It is probably not news to you that childhood obesity in the United States is becoming a major health issue. The causes are fairly simple: too much television, too much homework, too much food and too little exercise. And of course an epidemic of obesity in adults doesn’t help much. Just guessing, but perhaps we need to get our kids off their posteriors and outside playing where they belong. Fortunately, because of the generosity of Tahoe Cross-Country and Tahoe Donner Cross-Country (as well as a number of involved parents and community members) North Tahoe and Truckee kids have the opportunity to be introduced to cross-country skiing: An inexpensive sport that is perhaps the best aerobic exercise available.
In Tahoe City, Tahoe Cross-Country has run the very successful Strider-Glider program for the past eight years – in fact it is so successful that there is usually a waiting list. More than 130 first through fifth grade students participate in the program. They ski once a week with an instructor, but for $75 they get a season of equipment rentals and access to the trails. While the goal is to introduce Lake Tahoe area kids to the joys of cross-country skiing, it is hoped that they will develop a life long interest in the sport as well. Several former Strider-Glider students are successful members of the North Tahoe Middle and High School cross-country ski teams including Sean Lovely, Michelle Cahill and Patrick McElravey, who recently won the kids Sierra Skogsloppet cross-country ski race at Tahoe Donner. In addition to the Strider-Gliders program, dozens of teachers from Kings Beach Elementary, Tahoe Lake Elementary and Tahoe Community Nursery School have brought hundreds of kids to Tahoe Cross-Country for a day of free nordic skiing. Once they have learned the basics, kids ten and under can ski for free at Tahoe Cross-Country. When they reach North Tahoe Middle and High Schools, children can join the nordic ski teams, and ski right out the schools’ back door.
In Truckee, the Truckee Donner Parks and Recreation Department runs a kids ski program every Tuesday and Thursday at Tahoe Donner Cross-Country. Similar to Strider-Gliders, this program gives 100 children instruction in cross-country skiing one day a week after school. In addition, Tahoe Donner Cross-Country runs the Tiny Tracks kids program on weekends and holidays. In addition, kids under 12 ski free at Tahoe Donner Cross-Country. Like in Tahoe City, Alder Creek Middle School and Truckee High School cross-country ski team members spend many afternoons gliding over the trails at Tahoe Donner.
While these are great programs, they can’t do it all. Come on parents, drag those kids away from the computer and the television and get them outside working off the fast food – take them cross-country skiing. It might do you some good as well. If on the other hand you are lucky enough to have kids that are hotshot nordic skiers and you can’t keep up, come on over to my Wednesday Skate Skiing clinics at Tahoe Cross-Country at 10 am and 1 pm. It’s free (the class, not your ski pass and rentals).
Upcoming Events:
• The Great Ski Race: March 4, starts 9 a.m., 30 Km from Tahoe City to Truckee. This fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team is the biggest event in the nordic ski calendar for the Tahoe-Truckee region. Join about 1,000 other racers. While the race is competitive for many, others are just out there for some fun. The party afterwards is the icing on the cake and a highlight of a Tahoe/Truckee winter.
• Hut to Hut at Royal Gorge: February 25. How many of Royal Gorges ten huts can you ski to in five and a half hours? Royal Gorge is big and the huts are pretty well spread out, so it is a bit of an endurance contest. At each hut you visit, however, you get a ticket that you can turn in for rewards and raffle entries at 3 p.m. The more huts you ski to the better your odds. $30 includes your trail pass and entry fee, $10 for season pass holders.
~ Tim Hauserman teaches cross-country skiing to kids and adults at Tahoe Cross-Country. He says that the adults whine more. His book, Cross-Country Skiing in the Sierra Nevada is due to be published by The Countryman Press in September.
