Nordic skiing & cross-country courses & instruction

Nordic Courses:

NORWAY – Rondane Hut-to-hut

Nordic Courses: develop your Nordic skiing on a hut-to-hut tour in Norway.

LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY

•	The week for those with their sights set on Nordic hut-to-hut touring but who have only the rudiments of skiing!
•	A carefully chosen and flexible itinerary allows us to spend time everyday instructing and coaching as well as travelling on to the next lodge. Some days are lodge-based for local day tours with coaching.
•	Gentle terrain with short hut-to-hut distances provides a perfect environment for learning and developing your Nordic ski techniques and skills. Typical hut-to-hut distances are 5 kms on the first day, then typically 10 or 11 kms, with 15 kms on the penultimate day.
•	With the backdrop of the dramatic Rondane mountains, typically excellent snow conditions and very comfortable D.N.T. lodges to stay in, you will be having the full hut-to-hut experience!
•	6 days of instruction and leadership included.

COSTS INCLUDE:
7 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) on twin/multi share basis, rail travel from/to Oslo Gardermoen airport, transfers from/to railway station at start/finish points of tour, DNT membership, all instruction and leadership. Flights from the UK not included.

DATES & COSTS
02/03/08 – 09/03/08 £915

The terrain carefully chosen for your skiing enjoyment and aesthetic delight! Rondablikk, Day 5 Rondane Hut-to-hut tour.
Photo: Stefan Janik/Lisa King

What people said about previous Rondane Hut-to-hut courses:

"Thanks – it was a spot-on trip, really enjoyed it – I think I could take up this skiing lark!"
A.B., March, 2005

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NORWAY – Skei: Nordic Easter

Nordic Courses: develop your Nordic skiing on a hut-to-hut tour in Norway.

LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE

•	Skei offers an excellent network of trails and pistes set in a perfect environment for learning, developing and enjoying – whatever your level and background! Sheltered forest trails, high open plateaux, user-friendly pistes.
•	The week is primarily designed for those who want to develop Nordic downhill and touring techniques and confidence to be able to hut-to-hut tour in the future, either those who are very early in their skiing experiences or those who wish to develop and consolidate existing skills.
•	Our flexible teaching system allows ability specific instructional groups so everybody is in the 'right' group.
•	3 x half days instruction of downhill/telemark techniques on-piste, with plenty of 'free' skiing time. 2 x half days coaching in travelling techniques, whilst 'en route' on tour; 6th day 'free' skiing/day tour.
•	Superb skiing and Easter holiday location, with easy access and great accommodation – also great snow record. Skei is located in the hills North-West of Lillehammer.

What people have said about previous Geilo Nordic courses (equivalent to 'Skei Nordic Easter'):

"I had a very good week in Geilo. Stefan was excellent as an instructor. ... the best part for me was the cross-country instruction and tips and I am certainly a full convert to this form of skiing ... I had not realised that there was so much technique in cross-country ... And the mountain hut/cafes were great too."
T.G., March, 2003

"I just wanted to write to say thanks for a brilliant week in Geilo ... We thought Neil was an excellent instructor, with just the right balance between patience and pushing and both R. and I learned a lot. ... something clicked this week which was great. We loved the scenery ..."
J.J., March, 2005

Uplift at Skei.
Photo: gausdal.com

Cross-country track skiing in the woods.
Photo: John Eames

Snowp;ough turns on piste

Snowplough practice on-piste.
Photo: Gerry Gosling

COSTS INCLUDE:
7 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) on twin share basis, rail travel from/to Oslo Gardermoen Airport, all instruction and leadership. Flights from UK not included.

DATES & COSTS
16/03/08 – 23/03/08 £895

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NORWAY – Skei and Espedalen

Nordic Courses: 'Pistes, Trails and Tours'.

LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE

•	A superb Norwegian 'sampler' – resort skiing and hut-to-hut touring over the Easter break (early Easter means great snow conditions!). For those wishing comprehensive technical input and a first experience of hut-to-hut touring with professional coaching and leadership.
•	A two centre Nordic ski course with eight days skiing, suitable for those with limited Nordic experience as well as those more experienced and wanting instruction in all aspects of Nordic skiing.
•	First four days at Skei with three days Nordic downhill instruction and one day travelling techniques. Then minibus to Espedalen for Nordic tours amongst the rolling hills, plateaux and snowfields of this area. We plan a one day tour for further practice and then a three day circular tour as a fitting finale to the week, ‘putting it all together’ and giving you a sound foundation of skills and confidence for future hut-to-hut touring.
•	4 x half days instruction at Skei; coaching 'en route' in Espedalen.
•	Skei & Espedalen base accommodation: half board hotel (very convenient and great food!). Accommodation on tour in the excellent D.N.T. mountain lodges.

