Welcome to the 2010 season!
To all Strathcona Nordic Ski Club members,
While the summer weather has been sublime, anyone who saw the first dusting of snow on the Beaufort’s felt their pulse quicken last week. The Club Directors have been meeting and planning and program organizers are strategizing in advance of what is sure to be an eventful and exciting season for our club.
This year we are offering two new programs, a Learn-to-Loppet for adults and a recreational program for young skiers who have completed the Rabbits program and want to continue skiing in a group setting. Several of our Junior Racers have set high goals through their summer training with head Coach Dave Battison, and it will be exciting to watch them race for the club this season. This winter is a BC Winter Games year, and Devo Coach Marilyn Atkinson will be taking eight 13-14 year old skiers to Terrace in March to represent the Vancouver Island region in that competition. And of course the excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will culminate in this season’s events in Vancouver and Whistler. Bear in mind that Mt. Washington has several international teams coming to train pre-Games this season, giving us a chance to see up close some of the world’s finest athletes in final preparation for the Games in our own back yard. And our very own Racing Director, Rob Trainor, will be an official Torchbearer in the Olympic Torch Relay on November 2nd.
Regrettably the club has taken a hit financially with recent provincial cutbacks, as described by our treasurer below. This will effect membership and program fees which we have always attempted to keep as low as possible. As always we are organizing our Club AGM and Ski Swap this Fall, at which you can learn more about the upcoming season, this year on Sunday November 1st (more info below). We hope to see you there and here’s looking forward to a great season of skiing!
Rob Grantham
Club VP
A message from our Club Treasurer
Unfortunately the downturn in the global economy is also affecting the budget of the Strathcona Nordics Ski Club. For the past five years, we have funded our Club Head Coach primarily from various government grants. As many of you may have read recently in local papers, because of reduced provincial revenue, monies garnered from BC Lottery are now being used to fund poverty-related concerns, and all B.C. not-for-profit sports groups, and school sports have had this gaming funding severely reduced or removed. This year SNSC received about 1/3 of our past gaming funding, and although we increased some grants from other sources, SNSC is projecting a shortfall of about ~$11,000. We are attempting to raise these funds by: increasing program fees, introducing a new program, and conducting general fund raising projects. Your support would be appreciated to keep the SNSC a robust club, having a highly qualified head coach.
Thank you,
Georgina Price
SNSC treasurer
Club and program registration
Club and Program Registration will be starting soon on Zone 4. Stay tuned, we will let you know when it is up and running. We are also in the process of redoing our website and adding a few more features.
New in 2010:
Learn To Loppet
The Learn To Loppet course is for people that have never been in a Loppet before, or are looking to improve their experience.
It will be five on-snow sessions, likely on Thursday nights (exact schedule tbd) leading up to the March 27th Loppet. Topics covered will be technique, course management, including warm up and start, proper nutrition and hydration, ski preparation and selection. Each session will consist of at least one hour on snow training and 45 minutes of in-lodge work. It will start at 6:30 pm at Raven Lodge.
The coach will be Rick Morson, our Club Sponsorship and Fundraising Director who is also a Level 2 certified coach, with Head Coach Dave Battison making guest appearances. The cost is $99.00 which includes the Loppet entry fee; participants are responsible for their own trail fees.
Powder Pack
This program is for skiers who have graduated from the Rabbit Program and wish to continue to spend their Sunday’s skiing and improving their skills with friends. Fun and social skiing are the main focus, while exploring the mountain trails. The program members will decide what the challenge of the ski will be. The program will run Sunday’s, 10:00 to 12:00.
Annual AGM and ski swap
The Strathcona Nordics annual ski swap and AGM will be held on Sunday November 1st this year. If you are looking for used equipment or wanting to sell some this is the time to do it! AS a bonus you get to socialize with your ski buddies, eat lunch AND attend the AGM !! So mark Nov 1st on your calendar and come and talk skiing! Venue is Queneesh Elementary School (formerly Courtenay Middle School) 2345 Mission Road (near North Island College)
Schedule of events:
10:00 – 12:00 Equipment drop off
11.30 – 12.00 Lunch
12.00 – 2:00 (or earlier) AGM
2:00 – 4:00 ski swap
4.30 pick up unsold equipment
Setup on Saturday Oct 31st 10-12.30
People attending the AGM get to go first into the ski swap!
Equipment should be in reasonable condition, and includes skis, boots, poles, and clothing.
There will also be a drop off on Saturday Oct 31 10.30 to 12.00.
Volunteers are needed to help with the ski swap, so please signup! People are needed for the following:
Setup on Saturday Oct 31st 10-12.30
Finishing set up – Sunday 1st 8.30 – 9.30am
Receiving and tagging equipment – 10-12
Making a large amount of food (has been veggie chili in past ) for lunch
Preparation of lunch at the venue and serving 10.30 – 12.00
Helping at ski Swap 2-4pm
Helping clear up 4-5pm
Junior racers and Devos are asked to please bring baked goods – always a popular item!
If you can help please call Sue Bloxsome at 250 334 3267, or email sueblox@live.com
The Devo program is a developmental group for keen skiers in the 10-14 age range and is presented in a fun format. We focus this group on skiing, ski technique development, and as an introduction to racing. We present the idea of racing as a personal challenge, helping young skiers to see the steps involved in preparing for a race.
In the fall we are having group dryland training after school on Wednesday afternoons, and we participate in weekend all-club hikes or workouts that are planned. Dryland activities include light run sessions, games, with strength and balance exercises. In the winter we ski after school on Wednesdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Devo Dryland Training has started! Anyone who thinks they may be interested in the Devo program can join us for some fun active sessions this fall. This year we are holding dryland training sessions after school on Wednesdays 4:00 to 5:30 at the Vanier track in Courtenay. Please contact us to discuss your childs participation.
