The ski club has purchased two slightly used snow machines to augment our aging Alpine snowmobiles, and they have kind of a neat story.

The D900. (Photo courtesy DEW Engineering)

The DEW D900 snowmobile was custom designed for the military as part of an experimental program to develop a heavy pulling vehicle for Arctic operations. Weighing in at just under 1,000 pounds with fuel, these new machines can pull 2,000 pounds and are powered by a three-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine.

Although not great for military purposes (they sank in softer snow and were hard to start at -40), it turns out they’re great for pulling grooming equipment and love life in a heated garage.

The ski club picked these babies up for $6,000 a piece, in pretty great condition. One started at -20 after having sat for two years on a surplus lot, and the two machines had been used for only 50 and 70 hours, respectively, both on an operation in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, with the Canadian Rangers. 

So far, the machines have been tested on all of the grooming equipment but the largest grader and have functioned perfectly. If you happen to see one of these beasts on the trail, please know your tax dollars are hard at work, right here at the club. 

Thanks to trails director Chris Hotson for spotting this deal and making it happen!

Registration is now open on Zone4 for the Yellowknife Gold Loppet sponsored by TerraX Minerals takes place Sunday, April 7.

What’s a loppet, you ask? It’s a fun ski on groomed tracks in the wilderness starting at Vee Lake between 10 and 11:30. Skiers can choose from 4, 15 and 25 kilometre loops. Dogs are welcome after 11:30. You can see the route map here. There are two checkpoints featuring refreshments and apres-ski chilli is served at the ski club chalet between 12 and 4 pm. 

Fees for the whole extravaganza:

• Adults (18 and over): $30
• Junior (5-18): $20 (15 or 25 km), $5 (4 km)
• Kids under 5 free (born 2014 or later)
• Dogs: $5

You don’t need to be a ski club member to sign up. 

Volunteers are still needed, and we still have jobs that will allow you to ski. Contact Alyssa Titus at ykskiclubvolunteerdirector@gmail.com.

Here are the full rules:

1. Please register all your family members, including infants in pulks and packs.
2. Sign-in and bib pick up will be at Overlander Sports between 10 am and 5 pm on Saturday 6 April (the day before the event).
3. You must begin your ski between 10:00 and 11:30 am. We will not be able to track any skiers starting after 11:30.
4. If you are skiing with a dog, we ask you to start at 11:30. Please note that we must limit dogs to one per skier, on a leash while in the start area, and no skijoring!
5. If you wish to ski the 25 km route, you must arrive at Jackson check point (7 km mark) by 12:30 pm. All skiers arriving at Jackson after 12:30 will be diverted to the 15 km route.
6. For safety reasons, you must stop at all check points, including the Start and Finish, to make sure your name and bib number are recorded. If we don’t record your finish, we will send out Search and Rescue to look for you!
7. You must check in at each check point before it closes. Please consider this before you decide whether to register for the 4 km, 15 km, or 25 km route. Banting Check Point will close at 2:00. Jackson Check Point will close at 1:30 pm. The Finish Line will close at 3:00.
8. Free apres-ski lunch chili will be served at the Chalet from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. There will be limited drinks and snacks only at Vee Lake.

Registration is now open for three sets of lessons for adult beginner/intermediate classic skiers running in March 2019.

Each set includes four lessons over four weeks, except Saturdays, which runs over three weeks.

• Saturdays, 1:30-3:30, March 9, 23 and 30 (avoiding the Frostbite 50 March 16)
• Sundays, 1:30-3:30, March 10, 17, 24, 31
• Wednesdays, 7-9pm, March 6, 13, 20, 27

Registration is now open on Zone4.ca. Registration closes two days before the first lesson.

Four lessons cost $80 plus a $40 trail use fee for non-members. The Saturday series of three lessons costs $60. 

Read more about our adult lessons here. 

Zing! real raw food will be serving Sunday lunch for purchase in the chalet Feb. 17 from 11:30-2. All food is gluten-dairy-egg free and plant based.

On the menu, three entrees for between $10 and $15:

• Hot & Hearty Chowder filled with corn, cauliflower and potatoes. Served with gluten-free corn bread.
• Soul Satisfying Chickpea Dumplings in a velvety tomato sauce.
• Calcium-rich Sesame Noodle Salad, a delicious mixture of carbs and greens dressed in a flavour-bursting sauce.

And for dessert:

• Zing’s Best Chocolate Cake… yes it contains sweet potato, $4
• Beta carotene-rich Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies (pictured), $2
• Protein-pumped Oat Bars (pictured), $2

All that, plus Kombucha! Fermented tea bursting with lemon and ginger, $5 per glass or $10 per litre.

Bring a friend!

The Yellowknife Ski Club is celebrating NWT Ski Day on Sunday, Feb. 10 by offering:

• free trail use all day
• chalet open from 10am – 4pm
• lunch for purchase 11:30-2 courtesy of One of a Thai

Please note: the ski club does not offer rentals, but Overlander Sports does.

Please also note: no walking is permitted on the ski trails during ski season.

