Ice Badgers Nordic Ski Team

PRACTICES: 

Mondays = UM Golf Course - 4:30pm - skills

Wednesdays = Lubrecht - 4:30pm - adventure ski

PRACTICE CONCEPT:

During registration you get to chose an initial group.  We reserve the right to change that group based on Head Coach feedback.  We practice twice a week.  Practice will always have a group chat and game and snack, followed by getting with your smaller animal groups and working on the skill of the practice or getting after the adventure ski!  We will always end with a chat and coco.  Teams are important, they keep athletes engaged.  We will continue to push the team while working on individual skier development within their smaller groups.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Tuesdays, August 16, 23, 30, Sept 6, 13, 20 - Dry Land Fitness Training - Pineview Park, 4:30pm  *Optional, sign up at regi

Thursday, December 1st, Pre Season Meetup, Pineview Park - Parents Call, 8pm

Wednesday, January 4th, First Practice, Lubrecht, 4:30pm

Wednesday, January 18th, Lubrecht epic

Wednesday, February 8th, Team Classic Ski Adventure, Rattlesnake, 4:30pm (Not official practice, night ski) * Optional

Wednesday, February 15, Lubrecht epic, did you get better?

Wednesday, February 22, Lubrecht Ski Olympics

Wednesday, March 1st, Last Practice and team party, Lubrecht, 4:30pm

Saturday, March 4th, 2pm team party, and team dinner, West Yellowstone

Snow Owl (8-9) - Head Coach - Shaun Radley

• Learn to V1 and the differences between 1 and V2
• Attend 2 races
• Can continuous skate for 2k, non stop
• Can skate to the first flat on Lubrecht epic
• Classic kick and glide rhythm
• Proper double pole without hurting back
• Proper DH cornering technique
• Stopping from a fast DH
• Can start proper
• Successful nutrition for practice and event day

Artic Fox (8-10) - Head Coach = Abby Wiggin

• V1, V2, and V2 alternate all mastered, intro situational on these
• V1 poling on both sides
• Lubrecht epic to the otter slide junction past the first
• Classic kick and glide rhythm
• 1 classic, 1 skate event
• Pacing at and event and nutrition at an event
• Double pole without hurting back
• Fast cornering
• Flat ski, long glide master

Polar Bear (Middle School) - Head Coach = Mike Lessard

• 2 skate races, 1 classic race
• Can sprint for 30s
• Proper double poll and starts
• DH without limits
• Flat ski glide challenge
• V1 on both sides
• Master V1, V2 and V2 alternate, start to know when to use them
• Nutrition for practice and racing
• All the way to the top Lubrecht Epic

Snow Leopard (Middle School) - Head Coach = Jenna Tomiello/Emma Swartz

• 2 skate races, 1 classic race
• One event 10k in length
• V1, V2, and V2 alternate master
• Situational skiing technique, when to use and demonstrate
• True kick and glide rhythm achieved
• Double pole dialed and when to use it
• Downhill limitless, can follow Coach Abby down Lubrecht
• How to start in a pack
• Fast cornering on flat and dh
• Can ski backwards
• How to pace for a long ski
• Lubrecht epic = top

Wolf (High School intermediate) - Head Coach = Brian Bonham

• Flat ski challenge and glide
• 1 race
• Basic classic rhythm achieved, not nordic walk
• How to ski race intro achieved
• Learn the basics of waxing and why it matters
• DH down from Lubrecht without crashing
• How to stop
• Fitness teachings
• V1 masters, good enough to ski continuous 10k if you had to
• Learn that skiing is fun and a good alternative for other sports goals

Yeti (MS/HS advanced) - Head Coach = Orion Berryman

• V1, V2, V2 alternate within a race, muscle memory
• 1 classic, 4 skate races
• 1 race of 20k
• Flat ski, glide challenge
• V1 both sides, almost equal power
• Mentor another group, be a leader
• Nutrition and fueling, one body feeling great race
• Interval training
• Waxing your own skis
• Ski fit, ski temps, ski grinds
• Sprints and how to sprint, win one sprint during the year any place
• Starts and tactics for you

Shaun Radley - I will return as the Team Director and Head Coach of the Ice Badgers.  In addition I will  be the Head Coach of the new Snow Owl group.  8-9 year old up and coming life long skiers!  I grew up back country classic skiing in the cascades by Stevens Pass.  My dad taught me from a young age about the peace, serenity, and adventure that xc skiing brings to your life.  In college I taught myself how to skate ski in Missoula and Badwax was invented.  I own MTCX Ski, a retail shop and my whole career is based around biking and skiing.  I have 3 kids.  Logan 11, Henry 8, and Freya 6.  Hen will be on the Snow Owl group this season.  Best recent results were 26th in West 50k and 11th 50k OSCR.

