Nordic Racers Ski Club:
The Leading Edge,
October 2001

President's Message

Hello everyone, welcome to the 2001/2002 ski season! The snow is still a few months away but dryland training is starting soon and we have lots of activities planned for the upcoming season. One of our first activities for the year is a CCBC Level 1 Officiating Course, currently scheduled for Friday evening, November 2nd and Saturday, November 3rd. Helping as a race official is a fun and rewarding experience, and this is a good opportunity for members to learn what is involved. For more information, see your latest e-mail update and/or events listing in this newsletter.

The annual Wine and Cheese Night is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7th 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 for November 23rd-25th; only registered members will be allowed to sign up, so if you can't attend the Wine and Cheese, please download the membership form from our website and mail it to our address.

The AGM held in May brought some new faces into our executive. Welcome to Holly Symons (Secretary), Craig Oliver (Social), April Haffenden (Social), and Tom Dallimore (Membership). Other executive members have shuffled positions, so please review the new executive list in this newsletter. On behalf of the club I wish to extend a very big thank-you to Stuart Croft who has stepped down after many dedicated years. Please feel free to contact any of the executive members directly with your comments, questions, or concerns. If your address/e-mail information is not current, please contact Tom Dallimore or myself with your updated information.

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

Cheers,

-- Teri

Junior Challenge

Huge Satisfaction and Free Hot Chocolate

Wanted: Coaches for Wednesday evening sessions, 6:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., January through March. Full time or part time. On Wednesday evenings we concentrate on improving technical aspects of skiing.

Wanted: Sunday morning volunteers who would be willing to organize a low key "nordic event" for the Junior Challenge program as a one-off effort. Approximately 9:00 a.m. to 12:00. Full support from Challenge volunteers.

Junior Challenge is a Nordic Sports program for 11-18 year olds operated by the Nordic Racers. Its major goal is to turn children into life long skiers. We do this mainly through participation in cross country and biathlon events, although we do other activities like telemarking, snow orienteering or snow shoeing as opportunity presents.

Qualifications: Good sense of fun; good role model for life long skiers; willing to ski in the rain; NCCP Level 1 Technical XC or equivalent experience desirable for Wednesday night coaches.

Contact: Alan Ball: 604-324-5040; aball@aball-ypi.com.

Coaching

Alan Ball is one of the Nordic Racers' Junior Challenge coaches and is the principal biathlon coach. This year Alan was nominated by Biathlon for the 3M-NCCP Coach of the Year Award. In August he received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Coaching Association of Canada to acknowledge his runner-up status. Alan went to Canmore to take a conductor course and is now certified to teach Level 1 and Level 2 Technical Courses for Biathlon.

Summer News

Some of the Challenge athletes, notably Dave Wyness, Claire Corbett, Aletha Utley, Mioi Sawada, and Martin Utley, have been training all summer. Claire and Martin attended a biathlon summer development camp and Dave and Claire attended CCBC development camps. Some of the other Challenge athletes -- Alex Kostiuk, Laurel Priest, Georgia Heraty, and Tyler Ronaghan -- have also come out to try shooting and roller skiing this summer.

Nordic Racers Jackets

Tired of trailing behind club members with their spiffy Nordic Racers jackets? Didn't get your club jacket last year? Don't despair; you can order one now for delivery this coming season. The cost is $75. Pictures of the jacket are on the Nordic Racer website, http://www.nordicracers.bc.ca/, if you need a reminder of what they look like.

To order a jacket, contact Brian Hardie.

Club & Other Events

CCBC Level 1 Officiating Course

The Nordic Racers Ski Club is planning to host and run a ski race this year (probably in February at Hollyburn) and to that end needs properly trained and certified race officials. On Friday, November 2nd and Saturday, November 3rd the club is holding a CCBC Level 1 Officiating Course for those interested in becoming race officials.

The course fee is $40 and the time commitment about 10 hours. The course location has yet to be determined.

To register, contact Esther Croft.

The course usually consists of a Friday evening class and a Saturday morning hands-on session. Students learn about all the different defined roles that make up the complete race organizing committee and are introduced to race timing and results calculation. They will be qualified to fulfil the basic roles in the race organization without having to be under the constant direction and supervision of the area chief (level II +).

The focus will be on duties for both Olympic Style (individual start, mass start, pursuit start, relay start, and sprints) and Loppet Style (mass participation) events.

The courses provide the first step in becoming an Olympic official and possibly getting involved in the 2010 Olympics, should they come to Whistler.

[More info can be had from the CCBC website, at their officials page.]

Dryland Training

With the nip in the air and the leaves beginning to fall, it can only mean one thing: it's time to start dryland training to get ready for ski season which is fast approaching -- the North Shore mountains have already received their first snowfall!

For those of you who have never done this before, we use the next couple of months to train with ski specific exercises. This will involve a combination of strength, endurance, power, core strength, desserts and coffee, and technique.

