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2023-2024 Winter Session Development Team (Devo)

Devo Team

The TCCSEA Devo Team is an early development program for cross-country skiing. It is the next step in the Development Pipeline after the Strider Gliders, or similar, program. The goal of the Devo Team is to develop cross-country ski skills, promote general fitness, and create a love of the sport that will last a lifetime. It is important at this early stage of development to start ski-specific training and also to participate in a broad base of activities. Program activities include skate and classic roller skiing, running, mountain biking, ski walking, hill bounding, hiking, and games. Training sessions are held three days a week; 2 mid-week and 1 weekend day. Practices are challenging, yet fun, and the program’s focus is to develop well-rounded athletes.

Winter Session will run from December 1st, 2023 through April 15, 2024

Athletes will meet the coaches after school at NTS, Tahoe XC or another designated spot.

The Devo team will train 3 days a week. The general weekly training schedule will look like this:

  • Monday: OFF day
  • Tuesday: OYO or with your school team
  • Wednesday: OYO or with your school team
  • Thursday: Devo practice
  • Friday: Devo or CNISSF school race
  • Sat: OYO or optional JNQ/Community race
  • Sun: Devo practice or optional JNQ/Community race

Year-Round Schedule

  • Summer: June 1-August 31 (3 months)
  • Fall: September 1-November 30 (3 months)
  • Winter: December 1-April 15 (4.5 months)
  • Spring: May 1-31 No formal training
Devo Team Logo

Each Session Offers 3 Weekly Workouts for 3 Months

  • Athletes and coaches meet 3 times per week, typically at Tahoe XC:

    • Times and locations vary based on activity and coaching schedule
    • Practice Thursday, Friday, Sunday
    • Practices range from 1-6 hours
    • Exceptions may include weather, trail conditions, holidays, coach availability, and “field trip” workouts
    • Notifications will be sent ahead of time with details about each workout, time, and meeting place
  • The goal of each workout is to:

    • Build upon cross-country ski skills and techniques
    • Promote a high level of fitness
    • Develop national-level competition readiness
    • Foster love for a healthy lifestyle
  • This early stage of development is:

    • Time to take the next step in competition
    • Increase endurance and strength
    • Build upon current skills
  • Expect practices to be:
    • Challenging and fun
    • Mentally and physically demanding
    • A great workout
    • Team-building with individual training

Weekly schedule may change due to Team trips, training camps, or races.

On-Snow and Dry-Land Training

Year-round, the Devo Team focuses on developing cross-country ski skills, strength, and technique. Workouts are designed to encourage kids to try a broad range of activities, including but not limited to:

Summer Training:

  • skate and classic roller skiing
  • trail running
  • mountain biking
  • ski walking
  • hill bounding
  • hiking
  • team games
  • plyometrics
  • strength

Winter Training:

  • skate and classic skiing
  • touring
  • strength
  • team games

Age Requirement

  • Athletes should be between ages 11-14, or entering the 6th grade
  • Grouping is by ability and experience so that each workout is appropriately challenging and fun

Cost & Registration

  • The program fees vary per season. The 2023-2024 Winter Season Team Dues are $1,000.
  • Camps and races carry additional fees (these are optional, but highly recommended):
    • Training camps (Up to 3 camps, over the Summer and Fall sessions)
    • Races (Up to 6 races, Winter session)
  • No refunds are given for canceled workouts due to weather, trail conditions, or elements outside of our control. A signed waiver will be required.
  • For more information about registering your child, please contact Lianne at contact(@)tahoexc.org.

No Drop-ins at this time

Required Gear

Participants must provide their own gear, which varies based on the workout assigned by the coach. If an athlete does not have the requested gear, the coach will discuss options and find a suitable solution. All athletes are required to provide their own water and snacks, as none are provided. Required gear for successful training includes the following:

Summer/Fall

  • Trail running shoes
  • Helmet
  • Elbow and knee pads
  • Eye protection
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Appropriate clothing for training
  • Rollerkis (skate and classic specific)
  • Rollerski poles (skate and classic specific)
  • Smile and a positive attitude

Winter:

  • Skate and classic skis
  • Ski Boots
  • Skate and classic poles
  • Eye protection (sunglasses)
  • Waterbelt
  • Snacks
  • Appropriate clothing for training
  • Sunscreen
  • Smiles and a positive attitude!

Transportation

  • Athletes meet at Tahoe XC and work out either at Tahoe XC or are transported to workouts in the team van.
  • On some occasions, parent volunteers may be required to help transport athletes on training days.
  • Locations range from Tahoe City to West Shore to the Truckee area.

Team Coaches

2023 Devo Coach: Quinn Lehmkuhl

Quinn Lehmkuhl is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder where she spent four years racing on the D1 ski team. Prior to her college career she was in Strider Gliders at Tahoe XC and then went on to race for the Tahoe XC Devo team, Auburn Ski Club comp team and North Tahoe High School. She deeply enjoys skiing and believes it can teach athletes great life-long skills while also being fun.

Read more about Quinn Lehmkuhl…

Quinn Lehmkuhl

2023 Devo Coach: Zack Karas

Zack Karas grew up in Colorado, fostering a love of everything outdoors and human-powered. He moved to Tahoe City 17 years ago, after remembering how much he enjoyed the area when thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in 2003. His other thru-hikes include 1/3 of the Appalachian Trail, the entire Continental Divide Trail, Colorado Trail, the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain and a traverse of Iceland from north to south. He is also a local cross-country ski racer and bike racer. Some of his more recent podium finishes include the Great Ski Race, Alpenglow 20k, Mammoth Marathon and Heart of Gold and Truckee Tahoe Gravel bike races. He enjoys exploring all Tahoe has to offer with his 2 boys who have been Strider Gliders since pre-school.

Zack Karas, Coach

2023 Devo Coach: JC Schoonmaker

JC Schoonmaker grew up in Tahoe City, was a Strider Glider, and skied for both Tahoe XC and Auburn Ski Club as a junior. He now attends the University of Anchorage Alaska and ski races collegiately. JC has competed on the national and international stage and is excited to spend his summers in Tahoe, passing on what he’s learned to the younger generation of Tahoe skiers.

Read more about JC Schoonmaker…

JC Schoonmaker

How Can You Help Support our Coaches?

We believe coaches are integral to the foundation of our youth programs. Each March, we offer a unique opportunity for you to help support our youth programs through the Kevin Murnane Fund Drive. The Kevin Murnane Coaches Grant directly supports the growth and development of our coaches. Visit here to learn more.

Previous Devo Coaches

At Tahoe XC, we strive to hire relatable, aspiring athletes to coach our youth programs. Over the years, we’ve had many incredible coaches, who often pursue their own form of higher athletics. Many past Devo Team Coaches were once Strider Gliders as well.

  • JC Schoonmaker (2020, former Strider Glider)
  • Nate Cutler (2020, former Strider Glider)
  • Brandon Herhusky (2019, former Stridger Glider)
  • n/a (2018)
  • Peter Holmes (2017, former Strider Glider)
  • Aliska Albrigtsen (2016)
  • Wilson Dippo (2015)