Our 3rd and 4th grade program teaches fundamental skills for the classic and skate skiing techniques. Having fun while developing skills through play will be an integral part of practices. For children interested in racing, Ford Sayre coaches will provide encouragement and support at local and regional races.

Registration for the 2025/26 season is closed.

Family Night Info Session – 2025

Registration

Starting in the 2025/2026 season, all 3rd and 4th grade skiers will participate in what was previously known as the “Skate + Classic” program. The “Skate Optional” program is no longer offered.

Registration historically opens October 1 and fills extremely quickly (check Registration Info for exact date and time). Starting in the 2025/2026 season, everyone will register to a waitlist and will be pulled onto the roster based on coaching availability. Demand for our programs is higher than ever; in order to maintain a safe and quality experience for your child we are rostering skiers based on the number of coaches available when registration opens. In the past we have rostered skiers and crossed our fingers we could recruit enough coaches, which has led to some very large groups and less-than ideal conditions for skiers and coaches.

To register your child, please use the blue “Online Registration” button above. We will cap our registrations based on coach availability so please register early! Late registrants must contact the Program Director to apply, will be subject to a $35 late fee, parent must volunteer on snow, and is provisional based on us meeting our coaching ratio requirement.

Program Details

Prior Experience: None
Program Fee: $460 plus $30 NENSA membership (New England Nordic Ski Association) (Scholarships available)
Trail Pass: Required. Purchase through the Oak Hill Outdoor Center. Passes go on sale Oct. 1 (Discount pass information)
Volunteer Requirement: For every child enrolled in the program, one parent/guardian must volunteer for a minimum of one volunteer session. There will be volunteer opportunities on & off snow, before, during, & after practice times, and during Ford Sayre events.

Practice Information

November 20 to March 12
Tuesdays and Thursdays
- November 20 through January 30 from 3:30 – 4:30
- February 4 through March 12 from 3:30 – 5:00 (more daylight!)
No practice:
- Thanksgiving Break: November 27
- Winter Break: December 23, 25, 30, January 1
- SAU 70 February Break: February 24, 26
Practice location is determined by snow conditions. Location will be e-mailed the night before practice.
- Oak Hill: Oak Hill Drive, Hanover, NH; top parking lot of the Storrs Pond Recreation Area
- Garipay Fields: 9 Reservoir Rd, Hanover, NH; near the Dartmouth Rugby Fields
- These locations are within walking distance of the Ray School and Richmond Middle School.

Cancellation of Practice

Practice will be cancelled if the Dresden School District is closed, including snow days, early dismissals, and school vacations (except when noted), OR if conditions are dangerous to children or the trails (cold temperatures, unsafe or icy trail conditions, heavy rain).

Equipment

All skiers will need to have equipment for Skate skiing and Classic skiing. Please see our Ski Gear Page page for more details on the different types of skis along with rental and purchasing resources.

1 Pair skate skis
1 Pair of classic skis (waxable or “skin tec” is best, fishscale skis acceptable)
2 sets of poles (classic & skate lengths) or 1 pair of adjustable youth Nordic Ski Poles
1 pair of combi ski boots

EQUIPMENT NOTE: We require 2 pairs of skis for Grade 3-4 skiers (one pair of classic skis and one pair of skate skis). Technique-specific skis lead to more rapid skill progression, are faster, and make skiing more fun! Combi skis are not acceptable. Combi boots are OK.

There is a large variation in equipment speed within entry-level gear. Namely, classic fishscale skis are significantly slower than classic waxable or skin-tec skis. Having some skiers on fish scales and others on skin-tec or waxable skis can cause skier groups to get spread out to the point where coaches struggle to manage the group and it becomes a safety concern. Please help us to make better matched groupings by indicating (to the best of your knowledge) what equipment your skier will have / has this season. Please note that if you have multiple kids, skiers should have their own equipment and not be sharing equipment.

Refer to our Ski Gear Page for more detailed information on equipment and contact the Grade 3-8 Program Head or the Grade 3-4 Lead Coaches with any specific questions.

Take a look at the What to Wear When You Ski page to help dress your child appropriately for practice. It’s very different than for other winter activities!

Questions

Please contact the Grade 3-8 Program Head should you have any questions about enrolling your child in BKL 3-4 nordic programs for the upcoming season.

