ontario Senior Woman skier in the 2019/20 season. Following her successful ski racing career during high school and university, and being able to compete in Scandinavia and throughout North America, it was time to shift focus from competing to coaching. Having the mentorship of her coach Jack Sasseville, she always knew she wanted to give back to the sport by coaching. Once retiring from racing, Jessica moved to BC and was the Head Coach at Nickel Plate Nordic Center near Penticton for the past two years. This past season she also coached for TeamBC CCBC at the Canada B-Tour and US SuperTour in Lake Placid, New York and Craftsbury, Vermont.

While training in Ontario, the Master’s race team trained and raced alongside the younger athletes. With this unique experience and coaching the Master’s Team at Nickel Plate, it was clear that she loved working with Masters athletes. When the opportunity at SLNC was presented, she jumped at the chance!

“SLNC is a spectacular ski facility and community, not to mention an amazing surrounding area”.

Jessica loves all the biking and skiing that is so close by and cannot wait for the snow to start falling.

 

We are really excited to have Jessica join the Sovereign Coaching Team with her extensive racing experience and a keen interest in working with adult skiers on our new Masters Performance Group and Masters Race Team Programs. She will help oversee all Masters Development Programming with the club and act as the Master’s Lead Coach on our Programs Committee as the representative of nearly 300 adult program participants.

Welcome Aboard, Jessica!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Programs Registration Launch Delayed Until July 20th

 

Summer has sprung upon us quickly over here at Sovereign and we need to make sure that all of our new programming options align with existing programs so we are taking a couple of extra weeks working with our new Programs staffers to create our game plan for the season to make sure that we are offering you the best value, most fun, and well-organized programming we can.

*A number of our programs such as the Masters Performance Group and Masters Race Team may start training prior to the registration launch date.

Thanks for your patience – SLNC Programs Committee

 

 

 

 

 

SLNDA Welcomes Eric Schryer as Biathlon Lead Coach

Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Eric began his journey in skiing and biathlon by striding and gliding around his property with his parents. After discovering biathlon he patiently waited until he was old enough and then began learning to shoot in his local air rifle biathlon program. This quickly evolved to teaching himself how to shoot .22 rifles with a small group of athletes. After racing domestically, Eric was quickly scooped up by the coaching world. Eric began coaching with the Chelsea Nordiq ski & biathlon club. Along with leading this talented group of biathletes, Eric coached at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, and a multitude of Jr. IBU cups, IBU cups, and World Youth / Junior Championships with Team Canada. Eric is a member of Biathlon Canada’s Domestic Committee and is continuing his education in the field of psychology.

Eric has spent the past two seasons living in Canmore, Alberta and coaching with the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre. Most recently, Eric served as the Head Coach for Team Canada at the 2022 World Youth / Junior Biathlon Championships.
Above all else, Eric values the relationships which are formed in this world of sport. Respect and passion are at the forefront of any interaction with Eric.
Eric is very excited to be joining the Nordic Dev Academy!
“This program aims to provide high quality development opportunities to athletes who can choose to simultaneously work on post secondary education while continuing their athletic career. While this is not a new concept in Canada, it is so important to expand our available resources as a country. I am thrilled to be a part of growing this amazing program!”
Please join us in welcoming Eric to the Sovereign Lake Coaching Family.

SLNC Job Posting: Full Time Academy Coach

As we continue to grow and expand its programs, particularly in the High-Performance stream, SLNC has approved the hiring of a second full-time year-round position to accompany Jacqueline Akerman at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club in the Sovereign Lake Nordic Development Academy (SLNDA). With the announcement of our new national development training centre this week, we have expanded our capacity to better serve athletes across the country not only in cross country but in the sport of biathlon for high school and post-secondary athletes. We have 24 High School Athletes and 12 Post Secondary Athletes for the 2022-23 racing season, a sold-out program!

Please review the Job Description HERE.

 

 

Salary: $55-65K based on skillset + $2K Moving Bonus + Benefits Package

Start Date: July 1st, 2022.

Application Deadline: May 20, 2022.

Contact: Jacqueline Akerman with your resume and references at [email protected]

 

 

 

 

Academy Program: Coach Chat / Open House

We would like to formally invite any potential athletes, family members, and their coaches to an open house discussion about the new Academy Ski and Biathlon Program as well as offer an opportunity to speak with our coaching team directly on a virtual meeting call this coming Monday at 7:30 PST.
Please join us and click on the link below to join the conversation!
——————————————————————————————-
Academy Program: Coach Chat / Open House
Mon, Apr 25, 2022 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM (PDT)Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/824223181

You can also dial in using your phone.
Canada: +1 (647) 497-9373

Access Code: 824-223-181

Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://meet.goto.com/install

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLNC Launches Canada’s Newest Training Centre

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2022

Building on the 10-year success of the SLNC high school Ski Academy program, SLNC will be launching Canada’s newest training centre for the 2022-23 season that is focused on high school and post-secondary athletes seeking to achieve both academic and athletic excellence. The SLNC Nordic Development Academy will fill a recognized gap in the long-term athlete development model. Seeking to keep teenagers engaged in sport throughout High School and University is a primary focus and goal. Providing a common daytime training schedule for athletes creates stronger team dynamics, increases focused training and recovery opportunities and provides a well-rounded approach to the training program. The goal is to create life-long skiers while assisting athletes to achieve their short and medium-term skiing performance goals.