If you have any questions please contact Marilyn at 338-9345 or reply to marilyna@shaw.ca
BC Winter Games
Terrace, BC March 4-7 2010
Were you born in 1995 or 1996? If so you are eligible to try out for the BC Winter Games in 2010! The trial race for the Vancouver Island Zone is on Saturday January 2nd. Mark your calendar for the dates of the trial race and the Games. Join other skiers your age from communities throughout British Columbia for a weekend of cross-country skiing competition and fun. There will be 8 zones represented – Kootenay, Okanagan, Lower Mainland (3), Vancouver Island, Northwest and Northeast. At least 8 skiers from YOUR zone can take part in the cross-country skiing events, and possibly more. You can find our more about cross-country skiing and the BC Winter Games by visiting the CCBC website at: http://www.crosscountrybc.ca/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=2634.
The cross-country ski events at the Games will include:
Interval Start Race: 15 second intervals, classic technique, 3.5k (Midgets) & 5k (Juveniles)
Individual Sprint Race: free technique, distance TBD
Zone Relays: 2 guys, 2 girls, mixed techniques, combined age categories, 4 x 2.0k
For further information about YOU and the Games contact Marilyn Atkinson 250-338-9345, marilyna@shaw.ca .
Congratulations to Andrea Lee
Andrea Lee has been selected by Cross Country Canada to be a member of the cross country skiing forerunner teams for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Forerunners will have the important job of pre-skiing the competition course prior to each Cross Country and Nordic Combined event. Their task ensures that the ski course is skied in and fair for all competitors.
Learn to Train coaching course
It is time to sign up for the Dryland component of the Learn to Train Coaching Course. The L2T (Dryland) (16 hrs) program is the third step in the L2T progression. This workshop provides essential training for coaches delivering a well-rounded sport program with a skill development emphasis to children ten to twelve years of age. The course runs November 13 to 15th. For more information contact: Tim McGrady at: tim.mcgrady@gmail.com
Dessert Party for the 850Race Team
Most people said it couldn’t be done but our own “Coach Dave” Battison and Brian Culbert recently accomplished the “impossible” physical feat of running 600 kms in six days, supported by local physiotherapist Eddy Betinol.
Come out to a Dessert Party on Friday October 16th to hear their incredible story, and how the 850Race Team raised over $110,000 in support of HealthyKids International’s Global Child Health Program, a SickKids initiative designed to improve children’s health in Sub-Saharan Africa. Check out their website www.the850race.com . The Dessert Night on Friday, October 16th at 7pm at Queneesh Elementary School will feature some delicious desserts and coffee or tea for $10 per person, $30 per family, with all proceeds going to help achieve their fundraising goals. RSVP to marilyna@shaw.ca .
Racing licence tips
All skiers competing in the National Championships are required to have a current CCC Racing Licence.
Skiers are encouraged to purchase a licence before the start of the season, so that the results of all the sanctioned races they compete in this season will be reflected on the Canada Points List (CPL). The CPL is used for provincial and national team selections, eligibility for CSC PacificSport Athlete Carding, etc.
CCC Racing Licences are available online: http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=669&lan=0
Use the following link to generate a report of all competitors who have paid for a CCC Racing License to date: http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=reg&id=4&lan=0.
For more information about each type of licence see the following:
1. FIS Licence:
An FIS Licence is required in order to compete in internationally sanctioned competitions such as the World Cup or World Championships. It is also required in order to compete in the “open category” at the Nor Ams and be eligible for FIS points. Available only to CCC Racing Licence holders. This licence is issued through the National Office. For more information click on: http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=2985&lan=0.
2. CCC Racing Licence:
A CCC Racing Licence is required in order to purchase a FIS Licence and/or compete in a nationally sanctioned competition such as the National Championships, Canada Winter Games or the open category at the Nor Ams.
It is optional for the BC Cup Series (excluding the BC Championship relays, which do not require a licence), Western Canadian Championships and other CPL competitions. However, it is required for these competitions if the skier wishes to receive the full benefits associated with them – for example preferred seeding and eligibility for the CPL.
The licence is issued through the National Office for a $55.00 charge for skiers born in 1990 or after, and $65.00 for skiers born in 1989 or before. Applicants must be a member of a CCC/CCBC club, and a club signing authority must endorse the application.
This requirement is for individuals competing in the Juvenile age class and older. Skiers competing in the Midget age class and below who are members in good standing with a CCC/CCBC club do not require a CCC Racing Licence. However race organizers are responsible for ensuring these younger participants are members in good standing with a CCC/CCBC club.
3. CCC Day Licence:
A CCC Day Licence (also called a CCC Supporting Member Day Licence or SMDL) confers upon the holder competition-day eligibility to compete in a CCC sanctioned competitions such as the Western Canadian Championships, BC Cup Series and other CPL competitions. This licence is valid only for the competition for which it is issued. CCC Day Licence holders do not get preferred seeding and are not eligible to have their race results included on the CPL.
Note this requirement is for individuals competing in the Juvenile age class and older. Skiers competing in the Midget age class and below who are members in good standing with a CCC/CCBC club do not require a day licence. However race organizers are responsible for ensuring these younger participants are members in good standing with a CCC/CCBC club.
Day Licences are sold to race organizers by the CCBC Office. Skiers obtain them from the race organizer as part of event/competition registration.
