2025 May XCSO Community Update – Launch of the XCSO Athlete Field Testing Manual
Join Us on May 14 at 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm on Zoom
Cross-country skiing places high demands on strength, endurance, and movement quality. Athletes must ski with technical precision while maintaining strong, stable positions. The XCSO Field Testing Program is designed to identify movement quality gaps and highlight opportunities for improvement. For more information….
Join Us for a Presentation and Interactive Session on Club Fundraising Initiatives
Tuesday May 27 – 12:00 PM & 7:00 PM | Club Fundraising Workshop – Zoom Link
Presenters: Stephanie Marler, XCSO and Leila Verheyen, Team Hardwood parent and owner of LV Philanthrophy
Cross Country Ski Ontario invites club leaders, volunteers, and staff to participate in an upcoming presentation and interactive session outlining XCSO’s Club Fundraising Initiatives for the 2025–2026 season. This session will provide practical tools, templates, and ideas to help your club launch or strengthen its local fundraising efforts.
We know your time is valuable, so we’re offering two time options to accommodate busy schedules. Both sessions will be recorded and shared afterward for those unable to attend live.
The session will highlight why Ontario clubs should participate in the 2026 Nordiq Canada Annual Club Fundraiser, and will explain how XCSO will support participating clubs throughout the campaign. From communications and donor incentives to strategic planning and community engagement, you’ll leave with actionable insights to help your club succeed.
Whether you’re new to fundraising or looking to elevate your current efforts, this session is designed to equip you with tools and motivation to make a lasting impact.
As a part of the XCSO Excellence Camps program for 2025 Team Hardwood will be holding four training camps this summer, fall and winter that are open to other selected SOD U20, U18 and perhaps U16 athletes who do not have a regular daily training environment (DTE) and who have the training background to handle the training load in these camps.
The purpose of these camps is to offer to these selected skiers the opportunity to enhance their training opportunities and DTE to help them to represent their clubs and SOD at a higher level next racing season.
The first camp is on June 21-24 in the Gatineau/Ottawa area. The focus of this camp will be roller skiing and hiking in the Gatineau Park with twice daily training up to 3-4 hours per day. We are planning to stay at Carleton U in the residence. Meals will be in the residence cafeteria. Right now there is room for up to 8 skiers plus coaches. The approximate cost for the camp will be around $300 plus a $100 coaching fee. Athletes and coaches will have to find their own way to the camp. Team Hardwood skiers will be ride sharing.
For additional information about XCSO’s Excellence Camps, please contact Alex Roger at [email protected]
NDTC / OST Intensity Camp Parry Sound Ontario
Information will be updated as we receive it from Nordiq Canada
As a part of the XCSO Excellence Camps program for 2025 Team Hardwood will be holding four training camps this summer, fall and winter open to other selected SOD U20, U18 and perhaps U16 athletes who do not have a regular daily training environment (DTE) and who have the training background to handle the training load in these camps.
The purpose of these camps is to offer to these selected skiers the opportunity to enhance their training opportunities and DTE to help them to represent their clubs and SOD at a higher level next racing season.
The second camp is on August 24-29 in Mont Tremblant. Again the focus will be on hiking, ski walking and roller skiing for volume with twice daily training of 3-4 hours per day. At the moment there is room for 3-4 skiers. We will be staying in a hostel and cooking our own meals. The approximate cost will be $600 plus a $100 coaching fee. Athletes and coaches will have to find their own way to the camp. Team Hardwood skiers will be ride sharing.
For additional information about XCSO’s Excellence Camps, please contact Alex Roger at [email protected]
Location: Thunder Bay
Dates: September 20 – 28, 2025
About Team Ontario: OJST
High Performance Development Camps (U18/Y2 and U16 identified athletes)
Offered to Ontario Junior Ski Team (OJST) athletes these camps play a key role in bridging the gap between foundational skills and high-performance demands. These camps focus on refining technical and tactical abilities, helping athletes navigate the transition to more rigorous training and competition environments. The program ensures that athletes are well-prepared for the challenges of higher-level competition. High Performance Development Camps not only focus on skill development but also foster camaraderie across different clubs, offering a collaborative atmosphere for athletes to connect and support each other. Additionally, these camps sometimes include Para Nordic athletes, promoting inclusivity and diverse training experiences. This camp are run by XCSO.
Teams are selected in April of each year based on criteria outlined in the Ontario Excellence Programs document. Click the 25-26 Excellence Program Criteria tab.
Contact Alex Roger at [email protected] with any questions or comments
As a part of the XCSO Excellence Camps program for 2025 Team Hardwood will be holding four training camps this summer, fall and winter open to other selected SOD U20, U18 and perhaps U16 athletes who do not have a regular daily training environment (DTE) and who have the training background to handle the training load in these camps.
The purpose of these camps is to offer to these selected skiers the opportunity to enhance their training opportunities and DTE to help them to represent their clubs and SOD at a higher level next racing season.
Camp #3 will be held in the Hardwood Ski and Bike area on Thanksgiving weekend (October 11-13) that will be open to more skiers in these age categories. This camp will focus more on high intensity and race pace training either roller skiing or hill walking. There will be some testing involved in the camp using the new XCSO testing protocol.
For additional information about XCSO’s Excellence Camps, please contact Alex Roger at [email protected]
Team Ontario: OJST On Snow Camp in collaboration with NTDC
Location: Silver Star
Dates: November 26 to December 4, 2025 with optional Western Cup race add-on (December 4 to December 7, 2025)
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About Team Ontario: OJST
High Performance Development Camps (U18/Y2 and U16 identified athletes)
Offered to Ontario Junior Ski Team (OJST) athletes these camps play a key role in bridging the gap between foundational skills and high-performance demands. These camps focus on refining technical and tactical abilities, helping athletes navigate the transition to more rigorous training and competition environments. The program ensures that athletes are well-prepared for the challenges of higher-level competition. High Performance Development Camps not only focus on skill development but also foster camaraderie across different clubs, offering a collaborative atmosphere for athletes to connect and support each other. Additionally, these camps sometimes include Para Nordic athletes, promoting inclusivity and diverse training experiences. This camp are run by XCSO.
Teams are selected in April of each year based on criteria outlined in the Ontario Excellence Programs document. Click the 25-26 Excellence Program Criteria tab.
Contact Alex Roger at [email protected] with any questions or comments
