Cross Country Skiing Requirements

This section provides the leadership requirements to obtain a cross country skiing leadership. While cross country is a non-technical activity, it is important to understand the potential extreme nature of winter, and demonstrate knowledge of how to manage a group in such weather.

Ghost Lead Requirements:

• Number of Ghostleads
  • Requirement of two ghost leads for non-leaders and one ghost lead for current leaders.
• Basic First Aid and CPR Certification
• Clinic Requirements
  • Attending a cross country skiing and waxing clinic is strongly encouraged prior to taking out a ghost lead.
  • A winter safety and hypothermia training is strongly encouraged prior to taking out a ghost lead.
• Distance / Location
  • There are no distance requirements as mileage will largely depend on the group.
  • The trails must be new to the leader.
• Who is a beginner?
  • A beginner is someone who has never been on a SUOC cross country skiing trip before.

Tested Skills

Prior to the trip:

1. Understand the differences between all gear and their uses:
   1. Know the basic differences between cross country skis and backcountry skis and their uses.
   2. Know the differing binding systems and how to identify the correct binding.
   3. Know the difference between wax and waxless (fish scale) skis.
2. Know how to properly take care of skis.
   1. Understand the differences between hot and wet wax, and how both are applied and removed.
   2. Know how to recognize potential issues with the bindings and skis such as broken poles, bindings, or skis in need of wax.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of how to prevent, recognize and treat hypothermia and frostbite. This also means setting a group expectation of checking in with and watching one another for hypothermia and frostbite. You often can’t recognize you have it yourself!
4. Email the group a trip itinerary before the trip with:
   1. Proper layering information based on weather conditions.
   2. Details on location, timing and trip expectations.
5. Have a callout AND the numbers and addresses of the closet hospital/urgent care.
6. Show beginners how to properly fit skis to someone.
7. Teach beginners how to take care of skis on the trail to avoid potential damage to equipment.

On the trip:

1. Demonstrate how to properly fall and get back up without taking skis off.
2. Demonstrate how to properly glide, use poles, and proper technique to climb/go down hills.
3. Demonstrate ability to ski on both groomed and ungroomed trails, ability to break trail, and proper trail/track etiquette.
4. Demonstrate risk and group management skills; check in with beginners about comfort level and keep morale up.
5. Encourage the love of skiing and winter to the group, especially beginners, share your passion and teach it! The more excited you are, the more excited they will be! Otherwise you’re just cold 😃

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