Nordic Racers Ski Club:
The Leading Edge,
January 2004

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In This Issue:
Official Road to 2010 | Members in the News | Club & Other Events | Upcoming Loppet Trips | Holly Burn Race | Community Bulletin Board | Kudos | XC Travelogue - Lake Tahoe

The Official Road to 2010

Six years from now we will be hosting the world at the 2010 Winter Olympics! The best athletes in the world will be competing in our own backyard! How can I be a part of the action and not just a spectator? For many of us, the road to 2010 will be as a volunteer.

At the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, over 200 volunteers were needed to put on the cross country races. These were the on-course volunteers and not just the bus greeters, parking lot directors or other volunteers not close to the action. Many of these volunteers -- about 60 of them -- were the backup timing team. (The Olympic organizers contract a professional timing company to handle the official timing.)

Only 200 on-course volunteer positions, you ask? With tens of thousands of applications from all over the country, how do we get one of these positions? We are fortunate to be able to glean knowledge from the lessons learned by the Calgary Olympic organizers.

One of the lessons learned from Calgary is that the bulk of the volunteers need to come from the local host area.

This ensures that the knowledge and skill base remain for the future use of the site. Much criticism was directed towards the Olympic organizers because of the Legacy that was not left behind in Calgary. The Legacy to be left behind was one of the cornerstones of the successful Vancouver Olympic Bid.

Close to the Action!

What skills are needed to be close to the action? A volunteer needs to know how to organize races; the rules and regulations; and must have solid experience from working on high level races such as Nationals, Nor-Am Races or World Cup Races.

Can we get this type of experience by 2010? Yes! This means getting involved now and gaining experience in some of the less technical club races. Getting involved with the upcoming Cascade Cup and the Holly Burn is a great way to start.

The Nordic Racers continue to organize Race Officials Certification Courses. Next season we will hold a Level 1 and Level 2 course, maybe even a Level 3 course. As we become more knowledgeable and comfortable organizing races, we will continue to raise the bar by hosting higher-calibre races.

There are many high level races scheduled in British Columbia. Every November, during our weekend at Silver Star, the Sovereign Lake Nordics host Nor-Am Cup Races. The Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships (a.k.a. Nationals) will be held in Prince George in March 2005. Volunteers, regardless of where they come from, are needed by the host clubs to run these high profile races.

Tony Chin

To find out more about race officiating, race volunteering opportunities or about 2010, contact Tony Chin.

Club Members Making the News

Junior Challenge at BC Cup 1

Congrats to the Junior Challenge team that participated in BC Cup 1 races at 100 Mile House on January 10th-11th. Nordic Racer juniors took eight medals in the Saturday classic mass start and Sunday sprints!

Here are the medals won by the juniors:

• Silver in Midget Girls classic 5 km
• Silver and Bronze in Junior Girls classic 5 km
• Silver and Bronze in Junior Girls 800 m sprint
• Gold in Junior Boys 800 m sprint
• Bronze in Junior Boys classic 5 km
• Gold in Masters Women classic 5 km

Team members included: Karina Bakker, Zoe Braul, Claire Corbett, Tian Fowler, Georgia Heraty, Kris Liset, Jorgen Liset, Lauren Ritchie, Tyler Ronaghan and Ben Tannenbaum. Coach -- Chris Bowlby.

Special thanks to:

• Trip Coordinator - Adrianne Ross
• Wax Tech - Rick Corbett with assistance from Paul Heraty
• Car pool and Head Wranglers - Wally Braul and Roald Liset

Next XC supported races for juniors are:

• BC Cup 2: Jan 24-25, Prince George, Trip Coordinator - Wally Braul
• BC Champs: Feb 14-15, Vernon, Trip Coordinator - Alec Ritchie

Next biathlon supported races for juniors are:

• Biathlon BC Cups 3 & 4, Selection Race: Jan 17, Quesnel, Trip Coordinator - Renee Corbett
• Biathlon BC Championships: March 13, Vanderhoof, Trip Coordinator - Renee Corbett

Lost Lake Shuffle - Whistler, BC

The 3rd Annual Lost Lake Shuffle Nordic Relay was held on January 11th at Whistler's Lost Lake Park. The four-hour Nordic enduro competition attracted 60 participants which included a robust contingent from the Nordic Racers. Club results are as follows:

Solo Men: David McKee - 21 laps; Jamie Stirling - 21 laps; Peter Gaskill - 19 laps; Feng Chen - 18 laps; David Neufeld - 14 laps.

