Calgary Gay Ski and Social is a ski club for the LGBTQ community in Calgary.  Founded in 2018, CGSS has grown to include 27 skiers in 2022-23.  The club is built around three big ideas: building ski technical skills; building ski fitness; building gay community.

Link to registration site - CGSS Program Registration 23-24

2023-24 Season

Skill Development sessions 

• Skill Development sessions - Wednesdays from 630-730 we offer a one hour ski improvement session at one of the three city ski venues:  Confederation Park Golf Course, Shaganappi Golf Course, or East Village at Fort Calgary.  When we are at Confed, we will try to post our banner on the fence.  This will be our meeting sport at 630.  We will start our session right away, so if you're a few minutes late, look for someone wearing a club toque or jacket in the driving range.

• Weekend Group Ski - Sundays we meet at a mountain park ski trailhead to enjoy a non instructional group ski.  

Multi day Ski Improvement camps 

• November early snow camp - Nov 12 and 13, we will have two full day ski sessions at Lake Louise.  We will meet at the trailhead at either Moraine Lake road or Great Divide at 9am - morning skill session - classic on Sunday, skate on monday; and a 2.5 hour fitness ski in the afternoon.

• December skill development camp - Dec 27-30 we will offer a 4 day skill development camp from 9-1130am.  Last year we did this at East Village trails - we will make a decision about location closer to the date.  2 skate days, 2 classic days.

• February ski fitness weekend - Feb 18-19 we have an overnight trip to Nipika Touring Centre.  Accommodations will still need to be arranged - likely we will stay in Radium - we can meet for supper on the sunday evening - everyone will be responsible for their own expenses.  Focus here is on fitness skiing - a 10am arrival at Nipika - 1.5 hour hour morning classic ski and a 1.5 hour afternoon ski both days.

• March club wrap up event - Mar 29-30 - Our third annual Western Cup Ski Event at Canmore Nordic Centre - an afternoon ski at 130pm to preski the race course on Friday, and a full day of Western Cup events on Saturday Mar 30.  Western Cup does have a separate registration fee - minimal - likely around $40 for the event.

Social Events

• Ski equipment session/start up social - Friday Oct 27 at 7pm - club is buying beer and pizza - a chance to have your equipment questions answered and a chance to glide wax your skis - this can also serve as an equipment swap/used equipment sale - bring any gear that you want to sell.  This will take place at Roy and James’ place in Ramsay 

• January social - potluck at somebody’s house - date tbd - likely a friday evening - club is buying the beer - everybody brings a item to contribute

• February social - potluck at somebody’s house - date tbd - likely a friday evening - club is buying the beer - everybody brings a food item to contribute

• March club wrap up social - Saturday March 30 1pm - This will take place at Canmore Nordic Centre - club is buying beer, wine and some burgers.

Coaching 

We have two coaches this year;  Roy Strum (head coach) will be leading the Intro to Skiing Group; Idan Wolach will be leading the Ski Improvement and Fitness group. We are pleased to have Idan join us this year.  Idan was a national level racer in Canada.

We will plan to alternate each week with a skate focus and a classic focus.  Each session will include a learning outcome related to technique, some fitness skiing including some speed work.

We will also have some guest coaches.  Last year we were pleased to have World Cup Racer and National Team Skier, Maya MacIsaac Jones join us for a skill building day.  This coming year Chandra Crawford, 2006 Gold Medalist in Cross Country Skiing at Torino Olympic Games will be joining for a skill development session - date tbd.  

Instruction

Weekly instruction in skate or classic techniques will focus on the four big ideas in technical ski proficiency:  power position; power line; kick and lift; coordination and rhythm.  We will be bringing the latest iteration of coaching focus to our club this year.  This year our sessions will run at the same time from 630-730 on Wednesday evenings - Roy with one group, Idan with the other. We will typically do 3 skill building drills x 10 minutes each plus a half hour fitness ski.

Start up of wednesday evening ski instruction depends on snow in the city.  Last year we had 16 weeks of snow (3 pretty cruddy weeks in November).  

Start up of sunday mountain trail skis depends on snow in the  mountains.  Typically we can start with these in November on early snow in Bragg Creek or Lake Louise.

Last wednesday instructional session - typically things turn to grass by March 15 in the city.

Last Sunday mountain trail ski event - our last weekend event will be on March 30 at Canmore Nordic Centre.

Equipment

Everyone needs to buy their own gear.  We will be doing instruction in skating and classic techniques.  It is optimal to have a set of skate gear and a set of classic gear.  Used equipment can be found - check with Roy about where to find used equipment.  Join us on Oct 20 for our club equipment session at Roy and James’ place in Ramsay.

Registration 

Registration is done on an online platform - zone4.ca  Registration will open on Tuesday Oct 17.  Registration limits are as follows:

• Introduction to skate and classic group - 10 skiers - $90 (price includes the weekend ski group and multi day ski improvement camps)

• Ski Improvement and fitness group - 10 skiers -  $100 (price includes the weekend ski group and multi day ski improvement camps)

• Weekend Ski group - $35 - 10 skiers who are not registered in wednesday skill development sessions - this is just for the sunday  ski events at mountain trail venues.

What is included in registration

• Social events - including beer or pizza or wine depending on the social event

• Insurance coverage - if you get injured as part of a club activity, there is insurance provided through the national sport organization Nordiq Canada.

• Instruction, organization

What is not included in registration

• Equipment

• Transportation to and from club events

• Trail passes for use of ski venues

Club clothing

Every year we make a purchase of club clothing.  There are a number of toques remaining from last year’s order. The option to purchase a jacket or toque will be available on the zone4.ca registration platform.  Here is what is available;

• Club toque - $25 

• Club jacket - aprox cost $170-210 - we are designing a prototype jacket this year.   We are going to place this order in October with the idea that we can have a club jacket to use by the end of November. More details to follow.