Jackrabbits

Dakota Ridge Jackrabbit Cross-Country Ski Program

Program

The Jackrabbit program is a fun way for kids to learn basic cross-country ski skills while providing an opportunity to ski and socialize with their parents and friends. It also helps children to develop confidence, outdoor winter safety skills, and build overall motor skills. The program’s long term goal is to foster an appreciation of physical exercise and nature in children by exposing them to a fun outdoor family activity. Jackrabbits is a parent participation program.

Our next season will run from January 22, 2012 to March 11, 2012. If you are interested in coaching or volunteering as a coaching assistant please contact our Head Coach.

NOTE: Jackrabbits is now full for 2011/12.
If you would like to be added to next year's registration notice, please contact our registrar here.

Important Dates:

2012 Program Dates - Sun. Jan. 22nd to Mar. 11th (with one week off in-between to attend the P'ayak Loppet on Feb. 25th in Whistler), 10 am start on the hill

First Coaches Meeting, Thursday, Dec. 15th, Roberts Creek School

Next Admin Meeting - Dec. 13th, 6:30 pm, Roberts Creek School

2012 Registration Instructions

Registration will officially open to the public November 7, 2011.

To register, all families must first become members of the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club (cost min. $35). This ensures all Jackrabbit participants are covered under the CCBC insurance that is held by the TOC. To register with the TOC first, click here.
Second, click here to register your individual children for Jackrabbits (cost $65 for six weeks). Note that for your child's learning purposes, you are expected to make as many of the 7 sessions as possible.
Note: Registrations can only be made online with a credit card. Registrations sent in via mail with a cheque cannot be guaranteed a spot until the cheque is received. For a copy of the mail-in form please click here.
Withdrawal Policy - Please note that registration fees are non-refundable. Registration may be transferred to a new applicant by privately arranging transfer of payment between parties.
If you have any questions, please contact our Registration Coordinator via email or at (604)886-3133.

Costs have been increased by $2 to accomodate a new SCRD user fees. SCRD will implement a $5 per vehicle user fee for groups who are not purchasing ski or snowshoe passes, but wish to utilize Dakota Ridge for other recreational uses. Coaches, Parents and Volunteers who are part of our program will not need to purchase the $5 per vehicle fee during the seven Jackrabbit sessions. If any parents wish to ski during or after our session, they are required to purchase a day ski pass as usual.

Or, consider buying a Seasons Pass to Dakota Ridge. The rate is $120 for adults, and $240 for families.

Our Supporters:

Patrick Mark - Mr. Mender Outdoor Clothing

Parent Volunteers

Happy Parent Volunteer

The TOC Dakota Ridge Jackrabbits program is coordinated and run entirely by parent volunteers. If you are interested in any of the following positions please let us know:

Parent Volunteer Coordinator
Equipment Loan Coordinator
Igloo Moms and Dads
Carpooling Coordinator
Risk Management Coordinator

If you like how the club operates or would like to see some changes please consider attending a Jackrabbit meeting (see "Upcoming Events") and getting involved as a committee member. Any feedback is welcomed to assist with ongoing program development.

Carpooling

Please Note: Four wheel drive vehicles and chains are required to access the Dakota Ridge Ski Area.

To arrange carpooling, send an email to our club list serve at:
tet-jackrabbits@vancouvercommunity.net

A shuttle service is also provided by Alpha Adventures, phone (604) 885-8838

Snow Conditions

Classes may be cancelled due to road and/or weather conditions. For updates on road and and snow conditions please refer to www.suncoastcentral.com and click on “Dakota Ridge/Tetrahedron Current Conditions”. This site is updated weekly.

The SCRD website www.scrd.ca also has information.

The parking lot is very small, so if you do drive, try to park relatively close together. Please note the driver heading downhill has the right of way. Use caution when pulling off to the side as a heavy snowfall can obscure the ditches on either side. The road is not as wide as it looks!

Dressing Appropriately

Cross Country BC recommends layering or wearing several pieces of lighter clothing in combination for comfortable skiing. The first layer is full top and bottom sport underwear that allows perspiration to evaporate away from the body. The second layer should be stretchy or looser clothing, like fleece (depending on temperature). Jeans or cotton should not be worn skiing, as they absorb and retain moisture easily. The third and final layer should generally be some sort of windproof clothing that snow won’t stick to. Pants are especially important for younger children, who may spend more time in contact with snow. This final layer should be easily removable (think bathroom breaks!) and easily stored if not needed.

First Annual Birkebeiner Race March 2010

Jackrabbit Coaches Act Out the Race of the Birkebeiners

By Nick Smith

It is only 9:45 on a Sunday morning but the Dakota Ridge parking lot is already bustling.   Youngsters spill out of mini-vans and SUVs as their parents fumble with skis, poles and backpacks stuffed with gear.
The TOC Dakota Ridge Jackrabbit Program, which offers ski instruction to four through nine year-olds, had to be cut short during its second season due to warm weather, but that fact, combined with the light drizzle, has done little to dampen the spirits of both the children and families participating in this wrap-up event.

Once snowsuits are zipped and ski-boots laced, the children are gathered to listen and watch as their coaches enact a dramatic reading of The Race of the Birkebeiners. This slice of Norwegian history, which features brave warriors, an infant prince, and his saintly mother racing across mountain passes in flight from murderous villains, has borne the “Birkie,” one of the world’s best known cross-country ski races.

When the story is done, all strap their own infant princes to their backs, then head up to the skills area for a somewhat tamer version of the race. While the four to six-year old “Bunnies” ski a circuit around this practice space, the seven to nine year old “Jackrabbits” race through a more hilly course in the woods above. For each circuit completed, Bunny and Jackrabbit alike are allowed to pluck from a basket a home-baked cookie. With this incentive in place, the dramatic improvement in student skill becomes apparent. Some of these young folks, who, until a few weeks ago, had never strapped on skis, are now climbing steep hills and spraying snow as they navigate tight corners before sailing up to the cookie table like Olympians.

It all ends quickly, children brushing crumbs from their lips as their parents pull them back into vehicles so that they can make the beginning of the Canada–US gold medal hockey game, giving the coaches barely enough time to say their goodbyes and their wishes to see them the next season.

Jackrabbits getting their Prince Hakon dolls ready for the Birkebeiner

History

For many years the Tetrahedron Outdoor Club has recognized the need for child and youth winter recreation opportunities on the Sunshine Coast. The idea of a Jackrabbit cross-country ski program has long been a goal of the club along with the original Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Society, the Sunshine Coast Nordic Ski Club, and staff of the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD). In February 2009, thanks to the efforts of an enthusiastic group of parents and volunteers, the first pilot TOC Jackrabbit Cross-Country Ski Program was launched at the new Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area.