The view from the top at May camp in 2012. photo: Sheridan Meckert
Please note: Registration for the annual May camp is now through Zone 4. Please use this link to register.
To view a PDF copy of the camp notice, click this link.
For information on the Banquet, Waxorama, and SkyRocket sale, please scroll down.
We have Strathcona Nordic Ski Club news for you below about the Banquet, May camp, Royal LePage Snow to Surf, and SkyRocket!
All club members are invited to attend the fun and exciting End-of-the-Year Potluck Banquet and Awards evening on Friday, April 26th!
We enjoyed musical performances at last year’s banquet!
Join your fellow club members for an evening of mirth and delicious food at the Filberg Conference Centre in downtown Courtenay (near the 5th Street bridge).
Here’s the schedule:
This is a Potluck, so please bring enough to feed 10 people, and if your last name starts with,
Hope to see you there!
Best wishes to all club members in the Royal Lepage Snow to Surf this weekend!
Bring the xc skis up for race package pick up and find the red tent near the Alpine Lodge. Get Royal LePage Snow to Surf ready! more below.
Remember to tell your team that cross-country skiers can have their skis waxed with performance wax on Saturday, April 27 from 3:30 to 6:30 outside the Alpine Lodge during race package pick up.
Coach Dave says, “Performance wax can improve your time by as much as 10%.” — and we all could use a bit of extra glide in soft snow.
Last Saturday, racers and their families turned out in good numbers to shovel and bag skyrocket at the Beech family farm. In just 5 hours, the hard-working athletes and families bagged all 60 yards and cleaned up!
Now, on Saturday, May 4, the racing teams will be selling bags of SkyRocket in the parking lot at Mariner Square in Campbell River. For just $5 per 30 litre bag, you can purchase the high-nitrogen soil amendment, made of wood chips mixed with biosolids (which are cured, screened, and tested by provincial and federal regulatory bodies). SkyRocket is a nutrient-rich mulch for use in large-scale landscaping and orchards or in residential flower gardens and lawns.
On Saturday in Mariner Square, you won’t even have to get out of your car to make your purchase. They say you can drive up in the parking lot, place your order for one or more bags, pay, and the team will load the bags into your trunk or truck for you.
The sale runs from 8am to 2pm or until supplies last. All profits will go to support the Devo and Junior team travel.
The team would like to thank Glenn Beech and Robin Hannah for hosting and for all their extra work! We would also like to thank the Campbell River folks at Mariner Square, London Drugs, and Save-On-Foods for their support!
The start of the new training season is upon us! Time to get your skis and gear ready for the annual May camp. Come join us on the mountain for some great skiing, good food, and lots of fun and games from May 10th – 13th. Mount Washington will be grooming access to Lower West Meadows and some of the Upper Meadows (dependant on snow quality).
You can stay in group accommodation with your team for the entire camp or join us for drop in sessions. We will meet at the bottom of the Hawk Chair for workouts twice daily—don’t be late.
Friday, May 10th, afternoon
Saturday, May 11th
Sunday, May 12th
Monday, May 13th
The focus for this camp is not only fun and fantastic skiing, but it is also a great time to bond with your teammates. Please refrain from bringing, or using electronic games and or devices for the time of the camp.
JR Team and Masters – Full stay $275.00 (Includes Meals, Grooming, and Accommodation for three nights)
Devos – Full stay $180 (Meals, Grooming, and Accommodation for two nights, 4 ski sessions)
Time spent with Coach Dave and the other coaches – Priceless!!!
Drop-in fee for ski sessions – $10/person and $20/family Drop-in fee for the Bar-B-Que – $10/person and $20/family
Please register on Zone4, and confirm your attendance with either Coach Dave battison.dj@gmail.com or Tim McGradytim.mcgrady@gmail.com.
Please also fill in the: Medical form and bring it up to camp with you.
See you on the mountain!
The ski season is officially over, but we still have exciting news and fun events for you. Read on.
All club members are invited to the End-of-the-Year Potluck Banquet at the Filberg Conference Centre in Courtenay (near the 5th Street bridge) on Friday, April 26! The schedule will be similar to last year with the doors opening at 5:30pm.
Be sure to mark it on your calendar and come out for a few hours of fun and feasting with your ski community. You will be asked to bring either a main course, salad, or dessert. We’ll have more details for you early next week. All club members are welcome! Hope to see you there!
Attention all Royal LePage Snow to Surf teams! Let your xc skier glide to a faster race time with performance glide wax!
The Strathcona Nordics Junior Racers will be waxing cross-country skis with performance glide wax during race package pick-up, so nordic skiers can enjoy better glide during the race.
Saturday, April 27
Remember to bring the cross-country skis up the mountain when you pick up the race package and to bring some cash to pay for the waxing.
Thank you to Mount Washington Resort and to Royal LePage Snow to Surf for their support!
