XCCM’s next 7 days:

Nothing from Friday, July 10, 2026 to Friday, July 17, 2026.

2026 July

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Some Info for any new member

Anothe block with lots of info blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla blah bla

XCCM Programs for the 2025/26 Season

 


Fall 2025

TUESDAY DRYLAND – SEP 9 TO DEC 16, 2025

6:30 – 8:30 pm at Mooney’s Bay and Evolve S&C, Ottawa.

$200 for 15 weeks

The training goals will be endurance, short aerobic vertical intervals, strength, power, speed, and flexibility. We will combine dynamic warm-up activities, ski walking, ski bounding, some running, general strength exercises, agility exercises, and speed work. You will need ski walking/bounding poles (i.e. slightly shorter than classic XC ski poles), an exercise/yoga mat, a water belt, a headlamp, and dry clothes to change into afterward. Dress for running. The last four practices will be with Mike Patone at Evolve Strength and Conditioning on Sommerset St. W, Ottawa.

THURSDAY STRENGTH TRAINING – SEP 18 TO DEC 11, 2025

6 pm to 7:15 at Evolve S&C, Ottawa.

Live, in-person strength training. Under the supervision of Mike Patone, strength coach and owner of Evolve Strength and Conditioning, you will follow a phased, structured strength training program designed to improve your joint mobility, flexibility, and build strength. The practice will involve dynamic activation exercises starting at 6:00, strength circuits, and recovery rolling. During the practice, you will receive instruction and individual supervision. The training goals will be to build joint strength, specific ski strength, and avoid injury. Bring your water bottle, snacks, dry clothes for after, your towel, and dress for weight training.

  • Start: September 18
  • End: December 11 (13 weeks)
  • Time: 6:15 pm
  • Participants: Max 12
  • Price: $TBC Register directly through the Evolve website

SATURDAY DRYLAND (INCLUDING A LOW-IMPACT GROUP) – SEPT 6 TO DEC 13, 2025

8:30 am – 11:30 am, in Gatineau Park.

$220 for 15 weeks.

Should there be sufficient early snow, sessions may be changed to on-snow.

There are two options:

  1. Dryland
  2. Weekly roller skiing.

Option 1: Dryland

The training goals will be endurance, anaerobic/aerobic intervals, strength, and flexibility. There will be groups of different fitness levels, with one low-impact group. Members enjoying their maturing or repairing “frames” can choose to join this adaptive group and walk/jog to lessen the impact. We will combine dynamic warm-up activities, intervals or intensity using different activities such as ski walking, ski bounding, running, a cool down, and strength exercises. You will need ski walking/bounding poles (slightly shorter than classic XC ski poles), an exercise/yoga mat, a water belt, snacks, and dry clothes to change into. Dress for running. We often go for coffee and food in Old Chelsea after practice. 

Format:

  • Dynamic warm-up
  • Strength
  • Easy distance & intervals
  • Cool down
  • Stretching

Option 2: Weekly Roller Skiing

This program will consist of one hour of technique and agility on roller skis with an adapted version of dryland. Unlike last year, there will be no requirement to warm up or do strength with the dryland-only group. For strong intermediate to advanced skate roller skiers. Six enrollees are required as a minimum.

SUNDAY ROLLERSKI CLINICS – SEP 21, AND SEP 28, 2025

The details:

  • Dates: Sunday, September 21 (beginner) and Sunday, September 28 (refresher).
  • Time: 8:30 to 10:30 am
  • Level: Beginner/Intermediate
  • Minimum 4, maximum 8
  • Cost $30 each

The first session will be an introduction to basic rollerski techniques, getting steady balance and starting to feel comfortable on rollerskis. The second session will follow the Fall camp and will be improving the skills learned at the camp, e.g., double poling, one skate and offset. That session will be skate, and is a good opportunity for intermediate skiers to join and refresh their skills. Anybody signed up for the winter camp would really benefit from roller skiing to ease the transition into early snow skiing.

NEW this year, we  will have two instructors per clinic, to offer better individual feedback to all participants.

Equipment:  Helmet is mandatory. Rollerskis (your own or club’s), ski boots, ski poles (or roller ski poles if you have them). Note that the club has a limited number of roller skis to lend. These can be booked at the time of signup. Just indicate the binding type for your boots (Salomon/NNN). 

Rollerski Inventory:

  • NNN skate 2 pr
  • NNN classic 1 pr
  • Solomon skate 2 pr
  • Solomon classic 2 pr

FALL CAMP AT LAC-STE-MARIE Oct 4 to 5, 2025:

Lac-Sainte-Marie, QC.

