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.