The Ski Mobile includes 30 sets of skis and boots to fit children in grades 3–5. The kit was inspired by a group that organizes NSAA ski events. It was championed by 2018 Olympic gold medalist and cross country skier Kikkan Randall, who is NSAA’s executive director.

“We want skiing for all,” Randall said. Often, there’s a barrier for kids: They don’t have skis to try, or they can’t get to trails to practice. The Ski Mobile brings everything to the kids.

“Meeting kids where they’re at is a great way to give kids this experience.”

Ski early, then ski for a lifetime

NSAA covered the cost of building the traveling kit using grants and fundraising. One of NSAA’s annual events is a fun race called Ski-4-Kids. This event raises funds for grants that schools and community programs use to buy ski equipment. Those grants are great for the community, Randall said, but members of the Ski-4-Kids organizing group knew they would never be able to provide enough grants so all Anchorage schools could have their own skis and related gear. Wouldn’t it be great, they thought, if NSAA created a ski kit that could travel around and be shared by the schools?

That kit is ready for elementary schools, said Joanne Osborne, health and physical education curriculum coordinator for the Anchorage School District (ASD). Each school can keep the kit for two weeks, which gives kids at least a few class periods to try skiing during physical education (PE) class. Trying it in elementary school might mean kids feel comfortable joining the cross country ski teams in middle or high school, Randall said. Then maybe they ski for a lifetime.

Skiing gets you outside in fresh air, she said. It’s low impact and builds strong bodies and hearts. It improves all kinds of health — physical, mental and emotional, she said.

“It’s got everything for every age,” Randall said. “It’s a great activity to do together.”

Building a simple kit for students

NSAA created the Ski Mobile to be simple for schools to use. Randall compared it to a giant cabinet on wheels. Interested PE teachers will make a request to check out the Ski Mobile through Anchorage School District’s Additional Resource Kits (ARK) system. This is the same system used to check out one of five trailers that each carry 30 bikes and helmets, or one of three Ninja obstacle courses (think obstacle courses used by Alaska’s American Ninja Warrior, Nick Hanson).

ASD staff will drive the Ski Mobile to the school on a Monday. Teachers can roll the cabinet into the school. When ready to start class, they open both sides of the cabinet. One side holds skis, available in short and long lengths. The skis do not require applying ski wax before use. The other side of the cabinet holds ski boots in various youth sizes. No poles are included.

“When you start kids out, it’s best if they use no poles at all,” said Randall, who grew up on skis. “It’s one less thing to manage.”

Making the kit easy for teachers

Osborne and NSAA are also making it easier for teachers to use the traveling ski kit. They provide a simple curriculum to teach kids how to put on skis and try them out. Teachers with no or limited ski experience will be able to use the kit with their students, Randall said.

“I’m just grateful, absolutely thrilled,” said Osborne about having this traveling ski kit for ASD. “We live in Alaska. We have to get outside, get our kids outside and make it easier for teachers.”

Randall said NSAA hopes additional funding through community partners will become available to build more traveling ski kits for Anchorage. This school year, NSAA will maintain the skis and boots in the first kit. The association’s primary job is maintaining 100 miles of trails in the Anchorage area year-round, Randall said. Now, NSAA and ASD plan to groom trails near schools that check out the Ski Mobile. If this winter brings enough snow, about five schools can check out the kit and hundreds of young students can get out on skis.

“We want more people to experience the joy of it, the health of it,” Randall said.

The photograph of Kikkan Randall with the Ski Mobile is courtesy of Monica Whitt Photography.

The photograph of the bike trailer is courtesy of the Anchorage School District.