KIVILSKI THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NORDIC SKI CLUB SASKATOON December 2006 Rush on the Season The HiPer Group HiPer News Member Profile Bulletin Board Blind Skiers’ News Awards Centre Fold Eb’s in Review Sunday Ski Tours Ski Lessons, anyone? What a start to our skiing year! We began roller ski time trialing on October 1 and ran a race every Sunday up and until November 5th, when we ran RSTT #6. Of course every Tuesday and Thursday we also did our hill running and our interval sessions. This led us up to November 8th, when the snows came a tumbling down. By the weekend the trails were packed and set at both Kinsmen Park and Wildwood. Therefore, on Sunday November 12, we ran Hiper Challenge #1, a 10km skate race at Wildwood. Like I said, what a start to the year! Our transition from dryland training to on snow on “good” skis was one rest day between running hills on Tuesday, November 7, to skiing intervals at Wildwood on Thursday the 9th. Oh, if only Nathan Sedgewick all our winters started this way. Of course the “winner” of the first on snow of our group was Nathan Sedgewick, who donned his skis after the first dusting of snow came in early October and skied the grass just before Hills on Tuesday the 17th of October. He never did get me a picture, but we all saw him, throwing on the boards after a roller ski race that weekend, and we captured him on camera. As of this writing, we have had two Hiper Challenge ski races, and hope to keep them going every weekend on which there is no other ski race going on in the province. Our schedule will also still have us doing our Tuesday and Thursday high intensity workouts, as well as the racing on the weekends. New to this year will be the inclusion of a Technical Monday session where the focus will not be on the physical training, but purely on refining the technique of our skiers. As always, everything we do or have done, is posted at our website: http://skihiper.sasktelwebsite.net Here’s to a long and white winter!!! Robin Butler Page 2 KIVILSKI President’s Message SKI HOTLINE: 343-0191 Website: http://www. saskatoonnordicski.ca Box 2062 - S7K 3S7 President Dan Brisbin 382-0709 Past President Trevor Gambell 373-7760 Vice-President Bruce Simms 384-9375 Secretary Larry Grenkow 955-0810 Treasurer Jeff Thorpe 343-1984 Membership Bill Bishopp 343-0156 Publicity Jan Sedgewick 931-3305 Youth Programs Alison Theede 374-7487 Eb’s Trails Heather-Dawn Bernhard 242-1928 Dan Brisbin My son, Andrew, and I decided to get out for a ski on the last Saturday in November before we headed off to cheer on the Huskies in the Vanier Cup. On arriving at the Wildwood golf course on a breezy -25 C morning we found a lone tracksetter making his rounds of the ski trails on a snow machine. I couldn’t be sure who it was because he was bundled up against the cold. In any case, we enjoyed a good ski because of the dedication of the lone mystery rider on the NSCS snow machine. Many of you will also have noticed– and taken advantage of the fact– that no sooner had Saskatoon received its first good dump of snow in November, than tracks were set in Kinsmen Park. So we now have skate and classic tracks set in both Kinsmen and Wildwood thanks to the diligence and hard work of our volunteer track setters. Next time you’re out for a ski and you see one of them, stop for a minute to thank them for good tracks or at least give them a wave and a smile. Check out pages 4 and 5 for details. Touring & Hiking Reid Graham 477-2459 Instruction Jeff Thorpe 343-1984 In Profile Loppet Dan Brisbin 382-0709 Competition/Biathlon Robin Butler 373-6658 Equipment Manager Dick White 242-7289 Blind and Visually Impaired Stanley Windels 343-1404 Social Convenor Carmel Dodd 384-2774 Website Audrey Mowchenko 343-6430 Editor Renate Bishopp 343-0156 [email protected] Presentations of SaskSki awards to NSCS members at our Fall General Meeting on October 26th gave us a further opportunity to recognize our volunteers, especifically four of our friends who have made great contributions to cross country skiing in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. Carmel Dodd handed the Member of the Year award to Gerhard Freund, Cathy Rae presented the Merit Award to Kevin Robinson and Robin Butler, and Bill Bishopp presented the Don Allen Memorial award to Ken English. Congratulations to all four of these people; their awards are richly deserved. Vice President Bruce Simms and son Ewan I came to Saskatchewan from Nova Scotia in 1992 for a finance position with the federal