Here’s another great opportunity! Our Devo and Junior Racing teams will be selling SkyRocket fertilizer for just $5/30 litre bag! Wow! Here’s how you can get some:
Saturday, May 4
Tell your neighbours and your friends.
We have athletes named to provincial teams this year. Congratulations to:
Way to go racers!!
Many racers enjoyed last year’s May Camp.
Racers can mark May 10-12 on their calendar for the annual May race camp weekend. There will be sessions on-snow on Friday after school and on Saturday and Sunday in the morning and afternoon. There is an additional early-morning session on Monday for the Junior Racers.
There will be team accommodation on Mount Washington with group cooking. Your coach will contact you with more details. If you would like to join a race tam next year, May Camp is the start of the new season–so consider joining now! Contact a coach: Devo Team – Berend Henckel bhenckel@telus.net, Juniors and Masters – Dave Battison battison.dj@gmail.com
We have the final talley from the Strathcona Nordic Cup race series, which consisted of all our home races, including twoonie races. How did you do? Who won your category? You can preview the resultson this link. The winners will be officially announced and recognized at the Banquet!
John Jensen recorded a video of the Loppet from his post out in the Ponds. You can view the video for the next few weeks using this link. Thank you to John for recording and for sharing!
The 31st Vancouver Island Loppet was held Saturday April 13 under partly cloudy skies after a welcome overnight freeze that provided good fast -3 to 0c snow conditions over much of the course. This is probably the latest the Loppet has been held and was the last event on the National Calendar, and yet 140 skiers eschewed spring gardening and showed up for the challenge.
In addition to the dominant Strathcona Nordic home crowd, many overseas skiers also showed up from diverse ski spots such spots Canmore, Banff, Bonnyville, Ontario, Vancouver (Nordic Racers), Washington State, Montana (Missoula XC) and even Norway (via XCOregon)! Participants ranged in age from 5 to 70+ demonstrating with gusto why cross-country skiing is a sport for life!
The overall top finishers in the 30k loppet were Kent Murdoch (men 50-59 category) with a time of 1:27:08 and Inge Scheve (women 30-39) with a time of 1:35:45. Alec Stapff (open men 18-29 category) representing the junior team was the fastest Strathcona Nordic with a time of 1:34:27.5. There was also a 30km team event, a 15km half Loppet, a 5km youth loppet and the 2km cookie loppet for the youngest skiers. Full results by category can be found on zone4.ca as well as on webscorer.com It was a great event!
The Loppet of course would not be possible without the dedicated volunteer organising committee, partners, and sponsors. A huge thank-you is owed to the race committee: Alison Stock, Susan Denny, Wilf Dreher, Val Wootton, Chris Stapf, Bob Hauser and Roz Smith, Harriet Rueggeberg, Doug Herchmer and their respective teams. A big thanks also to Marc Lyster and his staff at Mount Washington and to Paul Berry and the crew from Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue.
There were also many sponsors who provided prizes and snacks and refreshments at the feed stations and the finish line. Please thank them for their support for this community sporting event by letting them know next time you visit them. They include Mount Washington, Ski Tak Hut, Dr Andreas Conradi, Q Energy Drink, Rossignol, Cheesecake 101, Quality Foods, Safeway, ThriftyFoods, and Source for Sports Campbell River.
Congratulations to everyone who skied in the 31st Annual Vancouver Island Loppet! We hope the skiers who came far away had an enjoyable time and a safe journey home.
Many thanks to our event sponsors Mount Washington Resort, Rossingnol, and Dr. Andreas Conradi. Thank you also to Ski Tak Hut and Q Energy Drink for your support as well.
We would like to say a big thank you to the race organizers, to Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue, and to all the volunteers who helped make it happen.
You can find the Official Race Results on Zone4.ca. We hope to gather photos and post some here in the near future.
If you have race photos to share, please email them to info@StrathconaNordics.com.
This is it everyone! It’s the last opportunity for a good ski this year!
Join in the fun as a skier or as a volunteer–you’ll be glad you did! In addition to the fun of participating, we have lots of great prizes for skiers and volunteers. The Loppet is also the final race in the Strathcona Cup series.
Use the links below to:
The Loppet is fun for all ages! Photo: Brent Reid
We are looking for a race MC. If you, or someone you know, are not shy with the microphone, contact races@StrathconaNordics.com to MC part or all of the Loppet.
This year, Q Energy Drink is supplying finish line refreshments for racers, so you can re-engerize with their sport drink. They say, “Q contains the appropriate amount of electrolytes not only to assist with performance by replenishing depleted salts from activity, but also to help the body recover from exertion.”
Between Q Energy Drink and the baked goods that club members are bringing, it’s sure to be a finish line feast.
Note: Nordic operations close on Sunday afternoon, so the Loppet really is the last chance this year to enjoy a good ski with your community!