Solo Women: Andrea Heal - 16 laps, Eva Srobotnjak - 16 laps; April Haffenden - 11 laps; Christine Grimard - 5 laps.

Teams of Three Co-ed: "Joe and the First Ladies" - Sandra Pettman, Sonia Strobel, Joe Morrison - 18 laps.

Teams of Three Women: "Vintage Ladies" - Alena Branda (NR), Heather Hamilton-Wright, Linda Slater - 20 laps.

BC Winter Games Trials

Junior racers from Zone 3, 4 & 5 braved chilling temperatures at the BC Winter Games Time Trials held at Cypress Mountain on January 3rd. Chief race organizer Tony Chin led a crew of officiating volunteers from the Nordic Racers to put on a successful time trial. Congratulations to all racers!

Here are the skiers representing each of the Zones. (Nordic Racers junior members indicated by *)

Zone 3: (Port Coquitlam, Langley and all points east of Vancouver to Hope)

• Andrew Hall*
• Tania Armstrong*

Zone 4: (Burnaby and all points south of Vancouver to the border)

• Nicholas Spurling*

Zone 5: (Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Whistler, Pemberton, Lilloet)

• Megan Black
• Nadine Crowe
• Alistair Hardy-Poirier*
• Neal Parker*
• Zoe Braul*
• Deborah Schranz

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Alistair Hardy-Poirier gets ready to show his stuff!
Photo courtesy of Dirk Rohde

Biathlon BC Cups 1 & 2 Results - December 6, 2003

Silver Star was awesome -- great snow and mild but windy weather. Nordic Racers Challenge were represented at Biathlon BC Cups 1 & 2 by Tyler and Rebecca Ronaghan, Claire Corbett, Laurel Priest, Karina Bakker and Katia Zubkova.

We also teamed up with four athletes from Victoria who needed a coach (Sarah Green, Jessica Sedlock, Ian Mallany and Christina Smith). Tuppy Hoene, a Nagano Olympian, helped us out with this big crew and Jana Bakker helped us run rifles.

We lent Rick Corbett and Kelly Green to the local organizers to help officiate the race. Unfortunately, Laurel was struck down with flu during the preceding Snow Camp and was unable to race.

The races -- a Sprint and a Mass Start -- went very well and I think our crew learnt a lot about themselves and about racing. Claire and Sarah split the honours in the Senior Girls category, both with one Gold and one Silver medal. Tyler Ronaghan, Senior Boys, had to settle for two Silvers, coming in second by mere seconds in both races. Jessica Sedlock, Senior Girls, added a Bronze to this total.

Our beginners, racing in their first biathlon races, did very well. In the Junior Girls category, Katia won Silver in both races and Rebecca took a fourth and fifth. Karina Bakker, in the Juvenile category (Boys and Girls) came second in both races, taking home two Silver medals.

All in all, a great start to the season. Thanks to Rick, Jana, Kelly, Tuppy and Clay for making the weekend a great success.

Alan Ball

Season Kick-off at Silver Star Ski Camp

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The annual Silver Star Ski Camp was a huge success once again! Over 100 club members made the trek up to Silver Star in Vernon during the last week in November 2003 to enjoy some of the best XC skiing in North America. Camp participants enjoyed first-rate coaching and instruction, gastronomic get-togethers, and last but not least, great snow!

The success of this very popular camp was due to the efforts of Teri Martin, who organized the accommodations and Saturday dinner; Colin Gray, who organized carpools; David McKee, who organized the ski clinics; and Shaun Strobel, our volunteer bus driver.

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Photos courtesy of Dave Neufeld

Club & Other Events

Hollyburn Hot Chocolate

Every Wednesday evening throughout the ski season, drop by Hollyburn Lodge between 7:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. and pick up a ticket for one free hot chocolate from a Nordic Racer host.

Note: this is a club benefit that is for current and paid-up members only.

Video Skating Technique Analysis

For those not signed up in the Learn to Loppet sessions, Alan Ball will be leading a two-hour session of skating technique analysis on Wednesday, January 28th. There is a maximum of 8 people. If interested, please send a $20 cheque (made out to the Nordic Racers) to:

Nordic Racers Ski Club
#334 - 1367 West Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.  V6H 4A9

Upcoming Loppets

The Nordic Racers are going to three loppets this season:

Kelowna Apple Loppet, Saturday, January 31 - this is a free technique loppet, classic and skating are allowed. For travel arrangements contact Dave Neufeld.

