FAQ

🌟 What are JNQ races all about? These races are a blend of intense competition and unparalleled skiing experiences, especially in the Midwest region. Spanning across four weekends, you'll have a race each on Saturday and Sunday - adding up to 8 golden opportunities to earn qualifying points. Excel here and you might be on your way to joining the ranks of the Great Lakes Junior National Team!

🤔 Who are these races meant for? These races are ideal for anyone looking to elevate their skiing prowess. They welcome skiers of various experience levels, from those making strides in WI high school skiing to the top athletes across WI, MI, IN, KY, and OH. Even if you’re not in the top echelons yet, participating can give you invaluable experience. And remember, it's age-group based. So, you're racing against peers your age, not necessarily the most seasoned.

💡 Planning on Nordic ski racing in college? JNQ races are crucial. They provide college coaches with a yardstick to gauge your skills and progress relative to other athletes.

📅 How many JNQ races matter for the Junior Nationals qualification? Out of the 8 races, your top 4 performances are considered, regardless of the technique or race format. If aiming for the Junior National Championships, it's wise to participate in as many races as possible. If it’s your first year at JNQ racing and you're still finding your footing, perhaps start with 2 or 3 weekends.

For more detailed logistics on JNQ races, please visit the CXC website. 

CVN skiers who have qualified for the Junior National Championship (listed alphabetically):

• Aidan Ecker (2022 (CXC U16 Trip), 2023)

• Ben Loomis (2015, 2016)

• Fran Peterson (2022, 2023)

• Jack Dahlby (2022, 2023)

• Kristian (Toivo) Hudacek (2022, 2023)

• Madyson Rosenberger (2022, 2023)

You can't sugarcoat it; cross country skiing can be an expensive sport. However, there is no more budget-friendly route for a young person to enter the sport than through a club team like Chippewa Valley Nordic. Our staff takes accessible skiing very seriously and would love to work with families one-on-one to ensure interested kids are provided every available opportunity to ski on good equipment, in warm athletic gear.

For all Families:

• If you are brand new to skiing and plan to (or already) attend Kickin' Kids sessions on Monday evenings, and especially if you are of middle school age, you may benefit from signing up for Spring Street Sports's exchange program. This $320+ buy-in program allows you to exchange your gear as your child grows out of it, but can often be limited to classic skis, and typically fishscales (vs waxable skis more geared toward racing). 

• Once your child begins racing and skating, and really at any time, you should consider attending annual ski swaps. There are swaps hosted throughout WI and MN, namely at Spring Street Sports in Chippewa Falls WI, in Hayward WI, Madison WI, Duluth MN, Minneapolis MN, etc. These swaps provide a great opportunity to find all kinds of used but solid gear from skis, poles, boots, bindings, clothing, and more at a deeply discounted cost.

Just the Basics:

• Skis: Basic recreational cross-country skis can range from $100 to $300. You can sometimes find packages (including skis, boots, bindings, and poles) which can offer savings over buying each item separately.

• Poles: Budget-friendly poles can cost anywhere from $20 to $50.

• Boots: A decent pair of beginner's cross-country ski boots can be in the range of $50 to $150.

• Bindings: If they're not included with your ski package, expect to pay around $40 to $80 for entry-level bindings. However, many skis come with bindings already mounted.

• Clothing: Proper cross country skiing attire doesn't need to be overly expensive, especially if you're just starting out:

Base Layers (top and bottom): $20-$50 each

Insulated Jacket: $50-$150

Ski Pants: $40-$100

Ski Socks: $10-$25 per pair

Gloves or Mittens: $20-$50

Hat or Headband: $10-$30

Total Budget-Friendly Estimate: $370 - $835

Tips to Save Money:

• Buy Used: Look for used equipment sales, often hosted by local ski clubs or at ski swaps. Many people upgrade their gear and sell off their perfectly good older equipment.

• Rent Before Buying: If you're unsure about making a commitment, many ski centers offer rental equipment. This can be a good way to test out the sport without a significant upfront investment.

• End-of-Season Sales: Shops will often offer significant discounts at the end of the skiing season.

• Look for Package Deals: As mentioned earlier, some stores offer package deals that can be cheaper than buying items separately.

• Prioritize: If budget is a serious concern, focus on getting the essential gear first.