What people have said about previous Geilo/Finse Nordic courses (equivalent to 'Skei & Espedalen' in previous years):

"I wanted to write and let you know that the trip to Norway from 9th to the 18th April (Geilo & Finse) was excellent. I learnt a great deal and am looking forward to going back next year"
TM.P. April, 2004

"... it was a very enjoyable trip and I think it is the best holiday you offer wishing really to get into the Norway scene. The combination of the piste days followed by the tours is ideal!"
P.L. & S.F., April, 2005

"We wanted you to know that it (Geilo & Finse week) was ... great ..., due in no small measure to the leadership and friendly instruction that Gerry (Gosling) and Neil (Macpherson) gave us. ... they are both highly proficient teachers and F. and I felt we had been given a lot of confidence as a result of their efforts ..."
A.T. & F.A. April, 2005

Day touring on the plateau above the Lillehammer valley.
Photo: Lisa Kingd

nordic piste practice

Downhill practice on-piste.
Photo: Gerry Gosling

COSTS INCLUDE:
9 nights half board (dinner, B&B and packed lunches) on twin/multi share basis, rail travel from/to Oslo Gardermoen Airport, minibus transfers between venues and railway stations, DNT membership, all instruction and leadership. Flights from UK not included.

DATES & COSTS
21/03/08 – 30/03/08 £980

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FINLAND – Taivalkoski: Track skiing (TS)

Nordic Courses: centre-based track skiing.

LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE

•	Finland is known for its thousands of lakes, extensive forests and rolling hills. Taivalkoski is right in the middle of it all and makes a superb ‘away from it all’ winter base to enjoy this extraordinary landscape, to glide on skis through a frozen Arctic world.
•	Taivalkoski is a great cross-country base with well-maintained trails snaking through unspoilt forest, across frozen swamps and lakes and past lonely woodsmen and hunters’ lodges. There are also 5km of floodlit trails for the energetic!
•	This week is aimed at those who wish to develop skills and Nordic skiing confidence, with Nordic skiing as their main winter activity and/or who are looking to do hut-to-hut tours in the future.
•	Also great for different ability levels, families and for those simply looking for a great winter holiday!
•	6 days skiing with 5 x half days instruction and leadership in Nordic travelling techniques with plenty of free skiing time; also husky-dog sledding, snowmobiling, Northern Light spotting, reindeers, etc. available as extras.
•	The hotel at Taivalkoski is very comfortable and is entirely self-contained with a delightful outlook over forests and frozen lakes. Don't expect throbbing nightlife, do expect a very relaxing and very memorable experience!

Top: Great tacking skiing in the Taivalkoski woods.
Bottom: Finnish winter landscape with ‘snow ghosts’.
Photos: Barbara Willen

COSTS INCLUDE:
Transfer from/to Kuusamo airport, 7 nights half-board accommodation (breakfast & dinner) on twin share basis, 5 x half days instruction/leadership. Flights to Oulo also possible, transfer supplement £35. Single room supplement £105.
Flights from UK not included.

DATES & COSTS
03/02/08 – 10/02/08 £575

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FINLAND – Iso-Syöte

Nordic Courses: centre-based track and telemark skiing.

LEVEL: INTRODUCTORY/INTERMEDIATE

•	Floating above the frozen forests and lakes of central Finland, the fjell of Iso-Syöte provides a wonderful and unique environment for a Nordic skiing holiday.
•	A very special place with the best snow record in Finland, extensive Nordic tracks and a range of downhill slopes for all skiing levels.
•	This week is aimed at those planning on hut-to-hut touring later in the season – or next season – who wish to develop skills and skiing confidence.
•	Also great for different ability levels, families and for those simply looking for a great winter holiday!
•	6 days skiing with 5 x half days instruction in Nordic travelling and downhill techniques with plenty of free skiing time on trail or piste; also husky-dog sledding, snowmobiling, Northern Light spotting, reindeers, etc.!
•	The hotel at Iso-Syöte is very comfortable and entirely self-contained with views from the rooms and cabins to die for! Don't expect throbbing nightlife, do expect an enchanting and very memorable experience!

COSTS INCLUDE:
Transfer from/to Kuusamo airport, 7 nights half-board accommodation (breakfast and dinner) on twin share basis, 5 x half days instruction/leadership. Flights to Oulo also possible, transfer supplement £35.
Flights from UK not included.

DATES & COSTS
24/02/08 – 02/03/08 £885 (2 or 3 in group)
or £705 (4 more in group)

Below, main photo: Off-piste telemarking just a few turns from the hotel!
Inset top left: In the Rockies these are called 'snow-ghosts' ... just as apt in Finland!
Inset centre: Trail skiing at Iso-Syöte.
Inset top right: Wake up to this every morning!
All photos courtesy of: Juha Kuukasjarvi, Iso-Syöte