Cariboo Marathon (100 Mile House), Saturday, February 7 - this is one of the oldest loppets in BC, a classic technique with plenty of distances for everyone to get involved, from 10 km all the way up to the full 50 km marathon. Small cabins (with kitchen facilities) have been booked at the Hills Health Ranch & Spa at 108 Mile House. Most of the rooms have double or queen beds.

The cost is $60 per person for two nights (Friday and Saturday). Space is limited, so first come, first serve. Send your cheques to trip coordinator Jamie Stirling. If you're interested in car pooling, contact Jamie at stirling@hayco.com.

Nickel Plate (Penticton), Saturday, February 21 - this is a favourite destination for us with its consistently good snow conditions and weather. Join us and ski this classic technique loppet, 15 km or 30 km routes. To book accommodations contact the trip coordinator Andrea Morgan.

Holly Burn Race - Officials Needed

We are currently looking for major officials for our Holly Burn Sprint Race that will take place on Sunday, March 21st. The race (non-sanctioned this year) will consist of sprint heats in the morning followed by sprint finals in the afternoon. Specifically, we are trying to fill the following positions:

• Equipment Coordinator
• Chief of Food and Refreshment

Although many of these require officiating experience, some of them do not. If you are interested, please provide the following information:

• Position wanted
• Any officiating courses that you have taken
• The type of officiating or other related experience that you have for XC skiing or other sports

We will be looking for other officials positions in the coming weeks. If you're not interested in the above positions but would like to time, help with course marshalling, assist with food and refreshment preparation, or do something else to help with the race, mark the race date on your calendar and wait for the next race e-mail.

Lots of help will be needed! Remember, it's the experience at the club level that Olympic organizers will be seeking when selecting volunteers to help at the Olympics.

If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Chief of Race Dirk Rohde.

Community Bulletin Board

Vancouver Skiers Bus Trips

Interested in out-of-town ski trips? As in past years, the Vancouver Skiers open up their ski trips to our club members. For a full 2003-04 trip schedule, check out theskiers.ca.

For more information and to register please contact Chris McPherson.

YOKO Tuesday Night Race Series

The Tuesday Night Race Series is well underway again this year! Register at Hollyburn Lodge by 6:50 p.m. for the 7 p.m. SHARP race start.

Access the race schedule at www.skiingbc.info/pages/nordic/tuesdaynight/.

If you're not into racing, help in running the races is always appreciated! To volunteer contact Chris Bowlby.

Note: the Nordic Racers Ski Club is not affiliated with this race series.

Mark Your Calendars - Atomic Demo Rep at Cypress!

Don't miss the opportunity to demo the latest skis from Atomic on Wednesday, January 28th at Cypress XC ski area. The rep will be on-site from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Atomic demo tent.

NEW DATE! - Chateau Whistler Loppet

The Chateau Whistler Loppet (free technique) date has changed from January 25th to Sunday, February 22nd, 2004. For more information, and to receive a new entry form, contact Whistler Nordic's Tom Barratt.

Kudos

The Nordic Racers Club Executive would like to extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to departing newsletter editor John Bellamy for all of his hard work and contributions to The Leading Edge during the past four years. Thanks John!

Travelogue

Cross Country Skiing - Lake Tahoe Style

by Luis Bernhardt

Heading east from Sacramento on Interstate 80, you climb into the Sierras and start seeing exits for ski resorts as you approach Truckee. One of the first of these exits is for Soda Springs, near North America's self-styled largest X-C ski area, Royal Gorge (RG). I used to think it was also North America's most expensive (until I hit Northstar); we call it Royal Gouge.

A day pass at RG costs US$27, so you'll want to wait until 1 p.m. when you can get the half-day pass for $21, or until 3 p.m. when you can get the $14 twilight pass, though this only lets you ski until the 5 p.m. closing time.

Maybe because of the price, the trails had world-class grooming, with classic tracks on each side of a skating lane. It was sunny and -4°C the day we were there; I skied classic on Toko dark blue kick wax and nailed it. The place has a small waxing room with three closely-spaced benches and convenient plugs. We were able to do a long loop on a green trail with some climbing on a blue section.

If you don't feel like skiing up the steeper hills, you can use the "land lifts," three rope tows situated at strategic locations. When you finish skiing, you can get into dry clothes in the change rooms and relax at the pub in the summit lodge. Be forewarned: don't leave at 5 p.m., because traffic really backs up due to a couple of downhill areas emptying onto the main road, so even though you're only two km from the freeway, it could easily take 30 minutes to get there.

