Biathlon training at Sovereign Lake Nordic Club (Photo credit: SLNC)

By Pete McIntyre

Hiring new coach

Sovereign Lake offers ski academy to students

Mar 21, 2022 | 5:15 PM

The Sovereign Lake Nordic Club (SLNC) will be launching a new training centre this fall that is focused on high school and post-secondary athletes.

Club officials say the Nordic Development Academy will offer Western Canada’s only high-performance training program for cross country and biathlon athletes in grades 8 through 12. Athletes transitioning from high school to post-secondary education will also be accommodated.

(Photo credit: SNLC)

Partnering with the Vernon School District’s Snowsports Academy Program, University of British Columbia Okanagan, and Okanagan College, the academy will work with athletes to ensure scholastic excellence and create pathways to success throughout their high school and post-secondary career as an athlete.

“We recognize that there are some significant holes in our current system with regard to team training opportunities for athletes in Grade 11 and 12 and through the first few years of post-secondary education,” said Troy Hudson, SLNC’s general manager. “We want to provide collaborative and inclusive training opportunities for motivated kids who may not have the capacity at smaller clubs nor have the six month long on-snow training season that SLNC is so well known for.”

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The club has also announced that it will be hiring an additional full-time year-round high performance coach to help guide the programs into the future with a start date of June 1, 2022. Applications are being accepted until March 30.

Jacqueline Akerman, SLNC head coach, said she is thrilled to be advancing the opportunities for growth and excellence at the club.

“Join the SLNC Nordic Development Academy where the team thrives with world-class ski trails, hiking trails, biking, roller skiing, new biathlon facilities and a professionally run club. With the addition of a new full-time coaching position to work alongside me, we will be providing you with even more expertise and direction,” said Akerman.

The Sovereign Lake Nordic Development Academy is accepting applications for its first intake until April 30, 2022. There are limited spaces available (30) for the 2022-23 season.

The cost is $3,000 per year.

Check these websites for program details: Ski Academy Biathlon Academy