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Introducing Cross Country BC

The Sport

Cross-country skiing is a low impact, low risk outdoor winter sport that can be practised in almost every part of British Columbia.  At a basic level, it is a sport that is easily learned, with “no boundaries” for age, gender or fitness level.  At the highest level of competition, its mastery demands exceptional skills and fitness.  It is truly a “sport for life” – in that participation frequently leads to passionate commitment and with it a life-long involvement in the sport.

In all aspects of its governance of cross-country skiing, Cross Country BC is guided by a comprehensive sport-specific Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model.  Cross Country BC’s LTAD model is aligned with the model of it’s national sport governing body, CCC), which is in turn consistent with Sport Canada’s LTAD resource paper, a world-leading conceptual framework for athlete development that recognizes international best practices, research and normative data, while considering the cultural, social and political factors that make Canada unique.  CCC/Cross Country BC’s LTAD model is an inclusive concept that emphasizes physical literacy and teaches sport skills in an age appropriate manner.  It encourages all individuals to be involved in lifelong physical activity and articulates the need for children, particularly those who have an interest in competing in the sport, to be given a solid foundation in physical, technical, tactical and mental capacities upon which to build their performance abilities.

In recognition of the universality of the sport and the needs related to it, Cross Country BC’s mission encompasses programs that range in focus from basic skill development for children in a fun context to programs designed to permit British Columbia’s top skiers to compete successfully at the national level.  But regardless of the type of skiing being performed, Cross Country BC is committed to making the cross-country skiing experience has positive and fulfilling as possible for each and every member.

Most important of all, cross-country skiing is an outdoor winter activity that allows people to appreciate our long Canadian winters and the beautiful province we live in.

The Organization

Cross Country BC is the provincial sport governing body for cross country skiing in British Columbia.  As such Cross Country BC partners with other provincial/territorial sport governing bodies for cross-country skiing and together they constitute a national sport organization – CCC.  

Cross Country BC is a provincially incorporated, non-for-profit, club-based Association of over 27,000 members.

In general terms, Cross Country BC provides connectivity to the broader world of cross-country skiing and makes community-level activities more relevant and productive by applying economies of scale to create services to the membership at large. It is instrumental in providing venues and expertise that enable all participants to derive the greatest possible benefit and enjoyment from the sport and, for those so inclined, to facilitate participation in programs that provide for the continuous development of cross-country skiing from introductory experience to competitive excellence at the national level. Specifically it:

  • provides representation to the national governing body (Cross Country Canada – CCC), and thereby the international governingbody (the International Ski Federation – FIS);

  • delivers national programs and initiatives (NCCP; CCC Skill Development Programs – Bunnyrabbit, Jackrabbit, Track Attack; Racing Rocks!; CCC Officials Certification Program; LTAD, etc);

  • delivers provincial programs and initiatives (club development workshops; trail and facility development workshops; trail grooming and tracksetting workshops; specialized coaching development workshops, etc.);

  • generates and operates a progression of provincial team programs for able-bodied athletes (BC Ski Team, BC Development Squad and BC Talents Squad), and athletes with a disability (BC Para-Nordic Squad);

  • coordinates and prepares a provincial cross-country ski team for the Canada Winter Games (Team BC);

  • coordinates athlete participation in the BC Winter Games;

  • coordinates both developmental and high profile competitive events to encourage club facility improvement and provide a progression of developmental opportunities for athletes, coaches, officials and event organizers;

  • leverages legacy from major events (World Cup, Olympic Winter Games; etc.)

  • undertakes initiatives to raise the sport’s profile (Ski Cross Country magazine; CCBC website, etc.);

  • facilitates the circulation of information within the provincial ski community;

  • interfaces with the provincial government through viaSport and its programs, and through accountabilities that define this relationship may qualify for funding to assist in the development and delivery of cross-country ski programs in this province;

  • delivers a sport-specific liability insurance program; and

  • through program delivery, marketing and fundraising, generates additional revenue that enables clubs and individual members to leverage the benefits which derive from an organization of provincial scope and perspective.