NU

Nordic

The best winter you'll have in high school.

The best winter you'll have in high school.

Cross-country skiing at Nevada Union. No experience needed. Nobody gets cut. Bring a friend.

A Wednesday in January

3:45 PM. School lets out. The team meets in the parking lot, gear bags in hand, and piles into cars. The drive up to Donner Summit takes about an hour — long enough for the new kids to figure out who plays what music and which seniors actually know how to wax a ski. Snack-bag situation gets handled.

5:00-ish. We're at the Auburn Ski Club. Boots on, headlamps clipped to beanies, skis on shoulders, walking from the lodge out to the trail. It's cold. Everyone says it's cold. Within ten minutes nobody is cold anymore.

Practice. New skiers work the lighted stadium loop while the returning team heads out into the dark to run intervals. Falling counts as cardio. Getting back up is part of the workout.

7:30. Back at the lodge. Boots off, layers off, hot chocolate or whatever's around. The first race is in two weeks and everyone knows it.

8:30. Home. Most of the car is asleep. Two kids in the back are still talking.

That's most Wednesdays from December through February. The reason skiers come back for a second season is somewhere in there — usually somewhere between the van ride and the trail……

What a season actually looks like

We'll be honest with you. Nordic skiing is hard. You'll get stronger than you thought you could, your lungs will burn the first few times up Donner Summit, and you'll fall over more in your first week than you expect.

You'll also laugh more than you expect. You'll learn how to dress for cold, how to wax a ski, how to glide instead of trudge. You'll figure out who plays what music on the drive up. You'll eat a lot of snacks in a lot of parking lots.

Here's the rhythm of a season:

October–November (dryland). Roller skis, running, strength work. After-school practice on campus. This is where the team forms.

December–February (on snow). We train at the Auburn Ski Club on Donner Summit — a dedicated Nordic facility, not a resort run. Practices a couple times a week, plus weekend races if you want them.

Races.‍ ‍We compete in the California/Nevada Interscholastic Ski and Snowboard Federation league — races around Tahoe and as far south as Mammoth. These aren't pressure-cooker events; they're about personal bests and cheering on your teammates. You race in the class that fits you. We have a no-cut policy. Beginners always have a spot and get extra coaching on race day.

For Parents…

The Nevada Union Nordic Ski Team has been around since 1984. It's an official school sport that counts toward the PE graduation requirement.

A few things worth knowing:

  • No previous experience necessary. Genuinely. We get first-timers every year and they have a great season.

  • No-cut policy. Every skier who shows up to train stays on the team and can race in the league.

  • Gear is provided. Skis, boots, poles, and race uniforms are team-issued. Your skier doesn't need to own anything to start.

  • It's affordable. Compared to alpine skiing or most travel sports, this is one of the best deals in high school athletics. We ask for a $300 program donation plus a discounted school-team season pass at Auburn Ski Club. Price shouldn’t be a barrier- scholarships are available.

  • It's safe and well-coached. Experienced adult coaches who are US Ski and Snowboard certified. Training at a dedicated Nordic facility.

  • Parent and Athlete Meeting We encourage all athletes and their families to attend our Pre-Season Information Meeting held in mid October. This is your chance to meet the coaching staff, get all the details about the season schedule, and ask any questions you may have.

  • It's a lifelong sport. Most of our alumni still ski as adults. A lot of them are faster now than they were in high school.

Ready to join?

Easiest first step: come to the pre-season information meeting in mid-October. Meet the coaches, hear how a season works, ask anything you want. No paperwork, no commitment — just show up.

When you're ready to officially sign on, there are three steps:

Sports physical within the last three years. If you don't have a current one, get it before the season starts.

Get cleared through the school (ArbiterSports). Same process as any NU sport.

Sign up with the team so we can add you to the roster and the team BAND group, where coaching and logistics happen.

Questions?

Fastest way to get an answer is to email the coach directly.

Coach contact: lphillips@njuhsd.com

Or just show up to a practice in October and we'll take it from there.