Canadian Nordic Team national coach moves to Black Jack: Dave Wood Aims to Grow Club

By Black Jack

The Black Jack Ski Club is pleased to announce that Dave Wood has become the head coach of the club’s Skier Development Program. 

Seven months ago, Wood was coaching the Canadian National Team at the Vancouver Olympics, triumphantly capping a twelve year career as the National Ski Team head coach.  During that time, Wood developed North America’s most successful nordic team ever.  

He coached Sara Renner, Beckie Scott, and Chandra Crawford to silver and gold podium finishes in the World Cup and Olympics.  He also helped launch the stellar careers of many other nordic luminaries, including Devon Kershaw and Rossland native George Grey.  

Wood says he’s excited to bring his experience and his passion for cross country skiing to the West Kootenays:  “I want to grow the club.  When the program is bigger, you’re more successful, and then there’s more excitement around the team.  Plus, the athletes enjoy the experience more and find it easier to have friends.”

To that end, Wood already has developed an outreach program by traveling once a week to Nelson to work with five local skiers during their spring and summer training season.  Peter Locke of Nelson is sixteen and a member of the BC Development Ski Team.  “It’s great having Dave come out here because that way we can go to more practices.  We can drive to Rossland only so many times.  And this way Dave can give us more direct attention, too.”

Wood is placing particular emphasis on working with younger skiers:  “We want them to develop the right habits and techniques from day one. “

Wood is instituting the same sophisticated training program that worked so well on the National Ski Team: “I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside sports doctors and exercise physiologists who were real geniuses in their areas.  I always thought it would be interesting to train young skiers in the same principles.  Not the same training plan, but the same basic principles that I used with Sara Renner and Beckie Scott.”

Wood says the results aren’t always found at the podium:  “It’s the journey that’s important.   The athletes are really special to me.  Even after their active stage, they’re still friends, and that’s great.”

Nordic skiers interested in the Black Jack racing team are encouraged to contact the club at  250-364-5445, (email address), or at PO Box 1754, Rossland, BC  V0G 1Y0.