Attendance Expectations

Each season our programs fill up to capacity. Out of respect for other skiers, we expect that participants who register will have no regularly-planned scheduling conflicts and have every intention to attend as many practices as they can. Skiers who do not attend regularly often do not advance their skiing abilities at the same pace as the group; when they do attend, they often hold the group back and draw additional coaching attention. This is unfair to participants who have been regularly attending practices.

Participant Behavior Code

We expect that Ford Sayre nordic skiers will follow coaches’ instructions, adhere to COVID risk-mitigation protocols, make an effort to stay with the ski group, not interfere with other skiers’ learning, and generally maintain a positive attitude. Should a participant not be able to follow these expectations consistently, the age group Lead Coach or BKL Head Coach will call parents to discuss. If the pattern of behavior continues, the coaches and Program Director may determine that the BKL program is not a good fit for the participant and the parent will be notified. The program reserves the right to remove any participant from the program if inappropriate behavior cannot be modified.

Refund Policy

Refund eligibility may vary by program and is subject to the discretion of the program head(s). The following general guidelines apply:

Missed or Canceled Sessions:
We do not issue refunds for missed sessions or cancellations due to weather or safety conditions.

What’s Covered:
Refunds apply only to Ford Sayre program fees. They do not include costs associated with memberships (NENSA, USSA, etc.) or ski passes from the Dartmouth Skiway, Oak Hill Outdoor Center, Whaleback, or any other ski area or organization.

How to Request:
A refund request must be submitted in writing and received at least two weeks prior to the first day of training (whether dryland or on-snow).

Approved requests submitted by this deadline may be eligible for a full refund minus a $60 administrative fee.

Please send the refund request via email to the Nordic Coordinator (nordic@fordsayre.org).

Late Cancellations:
A refund request is considered late if it is not submitted in writing and received at least two weeks prior to the first day of training (whether dryland or on snow).

Requests received within the two-week period prior to the start of training, may be considered in very limited circumstances. These requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

No refunds will be issued on or after the first day of training.

Injury or Illness:
If an athlete experiences a season-ending injury or illness, you may request a partial refund of program fees. These requests must be submitted in writing and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Our Team

Hilary McNamee

Nordic Head Coach

Hilary hails from the most Northern reaches of Maine, where winter lasts nearly all year. Hilary began coaching with Ford Sayre in 2011, during her undergrad years at Dartmouth and later worked for four seasons as the Dartmouth Ski Team Assistant. She has a background in biathlon and attended five World Junior Championships representing USA. In her role as Ford Sayre Nordic Head Coach, she oversees all Nordic programming in addition to being the head coach for the Junior Nordic Team (JNT), Ford Sayre’s high school racing program. Her other passion in life is growing and arranging flowers. Hilary can be reached at: hilary@fordsayre.org

Jay Davis

BKL Head Coach

Jay started skiing in Bethel, ME, in elementary school. He lives in Lyme and works with first generation and low income students at Dartmouth College, where he captained the collegiate team as an undergraduate and then coached the college team for two years after graduation. He has two kids who have loved being part of Ford Sayre skiing and racing, and he has coached all grade levels with Ford Sayre in the 21 years he has been with the program. As Head Coach for the K-8 BKL Programs, he is responsible for the organization, preparation and direction of our fabulous coaching team. Please address all coaching inquiries to Jay at HeadCoachBKL@FordSayre.org.

Courtney Marchetti

Grade 3-8 Program Head

Courtney is a lifelong alpine and backcountry skier who discovered the joy of XC skiing, along with her two children and husband, ten years ago while living in southern Vermont. She has since become an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of BKL programming in numerous youth programs throughout New England. When not outside seeking out adventures with her family and friends, she runs a child psychiatry practice in White River Junction. Email Courtney at BKL@fordsayre.org.

Avery Hoppa

Grade 3-4 Co-Lead Coach

Avery started Nordic skiing when her family moved to the Upper Valley in 2014 and has been coaching with Ford Sayre since 2018. She initially coached grades K-2, moving to grades 3/4 as her children grew up and her own skiing progressed. Her whole family loves being out on the snow together and exploring new trails. When not skiing, Avery can be found at DHMC where she works as a registered nurse or at home in Hanover planning her next overnight relay race.

Teresa Lust