Nordic Notes

By: Kathie Bonner-Harris

January 28, 2002

On Thursday, January 31st, Alf Parsons will be holding an evening waxing clinic. The clinic will start at 8pm and will cost $5.00 with the money going to the Junior Development program. With the Loppet fast approaching this would be a great time to get some waxing tips to help make Loppet day more enjoyable. .

You should have a big red circle around March 9th on your calendar and should be well into your training schedule for the Loppet. The Loppet office is open at the Mall and Joanne Goulding will be happy to answer all your Loppet questions. We are sharing office space with the Come Home Year group and are located right next to IGA. Everyone who registers for the loppet, any age, any distance, will have there name put in a ballot box for a chance to win a trip for two with Air Nova anywhere in Atlantic Canada. If you register on or before February 16th your name will go in any draw for the early bird prize. For junior skiers in the 10kilometer distance there will be a special draw for a junior ski package. This is open for skiers who are 15years and under in the 10 km distance only. Lots of chances to win and lots of fun.

On Monday, January 28th, we are planning a moonlight ski under the full moon. Meet at the chalet at 8pm and go for a ski under the stars. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Want to challenge yourself? Drop up to the chalet any Sunday before 1pm and join the group for a time trial. They are open to all skiers no matter what your skiing ability. The younger skiers generally do a shorter distance but if you feel a shorter distance would be enough for you then do that distance also. It's a terrific way to see how well you ski and to give yourself that little extra push. we all need that once in awhile.

The grade 5 ski program will be starting this week with each class having three cross country ski session over the next few weeks. The classes come up to the trails where they are taught the basics techniques of cross country skiing in small group settings. This year we are also hoping to have a few classes of high school students come to the ski club for cross country instruction.

Presently we have several groups of skiers in training for upcoming ski events. Jessica Corbett will be taking part in the Atlantic Championships in Prince Edward Island , while her sister Stephanie Corbett, will be heading to Canmore, Alberta, as part of the Provincial team for the Junior Nationals. We have skiers going to the Winter Games in Gander, the Provincial Masters in Stephenville and the Provincials in Corner Brook. Alf Parsons has been training hard and will travel to Val Cartier, Quebec, to compete in the World Masters Championships.

By late January construction will have started on this year's ice sculpture. Greg Daigle ,with help from family members and friends ,will be building an ice palace at the far end of the parking lot. It has been many months in the planning and should prove to be quite an attraction. The palace will be called Arctic Mirage and will be open to the public at a date to be announced later. Be sure and come check it out as it should prove to be spectacular.

Please be sure to display your ski tags when using the trails and ski safely.

See you on the trails.