FIS SnowKidz Cross Country Cross

Cookbook - Cross Country Cross

Introduction

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FIS SnowKidz is the first phase of a campaign initiated by FIS in November 2007 called ‘Bring Children to the Snow’. FIS SnowKidz is aimed at children and their families and seeks to include everyone from all age groups in enjoying snow for years to come. For more information about FIS SnowKidz please visit the official website at www.snowkidz.com.

FIS would like all participants of FIS SnowKidz events to enjoy, explore and experience something truly special and unique. This Cookbook has been created to help you, the event organiser, develop your idea for your FIS SnowKidz event. Please note these events are not static. The ideas listed in this book are just that, ideas. FIS strongly encourages you to be creative with your event as long as your goal remains to bring children to the snow.

ABOUT CROSS-COUNTRY CROSS Cross-Country Cross is an inspiring way to train, compete and enjoy snow sports. It inspires and motivates children and youth alike, while developing general skiing skills on cross-country skis and having fun skiing. The aim is to fill skiing arenas with children and youth who are looking forward to being challenged.

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Introduction

ABOUT THIS BOOK

ENGAGING SCHOOLS

SAFETY We all like to make sure the participants at our events are safe. When creating your event remember to have a First Aid kit and some who is trained in First Aid. Furthermore ensure you have contact to emergency services. This can be as simple as making sure your mobile phone has reception and the emergency number in your country entered into your phone. Finally ensure all participants are wearing helmets!

TRANSPORT Transport is a major factor in getting people to the location. If you are a ski resort or ski school link up with your local bus and train company to organise a special price for a bus or train ticket to get the children to and from the location. Remember to tell your transport company that if you use their services now and the children enjoy the trip, there is good chance the children will continue to use their services in the future.

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Introduction

Schools are an important place for children to gain an education and develop a healthy and active lifestyle. When creating your event make sure to actively approach your local schools to ask children to participate in your event. In doing so you will find an increase in participation and the school will be benefiting by offering a healthy and fun activity to their students. Remember, an active child is a happy child.

Ingredients

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Here is your basic ingredients list.

country course 4 x Workers 1x Promotions and marketing person 1x Team leader 3 x Shovels 1 x Person Trained in First Aid 1 x Local School with Children

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2 x Audi FIS SnowKidz Toolkits + Nordic Adaptions 1 x First Aid kit 4 x Folding tables Diplomas for prizes Gifts for participants

HINT: The Audi SnowKidz Toolkits + Nordic Adaptions can be obtained by clicking here.

General information

1x Park, open area or existing cross

Method

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How a Cross-Country Cross course should be laid out depends on the terrain at the site. There is no right or wrong when it comes to what the course should consist of or how it should look.

It should always be exciting for the participants and challenge their technical skiing skills. A Cross-Country Cross course is best laid out in a location with flatter terrain. An area where there are already other elements e.g. ski play elements or training tracks, could be a perfect spot for a Cross-Country Cross course. Alternatively be cretive and utilise a park or open field. Make sure to obtain permission from the owner of the property to establish the course. Based on experience a course of 1.0 - 2.0km is recommended

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Method

STEP 1: Choose Your Location

STEP 2: Set up Its time get your workers and shovels and begin creating. Setting up a cross country course requires some immagination. Below you will find suggested elements for the course as well as some graphic examples of how the course can be mapped out.

HINT: Use the Tent from the Audi SnowKidz Toolkit to indicate the start

ALPINE START

HINT: Use the V-Boards from the Audi SnowKidz Toolkit to layout the course

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Method

Starting the Cross-Country Cross course on top of a raised area works well. This way the skiers get the sensation of speed and action from the very beginning! If the terrain does not provide a raised area, all that is needed is a pile of snow.

At sites where there will be a permanent CrossCountry Cross course, artificially raised areas should be constructed.

360 DEGREE TURN In a 360 degree turn the skier is crossing his/ her own track.This element should be placed in a flat section of the course. A built up contour is preferable, this is to make it easier to maintain flow and speed through the section. A wide entry section to the element is preferred allowing the skier to pick his/her preferred track. The contour should be built to provide support for the skier.

COMPRESSION A compression element can be a challenging section for skiers. For example a sharp turn following a steep downhillsection. A rough surface will increase the challenge.