Skiing in the Loppet? Enjoy performance wax! Let the Junior Racers prep your skis for the loppet this Sunday.
Come ski this Sunday, April 7, and then have your skis waxed and prepped afterwards–ready for the loppet! Find the red waxing tent in front of the Raven Lodge from 11:00am to 12:30pm. Remember to bring some cash for wax and baked goods too!
Don’t miss the Vancouver Island Loppet! Details below. Photo – Brent Reid
Don’t miss out on the 31st Annual Vancouver Island Loppet! Registration closes on Thursday, April 11 at 11:59pm, absolutely no late entries will be accepted.
The Loppet takes place on Saturday, April 13. It’s a great way to see the season through and also to prepare for the Snow to Surf.
You can read Coach Dave’s tips on how to prepare to ski a loppet. Read on to find out how to have optimal fun during the event.
We still need a few more volunteers. All volunteers receive a gift and are eligible for the draw prizes! email Races@StrathconaNordics.com
Club members, please bring some baked goodies for the loppet feed station in the stadium. Please bring to the lodge in the morning.
The lodge will be closing during the week, as of next week. April 14th will be the last weekend open for the season.
April hours: Open daily until April 7th from 9:00am to 4:00pm Closed 8th to 11th Open for the last weekend – April 12th, 13th, and 14th April 13th – Loppet April 14th – Season Pass BBQ
Interested in coaching next year? Note these dates!
We will be hosting 4 coaching courses next year, free to club members who wish to coach. If you are interested and want to know more or you want to take the next level coaching course and are not sure if you have completed all the requirements, please contact Doug Herchmer (dhrecreation@shaw.ca); (250) 248-2233
Nov 1-2: Introduction to Community Coaching (ICC) Workshop, Courtenay (10 hrs). This is the first step in the NCCP coach education program. This workshop is designed to provide parents and other beginner coaches with basic information and a feeling of confidence as they begin their role as a coach. (Minimum age 14 years).
Dec 6 – 8: Community Coaching (CC) Workshop, Mt Washington (16 hrs). This is the second step in the NCCP coach education program. It provides essential training for coaches delivering skill development programs to children six to nine years of age. (Minimum age 14 years).
Nov 15 – 17: Learning to Train (L2T – Dryland) Workshop, Courtenay (16 hrs). The L2T (dryland) workshop is the third step in the NCCP progression. Coaches are taught about developmental age, physical literacy, team building, athletic components (aerobic, fitness, speed, etc.), nutrition, how to design their own sport program, adventure-based activities (year-round), roller-skiing and planning a practice.
Jan 3 -5 Learning to Train (L2T – On Snow) Workshop, Mt Washington (16 hrs). The L2T (on snow) workshop is the fourth step in the NCCP progression. This workshop is designed to train coaches on team management, supporting athletes at a competition, teaching and learning, equipment selection, ski preparation and how to effectively teach ski preparation and how to effectively teach ski technique.
Avalon Wasteneys won a bronze at Nationals! Story below. Photo: Larry Reynolds.
Strathcona Nordics racers brought hardware back to the Island from the Nationals in Whistler Olympic Park. Andrea Lee picked up two golds, and Avalon Wasteneys brought home a bronze.
Andrea Lee, who now trains at the National Development Centre in Thunder Bay and additionally skis for the Lakehead University team where she is currently studying, picked up a gold in team sprints and a gold in the 5km skate. The Junior Team was thrilled to see their club mate race and win in the university series.
Avalon Wasteneys won a bronze in the classic sprints, persisting through a fiercely competitive field of 75 juvenile racers in the quarter, semi, and final heats. Coach Dave says, “Avalon has incredible natural ability, and she took all her training, all the things we had been working on, and she executed them perfectly.”
When the team learned that Avalon was moving into the heats, Coach Dave declared, “We’re going to the show!” as he dug deep into his wax arsenal, and they all pulled together to offer Avalon lots of encouragement and the most enthusiastic cheering section of any athlete in the finals.
Across the five race events, all 17 members of the team enjoyed shining moments and many personal best races. Way to go team!!
Mark Friday, April 26 on your calendar for the club’s end of the season banquet. Join your fellow club members for an evening of potluck feasting, games, and prizes! The banquet takes place at the Filberg Centre in Courtenay. Everyone is welcome! Look for more details soon.
All Strathcona Nordics skiers currently in racing programs or joining racing programs are invited to attend May Race Camp. There will be accommodations available on the mountain for racers and several training sessions on snow over the course of the weekend:
Your race coach will contact you with more details. If you want to join a racing program, contact: Devo Team – Tim tim.mcgrady@gmail.com Junior Team – Dave battison.dj@gmail.com Masters Team – Marilyn marilyna@shaw.ca
Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) invite you to join them for “A Night at the Races” event at Raven Lodge on April 6 from 6 to 10 pm.
