Snow Farm Academy Cross Country Ski Proficiency Award Program

what are Snow Farm Academy awards?

Snow Farm Academy Awards are given once an athlete attains a given standard of cross country ski proficiency.

who can earn a BNZ Biathlon Award?

The awards are open to all ages and abilities, but to be eligible you must be a member of a biathlon club.

how are ATHLETES assessed?

Athletes are assessed by BNZ instructors annually on snow towards the end of the ski season.

A Snow Farm Academy Award describes the "standard" of an athlete's cross country ski skills.
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Open to athletes of all ages.
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Awards are graded by colour, starting with Green and ending at Platinum (international competitor level).

Athletes are assessed for their award level during September of each snow season by Snow Farm instructors. The instructors are looking for skill under these categories:

- Equipment understanding
- Ski Techniques
- Competitive ski experience

Awards will be presented at the end of season event. School sports administrators will also be informed of their students' awards giving them the opportunity to recognise their achievements.
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There is no cost to be enrolled in the award system - as a member of a Snow Farm affiliated program (e.g. MAC schools program or WNSC) an athlete becomes eligible.

Snow Farm Academy Awards

Award Levels

The Snow Farm Academy Awards start at Green which covers basic ski technique.

The first level, Green, covers the basic skills of cross country skiing using classic style skis. Blue introduces the skate technique to the young / new skier and by the end of this level you would be able to easily ski to Meadow Hut and back. The levels steadily increase in terms of skill, knowledge and ski experience. A key aspect of the award system is cross country ski racing experience, as, one of the goals of the program is to produce skiers that are confident, capable and of course enthusiastic to race internationally, just like so many have done before.

See the Award cards below to learn more...

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Contact Biathlon New Zealand

Contact the team at Biathlon New Zealand if you would like to know more about the sport, its athletes or how to try it for yourself.

Contact BNZ