Feb. 27 and 28 update: skiathon, ski waxing, stroopwafels, lessons, rental shed

Hi skiers!

To fill you in on what's in the works for this coming weekend, February 27 and 28, read on! You probably know by now that the club wants to purchase a new grooming machine, a Can-Am Outlander tracked quad, to replace the 30 year old Yamaha snowmobile, which is starting to falter after all these years of service to the club. Fundraising--that's where you skiers come in. This weekend has many opportunities to help with this project: Skiathon-Marathon, with a flavor of chocolate and prizes. Grab a pledge sheet (link below), coax some cash out of a family member's or co-worker's pocket, and challenge yourself to your longest ski this season! Because we can't gather at the start line as in years past in our annual Moose Marathon, you can do your ski anytime this weekend, Saturday and/or Sunday. And you can ski any trail you want. Keep track of your kilometers to submit with your pledge sheets. Club challenge: $2000 and 2000 km! (With over 700 members, that's only $3 and 3 km each.) If you want to claim your chocolate bar for participating, you have to return to the stadium between noon and 4:00 pm on either day, that's when the volunteers will have them available. And there will be prizes: Youngest skier Oldest skier Child/youth (18 and under) who raises the most money in pledges Adult (19+) who raises the most money in pledges Couple who raises the most money in pledges Kids (age 0-6) farthest distance in km Kids (age 7-12) farthest distance in km Youth (age 13-18) farthest distance in km Female (age 19+) farthest distance in km Male (age 19+) farthest distance in km 50+ (male or female) farthest distance in km The prizes have been donated by Wild Bike, Sherwood Brewhouse, All Star Shoes, and McBike & Sport (Smithers). Give those businesses a virtual high-five when you can! Pledge sheets and money can be turned in on your chosen skiathon day, to Liz or Cathy or the rental shed volunteers, OR the pledges sheets and money can be dropped in the day pass locked box, OR the pledge sheets can be mailed in (with a cheque), OR the pledge sheets can be scanned and sent to us with an accompanying e-transfer. You have one week to get everything back to us and prizes will be announced on Saturday, March 6. Another fundraising venture: ski waxing, $10/pair. Get some glide back on your skis, and help the fundraising efforts at the same time. Gabe will set up shop around 11 a.m. on Saturday. And last, 500 homemade Dutch stroopwafels! $10 for a bag of 10. A real treat for everyone! Again, all proceeds are directed to the new quad. There will be a table set up in the stadium (in front of the lodge) from noon til 4 p.m.

And as usual, the rental shed will be open Saturday 10-4, Sunday 11-4. The recent CCBC survey (that many of you have participated in) has indicated a request/need for adult lessons. This is somewhat baffling. Our instructors have been there every Saturday, but we aren't seeing the lesson-seekers in great numbers! The ski season is still strong: challenge yourself to a lesson before the instructors get tired of waiting for you! Saturdays at 1 p.m. Instruction fee is $20. Email snowvalleynordic@gmail.com to book a lesson, in both classic and skate technique.

That's about it for now. We do need a few volunteers to dispense chocolate bars to skiathon athletes on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Contact Liz (ejthorne@telus.net) or Cathy (snowvalleynordic@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

February 2021 Newsletter

Hey skiers!

This is how Liz's newsletter begins:

Hello Everyone! What an amazing year we are having! Nice dry, squeaky snow and almost daily grooming....

And then it continues:

...This is what I so love about this Club.....Thank you so much....waxing skis for $10 a pair to contribute to the fund on Saturday, February 20......We have 6 instructors on hand, and they will be instructing 3 different lessons....Ski-a-thon Marathon! It will be held Feb. 27 and 28, with no mass start or official timing. Go to the link....we’ll be selling Stroopwafels......And remember to put the lid down when finished....how you came to skiing and how we can keep you involved after this very unusual year....please email us as soon as possible so we can figure out how and why it happened....A big thank you to.....It’s a great deal... ...Think Snow, Everyone!

You will have to click on this newsletter link to read the whole thing! (And it's so totally worth it.)

And the pledge sheet and info sheet for the Skiathon/Marathon on Feb. 27-28 is here.

What's Happening out at Onion Lake? And....do you want to buy a Snow Valley Nordics hoodie?

What a month January has been! Amazing ski conditions, mild weather, and lots of people getting out to the trails! This is a brief update and opportunity:

Ski North gear now available:

Some of you may have seen ski club members wearing hoodies with a Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club logo on the front and the locally-designed Ski North logo on the back. We have once again been offered the opportunity to order items with these logos. Hoodies, base layers, toques, and trucker caps are all available, from Smokescreen Graphics (Smithers) through their online store: https://stores.inksoft.com/ski_north_cross_country_team/shop/home

All orders must be placed by February 8th at midnight.

Please note: to order items with both Snow Valley and Ski North logos (hoodies and base layers), click on the Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club. To order toques and trucker caps, or other items with only the Ski North logo), stay on the main page and scroll down to see all the options. There will be no shipping charges as all Snow Valley Nordics items will be brought to Terrace/Kitimat and distributed by club members. Email Amy (SVNSC coach) if you have any questions: amyklepetar98@yahoo.com

Adult Lessons:

Every Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., for beginner to intermediate skiers, in both classic and skate technique. Email Cathy (snowvalleynordic@gmail.com) to sign up. Pre-registration is required due to limited group size in this COVID winter. The fee is $20 per person for instruction; day fees and rental fees are extra if required.

Rental Shed Hours:

Thursdays 3:30 to 9:00 p.m. (no gear will be rented out after 7:30)

Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Adult Ski Fit:

Thursdays at 7:00. Come learn new skills and improve your fitness at the same time! Led by CANSI instructors. No need to book ahead, just show up to ski!