government in Regina. This was my second western sojourn, having lived in Calgary in the 80s. Although I did some downhill skiing, Nova Scotia is not highly regarded for skiing of any type due to mild weather and topographic limitations. It receives big snowstorms, but typically the weather then gets mild and often it rains. A position as a director of economic development with the province took me to La Ronge in 1995. A Bluenoser looking for water! My rugby career was effectively over due to age, location and a hurting body and I always planned to pursue more outdoor lifestyle sports such as skiing, canoeing, camping etc. I volunteered at my first Saskaloppet in La Ronge, and staggered through a 13 km the second year with no tech- The Newsletter of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon Page 3 Bulletin Board This is definitely a call for help from the Blind Skiers! See plea below under Blind Skiers News. The Loppet Bus is Coming! Stay tuned! Busses/vans to the Blue Mountain and Duck Lake Loppets are planned. See page 6 for Loppet Report to whet your appetite! From the Membership Director With the early snow, the memberships are mounting quickly. As of November 26, we have five Adult, two Youth, 21 Couples, and 37 Family memberships, for a total of 118 memberships with 241 members. This amounts to about 80% of our usual membership for the year. Blind Skiers Christmas Potluck — December 16, 2006 Jackrabbit Tournament —Humboldt—Janurary 20, 2007 Eb’s Day — February 4, 2007 Ski for Light — Kananaskis—February 5 to 11, 2007 Blind Skiers News Our group of cross-country skiers has grown this year and we are in great need of additional guides for the skiers! Whatever level of crosscountry you are at, we can use your help as we have brand new skiers as well as experienced faster skiers who are looking for guides. If you haven’t guided a blind skier before, we’ll help guide you through the process. Please get in touch with Conrad Lange at 477-2227 or Judy Prociuk at 931-1981; [email protected]; Herb Essenburg - 374-4337. The blind skiers have been keeping up with their Saturday morning hikes. A couple of us dared to brave the elements on Saturday, 25 November, and skied in Kinsmen Park. The tracks were blown in through the open areas, but in all, it was a good work-out. It is certainly the earliest that I have skied in my living memory. This was fol- lowed on Sunday by a fine party at Conrad Lange’s. Our Christmas ski and potluck will be Saturday, 16 December 2006 at George Kuntz’s acreage near Grandora. Come join us if you would like to see what we are all about. For more information, call Conrad Lange at 477-2227, or Stanley Windels at 343-1404. Stanley year in Jackrabbits. Rory, our 17 year old, has good technique through Jackrabbits in La Ronge, but currently finds xcountry boring. (Maybe it was because the old man kicked his butt at Blue Mountain once). We’ve been in Saskatoon since 2003. Julia remains with Cameco and I manage the business development corporations for several northern first nations. My work is generally interesting and rewarding. I love the exhilaration of the physical challenge and natural setting of Blue Mountain, while Julia prefers the proximity and terrain of Eb’s. Although the topic is controversial in ski circles, Blue Mountain allows me to bring my ‘ski-biting’ dog on the trails. This would obviously be problematic in our heavily used city ski trails. I understand some xcountry ski areas now allow dogs on a limited number of trails. My other current fitness passion is hot yoga (35-42 C room). Yoga and pilates have worked effectively on my chronic back issues. However, some yoga poses may have to wait for a different lifetime! I also roller blade, run a little, fish, camp and hunt occasionally and work on my British sports car. I volunteered as club VP as a way to contribute to our wonderful sport. One characteristic I especially noticed early on was how fit a lot we generally are. The waistline battle seems to get a little tougher every year; xcountry may be my last and best defense! I look forward to getting to know more of you. Enjoy your skiing In Profile, continued nique.There was nowhere to go but up! In 1998 my girlfriend Julia Ewing (now spouse) moved to La Ronge to take up a position with Cameco as manager of northern community affairs. We skied together on the wonderful Nut Point and Don Allen trails. Technique improved a little. We had a beautiful home on the lakefront that I think about wistfully sometimes. In the spring there are times