XCCM Programs for the 2025/26 Season

Fall 2025
Winter 2026

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:

Dryland
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.

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.

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.