Nordic Racers Ski Club:
The Leading Edge,
October 2000

President's Message

Hello everyone, welcome to the 2000/2001 ski season! I know it is still a while before the snow flies, but dryland training has begun and the Executive has been hard at work planning lots of activities for the upcoming season. The annual Wine & Cheese is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th at Sigge's. This is our big membership sign-up night, so be sure to attend.

Also on the schedule is the Silver Star Training Weekend; only registered members will be allowed to sign up, so if you can't attend the Wine & Cheese, then download the membership form from our web site and mail it to our address.

This is our first newsletter since the A.G.M., so everyone should please welcome the new executive listed in this newsletter. On behalf of the club, I wish to extend a very big thank you to Rachel Hutton who stepped down as secretary after many dedicated years. Also of note from the A.G.M. is that the membership voted to eliminate the club information phone line due to increased e-mail access and the Web site. Please feel free to contact any of the executive members directly with your comments, questions or concerns. This is also our first newsletter that will be distributed primarily via Internet. (Members without e-mail will receive a paper copy.) If we don't have your e-mail address, please give it to Julia McDonnell or myself.

We will be updating you regularly via e-mail and newsletters, so stay tuned for upcoming events. See you soon!!!

Cheers,

Teri

Club Events

Dryland Training

The first dryland training session will be held on Sunday, October 15th. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the western-most parking lot of Spanish Banks Beach (at the base of the big hill). The session will go until 3 p.m., and cost between $5 and $10.

Tim Bowstead will lead this first session. He's a registered massage therapist who's interested in training techniques and sport physiology. He is also a long-time cross-country ski racer who has racked up more than a few dryland kilometres.

This will not be a 5.5 hour workout, so do not worry. We will learn about dryland training techniques, stretching, etc., with a mix of activity and instruction.

Please come caffeinated and ready to start in running shoes, etc. Also bring the following:

• lots of extra clothes in case of bad weather
• a water bottle
• food and snacks
• cross-country ski poles (no higher than your shoulder)
• a heart-rate monitor or sports watch
• money

Dryland training will continue on the four following Sundays, with a wrap-up party cum ski-swap on November 12th; locations are to be announced. Please direct any questions to David McKee.

Wine & Cheese

Our annual social season-opener is to be held on Wednesday, November 8th, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at Sigge's Sport Villa, 2077 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver. Have any friends who might be interested in the Nordic Racers? Bring them along, and introduce them to our club!

Club Night

Sigge's is holding its Club Night the week after the Wine & Cheese, on Wednesday, November 15th, after 7:00 p.m. Nordic Racers members can get a 15% discount off regularly-priced equipment and clothing on this night only.

Silver Star Training Weekend

This year, condominiums have been reserved at Silver Star (near Vernon) for three nights instead of two, from Thursday, November 23rd to Sunday, November 26th.

This is the most popular event in our club calendar, combining early-season skiing and quality instruction, so ensure you don't miss out by registering (with payment) at the Wine & Cheese.

Accommodation costs are to be $37.50 per person, per night, with a minimum two-night stay and the third night optional. Coaching costs have yet to be established.

If you have further questions, contact Tony Chin.

Letter from Sweden

Many of you will remember Marta Green, a long-time Nordic Racer who rose through the Junior Challenge ranks, eventually to be named to the 1997­'98 B.C. Ski Team. Some of her observations from abroad:

I have learned lots of new great habits. Sweden has very strong sports clubs. Whatever sport they are involved in: orienteering, handball, speed skating, or skiing, each contains the same elements:

1. A clubhouse.
2. Organized Group Training days where they meet at the clubhouse.
3. Free transportation to training camps and races, usually one day a week.
4. A very detailed monthly schedule of varying training activities and dinners.
5. A strong core of elite athletes who are also friends; supportive, older, more recreation [-oriented] adults who help with organization of events; and a large base of juniors who are there only for fun.
6. Specific club goals (usually relays) and annual events, with cheques to individuals if they do really well. This makes it so that the best athletes in the club usually end up making money or balancing expenses.