• Update Friday Feb. 22 at 1pm: Regret to inform all racers, volunteers and parents that the Yellowknife Ski Races will not take place this weekend due to cold weather. We will instead hold a cold weather ski-a-thon for all ages on Saturday from 1:30-2:30 (featuring cookie medals!) followed by snacks and hot drinks in the chalet.
• Ski events for Sunday are cancelled, but One of a Thai will still serve Sunday lunch for purchase in the chalet from 11:30-2.

*The original post for the Yk Ski Races follows*

The Yellowknife Ski Races are an annual event to meet other skiers, gain race experience, and have a good time. This is a family event, with categories for all ages. Anyone is eligible to enter (you don’t even have to be a Club member!), or just drop by to watch and make some noise. We look forward to seeing you at the event! 

Saturday, February 23: Classic Technique, interval start. Bib pick-up from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. Races start in order of distance at 1:30pm. Cookie medals for all participants. Start lists will be posted at noon on the date of the event.

Sunday, February 24: Free Technique, mass start in waves by distance. Bib pick-up from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. Races start in order of distance at 1:30. Cookie medals for all participants. Start lists will be posted at noon on the date of the event.  

Events: Here’s the official race notice, listing all events.

Registration: Participants must register for the event at zone4.ca. All racers 8 years and younger are free, but must still register. Ages 9 to adult are $5. Registration closes at THURSDAY, February 21 at midnight. Late entries cannot be accepted. 

Eligibility: Anyone with a pair of skis. All ages & levels are welcome and encouraged to participate!     

Awards: Cookie medals for all participants as they cross the finish line. Gold, Silver & Bronze medals will be awarded to Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget, Juvenile and Junior categories only. All Masters skiers will be entered into a draw for an Overlander gift certificate. 

Waxing Facilities:  There are 3 waxing tables available at the main Ski Club wax room.

Saturday Refreshments: Complimentary light refreshments (fruit, bagels) and hot chocolate will be served in the chalet. 

Sunday Refreshments: Bring the family for lunch, even if you are not racing! “One of a Thai” will be onsite to serve specialty dishes for purchase ($14-16/plate) from 11:30-2:30. Complimentary light refreshments (fruit, bagels) and hot chocolate will be served in the chalet.     

Weather & cancellation policy: The Event Jury will monitor the weather forecast and may cancel the event. The cut-off temperature will be -20 C for Midget and older categories; -15 C for Bantam and younger (as per CCC rules). In case of cancellation, participants are encouraged to go for a light ski and enjoy the warmth and camaraderie in the chalet. No refunds will be given. 

Additional Information: Visit the Yellowknife Ski Club website www.skiyellowknife.com, or email Kerry Wheler ykskiclubevents@gmail.com

Volunteers: It’s fun to be part of the team that makes it happen! If you can spare some time to help out, please email chjarock@hotmail.com.

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We had about 300 people at the chalet Jan. 20 for World Snow Day, including many first-timers and many first-timers on skis. Yet another great event run by events director Kerry Wheler and her whole crew of people who came out to make pancakes, fit ski rentals and point people towards the trails.

Thanks to: John Stephenson (head of rentals and shooter of the above photographs), Tania Hercun (head of kitchen), Alex Lothian, Cheryl Mandeville, Karen Johnson, Brian Latham, Satish Garikaparthi, Ozgur Oner, Kelsey Pike, Brett Wheler, Monte Kehler, Anita Gue, Yvonne Pike, and many others in the kitchen.

Thanks also to our sponsors: Overlander Sports, NWT Recreation and Parks Association, JH Sissons School and the Yellowknife Co-op.

We have three sets of lessons for adult beginner/intermediate classic skiers running in February 2019. The perfect Valentine’s gift!

Each set includes four lessons over four weeks, as follows.

• Saturdays, 1:30-3:30, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23
• Sundays, 1:30-3:30, Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24
• Wednesdays, 7-9 pm, Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27

Register on Zone4.ca.

Lessons cost $80 plus a $40 trail use fee for non-members. 

What about equipment? 

Participants must provide their own boots, skis and poles. If you don’t have equipment, rentals are available at Overlander Sports. Any ski rentals at Overlander include access to our trails, which means non-members who rent skis save $40 on trail fees. Conversely, members of our club receive a 10 per cent discount on new ski equipment at Overlander. 

(Also, watch our Facebook page. Any used gear for sale that we hear about will be posted there.)

On Sunday, Jan. 20, we’ll celebrate World Snow Day by opening up our trails to any and all (thanks to a Get Active grant from NWT Recreation and Parks) and serving up free pancakes (10-3).

This year we’ll also offer free ski and snowshoe rentals for kids and adults from 10-3, courtesy of Overlander Sports and J. H. Sissons school. 

This is a great chance to show off a vibrant ski community to people who don’t know about us yet and we’ll need volunteers.

If you’d like to flip pancakes, help fit ski/snowshoe rentals or help get new skiers onto the trails, please contact Kerry Wheler: ykskiclubevents@gmail.com.