INUVIK
When you have the chance to be coached by an Olympian, you jump at it, whether you know what you're doing or not.

Sharon Firth, a legendary figure in Canadian skiing circles, was on hand April 11 for the annual Nordic ski clinics she and her coach Anders Lenes offer once a year in Inuvik. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photos

That was the thought for a number of the dozen skiers who turned out for a clinic with legendary Canadian cross-country skier Sharon Firth and her former coach, Anders Lenes.

The Aklavik-born Firth, along with her sister Shirley, were two of the first stars in the Canadian cross-country scene in the 1970s and 1980s.

Early in the careers, they trained primarily in the Beaufort-Delta region going on to become icons on the international skiing circuit.

Once a year, Firth and Lenes return to offer special clinics on skiing and waxing techniques. Firth said she enjoys returning home and encouraging more people to take up the sport that has been such an integral part of her life.

"Skiing is a lifelong thing, and for some people it will take a lifetime to learn to be good at it," she declared April 11 as she kept a keen eye on her pupils at the clinic, some of whom seemed in awe of her. "There's a few who came out, and that's wonderful."

"Every spring I come to Inuvik, and it's good to offer some instruction to people so that they feel wonderful on skis. Like anything in life, if you can ski you want to be good at it. By instructing them and giving them little tips, they'll improve. Like anything else, it's practice and repetition."

Firth said a key factor can be observing skiers who are better than you, but added "you have to know why they are better and what they're better at."

Lenes was handling most of the teaching during the morning clinic, which was focused on the classic Nordic ski style and its diagonal stride.

"He's one of the best coaches in the country and the world," Firth said.

"It's a pleasure to be here with him."

During the afternoon, the duo would turn their attention to skate-skiing, which is a rather different process and technique.

While Lenes described what he wanted to see in the participants, Firth demonstrated, stopping periodically to grumble "I'm so out of shape."

The participants were having none of that, though.

"She makes it look so easy," one observed enviously, as they worked their way through a double-poling exercise.

Kate Snow was one of the eager participants. She had some experience as a skier, but said she was finding the clinic very helpful.

"I heard about Sharon Firth coming to town, and a co-worker told me I should come out. I'm just taking advantage of the great opportunities that are available in Inuvik."

"I don't ski very often," she said. "I did more when I was younger, and I'm just picking back up where I left off."

"This is a great opportunity to work with Olympic-level athletes and coaches," Jen Lam said. "You might never have this opportunity ever again, so here I am."

Connie Blakeston, one of the organizers of the clinic, said "it was difficult to get funding this year" to allow local ski enthusiasts affiliated with the Inuvik Ski Club to bring Firth and Lenes to town.

Kim Herle was another of the beginners praising the clinic.

She's originally from the Calgary area, and knows far more about Alpine skiing than cross-country.

"It's a great day to come out and spend some time outdoors. Never once have I had such good advice and teaching as I've had in this last hour."

"Cross-country skiing is nice because you can pretty much do it anywhere, and it doesn't take as much prep to get into a car and drive to a hill. Here, you can just step out your door and go. It's much more accessible."

Alexandra Pulwicki said "I really think it's an amazing sport that many people would benefit from and should take up. It's so fantastic to work with athletes and coaches like Sharon and Anders."

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