By the way, you should stop in at the X-C ski shop at the entrance to the road that leads to RG. It's called Sierra Nordic, and it's owned by a guy named Noel Charonnat ("Shar-nay"). Back in 1972, when he was the president of the Berkeley Wheelmen, he showed me the ropes on how to become a decent bike racer. Tell him I sent you.

We spent two days at Tahoe Donner (TD) in Truckee. This place is quite large also but hard to find. From I-80 you take the Donner State Park exit, go east to the stop light, turn left onto Northwoods Boulevard and follow it for about eight kilometres until you hit Fjord, then turn right, drive about a block to where it ends, and turn left and continue to the big Equestrian Center (and, by the way, Nordic skiing) sign. TD costs $21 for a full day, $16 after 1 p.m. Like RG, it has a waxing room and closes at 5 p.m., but they do have night skiing on Wednesdays.

The grooming at TD was spotty on our first day; lots of frozen crust. We skated down into the long, flat valley, but found that TD is much better for classic skiing. Most of the trails are one-way, with the tracks set side-by-side right next to each other so you can ski together, something quite rare these days. This X-C ski area had something resembling a stadium area. Our second day at TD was a classic waxing nightmare, with snow starting to fall after we'd klistered the skis. We were fine with hard wax over the klister until the snow got thicker, but we were able to remove the klister in a convenient warming hut and things were fine.

Just down the road from Truckee, you can take the Hwy 267 South exit off I-80 and drive about ten kilometres to the big sign advertising Northstar at Tahoe. You then get in a traffic jam with all the downhill skiers and try to find a place to park. We were able to get a spot in lot K, but it's not far to the village by way of the stairs shortcut. Don't take the shuttle; it's always packed and you'll get there faster by walking. Take all your equipment with you -- although I didn't see a waxing room, there is a place to leave your pack in the Nordic Center. Besides, you will need to take the gondola to mid-mountain, where the Nordic Center is located.

A day pass at Northstar is $27, just like Royal Gouge, except that Northstar has only 50 km of groomed trails, compared to RG's 330. Once you've found the Nordic Center (located away from all the crowded downhill areas), you can put on your boots and wax your skis. There is a small trail system located at the Nordic Center, but the larger trail system requires skiing back through the crowded downhill area to the other side of mid-mountain. Then you must ski up a steep climb until you finally reach a nice flat trail that leads to more varied terrain.

Along this upper network of trails you'll come across a caboose. The door is unlocked, you can go in and relax, find the propane stove and heat up some water and have tea or hot chocolate - they have free packets there, but you've paid $27, remember? The trails are nicely groomed, but I thought the grades were a little too steep for good classic skiing.

When you get back to the mid-mountain downhill area, avoid the cafeteria. A bowl of chili there will set you back $5 to $8. You can get soup or chili for $3 back at the Nordic Center, as well as watch World Cup and Olympic X-C ski videos.

Continuing into Nevada, we found a nice small X-C area at Spooner Lake. You need to take I-80 into Reno, get onto Hiway 395, and follow it through Carson City. At the south end of Carson City, you take Hiway 50 west to Spooner Lake.

Spooner has some nice flat trails at its base, about three km around Spooner Lake itself plus another three km around the meadow. We took the rather steep trail that climbed up past the canyon and over the saddle to Marlett Lake. Once at the saddle, a gentle descent takes you down to the lake at around 8000 ft. where you follow a rolling trail through the woods bordering the lake. Grooming was OK, with the trails too narrow for skating (though that's what most Californians do) and the classic tracks set too close to the edges. We spent two days at Spooner, staying with friends in Carson City (but you can get some good hotel deals as well as cheap buffets at the casinos). A day pass at Spooner is $20, but you can ski for $10 on Tuesdays (unless it's during Christmas holidays).

All of the above areas are situated at around 7000 ft. or higher, where the snow is usually tricky to wax due to uncertain weather conditions and the effects of Lake Tahoe. Most of the skiers come from the San Francisco Bay area (where I'm from originally), so they're good cyclists but pretty poor skiers, with nowhere near the technique you see in Canada. When I went to high school in Oakland, the rich kids lived in the hills and went downhill skiing at Tahoe -- several hours of driving -- with their families on the weekends. Pretty hard to be a good X-C skier if you're only skiing twice a week! Be sure to avoid all the snowshoers out on the trails, too! At most ski areas they are supposed to walk on the edge of the path outside the tracks -- they even let dogs in after 3 p.m.

Very California.