Autumn is fast approaching, as is the new ski season. Remember, if you are purchasing a Mount Washington nordic season’s pass, their earlybird pricing ends on September 30! We have more important dates for you below.

Registration

Registration opens for Strathcona Nordics programs on October 1. You can register online on Zone 4or use the Register button that will appear on the club website on October 1. For program information and pricing visit Programs page. Note: HST will be added to program prices when you register.

Rabbits heading off for a snowy adventure. Photo courtesy Andrew Pape-Salmon

Swap & AGM

On Saturday, October 29, we’ll be holding our annual Cross-Country Gear Swap and SNSC Annual General Meeting (AGM). We are currently making the schedule for the day, and we’ll have details for you soon. At the AGM, we’ll be voting in a new Board of Directors. If you have a few hours to spare each month and you would like to help the club, contact us about joining the Board! info@StrathconaNordics.com

Run/hike

Are you ready for the long one? Run/hike the cross-over this Saturday, September 17! It’s approximately 26 km from the old Forbidden Plateau ski lodge to the Raven Lodge at Mount Washington. Meet at 10am at Starbucks in Courtenay to carpool. Be ready for a long run/hike at a moderate pace. Dress for the weather. Bring adequate hydration and snacks. Contact info@StrathconaNordics.com if you have any questions.

Coaches and aspiring coaches

Here are some opportunities to add to your skills and knowledge and to join the ranks of talented volunteer coaches nationwide:

• Important Coaches Meeting — Sunday, October 16, 10am-12pm at Queneesh Elementary in Courtenay
• Waxing clinic — at the Swap on Saturday, October 29
• Learn to Train (Dryland) Workshop — part 1 of the Level 1 coaching course on November 4 (evening), 5 (day), and 6 (day) (ICC and CC are prerequisites)
• Introduction to Community Coaching (ICC) Workshop — November 18 (evening) and 19 (day)
• Community Coaching (CC) Workshop — December 9 (evening), December 10 (day), and December 11 (day) (ICC is a prerequisite)
• Coaching refresher for new or returning coaches — December 17-18, refresh your skills on snow and learn some new tricks with Coach Dave
• Learn to Train (On Snow) Workshop — part 2 of the Level 1 coaching course on January 6 (evening), 7 (day), and 8 (day) (ICC and CC, L2T Dryland are prerequisites)

The dryland courses will take place in Courtenay and the on snow components will be on Mount Washington. More details soon. Contact Alix to register. alibedali@shaw.ca

For information about NCCP coaching courses, visit the CCC website. You can also contact our Head Coach Dave Battison battd@shaw.ca. Coaches Dave, Tim, and Berend will be holding a coaches meeting in early October. Watch for details soon!

Official workshop

The SNSC is pleased to offer a Level 1 Race Official workshop in Courtenay on November 5 and 6. This is a great opportunity to become a nationally certified Level 1 race official!

Here is the course description from Cross Country Canada, “This is a 10 hour course that provides an overview of what a cross country ski competition is all about.  The focus is on the duties of minor officials for both Olympic Style (individual start, mass start, pursuit start, relay start and sprints) and Loppet Style (mass participation) competitions.” Contact us to register info@StrathconaNordics.com

Attention shoppers

If you shop at Thrifty Foods, contact Berend to pick up an SNSC smile card. At no extra cost to you, Thrifty’s will donate 5% of your purchase to our ski club uniform program and help our racers represent our club and island as they travel across the province and nation. bhenckel@telus.net

BC Winter Games

Were you born in 1997 or 1998? If so, you are eligible for the BC Winter Games in 2012! On December 31, we will hold our Winter Games Trial Race on Mount Washington. Skiers must participate in the trial race in order to qualify. At least 8 skiers from our zone (Vancouver Island) can take part in the cross-country skiing events and festivities.

On February 23-36, the Vancouver Island team will join other skiers of the same ages from communities throughout BC for a weekend of cross-country skiing competition and fun in Vernon! Contact Marilyn for more information. marilyna@shaw.ca

Check the Calendar for this weekend’s all-club events. Enjoy this last blast of summer, and stay hydrated!

Details on registration and fall events coming next week!

September is here! We hope everyone has a chance to get outside and enjoy the lovely weather in the forecast this weekend. Also remember, you only have until September 30 to buy a Mount Washington nordic season’s trail pass at earlybird rates.

Smile!

Do you shop at Thrifty Foods? If so, you can now raise money for the ski club every time you buy groceries. Contact Berend Henckel to pick up a SNSC/Thrifty Foods Smile Card. You can load up your Smile Card at Thrifty Foods with as much money as you want and reload the card when it runs out. Every time you use your SNSC Smile Card, Thrifty Foods will donate 5% of the value of the purchase to our ski club. The money will go towards the new ski club uniform program. Visit the Thrifty Foods website to learn more, or contact Berend with your questions or to pick up a card! bhenckel@telus.net/250-703-4571

Roll!