Tickets are $60 and include an Italian style buffet dinner, wine, and $5 worth of VIMSS bucks. (All of funded athletes (past and present) are invited to attend at a discounted rate of $25. We do ask that you help out on the evening of the event by selling balloons and distributing betting slips to those in attendance.)
Throughout the evening recorded horse races will be shown on big screens and everyone will have a chance to bet on the races. The VIMSS bucks can be used to place the bets and the winnings from the horse races will be used to bid at our auction.
As you know, VIMSS is an organization that seeks to nurture local emerging mountain sports athletes and help prepare them for elite national and international competitions. All of the money raised at this event will be used to help support promising young mountain sports athletes!
We hope to see you there! To RSVP, please email events@vimountaincentre.com to let them know if you will be attending and if you will be bringing a guest.
Thrifty Foods donated another $140 into our fundraising account last month. If you are a Thrifty’s shopper, please remember to use your Strathcona Nordics Smile Card.
We still have a way to go before we reach our target. If you would like a card, please contact Berend.bhenckel@telus.net
Happy spring! In April, we’ll be moving to one newsletter a month, where we’ll keep you posted on the club’s weekend run/hikes that will take place most weekends from May through the fall and on other cross-country community news.
This week, look for news below about the Loppet, trips, sales, results, feasts, Raven Lodge spring hours, and more.
Don’t miss the 31st annual Vancouver Island Loppet on Saturday, April 13, 2013! More below. photo: Larry Reynolds
Registration is open for the 31st Annual Vancouver Island Loppet, which takes place on April 13. Once spring break is over, and everyone returns from Nationals and holidays–the loppet will be upon us! Don’t miss this great way to see the season through and also to prepare for the Snow to Surf.
In order to make this a successful event we need volunteers in the following areas; please put your name forward. Note: All volunteers receive a gift and are eligible for the draw prizes!
Contact Races@StrathconaNordics.com
Believe it or not, we have reached the end of the Rabbit Skill Development Program! Our annual wind-up Rabbit Tournament is days away on Saturday, March 23rd, and at the moment the weather forecast shows favourable conditions.
It is a super-fun day, when both Saturday and Sunday Rabbits get together for a series of activities in a carnival-like atmosphere. So far we have 35 volunteers to thank for the festivities, but we are in need of two or three more bodies to help with Jack Rabbit Stations and Lunch. If you are able to give a hand, please email me right away! headharewilson@gmail.com
Here are some important reminders to ensure a smooth event:
Changing of the guard Head Hare Wilson is hoping to retire! She is looking for someone to work alongside for the 2014 season; a protegé who will take over the position the following year. The ideal candidate is a parent with younger Rabbits, who has basic computer skills and enthusiasm for the sport. No ski experience is necessary! Please email headharewilson@gmail.com if you are interested or if you know of a good candidate.
Thank you all for a great season!
-Alix
Rabbits in the loppet Although not technically a Rabbit event, all Rabbits are encouraged to join in on 31st annual Vancouver Island Loppet! We are looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to help out with the Cookie Loppet by either making cookie medals or setting up a “goodie station” halfway through the course as an incentive to our youngest loppeteers! If you are able to help out with either of these jobs, contact Alix. headharewilson@gmail.com
The 2013 Masters Recreational program has been a big success this winter with 64 skiers, up from 42 in the 2012 season. Many of the participants have had warm praise for the program and for the wonderful instructors who have helped them to improve their ski technique and enjoyment of the sport.
Huge Thanks to these instructors for making this such a great experience for so many people. Neil Smith, John Elson, Chris Round, Krysta Wark, Alison Stocks, Chris Bowlby, Bob Hauser, Roz Smith, Marilyn Atkinson, Laura Battison, Ron Quilter, Susan Denny, Phil Parkes, Dave Pinel, Don Irvine, Len Apedaile, Mark DeBruijn, Lynn Swift, Patty Johnson, Sylvia Watkins, and Stephen Morson.
Special Thanks to Ron Quilter, John Elson, and Neil Smith who have coached skiers in this program for many many MANY years!!!!
Very Special Thanks also to new coach Krysta Wark who led seven sessions!
Raven Cafe 9:00am to 5:00pm daily until April 14th, Open for April 20th and 21st Rentals 9:00am to 4:00pm daily until April 14th, Open for April 20th and 21st Retail 9:00am to 4:30pm daily until April 7th, Open for April 13th, 14th. Closed April 20th and 21st
Seasonal Lockers need to be cleaned out by April 21st! March 30th is the last day of night skiing.
Best wishes to the Junior Racers, Coaches, and support crew at Nationals! photo: Larry Reynolds
The Junior racers would like to say a big “Thank You!” to all their patrons and to Mount Washington for helping to make the waxorama a success. Thanks to you, the team raised another $700 for their trip to Nationals! Yay team!
