Know Before You Go - School Programs

Determine Skier Skill Levels

Teachers, please share our handy sizing chart and skill levels cheat sheet with parents/guardians. This will be attached to your confirmation email.

• Never-Ever – Brand new to skiing or snow sports. Show me the way!
• Beginner – Student has cross-country skied at least 3 to 5 times with school or family, stays on beginner terrain – green trails/flats and low-grade hills.
• Low-Intermediate – Student has cross-country skied more than 5 times, classic or skate (but not both), or is a confident alpine skier. Prefers to stay on intermediate terrain green/blue trails, and moderate rolling hills.
• High-Intermediate – Students has cross-country skied many times, can classic and skate ski, skis in a Nordic club program or with family/friends regularly. Comfortable skiing on intermediate/advanced terrain blue/black trails with steeper hills. Let’s Race!

Intermediate and advanced alpine skiers often transition easily into cross-country skiing. If a child is an experienced alpine skier we recommend classifying them as a low-intermediate cross-country skier their first time out.

Divide Students Into Lesson/Tour Groups

For ski lessons, instructors are reserved on a 1:10 ratio based on the number of students booked. Ratios are approximate. For example, if you book 50 students for a lesson we will do our best to schedule 5 instructors. Please divide all students into groups of 10 to 12 based on skill level and provide boot sizing for ski trips.

For snowshoe tours, we reserve approximately 2 guides per class. Sizing is not required for snowshoe trips.

Assigned groups are not required for self-guided trips.

Arrival & Departure

All vehicles must stop at the gate on arrival. Please provide a final head count at the gate - this will be communicated to our ski school team.

Schools participating in a lesson or tour proceed to Parking Lot 3 (signs for “P3”). Buses will drop students off at the Cross Country building. Our coaches will be outside waiting for you! Wait on the bus, a staff member will come to greet you. Students will meet their instructor(s) as they step off the bus. Drivers can then proceed to park in one of our available lots.

Schools participating in a self-guided program proceed to the bus loop at the south end of parking lot 3. Wait on the bus, a staff member will come to greet you. You will receive directions for ticket and rental pick-up.

Lesson/tour programs run from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm or 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. You are welcome to continue skiing or snowshoeing on your own after your program ends. If you choose to continue skiing after your program, the school must ensure all rental equipment is returned to the rental shop before departure. The park closes at 4:30 pm. Arrival/departure times will also be confirmed with self-guided groups to avoid confusion at the gate and rental shop upon arrival.

Lunch Program

Whistler Cooks Catering provides an optional lunch program. $8.50/student, includes choice of sandwich (ham & cheddar, turkey & gouda, or roast beef all on white house made sourdough, or falafel wrap), apple or orange, cookie, and hot chocolate. 

New this year, parents can order direct through Whistler Cooks - link provided with booking confirmation. Please note that school lunch orders are prepared off-site and delivered to the venue on the day of your field trip. The day lodge café cannot prepare items from this menu. 

Guests are welcome to purchase food and beverages on site at the café. Students must be accompanied by an adult. If planning to make purchases at the café, we kindly ask for advance notice to help manage volume and minimize wait times during your trip.

What to Wear/Bring

Outerwear

Light snow pants
Warm jacket
2 (light) pairs of gloves or mittens
A (light) toque
Waterproof layer for rainy/snowy days

Layers

Dress for the weather, with comfortable clothing, and layers of synthetic or wool blends – allows moisture and sweat to evaporate and adjust the temperature as the body warms up and cools down while skiing.
Avoid cotton (including jeans), it absorbs and holds moisture.

Personal Items

Sunglasses
Sunscreen
A full water bottle, snacks, and lunch
Personal medicine
DO NOT bring valuables.
Participants can bring their cross-country ski gear – program fees help cover instructional costs and will not be reduced for those with personal gear.

Biathlon

We use .22 calibre rifles in our biathlon programs. If you require a risk management plan for trip approval, please contact us for our Biathlon Safety Policy. All staff participate in an annual training program, and the range is supervised by licensed range safety officers. There is zero tolerance for horseplay on the range.

New this year, we are offering electronic biathlon as an alternative to our standard biathlon program. Electronic rifles are widely used by clubs starting at age 8, and do not require any live ammunition. Equipment can be set up indoors or outdoors. 

Snow Luge

Luge is the fastest sport in the winter Olympics! Snow luge, also known as "natural luge", provides a safe and controlled environment for youth to try the sport before moving on to a traditional ice track. Snow luge sessions operate in the Whistler Olympic Park toboggan area using specially designed sleds. Our luge coach will teach students about the equipment, steering, and body control using various drills.

Students must bring their own snow sports helmet for this activity, all other equipment is provided.

We can facilitate approximately 1 class per 1.5 hour snow luge session, followed by a snowshoe tour after lunch. For two classes, students will rotate through snow luge and snowshoe activities.

For on ice luge, bobsled, or skeleton activities and field trips, please contact our colleagues at the Whistler Sliding Centre track.

Risk Management 

We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our guests, staff, and community. Whistler Olympic Park operates within health & safety protocols to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as COVID-19. For more information on Safety & Risk Awareness at Whistler Olympic Park, click here.

Curriculum Ties

Nordic sports are enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, and skiing involves all major muscle groups, building balance, strength, and endurance. Our school programs combine traditional cross-country ski drills with games and experiential learning on the trail to create a learning environment that is fun and functional. With a focus on developing physical literacy through snow literacy - balance, gliding, speed and body control, decision-making, safety, and learning through play - we strive to help participants gain competence, confidence, and motivation to move and be active for life.

Ski Play & Physical Literacy

Our ski playground is a designated area with terrain features that encourage learning to ski naturally. Click here to see it in action.

"Physical Literacy & Its Relevance to Skiers", article by Michelle Deacon, NCCP CCI and CC Coach Developer, CANSI Level III Cross Country Ski Instructor.

Get Involved In Nordic Skiing, Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Or Nordic Combined

Whistler Olympic Park hosts its multi-sport camps during Christmas and Spring Break, along with multi-sport programs on some Pro-D days. Multi-sport programs may include Nordic skiing, biathlon, ski jumping, snowshoeing, and/or tobogganing. For more information about programs, parents can click here or email us.

Whistler Olympic Park and local Nordic clubs organize seasonal programming for cross-country, biathlon, and ski jumping! Please contact your local Nordic club for club program or racing information:

• Sea to Sky Nordics
• Hollyburn Cross-Country Ski Club
• Whistler Nordics
• Nordic Racers
• West Coast Nordic Club
• Spud Valley Nordics