Everyone is welcome to a roller ski training session this Saturday, September 3! We’ll be using the Royston loop. Meet at 10am at the end of Cameron Road in Royston. We’ll be working on technique and preparing for Tuesday’s time trial! Even though there isn’t much traffic on this road, remember that reflective safety vests are mandatory–along with helmets of course.

You can find a video if you visit the July pages. Contact info@strathconanordics.com for more information.

Watch!

If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to scroll down to the August 8 news post to view the beautiful video that was shot on the Mount Washington nordic trails by xczone.tv Look for Snowpocalypse Now.

Happy long weekend everyone!

We hope everyone is enjoying this final month of summer. Fall is approaching quickly, so if you are thinking about the upcoming ski season, Mount Washington nordic season passes are on sale for winter 2012. Note: Their earlybird prices are only in effect until September 30!

We’ll be opening our program registration in early October. Watch for website updates over the next couple of weeks. Additionally, your club needs you! If you can spare a few hours this fall and winter, contact us to choose from a variety of volunteer jobs! info@StrathconaNordics.com

In a blur of activity, the Junior Racing Team work hard at a recent plyometric training session.

All-club Run/Hikes

This Sunday, August 28, join your fellow club members on a run/hike at Nymph Falls Park in Courtenay. Meet at 10am in the Nymph Falls parking lot to explore the trails along the Puntledge River. Be ready for approximately 2-3 hours of activity. Dress for the weather and bring your own hydration.

Labour weekend, we hope enough snow will have melted, so we can take our run/hikes into the mountains! Look for updates next week.

We have a change in the schedule for this weekend’s all-club run/hike. Due to snow (still!), we will not be doing the cross-over from Forbidden Plateau to Raven Lodge this weekend. Instead, we’ll run and hike in the Snowdon Forest in Campbell River.

Sunday, August 21

• Meet at the Elk Falls logging road bridge at 10 am sharp
• Join the hiking group or the faster running group
• Be ready for 2 – 2.5 hours of running or hiking
• Dress for the weather
• Bring your own hydration

Hope to see you there!

A beautiful video from the folks at xczone.tv!

Check out our August activity schedule below!

We hope everyone is enjoying this lovely summer weather! Please make note of the following all-club run/hikes and roller ski workouts:

• Tuesday, August 9 – Roller ski up the Strathcona Parkway – 9am start at the first pull-out on the Parkway as you turn off the highway
• Sunday, August 14 – Run/hike Mount Becher – 10am start at the old Forbidden Plateau ski lodge parking lot, ready for 2-4 hours of running or hiking
• Tuesday, August 16 – Roller ski up the Strathcona Parkway – 9am start at the first pull-out on the Parkway as you turn off the highway
• Saturday, August 20 – Up-hill roller ski Time Trial (Strathcona Parkway) - 9am start at the first pull-out on the Parkway as you turn off the highway
• Sunday, August 21 – Cross Over (Forbidden Plateau – Raven Lodge) run/hike – meet at Starbucks in Courtenay (for carpooling) at 9am prepared for a full day of running/hiking in the mountains

Note: Along with helmets, reflective safety vests/shirts are mandatory for all roller ski workouts and time trials. They are available at Canadian Tire, stores that sell running gear, and work supply stores.

Remember to dress for the weather and stay well-hyrdrated! Hope to see you there.

For more information, contact info@StrathconaNordics.com.  Happy Summer!

Join us this weekend for roller skiing and hiking!

• Saturday, August 6 – Nymph Falls Park, roller ski, technique, 10 am
• Sunday, August 7 – Raven Lodge, run/hike, 10 am

Remember to dress for the weather and bring your own hydration and snack. Be ready on both days for approximately 1.5 and 2.5 hours of physical activity.

Check out our mini video from last Sunday’s time trial – below!

SNSC Update — July 27, 2011

Come roller skiing with your fellow club members! Bring your roller skis or roller skates along with a helmet and roller ski poles to the workouts listed below. Bring a reflective vest as well if you have one.

• Thursday, July 28 at 7pm in Royston*, technique work
• Saturday, July 30 at 10am at Nymph Falls/Forbidden Plateau Rd, technique work
• Sunday, July 31 at 9am in Royston*, time trial

You may ask, “Why a time trial?” Coach Dave says that it’s good to keep racing to stay on top of your game and to keep challenging yourself. This time trial will be the first in our summer series.

In Royston, we’ll meet at the end of Cameron Road:

1. From the lights in downtown Royston, turn uphill (away from the water) on Royston Road.
2. After about 500metres, take the first left turn after the train tracks onto Cameron Road — it doesn’t look like much of a road, but it will open out into a new subdivision.
3. Keep going straight to the end of the road and park there.

Watch for more run/hikes coming soon! Happy long weekend to everyone!