Thank you to Terry Wong, long time EMXC dad and coach, for this wonderful list of post-EMXC Youth skiing opportunities!
Ski with friends and family. A greater sense of adventure if it's away from Weston, where you'll find trails through the woods, scenic views, and have the chance to get lost, in the most positive ways. Skiers, teach your parents to ski so they will drive you to these adventures!
Join your high school cross country ski team. Some local towns have high school cross country teams. Because you've skied before, you'll be in the top third of all skiers. It's a winter only sport, practices 3-4 times a week with races once a week from the beginning of January through February break. Area high schools that field teams include:
- Brookline
- Dover/Sherborn
- Natick
- Newton North
- Newton South
- Wellesley
- Acton-Boxborough
- Waltham/Weston
- Concord-Carlisle
- Lincoln-Sudbury
- Winchester
- Nashoba Regional
- Wayland
- Arlington
- Belmont Hill
- Rivers
- Middlesex
- Phillips Academy
Join EMXC Juniors. Juniors is a great program for those who want to commit to a year-round, racing oriented program. It's a serious step up in terms of time and resource commitment to a sport, and is appropriate for skiers graduating from Scandinavian countries in EMXC Youth. Athletes train May 1 through mid-March, six sessions/week in a variety of Metrowest locations, and race mid-December through March all over New England. Costs include equipment (race skis, roller skis, clothing), club fees (on par with other club sports), and overnight travel to races and camps (with a parent). Coaching is by paid staff with extensive coaching and racing experience. Like any activity in life, you get out what you put into it. Juniors is a large commitment, but it'll give great returns to the athlete in personal development both physically and mentally.
Interested in Juniors next year? Fill out this survey by April 5, 2024.
Continue skiing as a lifelong outdoor activity. You simply cannot go wrong here!