About Us
Top female coaches
with a community focus
We believe in building community through skiing.
We believe in coaching a high level and meeting skiers where they are at.
We believe that getting outdoors on skis adds joy to winter - and low-impact training in nature with friends is the best way to spend the coldest months.
Our Story
We first connected while coaching at XC Supercamps in British Columbia in 2016. Our similar fun-filled, energetic coaching style and passion for skiing drew us together, and this past year we decided to build a community-focused platform that offers high level coaching in communities that often don't have access to adult-focused ski clinics. As two of the top-certified female coaches in the country, we have a depth of experience and a love for the sport that is hard to find in adult ski platforms - so we are here to share with you!
With coaching experience across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, we have a combined experience of over 40 years working with skiers of all ages and experience levels. We have worked in environments ranging from a small communities groomed with a snowmobile and a tire in -40 degrees Celsius, to some of the top clubs and racing trails in Canada.
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Nomad Nordic Coaching is born from our goal to make ski technique more fun, accessible, and enriching in communities across North America - big or small, we are here to support your skiers and your ski centre.
Meet the Team
Jessica Stichelbout
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Level IV CANSI Course Conductor
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CSIA Level I (alpine); CANSI IV
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Experience trail running (5km - 100km!), triathlon-ing, backcountry skiing, climbing (rock and ice), xc ski guiding
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Team Lead at Parks Canada in her "other life"
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bikepacker lover (Spain, Patagonia, NZ)
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Born and raised in Quebec, Jessica skied her way to British Columbia which she now calls home. She is the only female Master Coach Developer working with the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (top level CANSI).
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For the past 25 years, Jessica has been both working on her own ski technique, instructing others, and certifying ski instructors of all levels from "never ever" skiers to skiers preparing for races or technical exams.
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Jessica instructs anywhere in the country, from Lake Louise to Canmore, from Silverstar to Kimberley, from Golden to Whitehorse. Her experience includes private, group lessons and guided tours in the National Parks near her home in Field BC. Groups she works with include school groups in Canmore at Trail Sports, and adult programs at XC Supercamps in Silverstar. In 2023, she was invited to represent Canada at Interski in Norway to showcase the top level of Canadian Nordic Ski Association teaching.
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Moving from trails to trails, with people of all different backgrounds, she found her passion to be the ultimate natural ski university and thinks it's unlikely she will ever stop learning.
Putting people on skis, experiencing different cultures and creating meaningful experiences in a natural setting was the driving force behind starting Nomad Nordic Coaching camps.
Bryana van Leeuwen
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Level IV CANSI, NCCP Competition Development
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Clinical Exercise Physiologist - High Performance (CSEP-CEP-HP)
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Experience trail running (5km - 90km!), xc ski racing (Nakkertok, Lakehead University), sailing
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​Strength & conditioning coach for tactical athletes
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After racing with her university team in Ontario, Bryana chased her coaching dreams to BC, which she now calls home. She is one of a few CANSI Level IV instructors and holds top certification with the National Coaching Certification Program as a former sailing coach with a team in BC.
With 16 years of coaching experience, Bryana works with athletes of all ages and experiences who want to perform at their best.​ With a background in Kinesiology, she started Master (adult) ski programs in 3 provinces and currently focuses on community ski programs. She takes 6 private clients each year who want to train with her, primarily remotely.​
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Bryana coaches in Northern Saskatchewan, central British Columbia, and wherever the best snow ends up. Between coaching tactical athletes in her day job to working with skiers at XC Supercamps to providing clinics for developing coaches in Western Canada, she loves anything challenging that gets her outside. Her focus is helping learners achieve their goals and deepen their tool kit and confidence, while having fun - can't take skiing too seriously!
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Bryana could not be more excited to work with Jessica to help skiers of all backgrounds grow as both athletes and coaches through Nomad Nordic Coaching. Coming to skiers on their home trails, and welcoming skiers to trails new to them, is key to a strong nordic ski culture.