Nancy Greene/Snow Stars

Nancy Greene Club Program

The Alpine Saskatchewan clubs have aligned the naming of their programs to designate the instruction and training of beginner child and youth as the Nancy Greene programs. In other words, when a child from ages 5 to 13 joins an Alpine Saskatchewan club, they will join the club's Nancy Greene program to get initial instruction and alpine ski development.

The Nancy Greene program also offers an introduction to the alpine racing sport. It encourages kids from 8 to 13 to take part in friendly, competitive races with their peers in ability. It's often the first opportunity for kids to see what it's like to be part of an alpine race and they have the experience of being in a event of this size. The race event is set up to let all participants have a great time.

The program itself is named after Nancy Greene - a well-known Canadian alpine skier that has lent her name to the program to introduce young skiers to the sport. The following excerpt gives more background on Nancy and is taking from Nancy Greene's official web site at www.nancygreene.com.

Nancy Greene was Canada's top ski racer through the 1960's, winning gold and silver medals at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 68. Her total of 13 World Cup victories is still a Canadian record. She won 17 Canadian Championship titles in all disciplines.

Husky Snow Stars

The Husky Snow Stars is a skill development tool for young skiers that is used within the Nancy Greene club programs. It is the development program used by all Alpine Saskatchewan clubs to instruct children and youth from beginners to those with more experience.

The goal of Husky Snow Stars is to provide a solid foundation and knowledge base – physical, technical, tactical and mental – upon which to build children’s athletic abilities. It also encourages children to discover a pathway to the joy of skiing, competition and excellence in a fun and rewarding environment. Skiing is a brilliant sport that offers much to the families involved. Whether you choose to be in a racing or participation program, the results are the same – a life-long love of the sport that is passed on through the generations.

Husky Snow Stars encourages the development of skiers and ski racers of all ability levels. This seven-step program will guide the child, coach, and parent through a progression. The Husky Snow Stars program full description can be found at the Alpine Canada Husky Snow Stars web site. You will find a complete overview of the goals, the roles the athlete, coaches, and parents play, and access to the complete course materials. All clubs in Alpine Saskatchewan follow this program, so you can review the instruction materials to see what youth are experiencing as they progress in their instruction and development.

The Husky Snow Stars program is aligned with the Alpine Canada Long Term Athlete Development Plan (AIM 2 WIN). Optimal motor skill development takes place primarily between the ages of 5 to 12. For this reason the program is aimed generally at young skiers from Entry level to the end of K1 (ages 11 and 12). Husky Snow Stars provides clubs and coaches guidance through the early "Windows of Trainability" where it is critical to carry out the "Right Athletic Development at the Right Time". Enthusiastic and well-prepared coaches and participants play an integral role in the success of the program.

The phases of athletic development categorized in the Alpine Canada AIM 2 WIN are as follows.

Active start (0-6)
FUN-damentals (males 6-9, females 6-8) *Husky Snow Stars program focuses
Learning to Train (males 9-12, females 8-11) *Husky Snow Stars program focuses
Train to Train (males 12-16, females 11-15)
Train to Compete (males 16-23 /- females 15-21 )
Train to Win (males 19 /-, females 18 /-)
Active for life (Enter at any age)