Meet our team

Sharing the joy of cross-country skiing with you.

Programming is developed and led by certified nordic ski instructors and coaches who have years of experience coaching and instructing adult cross-country skiers. We want to help you have your best day on snow — every time!

Coaches for Bow Valley Nordic ski club. Todd Barraclough, Karla Handy, Colin Norman, Jenia Tishkina-Norman, Heather Opseth, Kelly Skeavington, Joy Mekechuk.

  • Colin Norman

    Head Coach, CANSI IV, NCCP Advanced T2T

  • Jenia Tishkina-Norman

    CANSI III, NCCP CC

  • Heather Opseth

    CANSI III, NCCP CC in-training

  • Karla Handy

    CANSI II, NCCP CC

  • Joy Mekechuk

    CANSI III, NCCP T2T

  • Kelly Skeavington

    CANSI I Classic, B.Ed., CMM, AFLCA, Bone Fit™

  • Lars Backman

    CANSI II, NCCP CC

  • Andy Buchholtz

    CANSI II, NCCP

Coach bios

  • Head Coach, CANSI IV, NCCP Advanced T2T

    Colin’s love of skiing shines through in his coaching.  He has developed and led masters programming for over 10 years and has coached many years with Supercamp in Silver Star.His favorite time skiing is travelling to mass participation loppets in Alberta, North American and Europe with friends!  He loves taking slow-mo technique analysis videos and munching homemade chocolate chip cookies. 

    In the summer Colin loves to ride his bike(s) and enjoys finding that perfect ridge-top hike with Skoki (not a certified coach, but loves sniffing the flowers).

  • CANSI III, NCCP CC

    Jenia’s bubbly coaching style is a treat for all.  She brings to the table over 20 years of ski experience, growing from the never-ever to one of the advanced certified coaches in Canada.  Jenia has seemingly boundless energy and makes every gruelling technique session fun through positive feedback delivered in a personal caring style. Not only will your skiing improve, so will your self-confidence!

    She is dedicated to seeing you achieve your personal best: be it a smooth gliding technique or a fulfilling Loppet experience. Jenia’s XC skiing coaching resume includes Masters, Adult Learn to Ski and Silver Star SuperCamps.  She is a multi-sport athlete, and has unique perspectives to offer grounded in current advancements in our sport.

    Jenia spends her summers chasing that elusive perfect kilometer and the athletes’ high marathoning, cycling and hiking in the beautiful Canadian Rockies and around the world.

    She is also an accomplished artist creating scenes depicting skiing and biking locally in the Bow Valley, and designing athletic gear.

    Her artworks over the years have supported the Kananaskis ski marathon, are worn at races and social outings, and adorn many walls in our ski community.

  • CANSI III, NCCP CC in-training

    Heather has been skiing for fun and racing in loppets for over 30 years and has participated in several masters’ nordic ski training programs in Saskatoon and Calgary. She has previously coached with Foothills Nordic Ski Club, and is a ride and event coordinator with the Elbow Valley Cycle Club. This is her third season coaching and instructing adult ski programs, always with a big smile and encouragement for all! When not out on skinny skis, her happy place is somewhere out biking on skinny tires. 

  • CANSI II, NCCP CC

    Karla is a long time Calgarian who loves sliding on snow in the winter and fishing and paddling in the summer. She has a degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership from Mount Royal University, CANSI Level II and NCCP Coaching Theory II.

    Karla has been coaching many years with Foothills Nordic and has been coaching with Bow Valley Nordic since its inaugural year.

  • CANSI III, NCCP T2T

    Joy Mekechuk is a long time cross country ski enthusiast, competitor and instructor, and coach for the past 7 years. She has relocated from Edmonton to Canmore for the mountain experience. She brings a passion for the sport and  knowledge and skills from time with Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, the Birkebeiner Society, and Trail Sports at the Canmore Nordic Centre.

  • Kelly Skeavington (B.Ed., CMM, AFLCA, Bone Fit™) is a former teacher and has been actively involved in the fitness industry since 2010.   She is member of the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (AFLCA) and has taught several disciplines including Older Adult Fitness, Indoor Cycling, Strength and Core Conditioning, Nordic Poling, Bone Fit® and Aquatic Exercise.  She has delivered numerous workshops on exercises for Osteoporosis, aging actively and fitness and wellness, and continues to inspire and lead her participants to move and reach their full potential.  Living in Canmore, Kelly has a passion for all things outdoors: hiking, trail running, bikepacking and touring, paddling and cross-country skiing.

    Kelly joined the Bow Valley Nordic Ski Club last year and immediately settled into the program, offering her insight into older adult training, motivating and connecting to the members, and encouraging everyone to try their best.  She has participated in many loppets, coached Jackrabbits, and continues to learn new skills and develop as an older athlete.

  • Lars fell in love with skiing almost 50 years ago and has been chasing the perfect glide (and powder turn) ever since. After starting out as an English teacher in a traditional classroom, he traded four walls for the mountains to become a full-time outdoor educator, coach and guide. Now a CANSI Level II instructor, Lars loves helping Masters skiers hone their technique, build confidence, and unlock those "aha!" moments on the snow. When the winter trails fade, he swaps skinny skis for fat tires to coach mountain biking at the Canmore Nordic Centre. 

  • Andy is from the deep countryside of France.

    Born in a dynasty of cycling riders, he has competed in road cycling for many years. His exposure to the highest level of competition and coaching started there.

    Moving to Canmore in 2019, he quickly transitioned from cycling to Nordic skiing: an unexplored childhood dream.

    Racing being a true passion of his, he has raced several loppets and ultra long distance events such as the 160 km of the Arctic Circle Race and the 230km of the Nordenskiöldsloppet.

    Outside of his love for outdoor sports, Andy is passionate about grizzly bears as well as discovering new countries and new cultures.

    As a coach, Andy's vision is to guide you through self exploration and achieve the unthinkable.