Strategic Plan

BC Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined PSO

Strategic Plan  –   (Winter 2023-24)

BC Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Society was formed October 2018 and was recognized by Ski Jumping Canada and Nordic Combined Ski Canada as the Provincial Sport Organization.  In November of 2020 BCSJNCS was granted Affiliated Status with Viasport.

Though ski jumping and Nordic Combined are underdeveloped sports in Canada they are both Olympic sports and have a large following in Europe and many other countries.  The goal of BCSJNCS is to develop both ski jumping and Nordic combined in BC.

The initial plan is to concentrate on building upon the 2010 legacy and utilize facilities at Whistler Olympic Park and the Squamish Legacy Park.  The formation of the Sea to Sky Nordics club in 2013 was the first step.  The second step was the formation of the Provincial Organization in 2018.  The next step is to either partner with existing Nordic Clubs in BC or form new clubs.  A Development Manager has been hired by Ski Jumping Canada to support new clubs across Canada. BCSJNC is working with the SJC Development manager to create 2 or 3 new clubs in BC over the next 1 to 2 years. The new clubs will initially use snow jumps to introduce youth to the sport. As athletes progress they will attend camps at Whistler Olympic Park or Squamish Legacy Park. As the sport grows, additional training jumps will be built in other BC centres.

The following strategic plan follows very closely the plan for S2SN, as it is currently the only active ski jumping/Nordic combined club in BC.

The Sea to Sky Nordics Club has been in existence since 2013.  The club formed as an amalgamation of the Callaghan Winter Sports Club, and the Squamish Nordics. 

Since that time, S2SN has been running recreational and sport programs and events in the 4 Nordic Disciplines of Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Cross Country Skiing, and Biathlon.

The club’s purpose is to run recreational programs in all 4 Nordic sports, and to develop athlete pathways for those who wish to pursue competitive goals.  The club has had success in “graduating” recreational athletes into competitive sport programs and events in Biathlon and Cross Country skiing, and, most recently has developed serious athletes in Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined.  Since our program must be capped at 20 participants each winter, due to limited ski jump training facilities on the West Coast, this development has been recent, but highly encouraging.  We currently have 3 athletes designated as our first Provincial team, training with the Junior National Ski Jump program, and 3 younger athletes keen to follow this same pathway.

The creation of a PSO for Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined came about as a result of this positive growth in our sports.  And hence, the need for a strategic plan to further guide this growth.

Objectives:

  1. To grow and guide the development of Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined athletes in BC
  2. To support the continuation of seasonal Ski Jump/Nordic Combined programs and events at Whistler Olympic Park (WOP), initially using their training jumps (10m, 20m, 40m) and XC ski trails, and progressing to use of the larger Olympic hills (Normal Hill and Large Hill).
  3. Work with current clubs (S2SN) to hire a skilled coach for BC in the sports of ski jumping/Nordic combined in order to:
  4.  bring high level coaching skills to BC athletes
  5. Organize and run summer camps each summer, in locations that include paved roller skiing and a series of training jumps (10m, 20m, 40m, 60m, 90m)
  6. Help BC Nordic clubs to host small hills competitions for our BC athletes
  7. Provide motivation materials to BC Nordic Clubs to motivate athletes to continue their athletic development
  8. Develop and provide training programs for our ski jump/Nordic combined athletes for off-season training.

Program Delivery Targets:

  1. Support the programs that currently run every winter on snow at Whistler Olympic Park, and every summer on dryland jumps in locations suitable for current athletes.  Several venues have been identified, with Anchorage, Alaska and Planica, Slovenia being two of the best.  Several US dryland sites are also considered to be potentials.
  2. Work with the new Ski Jump/Nordic Combined Development Manager to encourage the establishment and growth of other clubs throughout BC.
  3. Encourage and help develop strategies to enable “start up” programs to be established at different locations in BC.
  4. To help source and procure ski jump clothing and ski gear at affordable prices for families.
  5. To help store and care for a stock of ski jumping equipment, to allow youth to enter the sport without the necessity of finding their own ski jump gear (Ski Jump equipment is not easily accessible in Canada, and must be imported directly from European suppliers.  Purchase of equipment by youth starting out in these sports is prohibitive as ski jump skis cannot be used for either alpine or XC skiing recreationally.)
  6. Develop and provide training materials and courses for parents and volunteers to enable them to better understand the niche sports of ski jumping/Nordic combined, and also to enable them to help youth by running programs and events, and to support their children in their athletic pursuits.
  7. Encourage safe sport practices, through offering training to coaches, volunteers, and parents via current NCCP safe sport programs.

Strategies for Growth:

  1. Encourage and participate in all winter sport days promoting Nordic Sport at Whistler Olympic Park, and other interested venues/clubs in BC.
  2. Regularly communicate about ski jump/Nordic combined programs, and athletic successes, through club newsletters and public media.
  3. Support summer camps at the John Heilig Legacy Sport Park in Squamish; these camps highlight ski jumping and roller skiing in their programming.  Approximately 75 youth are introduced to ski jumping and roller skiing through these camps each summer.
  4. Support the running of “try it” days during the winter, to invite coaches of other snow sports to grow their knowledge of ski jumping/Nordic combined sports.
  5. Support the S2SN in the current process of constructing 2 new dryland ski jumps in the John Heilig Legacy Sports Park in Squamish; this will enable summer training camps for the entire Sea to Sky Corridor, including the youth in the Vancouver/Lower Mainland region. Current projections are to have these new jumps finished by the fall of 2024.

Partnerships:

  1. BCSJNCS will continue its affiliation with ViaSport in BC, to enable it to access the resources and support provided by ViaSport to all sports in BC.
  2. BCSJNCS will help clubs to maintain their primary relationship with Whistler Olympic Park, currently the only facility in BC equipped to run winter programs in ski jumping/Nordic combined.
  3. BCJNCS will continue its strong relationship with Ski Jump Canada and Nordic Combined Canada, and will continue to be involved in decision making regarding the choice of summer camps, advice in building jumps, advice in recruiting potential athletes, hosting of high-quality events, etc.
  4. BCJNCS will maintain a working relationship with the Alberta Ski Jump/Nordic Combined PSO, and the Altius Ski Club in Calgary, currently the only other ski jump/Nordic combined club in Canada.  These relationships have been, and will continue to be, critical in helping us to create strong programs and to access coaching resources that often stem from the cadre of National team athletes originating in Alberta.
  5. Already, a partnership has been created with BCSJNCS and Alberta Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined to enable our BC Ski Jumping Nordic Combined Society athletes, to access expert coaching in order to gain experience to qualify for acceptance to Canada’s Junior National Team and National Team training programs. Three of our athletes are currently training with this combined BC/Alta group, and several others are keen to develop the skill level to join them.

Via Sport Relationship:

Ski jumping and Nordic Combined are two small “niche” sports.  Few facilities exist in Canada for training, and therefore potential athletes do not often “see” themselves in these sports.

It is vital that BCSJNC maintain its relationship with ViaSport as the governing and sponsoring body of all sport in BC. 

Athletes who become exposed to ski jumping and Nordic combined sports, often ask about ski jumping.  They are eager to learn about Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined sport opportunities.

It behooves us all to support our youth in pursuing these activities!