This week, the Junior Racers leave for the National Cross-Country Ski Championships in Whistler Olympic Park. Over seven days and five race events, they’ll go toe-to-toe with the best racers in the country. Best wishes to the racers, coaches, and support crew! Go team!
Best backcountry wishes to Andrew Pape-Salmon and the group as they head off on another adventure this weekend. We all look forward to seeing your photos and hearing your stories!
You can find the latest Strathcona Nordic Cup points update on the website. Who’s leading your category as we move into the last race in the series–the Loppet? Check it out here.
Mark Friday, April 26 on your calendar for the club’s end of the season banquet. Join your fellow club members for an evening of potluck feasting, games, and prizes. The banquet takes place at the Filberg Centre in Courtenay. Everyone is welcome! Look for more details soon.
There’s a big sale on at Ski Tak Hut in Courtenay — up to 50% off the entire inventory! You can find their store hours and location on their website.
Experience a comfortable, fully-catered, and professionally-guided wilderness kayaking adventure close to home with club sponsors West Coast Expeditions (WCE) — and support the Strathcona Nordics! Strathcona Nordic members who organize a group of 4 or more friends or family not only receive a group discount, but also the satisfaction of knowing that WCE will deepen their sponsorship by donating 10% of the trip fees back to the club!
Besides spectacular kayaking, diverse wildlife, delicious meals, and comfy beds in deluxe tents, WCE is located on a 270 acre island of old growth forest and rugged shoreline, offering many hiking options on the edge of Canada. Whether new to kayaking or already experienced, there are 4 to 8-day scheduled trips running from June 24 until September 12 with options for families of all ages, couples, and individuals. Check them out in this video!
We are nearing the end of another fantastic ski season. If you haven’t already heard–we’re #1! (More below in the Teck Coast Cup story.)
As we near the end, recreational programs are wrapping up, the Junior Racers are having their final training sessions before heading to Nationals, and the Loppet race notice has been posted. Look for all this and more, below!
Three cheers for all the Coast Cup volunteers and participants–thanks to you, we’re #1! ! Story below.
Attention anyone coaching now or anyone interested in coaching Rabbits next year–we are have 2 more technique refreshers on Saturday and Sunday mornings before Jack Rabbits start. We will meet in the Stadium between 9:15am and 9:45am on Saturday, March16th and Sunday, March 17th for skate.
Anyone interested in learning more about Jack Rabbit coaching is welcome to attend! It does not matter what your skill level is or whether you only classic or skate, enthusiasm is the only requirement.
This Sunday, March 17, you can have your skis waxed by the Junior Racers outside the Raven Lodge from 9am to 12:30pm!
This is a great opportunity to give your skis some TLC, enjoy better glide, and help the Juniors raise some money for their trip to the Canadian National Cross-Country Ski Championships.
This Sunday, give your skis some TLC at the waxorama!
They are waxing classic skis (including the tips and tails of fish scale skis) and skate skis for $10/pair for regular wax and $20/pair for performance wax. You can buy some of their baked goods while you wait for your skis. Remember to tuck some money into your ski bag for wax and baked goods!
Join us for the Skier Cross on Saturday at 1pm!
This Saturday, March 16, join in the Skier Cross challenge - a crazy obstacle course – short, fast, fun, uphill, downhill, sharp corners. There will be 2 events:
Sign up in the Raven Lodge for the final Twoonie Race of the season!
The Strathcona Nordics were declared the BIG winner in the Teck Regional Race series! With all our accumulative points, we managed to win the Coast Cup Series, and we garnered more points than any other clubs in BC for the regional series.
Three cheers for all of our club members who raced and volunteered at the races–we couldn’t have done it without all of you. Special thanks to Mount Washington for their support as well!
You can see the results from the races on Zone4.ca. Type “Teck Coast” in the search field.
The 31st Annual Vancouver Island Loppet is coming up next month on April 13! Consider taking part as a skier or as a volunteer or both! See the details on the Loppet webpage. View the video from 2011 to get in the groove!
It’s a great way to end the ski season, as a skier or as a volunteer!
We Coach Dave’s tips on how to prepare to ski a loppet, so you can have optimal fun during the event. Click the link here.
If you want to join in the end-of-season fun as a volunteer, there are many roles to fill. Perhaps you want to be the Feed Station Coordinator this year? This is a deeply satisfying volunteer role with much support from the club & Mount Washington Nordic and with many grateful feed station patrons during the event. Contact Susan Denny Susan dennydreher88@gmail.com
Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) invite you to join them for A Night at the Racesevent at Raven Lodge on April 6 from 6 to 10 pm.
Tickets are $60 and include an Italian style buffet dinner, wine and $5 worth of VIMSS bucks. (All of funded athletes (past and present) are invited to attend at a discounted rate of $25. We do ask that you help out on the evening of the event by selling balloons and distributing betting slips to those in attendance.)