Our criteria for cancelling CVN practices due to inclement weather include lightning-producing storms or heavy rain during the dry land portion of the season in late Fall, and extremely cold conditions during the skiable portion of the season through the Winter. The cold threshold is typically set at anything -10F or below, but wind chill and humidity are factored into our assessments of what's suitable and safe for practice. Our head coach will always send out communication well ahead of cancellations with recommendations for alternative workouts for each group.

Throughout our season, and really throughout the year, there are many opportunities to directly and indirectly support CVN. As a subsidiary of the Eau Claire Ski Striders 501c3, there are fundraising campaigns for the latter organization that can directly benefit our ski club, such as the Trails Gala happening this year on November 11. At our meets, helping out with checking kids in, finding their bib, keeping gear organized in a crowded warming shelter, or bringing a delicious home baked item for a post-race snack are all wonderful ways to contribute. This year, we are planning on hosting some Tuesday night citizen races at Tower Ridge that will serve in part as an ongoing fundraiser for CVN and the Ski Striders, and parents are encouraged to attend, take part, and motivate others too!

There is absolutely cohesion between the CVN Ski Team and Kickin' Kids, and most of our skiers local to the Chippewa Valley region originate in that program. A number of our coaches also coach Kickin' Kids groups during Monday evenings, while a handful of CVN coaches focus on the CVN team specifically. If your child is of middle school or high school age and has any interest in taking their skiing to the next level, being part of a team, or (ideally) taking part in races, they are absolutely welcome to join the team! It doesn't matter if they are still a beginning skate skier, have never raced before, or couldn't tell you confidently the difference between V2 and V1. If they're excited about skiing, well, so are we :).

If you/your child has no interest whatsoever in ski racing (though we really encourage they give it a try, especially at one of our Tuesday night citizen races at Tower), Kickin' Kids welcomes skiers through high school age and may be their best fit.

CVN has its own budget and bulk order for race wax every season, and our coaches provide night-before and morning-of waxing services for all racers at meets. Parents are invited to take part in the team's bulk wax order, where they can pick from the entire spectrum of wax products at a generous team discounted rate, and will receive emails about it ahead of time. We are also happy to consult with parents who plan on doing their own waxing at home. That said, whether your child uses the same pair of skis for practice and racing or they have their own race skis, you are welcome to take advantage of CVN's waxing services prior to meets.

A (Very) Brief Primer on Waxing:

Skate Skis

• Purpose: To minimize friction as the entire ski base glides over the snow.

• Wax Application: Applied to the entire base of the ski.

• Method (Iron-on wax):

  • Clean the ski base.

  • Melt the wax onto the ski using an iron

  • Allow the wax to cool.

  • Scrape off excess wax using a plastic scraper.

  • Brush the base with nylon or horsehair brushes to bring out the structure and finish the waxing process.

• Method (Spray wax):

• Clean the ski base to ensure it's free from old wax and dirt.

• Shake the spray can thoroughly.

• Spray the wax evenly over the entire base, holding the can approximately 4-6 inches away from the ski.

• Allow the wax to dry for the specified time, usually a few minutes.

• Optionally, cork or rub the base to smooth out the wax and improve glide.

• Some skiers choose to finish with a brush (like nylon) to polish the base and enhance the structure.

Classic Skis

• Purpose: To provide grip when the skier kicks off, while still allowing for glide.

• Wax Application: Applied to the middle section of the ski, known as the "kick zone" or "wax pocket". The exact size of this zone can vary depending on skier's weight and ski flex.

• Types:

  • Hard wax: For cold and new snow conditions. Applied in thin layers and corked in.

  • Klister: A sticky, gooey wax for warm, wet, or icy conditions.

• Method:

  • Determine the kick zone on your skis.

  • Clean the zone if needed.

  • Apply the appropriate wax based on the snow temperature and condition.

  • For hard waxes, cork (rub) them smooth. For klisters, spread evenly in the kick zone.

Note: Classic skis also require glide wax on their tips and tails.

During the season, you will likely be applying wax here and there to practice skis to keep them in shape for good skiing. Often, parents will take skis into Spring Street Sports or other shops for this service and turnaround times are usually pretty quick. You can find many resources online to learn more about waxing your skis at home, but your best resource for wax questions will always be your local ski shop or our team's wax tech, Chris Gorzek, or other coaches.