when one can really fly skate skiing on the lake as the snowmobiles have packed it down. After a secondment in Regina I returned to La Ronge to open a northern investments office for Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation. I was determined to learn to skate ski and not have everybody blow by me on the trails although many still do. In 2001, our son Ewan was born and this will be his second Bruce Simms Page 4 KIVILSKI The Awards Don Allen Memorial Award Nominator Bill Bishopp presenting Ken English’s Cathy Rae wife with the Don Allen Memorial Award This award is presented to an individual who has made a prominent contribution to the development of competitive Cross Country skiing over the period of no less than three years. Ken English was nominated for the Don Allen Memorial Award by the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. The nomination is based on Ken’s contributions in two ways: as a leader in competitive skiing as a master skier and as an organ- izer of competitive skiing for the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. Ken began competitive skiing in the late 1970’s when he joined his son, Ivan, in skiing in training for competitive canoeing. Ken enjoyed the sport sufficiently to pursue it on his own, as a master skier. Ken’ s performance in the Provincial race scene has been remarkable, consistently winning his age class, one of the most competitive age class, which is filled with excellent skiers. Ken has been a role model for master skiers of all ages. I have personally heard strong master skiers state their performance in terms of how far they were behind Ken. Ken often set the standard. As an organizer of competitive skiing in Saskatoon, Ken has played a major role. In the early1990’s Ken replaced Frank Bristol as Competition Chair for the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. He considered his role merely as a contact for CCS, a role which continued for a few years. However, during this time Ken served as a local magnet for people who wished to train for competition, particularly during the Fall dryland season. Then in the late 1990’s, with the establishment of the Whitetail Ski Area ( Blue Mountain), Ken, with the help of Scott McGibney, and others, began organizing a Sask-Cup ski race, sponsored by the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. Ken English, don’t be modest! It’s all true! These races have been run ever since. While other individuals have at times been the major organizers, Ken could always be seen helping to set up the course or in some other capacity. Competitive ski racing has grown more recently in Saskatoon, as others have become involved. However, it was Ken English who helped keep the spirit of competition alive during the ‘low’ period of the 1990’s in Saskatoon. Bill Bishopp Merit Award Kevin Robinson’s skiing career started in Regina with Jackrabbit instructors Dennis Lawrence and Owen Spence, two Saskatchewan’s most successful cross-country skiers. In Saskatoon, Kevin started racing in 1983. He was coached by Robin Butler, Brian Stevenson and Wayne Powers. He began coaching Jackrabbits in 1985. When attending university, his racing involvement dropped off. In 1997, he moved back to Saskatoon, resumed coaching the Jackrabbit program and became a coaching partner with Robin Butler. Their enthusi- asm greatly encouraged the young athletes and the program flourished. At this time he also became involved with the Hiper ski group of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon, both as competitor and mentor. During the last few winters he has been earning his NCCP coaching levels. He has completed his level III. Robin Butler has had a long, illustrious career in cross-country skiing. In 1980, at the age of 16, he coached the Jackrabbit program in The Pas, Manitoba. He competed from 1983 to 1987 for Saskatchewan. Robin Butler and Kevin Robinson took on the role of coaching the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon’s competitive Hiper team [High performance]. Their combined efforts have brought some of our group up to participating at a national level of competition. We competed, with strong competition, at Western Championships in Hinton, Alberta a year ago in February. Colin Fraser won a gold medal in his age group while Knut Lokken took home silver. Ken English and Brian Lokken also medaled. In 2006, Kevin took a contingent of skiers to Western Championships in the Yukon. The Newsletter of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon Page 5 Centre Fold Nominator Cathy Rae presenting RobinButler with the Merit Award The Hiper team has great group dynamics. Kevin and Robin stress fun over elitism. All of us can progress by working hard. One of our new recruits from paddling, Bob Farthing, a retired teacher and long time coach, states that he has never seen such great dynamics and focus in a group of athletes. Kevin and Robin show a passion and commitment for the sport of crosscountry skiing that span a long period. Kevin Robinson and Alison Theede have been chosen to represent us as Canada Games coaches in 2007. Robin, who has been Competition Chair for the past two years, will be the manager. Cathy Rae Merit Award recipient Kevin Robinson and friend Member of the Year Award Nominator Carmel Dodd presenting Gerhard Freund with the Member of the Year Award Gerhard was one of the first members of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. Randy Chapman, former master racer and long time loppet challenger, recalls meeting Gerhard after he joined the club in the late 1970s. Gerhard was in charge of a ‘work crew’ clearing trial near Beaver Creek, on the Dundurn Military Camp’s property. According to former club president Al Ritchie, Gerhard must have had a premonition of ATV’s as the entrance, well thought out, would only allow skiers to get through. Gerhard has participated in the loppets and in countless tours, as skier and well qualified leader, having taken the Canadian Ski patrol first aid course, to enhance his knowledge and capabilities. The Lac La Peche tour is known as ‘Gerhard’s’ tour. In the 1980’s Gerhardt took particular interest in the forest around MacDowell; so much so that he started staying at the local hotel and boarded with a farmer. Eventually, his endeavor led to the incorporation of the trails into the Lily Plain Loppet. Gerhard enticed club members to try spring tours, tiptoeing through mud and struggling over brush on skies! In the fall, clearing would begin on selected areas. He decided to ‘swell’ the number of crews by inspiring members who had never participated. One woman, thrilled to be invited but needing a ride, brought her own chainsaw. Wendy, as it turned out, was one of our sight-handicapped skiers! Fall hikes were along old and new trails. Gerhard challenged more enthusiastic members to long distance hikes. Hikes started at Borden and every week, would pick up where they had left off the previous week. Along country roads, through field and water, via Red Berry Lake, to Krydor and, of course, to Lac la Peche and Martens Lake, Gerhard led his ‘merry band’; quite possibly merry because Gerhard arranged for weekly evening meals in hotels even one that didn’t serve meals , guest ranches, golf clubs and service stations. Soon we were recognized as ‘belonging to the Nordic Ski Club’. Later, some of those hiking areas became ski tours. Scott McGibney, former cross country provincial ski coach, personally always involved with racing, contends that 95% of skiers are tourers and the back bone of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon and that the Club ‘wouldn’t be what it is without Gerhard’! Most recently, Gerhard is one of three club members involved in S.E.R.M., the protection of the Nisbet Forest for skiers and hikers. Gerhard’s infectious enthusiasm and dedication inspire many. He is supported by the generosity and often, companionship, of his wife, Margaret. A gentle, charming man, Gerhard is ‘the heart of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon’. Carmel Dodd Page 6 KIVILSKI Sunday Ski Tours What a difference a couple of years makes. I was reviewing the touring update I had done for the December 2004 newsletter and remembered how dry it was that fall, November had passed without a flake of snow. We didn’t start skiing until after Christmas. This season is a different story, as our ski tours have already begun. As with the fall hikes, the ski tours depart at 10:00 sharp from the Mr. RV parking lot, which is located on the Idylwyld service road, north of 51st street. Please arrive at the meeting place 10-15 minutes early to register and arrange for a ride to the trailhead and always remember to check the ski hotline at 343-0191 for any last minute updates. Weather or snow con Update ditions may result in changes to the tour. Several of our tours are well off the beaten path so please check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Your pack should contain a lunch, plenty of something to drink, extra clothing as required, TP, and any other