To RSVP, please email events@vimountaincentre.com to let them know if you will be attending and if you will be bringing a guest.
Team looking for racer – We are a mixed master team, semi-competitive. We have placed in the medals the past two years, but we are also a very fun and lighthearted team. We need a female cross-country skier, 30-50 years old. Contact Marco # 250-334-7390 or marcospadafora@hotmail.com
Look for news below about the Teck Coast Cup races this weekend, Devo success, Rabbit events, and more!
The Teck Coast Cup finale races are set to go this weekend! Registration has closed. Best of luck to all racers! Thank you in advance to all the small army of volunteers who are making this event happen!
The start lists have been posted on Zone 4. You can use these links to view:
See the course maps on this link.
See the race details on the race notice.
If you are not skiing or volunteering in the Teck Coast Cup races, come check out the event and cheer the racers on!
On Saturday, March 9, our club is hosting an apres-race potluck in the Mountain Centre! All race volunteers, participants, and their families are welcome to attend, and as the host club, we are providing the potluck goodies. Please bring finger foods only so people can eat standing up and we can clean up quickly:
We will collect the food in the Raven Lodge in the morning before the race. The social will begin in the Mountain Centre after the races between 12:30 and 1pm. Come mingle with your fellow club mates and our guests from other coastal ski clubs.
As the event hosts, we need many helping hands. You can choose from set-up, clean up, and greeting attendees duties! Please sign up for a job by contacting Lynn with your preference. lswiftys@gmail.com
The Devo team finished second over-all at the BC Midget Championships last weekend! Story below! photo: Laura Johnston
This weekend there will be no formal Rabbit sessions due to the Teck Coast Cup 3 & 4 races. If your family isn’t racing, you could come up and watch the morning races and cheer for your club.
We have some great news: the club has received about $2000 that is to be used specifically for the improvement of our ski playground! If you have ideas about how this money can be spent, please email Christophe Abele: cabele@telus.net as soon as possible!
Lost yellow and black coaching backpack: “I left my pack at the Raven Lodge on Saturday, February 16. In it were my Rabbit coaching supplies. The pack was in the Lost and Found the following day but was removed from there shortly after. I’m wondering if a parent took it for safekeeping. You can contact me at: gmacphail@shaw.ca to arrange for return. Much appreciated. Best, Gavin”
Our end of year Tournament is set for Saturday March 23rd, kicking off at 10 am sharp! We are still in need of volunteers to help with lunch – if you can help please let me know! Alixheadharewilson@gmail.com
And finally, as the season is ending, please consider becoming the new Head Hare! I am willing to work in tandem with someone next year so the transition is seamless, and painless. Strong ski skills are not necessary to take on this role – Enthusiasm and a few basic computer skills is all it takes! Please drop me a line if you are interested – I’d be happy to answer any questions! Alixheadharewilson@gmail.com
Attention anyone coaching now or anyone interested in coaching Rabbits next year–we are have 2 more technique refreshers on Saturday March 16th and on Sunday, March 17th in the morning before Rabbits begins. We will meet in the Stadium between 9:15am and 9:45am for a skate technique session.
Anyone interested in learning more about coaching is welcome to attend! It does not matter what your skill level is or whether you only classic or skate, enthusiasm is the only requirement!
Last weekend, our young Devo team made the long journey to Revelstoke to take part in the BC Midgets Championships. All season long they had anticipated to ski on dry and cold conditions, but to their surprise they were faced with familiar wet and warm coastal weather. It was like skiing in their own back yard. The waxing team was definitely up to the task and so were the racers.
The whole team improved tremendously in the first event, the 2.5 km classic race. The team enjoyed many top 5 finishes including a Provincial title for Emmy Stapff in the girls 2002 and a award for excellence in technique for Hugo Henckel. Other finishers in the top 5 include Ross Lamon, Stephen Lamon, Amelia Wells, Annelies Henckel, and Carson Damery.
In the afternoon 4 x 1.5 km relay races, the Devos fielded 7 teams. Our young teams held their own against many older competitors. The girls improved from 17th last year to 6th place and the boys were just out of the medals with a fourth place. These results had Strathcona Nordics sitting in second position in the aggregate club standings after the first day. Trailing only the large and competitive team from Larch Hills – Salmon Arm.
By Sunday, the weather slowly improved and the sun came out for the sprint races, held on an exciting 210m course. The Devos battled for every inch, and this resulted in many spots for the medal rounds. Ross Lamon put on an impressive show, winning all three rounds decisively and capturing the Provincial title in the boys 2000. Other top 5 finishes included; Stephen Lamon (2nd), Amelia Wells (2nd), Emmy Stapff (3rd), Annelies Henckel (4th), Carson Damery (2nd), Gavin Johnston (3rd) and Hugo Henckel (5th).