No fee (for coached activities)

A great way to spend quality time with friends and boost your physical, technical and mental drive. This year’s camp will be held in Canada, and locally to make it easy for members to participate. Members will arrange their transport and accommodation, with daily commutes being an option. The camp starts off with a “regular” dryland morning, with the Saturday afternoon focusing on technique at low intensity. A long steady distance rollerski might be offered as well for that afternoon. Sunday will feature a fun group activity, new to XCCM Fall training, orienteering! Those who worked on rollerski skills on Saturday will have the option to practice at their pace on Sunday morning.  Yoga, maybe swimming, will wrap up Sunday and the Camp.

Accommodation: 2 chalets will be pre-booked for XCCM. Details to follow.

Program:

Saturday, Oct. 4

  • Morning. Dryland session
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon. Choice of coached activities: rollerskiing, cycling or dynamic hiking. Emphasis will be on technique, skill development and LSD. Low  intensity.
  • Evening. Group dinner – potluck TBC

Sunday, Oct. 5

  • Morning. Orienteering or rollerski technique practice.
  • Lunch 
  • Afternoon. Yoga TBC

 

 

WINTER CAMP AT SILVER STAR DECEMBER 1 to 5, 2025

Silver Star, BC.

$250 (coached activities only)

Coaches Peter Lloyd and Dan Mallet will be leading the XCCM Winter Camp. A third coach may be added if numbers warrant. SilverStar offers early-season skiing at altitude in a spectacular venue. The camp runs Monday to Friday, 9 am to noon with video feedback. Afternoons are free, and are good opportunities for LSD or recovery skiing. Members are advised to arrive a few days before the camp to acclimatize to the altitude. Participants will arrange their meals, accommodations, transport, and ski pass purchases.

IMPORTANT: book flights and accommodation early in the Fall, for substantial savings and accommodation availability.

Tentative program – subject to changes based on weather, snow or other conditions

  • Date: Dec 1 to 5, 2025
    • Time: 9:00 am to Noon
    • Format:
      • Mon – classic
      • Tue – skate
      • Wed – Sovereign Lake day
      • Thu – distance skiing
      • Fri – downhill technique on Nordic trails.
  • Cost: $250 (coached activities only)
  • Accommodation/Transport/Meals/Passes: Self-arranged
  • Maximum: 24

 


Winter 2026 

 

SATURDAY SPARTANS – JAN 3 to MAR 21 (except FEB 14)

8:30 am – 11:30 am in Gatineau Park

12 weeks  (Feb 14 – midterm break for participation in the Gatineau Loppet)

Spartans, it’s Tough and It’s Friendly. Get better at skiing every time: improve confidence and  performance. Mindset required: enjoy taking on and talking about personal challenges, big and small, throughout the ski season. 

Alternates weekly between skate and classic, subject to changes due to snow and weather conditions. The first two months will be ramping up training intensity, with the last month focusing on fitness and technique continuous improvement. Video analysis of ski techniques.

End of season could involve special activities such as crust skiing or ski orienteering. Coffee afterwards at XCCM unofficial Clubhouse in Chelsea – Les Saisons.

Cost $242 + tax (Max. 60 People)

 

 

TUESDAY FRENCH ROAST – JAN 6 to MAR 24

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm in Gatineau Park

12 weeks

French Roast, It’s Dark and It’s Intense. For intermediate to advanced skiers. Alternates weekly between skate and classic, subject to changes due to snow and weather conditions.

Technique work will be kept to a minimum with emphasis on movement – to keep warm – intensity and cardio work. Training on a loop to keep participants together, so no-one feels left behind.

Headlamps are mandatory.

Cost $170 + tax (Max 24 People)

 

 

WEDNESDAY NORDIC NOMADS – JAN 7 to MAR 25

10:00 am – 12:30 pm in Gatineau Park

12  weeks

Nomads, It’s Adventurous and It’s Challenging. For intermediate to advanced skiers only. Must be at ease with classic skiing on narrow windy backcountry trails.

Focus on technique and agility improvement, on-snow strength work, and finishing off with an enjoyably paced ski. Some video analysis of ski techniques.

Mostly classic skiing on secondary single-track trails. Experience backcountry skiing in less known areas of the Park. Coffee afterwards at Les Saisons, XCCM unofficial Clubhouse in Chelsea.