supplies you might need in the woods. Reed Graham Ski Touring Schedule 2006 – 2007 December 3 Eb’s trails. The track setting crew hopes to have at least some of the trails set for this first Eb’s tour of the year. Reid Graham will be the tour leader. December 10 We are planning on having a tour this weekend but the location and leader are yet to be determined. Please check the ski hotline for details. December 17 Eb’s trails with Heather Bernhard as the tour leader. December 24 No tour planned December 31 Possible tour to Eb’s trails if there is sufficient interest. Please contact me via phone (4772459) or email [email protected] if you would be interested in skiing on New Years Eve. Jan 7 Adamson Lake. This is a wonderful trail located just across the highway from Eb’s. The route is approximately 18 km in length and the terminus is located on a bluff high above the South Saskatchewan River. Leader Jeff Thorpe Jan 13-15 Greenwater Provincial Park. This is an overnight trip to Greenwater Park which is located approximately 2.5 hours east of Saskatoon. Space is somewhat limited so please contact me as soon as possible if you are intending to join us on this trip. We will be staying in a cabin located at the park and skiing on some great trails. Feb 4 Eb’s Trails Our regular Sunday tour will moved to Saturday to coincide with the club’s 5th annual Eb’s day. The trails will be in excellent condition and the huts are well supplied with hot chocolate and treats. This has proven to be a very popular event with our club members. Feb 11 TBD Jan 21 Little Red River Park Please, note departure time change to 9:00am to allow for the extra distance to Prince Albert. Keith Pahl will lead this tour. Jan 26-28 Waskesiu. This will be our 3rd annual weekend at Waskesiu. We’ll once again be staying at the Elkridge resort. The accommodations and food are excellent and the skiing is some of the best in the province. Please contact me if you are interested coming along again this year. We would leave Thursday or Friday afternoon and return to Saskatoon on Sunday. Feb 18 The regular Sunday tour will be combined with the club loppett at Blue Mountain resort. Sunday Hiker getting help over the fence The Newsletter of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon EB’S TRAILS Page 7 2006-2007 Aahhh…another season at Eb’s. A large crew with the aid of 4 `It’s beginning to look a lot like chainsaws cut, split, hauled and Christmas everywhere you go’, stacked a season’s supply of fireespecially at Eb’s. The trails received their first good snowfall on November 8th and again on November 14th. Even though the record of the earliest ski at Eb’s was not broken this year, we did have an enjoyable ski on November 13th, amidst the deer hunters. The combination of hoar frost and clumps of snow on the branches was a picture postcard. An absolutely delightful way to begin the ski season. Our highway men Recognize the Wood Crew? (Rosthern Division, Dept. of Highways) cleared the parking lots wood for both huts. Boy! Have we Friday afternoon, November10th. got wood. A JOB WELL DONE in They’re so sweet (perhaps they spite of the fact there was no have a really big sweet tooth for supervisor with her famous chocothe forthcoming cookies). late chip cookies. (I could be out of Hats off to Lorne Duczek who a job). Our ‘wood people’ are Jeff single-handedly cleared the trails. Thorpe, Reid Graham, Brett Smith, This involves removing fallen Trevor Gamble, Bob Katarynych, trees, branches and debris, clip- Dick and Wendy White,Donna ping undergrowth and trimming Haugen, Mary Toews and Debbie the bushes at the sides of the Anderson. Take a bow, gals and guys. trails. A labour of love definitely. The inside of both huts and the Thank you. windows have been cleaned, as well as the biffies. We put a temporary roof on the south biffy and in the spring we’ll re-shingle it. Two new windows were installed at the south hut. Unfortunately, the south hut came under attack this July. This became a party spot and the hut sustained damage and the site was a real mess. Thank goodness the damage was minimal. Thank you, Margaret and Gerhard Freund, for cleaning up the mess and to anyone else who silently went about cleaning the area. There is some good news! Two well-known, dedicated fellows (J. and R) constructed four benches in certain spots on the ski trails at Eb’s. I’ve been dreaming of benches on the trails for years. It’s kind of nice to sit and listen to nature during a ski. Well, that’s all the news for now. The trails will probably