Kai McGrady won the second technique award for the club, and this was another boost to the totalclub-standings, only 18 points out of first place, won by Salmon Arm. In the next two years, the team strives towards clinching the provincial title, as their motto is “continuous improvement, one training and one race at a time.”
The 31st annual Vancouver Island Loppet is coming up next month on April 13! Consider taking part as a skier or as a volunteer or both! It’s a great way to end the ski season.
We have Coach Dave’s tips on how to prepare to ski a loppet, so you can have optimal fun during the event. Click the link here.
If you want to join in the end-of-season fun as a volunteer, there are many roles to fill. Perhaps you want to be the Feed Station Coordinator this year? This is a deeply satisfying volunteer role with much support from the club & Mount Washington Nordic and with many grateful feed station patrons during the event. Contact Susan dennydreher88@gmail.com
Coming into the home stretch of the ski season, we have lots of opportunities and news for you below!
Join in the racing fun in the Teck Coast Cup 3 and 4 races! photo: Larry Reynolds
Just 10 days to the Teck Coast Cup finale races! Help your club win the aggregate award pennant by skiing in the Teck Coast Cup #3 and #4 on March 9 and March 10! Every skier counts, from our smallest Atoms through to the most senior Masters.
Check out the course maps on this link. See the race notice. Register before March 7 on Zone 4!
Ski in the Teck Coast Cup races, have fun, and support your club!
Last weekend’s Becky Scott Sprint Races went off without a hitch! Bunnies and Jack Rabbits alike has fun getting a bit of race exposure, and trying to beat their own times! Equally important is the opportunity to practice cheering other racers on – way to go skiers! A huge thank you goes out to all the parents who volunteered to make the event successful – we can’t do it without you!
Tourney–Speaking of not being able to do it without you, there are still some positions that we need help with in order to have a super successful end of year Tourney. Here are some of the positions that still need filling: * Bunny Station Volunteer – help run one of the stations for the Bunnies * Food Volunteer – help with lunch * Equipment Distributor – Hand out various equipment to the folks running the stations * Sound System Tech – set up the sound system, run music, and signal changing between stations
If you can help out with any of these positions, please let Head Hare Wilson know!
The Teck Coast Cup Races are fast approaching – although Rabbits are not in session that weekend, ALL Bunnies and Rabbits are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one of the days. The races are fun, short, inexpensive, and help our club work its way to winning the pennant! Look for the registration and race notice links above.
As the season is ending, please consider becoming the new Head Hare!! I am willing to work in tandem with someone next year so the transition is seamless, and painless. Strong ski skills are not necessary to take on this role, as anyone who knows Alix Wilson can attest to (The editorial staff disagrees and thinks Alix Wilson is brilliant!). Enthusiasm, and a few basic computer skills is all it takes! Please email Alix if you are interested – she’d be happy to answer any questions! Alixheadharewilson@gmail.com
Attention: anyone coaching now or interested in coaching Rabbits next year–we have 4 more technique refreshers on Saturday and Sunday mornings before Jack Rabbits start. We will meet in the Stadium between 9:15am and 9:45am on Sat/Sun March 2nd/3rd for classic and Sat/Sun March16th/17th for skate.
Anyone interested in learning more about coaching is welcome to attend! It does not matter what your skill level is or whether you only classic or skate, enthusiasm is the only requirement.
Best wishes to our Devo team and support crew as they head off to Revelstoke for the BC Midget Championships. Ski fast and have fun! Go team!!
The Devo team is travelling all the way to Revelstoke for the BC Midget Championships this weekend. photo: Laura Johnston
There is only one day remaining to get yourself a nice club jacket at an amazing price! This Helly Hansen Verglas Down Insulator jacket is a fundraiser for the racing team. Purchase price is a 40% discount from the retail cost and 100% of the proceeds will go to fund the SNSC Racing Team who are representing our club at the National Championships. Buy a nice jacket, support young SNSC Racers!
Buy a nice club jacket, support young racers!
Orders will be taken until March 1st (with a 50% deposit). Delivery will be early September.
Cost is $175 including taxes. Cost includes stitching of SNSC logo on right chest and “Strathcona Nordics” on the back. Color is RED.
Use the order form and contact Tim McGrady tim@mcgrady.ca 250 897 6412 . See more about the jacket online at hellyhansen.com.
On Saturday, March 9, our club is hosting an apres-race potluck in the Mountain Centre! All race volunteers, participants, and their families are welcome to attend–and as the host club, we are providing the potluck goodies:
As the event hosts, we need many helping hands. You can choose from set-up, clean up, and greeting attendees duties!