All of the exercises are self paced so you can be at any level of fitness to participate; if you miss some, it is not a big deal. Having said this, many Nordic Racers did a lot of training for the Seattle to Portland bike ride (and others) and have a great base to build on so they will have a great ski season as well. Either way, it is a lot of fun and you will get more fit.

When: We are starting the first session at the western-most parking lot of Spanish Banks at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 14th. We will train in any weather so bring lots of clothes. For the first session we will need running shoes (though you do not have to run) and short ski poles if you have them (which should be lower than your shoulders if possible). If anyone has a big exercise ball, that would also be good. We should be finished by 11:30 a.m. -- don't worry, we won't be running around the whole time.

If you miss this one we will be meeting at the Seymour Demonstration Forest parking lot (North Shore) the next weekend at the same time, but bring roller blades or skis (and skating poles if possible) as well as your running shoes and the other gear. Contact Dave McKee for more info.

Group dryland training for Junior Challenge (XC and biathlon) has already started and is held on Sunday mornings at the Seymour Demonstration Forest. Meet at the second parking lot for training sessions that last from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. A biathlon shooting practice will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the shooting range. Contact Alan Ball to confirm details.

Wine and Cheese Night

The annual club "season-opener" social event and membership sign-up is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7th, 7:00 p.m. at Sigge's Sport Villa (2077 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver). Come by to renew old friendships and make new ones. This is also the time to sign up for club trips and programs, especially the premier ski weekend at Silver Star.

Note: If you can't attend the Wine and Cheese night, please print off a membership form from the Nordic Racers' website (http://www.nordicracers.bc.ca/) and mail in your membership renewal.

Sigge's Club Night

On Wednesday, November 14th, Sigge's Sport Villa will hold a closed-door ski equipment sale for paid-up Nordic Racers club members. The sale starts at 7:00 p.m. and will offer a 15% discount on all new equipment as well as on last year's stock. All methods of payment are being accepted.

Silver Star

This year's Silver Star Ski Camp will be held on Saturday, November 24th and Sunday, November 25th. The cost is expected to be $80 for Friday and Saturday nights' accommodation; an optional third night (Thursday) will once again be offered for an additional $40 to those who wish a warm-up ski on Friday. Sign up on November 7th at the Wine and Cheese night to reserve your space (bed). Alternatively, contact Tony Chin to book your accommodations and make arrangements for payment. Note: Tony assigns the beds!

The club has already reserved three houses for adults but for those wishing to bring their families, a separate family house will be booked given enough interest. Please contact Tony prior to November 7th so that he can arrange appropriate accommodations.

CANSI Ski Instruction Course

For those planning on getting their ski instructor's certification, the first CANSI XC Level 1 course this winter is scheduled to be held at Hollyburn on Saturday, December 15th and Sunday, December 16th. The cost is $200. A half-day Pre Level 1 Nordic course is also scheduled for Cypress on Wednesday, December 5th; the cost for this is $50. Contact the CANSI office at info@pacific.cansi.ca, view their website at http://www.cansi.ca/, or telephone/fax 604-420-7547 for more details or to register. Registrations must be received by CANSI at least one week prior to the course date.

If you'd like to talk to previous Level 1 course participants, several club members have obtained their certifications last spring, including Chris Bowlby, Dave McKee, Feng Chen, Dave Wyness, and Doug Wiebe, who enjoyed a quiet day in the rain with course conductor Mark Simpson, assisted by Chris Lee.

Coaching

Interested in coaching? The NCCP Level 1 Technical Course is scheduled for Friday, January 11th to Sunday, January 13th, 2002. The cost is $60. There is also a CCBC Leader Training Course that will be held at Hollyburn on Saturday, December 8th. The cost is $35. For more information on coaching, check out www.coach.ca/eng/certification/nccp_for_coaches.

For more information on XC coaching or to sign up for the NCCP Level 1 Technical course, contact Brad Gilbert.

Loppet Update

If you're planning your racing season, note the following corrections to dates listed in Ski Cross Country magazine: (1) the Vancouver Island Loppet (Mount Washington) is to be held on Saturday, March 16th; and (2) the Nickel Plate Loppet (Penticton) is to be held as listed in the schedule, on Saturday, February 16th, and not as per the Nickel Plate club's advertisement.

CCBC Figures

Total Membership

2000-2001	13,001
1999-2000	12,854
1998-1999	12,606

This is a new record!

Participants in Olympic Style & Loppet Style races

Year	Races	Loppets
2000-2001	4091	3115
1999-2000	3633	2917
1998-1999	4428*	2764
1997-1998	3144	2238
1996-1997	1827	2921

* National Championships in Smithers added 800 to this figure.

This represents an increase of 100%+ in "Olympic style" competitions in the past four years!