More adult ski lessons starting this weekend!

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We’ve added a new set of beginner classic ski lessons to take advantage of the nice weather. 

This course is for adults who are relatively new to skiing. We’ll cover fundamental techniques that will quickly improve your comfort on skis and skiing ability. 

This course will include four lessons from 1-3 pm over four Sundays: Feb. 21, Feb. 28, March 7 and March 14. 

Location: Ski Club chalet

Register here on Zone4.ca.

Cost: $80, plus $40 trail fee for non-members. (Note, if you rent skis from Overlander, trail fees are waived for the duration of the rental.)

Please arrive 15 minutes early, dressed warm, with skis waxed. Access to the chalet remains limited by our COVID exposure plan. (That is, the chalet is used for changing and storing equipment while skiing, but not for socializing. Guests are asked to wear masks, follow the signage and NOT enter the chalet if self-isolating for any reason.)

Ski-at-School is launched!

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The Yellowknife Ski Club has officially kicked off a new Ski-at-School program designed to share our love of skiing with kids who are not currently accessing our youth programming. We hope to eliminate some of the systemic barriers we know exist by offering support to new and existing school ski programs during regular class hours or as after-school programs. Club coaches are sharing their knowledge — primarily through games that introduce fundamental techniques — to help make skiing a fun, positive part of physical education programs already in place. 

The Ski-at-School program will also aim to empower more teachers to use existing school ski equipment by helping them build confidence on snow and in ski instruction. We are offering a FREE “Skiing 101” workshops for teachers on the Feb. 26 professional development day. For more information or to sign up contact Kerry Wheler at ykskiclubevents@gmail.com or Shirley Zouboules at shirley.zouboules@yk1.nt.ca.

We are thankful for the ongoing support from Cross Country NWT as well as new additional funding from Nordiq Canada, AltaGas, and the GNWT Regional Youth Sport Events program that makes this initiative possible. These amazing partners are making it possible to create and strengthen community bonds, while empowering our NWT youth to be physically active, lifelong skiers! 

Questions/Comments/Feedback? Reach programs director Bernadette Knox: ykskiclubprograms@gmail.com. (And thanks so much to our volunteer, Bernadette, for making this happen!)

World Snow Day

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We’ll celebrate World Snow Day on Sunday, Jan. 17, with free trail use for non-members. In lieu of a chalet gathering, we’ll have free snacks for pickup at the trailhead. Normally, we also offer free ski rentals courtesy of Overlander Sports and YK1. We won’t be able to do that this year. Instead, Overlander has kindly offered to discount their regular ski and snowshoe rentals from $25/day to $15 for the day. Please help us spread the word!

We are also seeking volunteers to ski the trails that day with people new to our club. If you have some free time and would enjoy showing someone around, get in touch with Kerry Wheler: ykskiclubevents@gmail.com.

Holidays and the chalet

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A quick reminder that our Covid exposure plan asks all our members to minimize use of the chalet this holiday season, and to:

  • sign in upon arrival;
  • follow posted maximum capacities per zone or room (i.e. wax rooms, washrooms);
  • stay home if ill;
  • not enter the chalet if self-isolating for any reason;
  • clean and disinfect touched surfaces before leaving;
  • BYO coffee/hot chocolate. The communal kitchen is closed for now. 

Thanks to everyone for helping us keep the chalet open!

Candy Cane Forest Ski!

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This Sunday is a special Candy Cane Forest Ski! Trails are free all day and you may come across Santa on the trails between 1 and 3. We’ll also have a bonfire going. 

The candy cane forest is on the 1 km loop. Please dress for the weather as chalet use is still limited. BYO hot chocolate and snacks. Thanks to Cross Country NWT and the Recreation and Parks Association for sponsoring this event. 

This might be a good time to introduce Lianne Plamondon, who has recently volunteered her graphic design skills and who made this delightful poster. Welcome Lianne!

SKIGO Bingo prizes announced!

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The ski club is pleased to announce the Grand Prize for our SKIGO Bingo: a trip for two to Blachford Lake Lodge! The runner-up will receive a $150 Overlander gift certificate. (Note: you must be a ski club member to win the Grand prize.)
 
Our Junior prizes will include: lego sets, a sled, a doll, Play-Doh and a drawing kit. 
 
To give more people a chance to win these prizes, we’ve extended the deadline to submit your SKIGO cards to World Snow Day on Sunday, Jan. 17.
 
Thanks to Blachford Lake Lodge, Overlander Sports, Canadian Tire and Cross Country NWT for sponsoring this event. 
 
To participate, download and print the SKIGO card and check off the items as you go:
  • 1 line = 1 entry
  • 2 lines = 2 entries
  • Blackout = 5 entries

Submit your entry to: skigoyellowknife@gmail.com. 

There’s a junior SKIGO card too! Download the PDF for both cards here. 

Blachford Lake Lodge Spirit Awards

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Our 30th annual Blachford Lake Lodge Spirit Awards went to several young skiers last weekend. 

The Blachford Lake Lodge Jackrabbit Spirit Award was created in 1989/90 by the original lodge owners, Freeland and Bob Stephen. Both men had children in the program and saw a need to recognize young athletes who demonstrated spirit and positive attitude and attendance. We believe these are the longest continuous awards in the N.W.T. ski community. 

This year’s winners for Anya Marshall and Barrow Wray for Bunnies; Quinn Vander VEen Kielstra for Level 1; Finn Marshall for Level 2; Vaida Marrai and Leah Stephenson for Level 3; Jack Lyall for Level 4; Ana Maria Villegas for Mixed Ages; and Carys Lyall for Go Ski. Yes, those Lyalls are siblings. Props to Devin for having such great kids. 

Thanks to all our volunteer coaches for making last year a great ski year. (And to Alex Lothian for the photo of our Level 2, 3, 4 and Mixed Ages winners.)