Please sign up for a job by contacting Lynn with your preference. lswiftys@gmail.com
from Andrew Pape-Salmon
A backcountry day trip was held on February 17th with great success. The weather threatened crusty snow but Peter Ravensbergen guided the group of eight along a creek drainage to minimize the time through crusty forest snow. The trip was co-sponsored by the Alpine Club of Canada Vancouver Island Section. The route included a gentle approach, an ascent up a ramp, and a steep final approach to the summit of Mount Brooks (elevation: 1,500m), offering many panoramic views of Mountains Albert Edward, Jutland, Regan, Alexandra, Washington and even Comox Glacier! The descent included some 40° slopes with heavy powder and some great glade skiing.
Backcountry adventurers enjoyed an awesome trip to Mount Brooks. photo: Andrew Pape-Salmon
If you are looking for the Timed Ski results, you can use this link.
The Timed Ski race was race #4 in the Strathcona Nordic Cup series. As you know, for every home race that you enter this season, you get a point in the series. We have the latest tally at this link.
If you have missed a few, not to worry! There are still 4 races remaining, and if you ski in both Teck Coast Cup races, you can get 2 additional bonus points. You can also join in the races, just for the fun of it! Read more about the series here.
The Vancouver Island Biathlon would like to invite all Strathcona Nordics ages 11 and up to participate in their fun, spring relay race.
They say, “Ever wanted to try a biathlon race?No experience? No problem! Our instructors are available to help you get started or to perfect your skills.”
Saturday, March 23, 2013 09.00 – 10.45: Practice & Safety Training 11.00: Start 13.30: Awards
Please note, the deadline for entry is 12 noon, 21 March, 2013; ages 11 and up For more information, contact Pat at vibiathlonclub@gmail.com
Be inspired by the Vasaloppet, find your inner Swede and join the loppet tradition as a skier or volunteer in the Vancouver Island Loppet on April 13!
It’s loppet season, and the word loppet literally means “long haul” in Swedish. Most cross-country ski communities follow the Nordic tradition of hosting an annual long distance ski event. Last weekend, we had club members participating in loppets across the country from the Payak in Whistler Olympic Park to the Gatineau Loppet in the Ottawa area.
Many club members skied in the Payak in Whistler Olympic Park. The Payak saw the entire Brown-Stocks family enjoy great results all around, with Andy Brown and Alex Brown each winning their categories in the gruelling 50km event. Elliot Holtham came second overall in the 50km with a blistering time of 2:27:25, just a boot slide behind the grand winner! Anita Holtham also enjoyed fantastic results and came 4th overall in the women’s 50km. Tanya Austin put in a great showing in the 30km and Doug Rose came second in his category. In highlights of the 15km event, Rick Morson finished third in his category, Brian Stamp came in first in his category, Chris Bowlby finished 2nd, and Marilyn Atkinson came first in her category (without using any poles!).
Of the 55km Gatineau Loppet, which is listed in the international loppet series, Freya Wasteneys says, “It was a beautiful day, I found a good rythym and enjoyed being out there. The last kms were the toughest, and I was pretty delirious at the finish line but also very happy!” Freya was the youngest female in the 55km race and first in her category. Way to go, Freya!
Club president Len Apedaile is currently in Sweden on FIS (- International Ski Federation) business, and he will take in the Vasaloppet next week. The Vasaloppet is the world’s largest and longest loppet with participants numbering at 40,000(!) and many of the participants race the 90km distance.
Have you ever been in the “Birkie” or the “Hoppet” or another loppet? Tell us about it! info@StrathconaNordics.com
The 31st annual Vancouver Island Loppet takes place on April 13 in our ski area. Consider taking part as a skier or as a volunteer or both!
How to prepare for a loppet? We have Coach Dave’s tips for you on how to prepare to ski a loppet, so you can have optimal fun during the event. Click the link here.
If you want to join in the end-of-season fun as a volunteer, there are many roles to fill! Perhaps you want to be the Feed Station Coordinator this year? This is a deeply satisfying volunteer role with much support from the club & Mount Washington Nordic and with many grateful feed station patrons during the event. Contact Susan dennydreher88@gmail.com
The exciting National cross-country ski championships are coming up soon in Whistler Olympic Park, March 22 to 30. Volunteering is a great was to be a part of this event. Our club will have a team of over 30 skiers participating, and there will be over 650 skiers from across Canada vying for National honours. During that week, there is also the rare opportunity to also see some live ski jumping at the same venue!
The organizing committee together with Whistler Olympic Park are offering a volunteer incentive program where you will earn reward vouchers for a variety of products and services, including retail items, ski waxing, lessons and trail passes at Whistler Olympic Park. These are transferable (to share with family and friends) and will be distributed in advance of the event based on the number of days you sign up to volunteer.
To register as a volunteer for the event or for more information please visit the volunteer section at the Nationals website.
Team looking for racer - We are a mixed master team, semi-competitive. We have placed in the medals the past two years, but we are also a very fun and lighthearted team. We need a female cross-country skier, 30-50 years old. Contact Marco # 250-334-7390 or marcospadafora@hotmail.com
