The Jackrabbit Program, developed by Cross Country Canada, is designed to introduce the fundamentals of cross-country skiing to children aged six to nine.
Children enrolled in the program are provided a booklet to record their career, technique and program awards in the form of stickers that chart their different levels of achievement. The program’s objective is to teach children the basic cross-country ski skills, both classic and skating, and to instil a life-long interest in the sport.
“In the beginning they [the Jackrabbits] are learning how to fall down, get back up, [and] do a pattern on their skis,” explained Jeanine D’Antonio, Jasper Jackrabbit organizer. “What they really love to do is go over a hill, which is great because there are a couple skills we need to teach them on that. It is so great that they are so keen to get out there.”
Because many of the kids downhill ski and play hockey, D’Antonio believes the Jackrabbits are a very athletic bunch of kids who have the ability to pick up skills quickly.
“They are very easy to teach, because their activity level is so high.”
Through skills training and games, during which children have so much fun they don’t realize they are learning, their coach helps the students gain the skills needed to advance.
The Jackrabbits are pleased to have hired coach Abby Morgan this year. Also on their coaching team is Barb Sharp, a biathlete who will teach the kids much about skate skiing, which is a required skill for the biathlon. Many of the kids who have been in the program for a couple years are now on their level three skills, allowing them to learn skate skiing.
The Jasper Jackrabbits will join the Hinton Jackrabbits at a loppet in Hinton on March 2. During the loppet, the students will go into the biathlon area and learn how to shoot.
“It’s going to be exciting,” said D’Antonio, who suspects exposure to the biathlete training area will produce more new recruits interested in cross-country skiing.
Unfortunately the Jasper Jackrabbit Program is scaled back this year due to fewer coaches. The Jackrabbits meet every Tuesday between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., but in the past they were also able to meet on weekends.
The Jackrabbits don’t always meet in Centennial Park, sometimes they go out to Whistlers Campground, Pyramid Lake or on some of the trails on the Bench.
“We really want to thank the elementary school for letting us borrow their skis,” said D’Antonio. This year, the Jackrabbit Program donated three sets of skis to add to the pool of skis at Jasper Elementary School, and hope to continue to add to that pool as time goes on.
In March, the Jackrabbits will have a destination barbecue for all of their families.
To join the Jackrabbit program, the cost is $50 per season. Anyone interested should contact D’Antonio at 780 -852-7043 or Louise Knight 780-852-5858.