 

Partnering with the Vernon School District #22 Snowsports Academy Program, University of British Columbia: Okanagan, and Okanagan College, the Academy will work with athletes to ensure scholastic excellence and create pathways to success throughout their high school and post-secondary career as an athlete.

 

“We recognize that there are some significant holes in our current system with regard to team training opportunities for athletes in Grade 11 and 12 and through the first few years of post-secondary education. We want to provide collaborative and inclusive training opportunities for motivated kids who may not have the capacity at smaller clubs nor have the 6 month long on-snow training season that SLNC is so well known for. Attrition from sport is rampant and we will offer an inclusive training and racing environment for athletes to excel”.

– Troy Hudson (SLNC General Manager)

 

Offering High School and Post-Secondary Training Programs in both Cross Country and Biathlon, SLNC has also announced that it will be hiring an additional Full-Time Year-Round HP Coach to help steer these programs into the future with a start date of June 1st, 2022. Applications are now being accepted through to March 30th.

 

I am thrilled to be advancing the opportunities for growth and excellence here at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. Join the SLNC Nordic Development Academy where the team thrives with world-class ski trails, hiking trails, biking, roller skiing, new biathlon facilities and a professionally run club! I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm and knowledge with you and am committed to guiding all team members to reach their potential. With the addition of a new full-time coaching position to work alongside me, we will be providing you with even more expertise and direction – we are looking forward to having you on the team!”

– Jacqueline Akerman (SLNC Head Coach)

 

The Sovereign Lake Nordic Development Academy is dedicated to placing athletes on the podium while also providing coaching courses and instructor courses to provide athletes with tools to become future industry professionals once their ski career ends or to offset some of their living expenses while in university. There are numerous employment opportunities within the ski club from teaching lessons to coaching Jack Rabbits or Biathlon Bears and working inside the day lodge.

 

“Congratulations to SNLC for this incredible initiative. To see such support for our student-athletes and recognition of the need for balance and accessibility is encouraging and well aligned with our long-term athlete development model. The addition of dedicated coaching staff to the already existing quality programming and infrastructure demonstrates a true commitment to this initiative. The student-athlete pathway is integral to the retention and development of our athletes, and we applaud SNLC and look forward to the launch of this program.” 

-Julie Beaulieu (Nordiq Canada Director of Development)

 

As the program unfolds, the SLNDA will expand working relationships with Nordiq Canada, Biathlon Canada, CCBC and Biathlon BC.

 

“We are excited that SLNC is providing high school aged biathletes who are on the competitive pathway a quality training environment, team and coaches! The SLNC Nordic Development Academy provides an opportunity to thrive in school, sport and life. Additionally, partnerships with UCBO and Okanagan College is a needed extension of the competitive pathway for post-secondary focused biathletes!”

-Jessica Blenkarn (Biathlon BC Head Coach and Technical Director)

 

Vernon BC offers some of the most spectacular winter and off-season training opportunities in the country with 3 lakes, 200+km of hiking and biking trails, endless paved backcountry roads, mild winters, close proximity to post-secondary education, and an international airport just 20 minutes from downtown Vernon, there is a lot to be excited about when considering a move to the SLNC Academy Program.

 

The Sovereign Lake Junior Development Academy is accepting applications for our first intake until May 1st, 2022. There are limited spaces available for the 2022-23 season.

Contact SLNC Head Coach, Jacqueline Akerman for more details at [email protected].

Check out our website for program details at the links below:

Ski Academy Resources Page

Biathlon Academy Resources Page

 

 

 

 

 

Last Day Extended Hours on Sunday April 11th: 7am – 4pm

Our Programs skiers are planning to do solo 50/75/100 km skis on Sunday morning before the snow softens. To support the group we will be opening the lodge at 7 am and making sure that the washrooms are open by then. Many of the kids are starting at 5 am so help us cheer them on. Good luck in your year-end push and please stop by the ticket windows when you are done to say bye! It has been a great, albeit strange season.

Attention all current and aspiring coaches!

COVID-19 has changed the landscape of all we do. However, at Sovereign Lake Nordic, we are making plans to proceed with all of our youth programming with necessary changes to keep our athletes, coaches, and our community safe!

One such strategy is to increase the number of coaches in our Skill Development Programs so we can keep our sub-groups small enough to enable appropriate facilitation.

If you are keen on becoming a coach and part of an awesome team look no further.
Sovereign Lake Nordic will cover the costs associated with your coaching education including seasonal clinics which in turn improve and help your own skiing. Coaches also receive a Team Jacket and usually have a season wrap up party.

If you are keen to contribute please contact Program Director, Eric de Nys at [email protected]

Let’s make the 2020-2021 season the best season yet!

Register by October 31st to win a $1000 Shopping Spree!

If you haven’t purchased your new 2020-21 season pass yet this sure is an amazing incentive!

All season pass registrants who have purchased passes between June and October 31st will be entered into this great early bird grand prize giveaway by Stussi Sport. Stussi is a HUGE supporter of our club and we figured what better incentive for cross country skiers than $1000 to spend in the Okanagan’s #1 Nordic Shop.

Thanks, Stussi for your donation and ongoing support!

Now… start dreaming about how you will spend your thousand bucks.

If you haven’t already done so, click on the link below to purchase your 2020-21 season passes today.

Season Passes