Kickers can be a natural and exciting part of a crosscountry cross course. The size and number of kickers should depend on the age and level of experience of the users, as well as the terrain. The height of the kicker should not exceed 0.5 metres, and it should be positioned so the landing starts with a natural knoll (the knoll can be built/ shaped if it does not occur naturally). The flight curve should follow the profile of the landing. If several kickers occur in a row, the distance between them should be about 10 meters to create a good rhythm.

HINT: Use the gates and gate flags from the Audi SnowKidz Toolkit to mark the turns

Method

KICKERS

SLALOM

REVERSE PASSAGE

Method

Place the gates on flat or sloping terrain, where the skier has a bit of speed that can be maintained through the passage. To avoid delays two or three passages can be placed next to each other.

Make sure it is not possible to bypass the reverse passage. Make sure to use signs as a guide

A slalom section could occur either on a hill or on a flat. Imagine a straight line between the start and the finish of the slalom section, then place a gate every seven meters along that line. The gates should then be offset by about 0.5 meter to cause the skier to change direction. Gates can also be placed randomly to challenge the skiers to pick the best track.

HINT: Use the gates and gate flags from the Audi SnowKidz Toolkit to mark the slalom section

OTHER SUGGESTED FEATURES

Portals

Pump Organ

Banked Turn

Method

Gate Jungle

HINT: Use the poles and pole connectors from the Audi SnowKidz Toolkit to create these features

HINT: Use the bibs from the Audi SnowKidz Toolkits to distinguish the participants

Method

GRAPHIC EXAMPLES

Method

Method

Method

REGISTER

LOCAL MEDIA

POSTERS

Register your event on www.snowkidz.com.

From there you will receive your Live Profile and access to further support materials.

Staging a FIS SnowKidz event means you are staging an internationally recognised event.

Whilst FIS will be informing international media of your event it is critical that you contact your local media. The majority of your participants will come from local areas and will find out about your event in local newspapers, radio and television. Finally do not hesitate to invite journalists to your event. If you require FIS to create a formal letter recognising your event please just send an email to snowkidz@fisski.com with your request.

Log into the FIS SnowKidz Toolkit and download the poster template. Insert your information, print and distribute them to local schools, libraries, youth centres and sports halls.

Method

STEP 3: Promotion

VIDEO

SOCIAL MEDIA

Download the powerpoint presentation from the FIS SnowKidz Toolkit and create a presentation outlining your concept. Approach local schools and give them a presentation on what you are doing. At the end invite the children to your event.

Video campaign - create a small video from your event and post it on Youtube. Share your video on your organisation’s website and on other social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram are powerful tools to promote your event. Set up a page on each of the platforms and update people on the progress of your event. Don’t forget to meniton regularly when your event is taking place.

Method

SCHOOLS

STEP 4: Celebrate

Method

You have done the hardwork in the preparation of your event. Now its time to celebrate! Go outside enjoy the event with your participants and their families.

Engage in the children and show them how to enjoy snow sports. And don’t forget to take plenty of photos and videos for your report!

STEP 5: Report

Finally, don’t forget to compile a report for the partners and sponsors of your event. This will ensure a good long term relationship with them.

TELL US!

Method

Log on www.snowkidz.com to share your expereince. Report on your event and include images and the videos you have created. Reports will remain online permenantly giving you good long term international promotion of your event.

Additional Activities Hot beverages

Photo Session

Diploma

Method

Muscial Entertainment

CH -3563 Oberhofen/Thunersee (Suisse) Marc Hodler Haus Blochstarsse 2 Tel +41 33 244 6161 Fax +41 33 244 6171 snowkidz@fisski.com www.fis-snowkidz.com President Gian Franco Kasper Secretary General Sarah Lewis Executive Editors Andrew Cholinski David Broere Riikka Rakic Executive Contributors Erik Aas Andersen Helen Ingebretsen Georg Zipfel Anders Bystrรถm Satu Kalajainen Norwegian Ski Federation Hans Jahr Photo and Picture Credits National Ski Associations Zoom I-Stock Photo Pty. Ltd. Swiss Ski (FreeSki Days) Copyright No Articles may be reproduced without identification of the source (Copyright:FIS) The FIS Logograms and SnowKidz logo are registered trademarks of FIS FIS wishes to thank all its members and partners for the their contributions to this publication.

Without them this would not be possible.

Acknowledgements

FIS SnowKidz Cookbook: Cross - Country Cross