Abby Wiggin - Abby will return as a Co-Team Director and will be the Head Coach of the Snow Leopards group.  She grew up skiing in Vermont.  From an early age she raced skis and found it a bit miserable.  That experience ingrained toughness and grit especially for the winter months.  She brings a passion for fun, skill development, and figuring out your own racing voice.  Abby is also the head of ZANY, our youth partner program with MIssoula Nordic Ski Club.  She works at MTCX Ski as a tech and sales person and can help folks with fit and things.  Abby is part of the 9 person Badwax, 6 year club, and also won her age group in the 25k classic at West last year.  Abby has two kids Georgia, 12 and El, 9 on the Badgers.

Orion Berryman - Orion is our co Head Coach and is an amazing resource for youth and adult skiing.  He will return as the Head Coach of the Yeti Group.  New name, but it's our advanced middle school and high school group.  They race 5-7 times a year and Orion does an amazing job with them.  Orion skied collegiately for APU and is the best skier in Missoula.  I'm saying it not him.  He represents our town on the biggest stages.  Masters National champion, and multiple OSCR 50k winner and annual top 5 50k West skier, Badwax golden shirt 3x.  What people don't know about OB is his passion for coaching and youth sports.  He is the best.  Orion has Lark 8, Ender 11, and Odin 13 as Badgers.

Jenna Tomiello - Jenna is the Head Coach of the Artic Fox team.  Jenna is on of the best athletes in Missoula.  She brings a unique perspective from being a Palates instructor and lifelong educator.  It's a mix that we are so fortunate to have.  Activities, skills, team development and reaching goals all mean the world to Jenna.  She has picked up nordic skiing and biking in the last 10 years and is a leader in our community.  Jenna is the Executive Director of MT Alpha a female cycling team in Missoula.  She also works for MTCX as a coach, events promoter, and announcer.

Jeff Bookwalter - Jeff is the Head Coach of the Polar Bear team.  Jeff is a life long skier and in the last 10 years has really seen his personal racing take off.  Jeff is a continuous learner and that has shown with his family and himself.  He will ask the right questions and then teach future generations.  He is also in charge of the Badger Coaches retreat and education.  As a masters racer and also a dad of racers he brings a good perspective on events and skiing.  Jeff has Wren 9 and Willa 12 as Badgers.

Mike Lessard - Mike is a legend of nordic skiing in Missoula and will return as the Wolf Head Coach.  He can teach anyone how to ski.  He was the ZANY coordinator for 5+ seasons and also coached the ZANY HS program.  We are incredibly lucky to have him.  Mike skied collegiately and was really good.  He's taken that approach to his passion for community.  He has grown our Missoula nordic community through teaching youth how to ski.  We still get him to jump in and race, including a top 12 at the OSCR 50k and top 3 at Ice Badger Loppet.

ASSISTANT COACHES

- Emma Swartz - Amazing coach and athlete, young, fun, and the best

- Brian Bohnam - Great skier and communicator

- Jesse Carnes - Best tech in town, top skier, and an Ice Badger rabbit

- Joe Petrili - Badwax Commissioner

- Heidi Meierbachtol 

- Garret Alderman

- Landen Beckner

- Meredith Ruland - Coach of ZANY, top masters skier

- Sarah Millar - Teenager whisper

- Cody Harris - Polar Bear wrangler

Race expectations and attendance will be different for every practice group.  I would like to see everyone at least attend one event as a fan or participant.  Ice Badgers put on two events, the Loppet and Dance Invitational.  These will be free for Badger team members, but you must register with a coupon code.  All other races listed in the schedule will have Coach support.  This means a warmup, race plan, recovery, fun, and celebration.  There are two optional Badger weekend retreats this year where we will reserve accommodations and parents can decide to book or not.

Race Schedule (subject to change)

12/17/22 - Chief Joseph

1/7/23 Glacier Glide - Whitefish, MT

1/8/23 Libby

1/14/23  Ice Badger Loppet - UM Golf Course - 1k s/c, 5k s, 10k s, and 5k c, 20k c - free entry to all badgers and coaches. 

1/21/23 Skiesta - Seeley Lake

1/22/23  Nordic Dance Invitational - Lubrecht - 1k s/c, 5k s, 10k s, and 5k c, 22k s  - free entry to all badger and coaches

1/28/23 OSCR - Seeley Lake

2/4-5/23 Seeley Lake Biathlon - Seeley Lake

2/18/23 Joe’s Club race, Ice Badgers volunteer - Lubrecht

3/4-5/23 West Yellowstone - MTCX reserves lodging, explorer cabin colda sac, parents pay and opt in

3/11/23 - Silvercrest, Great Falls, MT

• Ice Badger fleece for keeps
• 2 practices a week
• Race support, and 2 free entries to Loppet and Dance
• Coco and snacks at practices
• Use coupon code "sibling" to get $50 off registering multiple kids

Optional Add Ons at registration or at the shop:

• Rental poles $50
• Rental skate skis $100
• Rental skate boots $100
• Off Season fitness program
• Team sunglasses
• Team race kit and warmup pants (purchase to be sent in a separate link to the team)