Come and join our professional coaching staff to get a "jump start" on your 2024 - 2025 ski season! During the on snow clinics we’ll provide a solid understanding of XC ski fundamentals and give you tools and drills to gain efficiency and strength at the camp and throughout your ski season.
Back in the mid 1980’s long time local Drew Barney, Torbjorn Karlsen and Dick Hunt started “Fall Camp” to offer coaches clinics and clinics for citizen racers and individuals who wanted to improve technique. Through the years the camp has grown and evolved to be a top training camp for the XC ski community. Our number one goal is to provide skiers a top notch clinic experience whether avid master racers looking for a early season training camp or skiers simply wanting to improve technique. We have assembled a high end coaching staff composed of elite XC ski professionals. This coaching staff combined with West Yellowstone’s Rendezvous Trail system makes this the best place in America to transition from dryland training to on-snow skiing.
Tuesday, November 26 - Saturday, November 30
Cost: $455
The 5-day clinic is open to all level skiers who want to become more efficient in both classic and skate techniques and have significant on-snow time with coaches during the week. Each day will include two on-snow sessions, ½ day (morning) classic skiing and ½ day (afternoon) skate skiing. The focus for the clinics will be on the fundamentals of skiing with specific attention to efficiency and power on varying terrain. Building your training base will come naturally as we spend significant time on skis throughout the clinic. The more advanced skier groups will address training concepts (speed, endurance, strength. agility) and race tactics in on snow sessions. Participants will be divided into groups based on ability. Participants should be sure to bring both classic (waxable or high performance skin/waxless) and skate skis.
ScheduleThursday, November 28 - Saturday, November 30
Cost: $343
The clinic is open to all level skiers who want to become more efficient in both classic and skate techniques. Each day consist of two on-snow sessions, ½ day (morning) classic skiing and ½ day (afternoon) skate skiing. The focus for the clinics will be on the fundamentals of skiing with specific attention to efficiency and power on varying terrain. Building your training base will come naturally as we spend significant time on skis throughout the clinics. Participants will be divided into groups based on their chosen ability. Clinic participants should be sure to bring both classic (waxable or high performance skin/waxless) and skate skis to West Yellowstone.
ScheduleTuesday, November 26 - Wednesday, November 27
Cost: $242
This clinic is great for folks who are in West Yellowstone early in the week or want to combine this clinic with other clinics later in the week. It is open to all level skiers who want to become more efficient in both classic and skate techniques. Each day will include two on-snow sessions, ½ day (morning) classic skiing and ½ day (afternoon) skate skiing. The focus for the clinics will be on xc ski fundamentals with specific attention to efficiency and power on varying terrain. Participants will be divided into groups based on ability. Participants should be sure to bring both classic (waxable or high performance skin/waxless) and skate skis.
ScheduleThursday, November 28 and Saturday, November 30
Cost: $130
These skate specific clinics (offered Thursday and Saturday) are open to all ability level skiers who want to focus on Skate technique. There will be a morning and an afternoon on snow session. The clinic will focus on xc ski fundamentals that allow you to be efficient and powerful on a variety of terrain. Participants will be divided into groups based on their chosen ability.
Thursday ScheduleSaturday ScheduleFriday, November 29
Cost: $130
This classic specific clinic is open to all ability level skiers who want to focus on Classic technique. There will be a morning and an afternoon on snow session. The clinic will focus on xc ski fundamentals that allow you to be efficient and powerful on a variety of terrain. Participants will be divided into groups based on their chosen ability. We recommend that clinic participants use waxable or high performance skin/waxless classic skis for this clinic.
ScheduleAll Clinics will meet outside on snow at the specified time on the clinic schedules. A specific area near the Rendezvous trail head will be designated and clinic schedules will be communicated to all participants in November.
The coaching staff is composed of an elite group of XC ski professionals which includes retired world class skiers, coaches and professional instructors. Coaches will rotate through groups every ½ day session so you will get exposure to different coaches throughout your clinic.
Learn more about the coachesFor all clinics, our goal is to have similar-ability groups of 6-8 skiers per coach. We feel this allows for safe social distancing and optimal learning experiences. In certain instances, we will also break groups by fitness ambition meaning that some folks may want to ski harder than others.
All ski clinic participants should bring their own (or rented) classic and skate ski equipment. For classic skis, we recommend a wax-able ski or performance skin/waxless ski as they support skiers learning efficient classic technique. Freeheel and Wheel rents equipment, but they do have a limited supply so plan early.
Check with your lodging property. Many properties set up a waxing room for the week. We suggest that you glide wax your skis at home before traveling to the event. If you need daily help with kick wax for classic skis, a coach will be available at the clinic meeting point prior to the clinic start to communicate and help with a recommend kick wax for the session.
Participants should dress in breathable layers. Temperature ranges in November can be varied with mean average temperatures ranging from 10 – 34 degrees Fahrenheit. However, we’ve also woken up to below zero temps on occasion. Our goal is to keep skiers moving during clinic sessions; however there will be some discussion time while coaches present ideas and give feedback. Therefore, you may want to dress in 1 extra layer so that you are comfortable. We suggest that you bring a water bottle/hydration system and an energy bar or gel so that you can keep energy levels consistent.
Pre-Camp Training TipsPlease check out the Chamber of Commerce list of properties and the West Yellowstone Tourism Business Improvement District for availability.
In general, we do not process refunds for cancellations. We try to be fair with cancellations due to sickness and/or injury and will refund paid fees, less administrative costs in these situations.
In the event of a low snow year and there is insufficient snow to host the clinics on the Rendezvous trails, clinics will be cancelled and registration fees will be refunded (less a small administrative fee). The clinics will not be held on the South Plateau trails.
The minimum number of clinic participants is 6. If there are less than 6 participants signed up for any given clinic on Nov. 19, the clinic will be cancelled. We will notify any current participants via email. Clinic fees would be transferable or refunded in this case.
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The Rendezvous Ski Trails are managed in partnership with the United States Forest Service, the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce, and the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation.
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