Cost $242 + tax (Max 30 People)

 

 

Sunday GOOFS

Usually on Sunday morning in Gatineau Park

GOOFS, It’s Great Organic Outings For Sundays. Members self-organized ski outings on Sunday mornings. No formal structure other than the organizer posting on Facebook details about the outings, with at least time and place of gathering, and preferably proposed route options and technique. Typically, 2 to 4 hour Long Steady Distance skis following a good Saturday practice, excellent for endurance training. 

These outings are not part of the club-sanctioned official programming. The club encourages GOOFS as beneficial to members’ enjoyment of xc skiing.

No registration, No cost

 

 

SKATE SKI CLINIC SERIES. Clinic 1 of 3 – JAN 11 (Sunday)

9:00 am – 10:30 am in Gatineau Park

This clinic is part of a series of 3 clinics about skate technique. There will be a progression in the level of technique skills and exercises over the series. 

Registering to the full series will allow for better integration and mastering of skate techniques early on in the ski season. Participants are encouraged to practice on their own right after the clinic.

Clinic instructors will provide more details to participants prior to each clinic.

Cost $33 + tax or $80 + tax for the 3 clinic package (Min 4, Max 12)

 

 

SKATE SKI CLINIC SERIES. Clinic 2 of 3 – JAN 18 (Sunday)

9:00 am – 10:30 am in Gatineau Park

This clinic is part of a series of 3 clinics about skate technique. There will be a progression in the level of technique skills and exercises over the series. 

Registering to the full series will allow for better integration and mastering of skate techniques early on in the ski season. Participants are encouraged to practice on their own right after the clinic.

Clinic instructors will provide more details to participants prior to each clinic.

Cost $33 + tax or $80 + tax for the 3 clinic package (Min 4, Max 12)

 

 

SKATE SKI CLINIC SERIES. Clinic 3 of 3 – JAN 25 (Sunday)

9:00 am – 10:30 am in Gatineau Park

This clinic is part of a series of 3 clinics about skate technique. There will be a progression in the level of technique skills and exercises over the series. 

Registering to the full series will allow for better integration and mastering of skate techniques early on in the ski season. Participants are encouraged to practice on their own right after the clinic. 

Clinic instructors will provide more details to participants prior to each clinic.

Cost $33 + tax or $80 + tax for the 3 clinic package (Min 4, Max 12)

 

 

WAXING PRO TIPS CLINIC – JAN TBD 

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm at FRESH AIR EXPERIENCE  on Wellington

Peter Hamilton will lead the session to be held in the store. He will cover the latest in waxing techniques and products. Peter will demonstrate how to wax for glide, grip, and skins, and cover solid and liquid waxes. This is a perfect opportunity to stay up to date and get a pro to answer your questions. Participants will be able to get personalized advice and purchase products right on the spot, with their club discount.

Free to XCCM members

 

 

CLASSIC SKI CLINIC – FEB 1 (Sunday)

09:00 am – 10:30 am in Gatineau Park

This clinic is for strong novices and intermediate skilled classic skiers who wish to improve their classic ski technique.

Cost $33 + tax (Min 4, Max 12)

 

 

GAINING CONFIDENCE DOWNHILL CLINIC – FEB 8 (Sunday)

09:00 am – 10:30 am in Gatineau Park

A great way to practice and gain more confidence when going downhill. Participants must be at minimum strong novices able to go down most Gatineau Park hills. The clinic will cover key skills to control speed, including snow plow and parallel skidding, stopping, emergency stopping, cornering, step turns, lane changes, and parallel turns.

Cost $33 + tax (Min 4, Max 12)

 


 

DISCLAIMER: Your participation in any of the XC Chelsea Masters training sessions, whether coached or uncoached, including but not limited to the dryland sessions, the strength sessions, roller skiing sessions, on-snow ski sessions, and ski technique clinics, or informal group skis, is entirely at your own risk and is covered by the “ INFORMED CONSENT AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT “ (the “waiver”) that you signed when you registered with the Club. Therefore, the Club and its respective directors, officers, committee members, members, employees, volunteers, participants, agents, and representatives are not responsible for any injury, personal injury, damage, property damage, expense, loss of income, or loss of any kind that you may suffer during such participation.

 

[xccm_back_arrow]

If you want private ski lessons, the following coaches offer them. Contact them directly to make arrangements.


Karen Nesbitt

Karen Nesbitt – SKI COACH

Karen is passionate about the outdoors and enjoys sharing her passion with others to help improve their experience, and create opportunities to explore new endeavours. She’s been living in Chelsea near the Gatineau Park for over 40 years and takes advantage of the beauty, and variety of the trails in every season. Karen grew up skiing in the Laurentians from a very early age, and has been involved with teaching and coaching both downhill and cross country skiing for over 25 years. She is a CANSI Certified instructor, and NCCP coach and has taught privately as well as with Chelsea Nordique, Mooney’s Bay, Nakkertok, new immigrants to Canada, and various Ski for Schools programs in the Ottawa/Gatineau area.

