Nordic Notes

By: Kathie Bonner-Harris

January 14, 2002

The Vellos Trail is now open for night skiing and is groomed for both classical and skating. A parking area is in place and a sign has been erected . There area beside the entrance to the Vellos Trail on Smokey Mountain Road is a No Parking area and those people parking there run the risk of being ticketed. Please use the parking area provided.

Last week I mentioned the upcoming Masters races and I gave the age for Masters as 35 and over. I stand corrected, the correct age for Masters is 30 years and over.

Membership sales are going well so far this season but we are always looking for more people to sign up. If you buy your membership between January 14th and February 14th you will have your name entered in our Sweetheart Draw and are eligible to win a new ski toque.

Our annual Provincial Fundraiser is now in full swing. The tickets feature about twenty different prizes giving you that many more chances to win. Tickets are three for $5.00 and can be purchased at the chalet or by calling the chalet for a list of sellers. Draw date for this fundraiser is March 9th.

On February 2nd and 3rd the ski club will be hosting a Level 1 Coaching clinic for about a dozen people from the Labrador coast. This is a continuation of a project started last November to teach coaching skills to people from Coastal Labrador so they can return to their own communities and start Jackrabbit programs. The clinic will be taught by Provincial Ski Team Coach Dudley Wheeler. This clinic is sponsored by the Provincial Government through Labrador Aboriginal and Provincial Affairs.

The Eastern Canada Cross Country Ski Championships are presently underway in Charlo, New Brunswick. The Menihek Nordic Ski Club has two young skiers taking part as members of the Provincial Ski Team. Jessica and Stephanie Corbett of Wabush are in Charlo and at present have taken part in one race with Jessica getting a fifth place finish and Stephanie taking gold in her age category. The girls will be racing in two more events before returning to Labrador West later in the week. I will have full race results for you next week.

The Great Labrador Loppet countdown is on with only eight weeks left before the starter's pistol fires. Get yourself in shape and plan to take part. We are looking forward to our Mall Loppet office opening soon . We will be sharing office space with the Come Home Week people so drop in and visit us in that location next to IGA.

The ski club is now renting snowshoes that can be used on the Around the Lake Trail or in the stadium area. These are the only trail areas that snowshoeing will be permitted. So if this is a sport you have considered trying we can provide the equipment for you. At present the club only has two pairs of snowshoes on hand, but if the demand is there we will be investing in more. Check it out.

Don't forget our Touring Program at the club. For a fee of $5.00 you can join and receive a log book to record your distance skied for the season. At the end of the season pass in your log book and receive a certificate of achievement. It's a great way to challenge yourself from season to season and to keep track of your accomplishments. Join with a ski buddy and see who skis the farthest.

See you on the trails.