Well hello everyone, and what do you think of our record-breaking snow year so far?  It always amazes me how much of the white stuff can pile up, and there's still more coming down!  The grooming pace has been frantic and the groomers are about ready to drop.  So say a big thank you to Lothar Mueller, Dean Bergstrom and Anthony Van der Muellen if you see them.  They all have full time jobs and do our grooming in their spare time.

I would like to announce here that Cliff Doiron has retired as head groomer.  Cliff has been doing this job since we opened our Onion Lake trails 20 years ago.  In all kinds of weather, at all times of the day or night, Cliff was out there, plowing through blizzards or touching up with the ginzu.  Many times he groomed all night before a race because it was snowing and that was the only way to keep the tracks set.  One year he groomed 3 inches of ice into a usable marathon trail.  Two years ago, for the Winter Games, it was his canny stock-piling of snow that meant we had excellent trails to show off to the province, and not a series of mud holes.

 
Cliff has also spent countless hours working on the trails in the summer.  He's brushed many sections of trail by hand using a chain saw and hand shears. He's used machinery to smooth corners and hills, always working to make the trails safer and more enjoyable for people to ski on.  And you know something?  Cliff isn't a skier.  He likes to drive machinery, and we did coax him out for the first few years, but he's never done it much.  He likes playing with the big toys and he believes in volunteering and making his community a better place.  He doesn't talk about it much, he just does it.  I've thanked him before but I'm going to do it again.  This Club would be a very different place without his contribution and we're going to miss  his amazing work ethic and his sense of humour.
I just reread this and it sounds like an obituary so I'd like to assure everyone that he's just retiring, not dying!  Maybe we can get him out skiing now.  How about it, Cliff?

The Snow Valley Open race on Saturday was a big success.  (Photos are up on the website!)  I was truly impressed by the number of people who came out it what looked like a blizzard in Terrace and a monsoon in Kitimat.  It was heavy snow at the trails, but we had a race and 57 skiers competed!  Well done, everyone!  Thanks go to Lothar Mueller for grooming 3 nights straight and Dean Bergstrom for doing it all again starting at 6 am on Sat. morning.  Travis Carter and the timing team and Adrienne Vandenberg for results and getting us all organized as race secretary.  There were others:  Nick Dahler answered a last minute call to put the signs up and Ruth Mueller and Dennis Horwood also slid in late to do the starting.  Are you seeing a pattern here?
We didn't have a Chief of Race.  We didn't have quite a few people til the last moment.  We need more and new people to get involved at the organizational level in the Club, and here's why.

2013 is going to be a year of change for the SVNSC. In January, Lothar and Ruth Mueller are going to retire and move south.  You all know what Lothar does, and Ruth has been involved in race organization and other administrative jobs (including a stint as treasurer) for many years.  That will leave a hole.

In July of 2013, Jim and I will be moving south as well.  So a new Prez is going to be essential.  Also a rental committee will be needed.  And in case you were thinking that I'm the only one in this family that does anything for the Club: who's going to shovel the deck after next year?  Who's going to fill the wood box? Light the fire?  Look after the security camera, shovel out the outhouses and do the announcing at races?  It won't be Jim.

So who's it going to be?  I'm going to be asking a lot of people to start filling these roles while we're all still here to train you.  We need a chief of race for the marathon in February.  It'' a very easy race to organize.  

Nick Dahler is looking for someone to show how to set up the signs for races -- it's easy.  You ride around on the snow mobile for an hour before and after the race.  If 2 people do it, it's even faster.  And you still have time to race!  

I need a secretary for the executive.  It's pretty easy.  One 2-hour meeting a month from Sept. to June:  take notes, write up and email the minutes and wait for the next meeting.  If you haven't done it before, I'll be happy to show you.  We're a fun bunch on the exec. and the Vandenberg girls make great cookies!
OK.  That's enough of that – think about it and be willing to give it a try.  Nordic skiing is a bit of a life style and so is keeping the Club going.  It's been a huge and very rewarding part of my life for 20 years and I strongly recommend it to anyone who loves the outdoors.

Coming Events:
Lessons for kids and adults continue on Saturday mornings and  Wednesday nights.  Adults, please email Cathy to sign up.

Wax Clinic:  Terry Brown will show you how to wax skis this Thursday, Feb 2 at 7 pm.

Women's Ski Fest:  Sunday, Feb. 12 is the all day, all women ski fest.  Lessons for all abilities and all techniques and lots of fun!  Email Cathy at the above address.  Registration forms  here or at the lodge.

The Snow Valley Marathon will be on Feb. 25.  (Don't tell anyone at Callaghan Valley though, they don’t want anyone else having a race on “their” day.)  The marathon is a great day for everyone.  There are several distances  from 1km (Bunnies and parents only) to 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40 km.  Pick a distance.  Then pick a style – classic or skate (it's your choice).  Then decide if you want to be competitive (you care what your time is) or just complete the distance.  It's a mass start and a chocolate bar for everyone who finishes.  Fun for everyone!  If anyone wants to learn how to do race results (computer skills needed) Adrienne will be happy to show you.

We'll also need 3 people to hand out drinks and cookies on the trails and 3 more to collect bibs and hand out hot drinks and chocolate bars at the finish line. Call me @ 632-6055 or send an email if you can help out.  I'd really like to ski this year so I'd really appreciate it!

I've heard many complaints about the weather this year and I've been thinking them as much as hearing them.  I've discovered, however, that I don't think them or hear them when I'm out on the trails.  What this reminds me is what I've known for a long time.  The weather is never as bad once you're out in it, as you think it is when you're looking out your window at it.

So the secret to winter survival is to get out and ski no matter what the weather.  It won't be as bad as you think.  And for quite a while after, you'll feel cheerful and rested.  (Thornes' secret cure for whatever ails you -- go skiing!)

So get out and ski, everyone!  Enjoy!

P.S.  A major avalanche has filled in the path to the woodshed.  If one person skis behind the lodge and passes wood through the window – it works.   :)

Liz Thorne  (da Prez)