Junior Challenge Volunteer Mentor/Coach Program

The Nordic Racers Junior Challenge program is looking for individuals who may be interested in working with kids. The primary purpose of the Junior Challenge program is to create life long cross-country skiers. By exposing junior skiers to a variety of adult skiers with expertise in specific ski skills, it is hoped that the kids can learn and improve their skiing skills. For adult skiers, it provides an opportunity to share your love of the sport with young, budding cross country ski racers.

Qualifications for adult skiers interested in working with the Junior Challenge racers include:

• Previous experience as a cross-country ski racer (past and/or present).
• Technical knowledge of the different ski techniques and the ability to demonstrate, describe and teach others (CANSI certification or NCCP coaching is optimal).
• To have an interest in helping junior skiers to learn to improve their skiing skills and to have fun.
• To be reliable, punctual, energetic, enthusiastic and positive.
• To be courteous and professional and have good communication and leadership skills.

Interested adult skiers should contact Mike Wyness.

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Click image to enlarge

Nordic Racers' Junior Challenge Skiers at Pemberton Regional Camp for Juniors, September 23-25, 2000, Cedar Mountain Outdoor School, Pemberton, B.C.
Photo courtesy of Chris Bowlby

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Club Jacket

A new Nordic Racers jacket is currently being designed, to be based upon the Sugoi MicroFine Transition jacket. This is a partly lined cycling jacket, with a blue front and black sleeves/back. The expected cost is to be approximately $80; an announcement will be made once the design is finalized.

Events Calendar

Dates are subject to change; visit our web site at http://www.nordicracers.bc.ca/ for updates. Note that Manning Park Resort still has the Cascade Cup scheduled.

October
Sun 15/22/29	Dryland Training
Fri 20	Introductory Rock Climbing Class (The Edge in North Vancouver)
November
Sun 5	Dryland Training
Wed 8	Wine & Cheese / Membership Renewal / Meet the Executive
Sun 12	Dryland Training / Wrap-up Party / Ski Swap
Sun 19	Fall Classic 10K Run
23-26	Silver Star Ski Camp (Vernon)
December
16-17	CANSI 1 XC Ski Instructor Certification (NR session @ Whistler)
30-31	BC Cup #1 (Vernon)
January
every Tue	Greg Inkster's ski races
every Wed	Hot Chocolate Night
every Wed	Learn to Loppet
every Wed	Junior Challenge
Sun 7	Larch Hills Fun Race (Salmon Arm)
Sun 7	SkiFest (Cypress)
12-14	NCCP 1 Technical (Cypress)
Sat 13	Overlander Loppet 30 km Skate (Kamloops)
Sun 14	Manning Park Bus Trip
Sat 20	Reino Keski Salmi Loppet 30 km Classic (Salmon Arm)
Sat 27	Telemark Apple Loppet 30 km Skate (Kelowna)
February
every Tue	Greg Inkster's ski races
every Wed	Hot Chocolate Night
every Wed	Junior Challenge
Wed 7/14	Learn to Loppet
Sat 3	Cariboo Marathon 50 km Classic (100 Mile House)
3-4	BC Cup #2 (Prince George)
Sat 10	Overlander Loppet 30 km Classic (Kelowna)
Sun 11	Chateau Whistler Loppet 30 km Skate (Whistler)
Sun 11	Winterfest (Cypress)
Wed 14	Learn to Loppet Windup Party
Sat 17	Whistler/Lost Lake Bus Trip
17-18	BC Championships (100 Mile House)
Sat 24	Nickel Plate Loppet 30 km Classic (Apex/Penticton)
Sun 25	Spud Valley Loppet 30 km Skate (Pemberton)
March
every Tue	Greg Inkster's ski races
every Wed	Hot Chocolate Night
every Wed	Junior Challenge
Sat 3	Cascade Cup Loppet 30 km Classic (Manning Park)
3-4	UBC Invitational (West Vancouver)
Wed	Fondue Dinner
Sat 10	Sovereign Lake Loppet 30 km Skate (Vernon)
Sat 17	Mt Washington Loppet 30 km Skate (Courtenay)
Sat 24	FASP Cabin Party/BBQ & Sleep-over
Sun 25	SpringFest (Cypress Mountain)
April
Wed 25	Annual General Meeting