Contact: karen.m.nesbitt@gmail.com


Peter Lloyd

Peter Lloyd – DRYLAND, ROLLERSKI AND SKI COACH

Peter has been cross country ski racing for over 30 years. He has a BSc degree in Bio-Physical Education (Kinesiology) from Concordia University, has completed his Level 3 NCCP and is working on his Level 4 coaching certification. Peter coached with XCCM since 2011 and has previously with Nakkertok where he helped lead the Nakkertok juniors to a Team victory at the National Championships. Many of the athletes that Peter has worked with are now racing on the Junior National team or with National Training Centres. In 2005, he coached the Outaouais Divisional team at the Jeux Du Quebec. He enjoys seeing the athletes having fun, and continuing to improve in all aspects of their performance. Peter has also competed and coached Triathlon racing and holds a Level 1 Technical certification in that sport. In addition to coaching, Peter is also a member of the Board of Directors of Cross Country Canada.

Contact: plloydchelsea@gmail.com


Jamie Kallio

Jamie Kallio – DRYLAND, ROLLERSKI, SKI COACH, & ATHLETIC COORDINATOR

Jamie grew up in the Northern Ontario city of Timmins where he developed an appreciation for outdoor winter sports at an early age. Skiing, skating, snowshoeing during the winter and biking, running and eventually roller skiing began at an early age and were routine by age 14. Racing at the provincial and national level for the Porcupine Ski Runner club in Timmins became a year-round commitment for seven years. After that, the sport of Biathlon with the National Training Squad became the focus for 3 years in the mid-1980s. This led to a berth on the 1987 World Championship Team and eventually a spot on the Canadian team for the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Since then Jamie has been giving lessons in skiing and coaching from the club to the international level in biathlon and cross-country skiing. He also has an NCCP Level 3 Certification in both Cross-country skiing and Biathlon. Currently, racing is less of a priority; with the goal now of getting a permanent bib at the CSM.

Contact: jamiekallio1@gmail.com


Dan Mallett

Dan Mallett – DRYLAND, ROLLERSKI, AND SKI COACH

Dan is a Chelsea resident, who has been involved in cross-country skiing for over 30 years as an athlete, coach and sports administrator. In the 70s he grew up in the Muskoka Lakes region of Ontario and competed for the Southern Ontario Team, where he was a member of the relay team which won gold at the nationals. In the 80s he raced internationally in Cross Country Skiing and represented Canada in Biathlon at 3 world championships and several world cups. Since then he has coached 100s of athletes in the national capital region where some have attained Olympic and Paralympic results. In addition, he has either lead or participated on teams as a coach at national championships, the Canada Winter Games and World Cups. As a volunteer sports administrator, he has contributed in several roles in club, provincial and national sports organizations. Employed as a project manager and engineer he has combined his skills with his passion to work at both the Vancouver Winter and London Summer Olympic games. Currently Dan can be found skiing in Gatineau Park and providing instruction to all levels of skiers.

Contact: danielmallett57@gmail.com


Raylan Stroud

Raylan Stroud – DRYLAND, ROLLERSKI, and SKI COACH

Raylan grew up in Northern Ontario exploring the woods; canoe tripping, hiking, and skiing with her outdoor enthusiastic parents. In grade 6 her family moved to Huntsville, Ontario where she joined the Arrowhead Ski Program as a Jackrabbit and subsequently the Huntsville High School Cross Country Ski Team. Thanks to some amazing teammates and coaches Raylan’s love for cross country skiing was developed. She continued to race at the provincial and national level with the University of Guelph Varsity Ski Team. After university her athletic focus changed slightly, and she spent a few years racing triathlons nationally and internationally with the Ontario Development Team. An eager young athlete, Raylan was not only a cross country skier but a competitive dancer, soccer player, alpine ski racer, cross country runner, and triathlete. This diverse background allows her to coach in a very comprehensive style. In 2019, Raylan moved to Ottawa, drawn in by the biking/triathlon and skiing community. She began coaching Jackrabbits with Kanata Nordic and downhill skiing at Camp Fortune. Raylan is planning to attend teacher’s college next, but for now you can find her spending every free moment cycling (road, gravel, mountain or cross), trail running, or skiing in Gatineau Park!

Contact: raylan.jamison@gmail.com

[xccm_back_arrow]

One must be a Site administrator (and logged in) to view this info.