be groomed as soon as we receive a heavy snow fall. For more info., please check the web site or call me at 242-1928. See you at Eb’s. Heather Loppets and Busses: The perfect mix We had a wonderful PA Northern bus and driver to take us on a relaxing, sociable jaunt to our very own Blue Mountain Loppet last February. The happy bus riders included many volunteers and as many enthusiastic skiers including some families with Jackrabbits. The trails were well groomed, the volunteers helpful and encouraging, and the chalet, loppet meal and apre-loppet recap of the day’s skiing with ski buddies were rejuvenating! Then the bus once again carried the weary but content lop- peteers home again. Time for a nap! Definitely an experience that merits another bus this year. The overnight jaunt to the Duck Mountain Loppet a week later included two van loads of skiers, one more than in 2005. We once more enjoyed the comforts of the Duck Mt. motel in Kamsack and were up early and raring to go…to breakfast at the Duck Mt. Inn. Then it was off on the beautiful trails with log cabin checkpoints for a fabulous day of skiing, later supper and back in the vans to drive back to Saskatoon. I slept all the way back, being blessed with van mates who were better drivers than I. It was a lot of fun and maybe one of these years we will be numerous enough to hire a bus and driver. Watch for more details in the next Kivilski or contact Nancy at 664-6888 or [email protected] for information on the Blue Mountain Loppet bus and the overnight group travel to the Duck Mountain Loppet. Nancy Howse Page 8 KIVILSKI Try Ski Lessons This Winter! Improve your technique and enjoy skiing more! Practically everyone can benefit from ski instruction. As deceptively simple as cross-country skiing appears to be, it is one of the most complex of all athletic skills to perform efficiently. Most skiers have difficulty observing themselves and analyzing where they need improvement. A skillful instructor can do this, and get you started on a new track in your skiing career. Improvements in technique help you go further and ski faster making skiing LESS EFFORT and MORE FUN! Reserve your spot in one of our classes today... Learn to Ski Course Course I: Jan. 15, 18, 22 (7:00-9:00 pm) Course II: Feb 20, 23, 27 (7:00 - 9:00 pm) Course covers waxing theory, basic diagonal stride techniques, including balance and weight transfer, double poling, herringbone and snowplow, turning and stopping. Suitable for those who have never skied before or have had no formal instruction. Register by: Jan. 12 or Feb. 16 Intermediate Course Jan. 29, Feb. 2, 5, 9 (7:00-9:30 pm) Skill improvement for skiers interested in understanding and applying the principles of efficient motion on skis. Course includes waxing theory, equipment/clothing considerations, classic technique improvement, and introduction to skate skiing. Register by: Jan. 26 Beginner Workshop Jan. 13 (1-4 pm) An afternoon session for people new to classic skiing or who have not had formal instruction. Includes diagonal stride, double poling, uphill, downhill, and turning techniques. Register by: Jan. 11 Skating Workshop Jan. 27 (1-4 pm) An afternoon session for those new to skate skiing or those wanting an understanding of the fundamentals of the skating motion on skis. Covers the 6 basic skate techniques. Register by: Jan 25 How to register... Print the course registration form from the Nordic Club website at http://saskatoonnordicski.ca and mail the completed form with your fee as indicated below. If you do not have internet access, contact instructor Cliff Speer at 653-5693 to register. For more course info, email [email protected]. Class locations... The classic and skating courses are taught at Kinsmen Park. Meet the course instructor at the Park parking lot across from the Mendel Art Gallery prior to the start of the class. A note about bad weather... Sessions will be rescheduled by the instructor in the event of bad weather. The instructor will contact you if a session needs to be rescheduled. Course Fees: Learn to Ski Intermediate Member $45 $55 Non-member $55 $65 Beginner Workshop Skating Workshop $30 $30 $35 $35 Mail fees to: Cliff Speer, 1618-9th Ave. N., Saskatoon, SK S7K 3A1 Note: Make your cheque payable to Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. Thank-you For more information on all Club programs visit http://saskatoonnordicski.ca Get activity updates, membership info & program contacts on the Club Hotline 343-0191
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