Provincial Program
New this year! To help our younger skiers born in 2011 and 2012 bridge the gap between the Junior program and the Provincial program we have created a bridge program for the 2025-26 season – the Devo Squad.
Skiers in the Devo Squad will be a part of the Provincial program and pay the Provincial program fees. They would be able to attend up to 3 practices a week. A portion of those practices would be with the Jr Program. (likely once every 2-3 weeks.)
There will be a designated Devo Squad coach who would work primarily with the Devo Squad skiers in conjunction with either the Senior team coaches or the junior team coaches depending on what practice the Devo squad skiers are attending.
The training groups in the senior program (Devo, Provincial and National) will meet together at the start of most workouts. Some workouts will be done together for the full workout, some will start together for warmup and technique work, some will start at different spots, depending on the workout planned and the terrain needed to challenge each group.
We still want to promote a full team concept with everyone working together and the younger/slower skiers having the opportunity to train with and see the faster skiers and the faster skiers having the opportunity to help the younger/slower skiers by being role models for technique, training speed, motivation, etc.
The Provincial program, including the Devo Squad, is focused on athletes in Grade 8 and high school who want to train for cross country skiing in a structured, competition-oriented group but who are not ready/available to commit to training for xc skiing full time. The racing focus for this program is on Ontario Cup, SOD Paraffin Cup and other local loppet and high school races. The training and technique instruction is designed to push athletes to achieve at a higher level of fitness and competency. The full value of the program is derived from the consistent day to day relationship the skier develops with their coach and teammates.
Coaches will provide solid, consistent training and racing opportunities for motivated athletes while simultaneously fostering a lifelong love for an active, outdoor lifestyle. The Provincial program will start on September 8th for skiers not in the Summer program or September 1st for those who were in the Summer Program and will run until the second week of March. Training sessions will be available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday and Sundays; Monday will be strength sessions on Zoom and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday will be group training sessions. Due to the lower level of commitment than the National program, Provincial program athletes will attend 3 sessions (of their choosing) per week.
There are a number of travel opportunities for Provincial program athletes who are interested in racing the Ontario Cup level races, as well as attending local & regional races. Participation at Nationals is not included in this program. Athletes in the Provincial program who request to participate at Nationals will be assessed by the coach and will pay an extra coaching fee (TBD based on trip costs) for this event.
Program overview
- September to 1st snow – winter program starts Sept. 6th, 2025 (September 1st for those who were in the Summer Program) with training Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday. Monday sessions will be strength sessions held on Zoom.
- 1st snow through December -start training on snow Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday as in the fall & early season races – December O-Cup and local races
- January / February – local races, Ontario Cups and Eastern Cups, high school races
- March – local races and OCups
- Program fee is $1295 + HST +SOD, CCO, NC fee of $23 + fall trail pass (for those not in summer program) + 20% discounted winter trail pass (on Super Early Bird pricing) for Hardwood Ski and Bike. This pass will be available for purchase through a Hardwood Ski and Bike portal. Skiers aged 13-19 is $388 + HST. Skiers 20 and over is $452 + HST. Skiers aged 6-12 is $124 + HST. For parents there is a discounted couples pass of $788 + HST. This discounted winter trail pass also extends to parents and siblings of program skiers. Program skiers receive a 20% discount on race entries to Hardwood Ski and Bike organized races. Skiers and immediate family members receive a 15% discount on regularly priced items in the retail and service department. Program fees include all waxing fees. Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the wax trailer during the season.
- Online registration at zone4.ca will be open in late August for program registration & Team Hardwood trail passes (2 separate registrations) Under registration, search Team Hardwood.
Athletes will also incur all costs associated with travel and racing license and race fees in addition to program fees. During the race season, skiers will be required to pay coaches/team expenses for races which they attend, which has ranged in the past $20 – $200 per race depending on distance and duration. This is in addition to their own travel/race fees.
Online registration (program plus trail pass) is now available HERE.