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.

Registration is now open for the Frostbite 50 on March 16. Ski club members get a 20 per cent discount on registration (see your inbox for the code, which just went out in a newsletter).

What’s the Frostbite 50, you ask? 

“The Frostbite 50 is a 50 km continuous snowshoe or classic ski event on ungroomed trails near Yellowknife. Participate solo or as a team of up to five participants. There are four road-accessible checkpoints, and participants are welcome to have support along the way. 

“This is an event, not a race, and there are no prizes for first place. We want winter lovers of all abilities to join us, and for everyone to have fun and finish safely.” 

This and more on the Frostbite 50 website. 

UPDATE: This event has been moved to Sunday Jan. 13.

For anyone interested in joining our trail grooming crew, consider attending our introductory grooming workshop at the chalet.

The workshop starts at 9 am and runs to 3 pm. We’ll be indoors (talking theory and safety) in the morning and outdoors with the equipment (and some of our grizzled veterans) in the afternoon. Lunch is provided. 

Our all-volunteer team of groomers currently groom the trails three nights a week, with three separate teams on each evening. We’re aiming to increase the pool of volunteers and start developing new crew members. 

To register or learn more, contact Trails Director Chris Hotson at christopherhotson@yahoo.ca or 445-3396.

We’ve changed the schedule for our Sunday $5 drop-in ski lessons. 

Lessons for both intermediate and beginner skiers will take place from 1:30 to 3:30. Lessons are on a first-come, first-served basis and are available for both members and non-members. (Trail use Dec. 9 is FREE to non-members thanks to NWT Recreation and Parks and the Get Active program.) 

Everyone is encouraged to stick around for a potluck dinner at the chalet starting at 5:30 and followed by Christmas carols.

No registration for Dec. 9 is required but feel free to let our programs director, Steve Reitsma, know you are interested: ykskiclubprograms@gmail.com.

NWT Ski has named Team NT for the 2019 Canada Winter Games taking place in Red Deer, Alberta this February.

They are: Nicolas Bennett, Jack Panayi, Ella Kokelj, Clair Littlefair, Jack Kotaska, Kea Furniss, Ruby Piggot, Rae Panayi and Donny Boake (but not Spencer Littlefair or Makoa Kokelj, as previously, and incorrectly, reported).

Every one of these skiers was nurtured at our very own Yellowknife Ski Club. Thanks everyone for supporting them!

All trails are now groomed at the ski club and tracks are set where there’s enough snow. 

Heather Scott (pictured here with skiing family) has kindly stepped forward to take on the role of president and, barring unforeseen scandal, will be officially appointed by the board at our next meeting, Monday Dec. 3. 

Heather has been involved with the ski club for several years as a coach and all-around volunteer and has two children taking part in Jackrabbits and Track Attack, respectively. In her 15 years in Yellowknife Heather has served on several boards, including the Multisport Club, and is past chair of the YK Playschool and the Northern Territories Water and Waste Association. 

The board meets the first Tuesday (or occasionally Monday) of each month at 7 pm at the chalet. All are welcome. Find past meeting minutes here. 

Registration is now open on Zone4.ca for two series of adult ski lessons in January. 

• Frostbitten Night Owl – Intermediate Ski Lessons, 7 – 9 pm, Wednesdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30;
• Beginner/Intermediate Lessons – 1:30 – 3:30 pm, Sundays, January 6, 13, 20, 27  

Lessons are $80 per set of 4, plus a $40 trail use fee for non-members. (If you have any difficulty registering, contact info@skiyellowknife.com and we’ll sort you out.)

We’re also planning an afternoon of $5 drop-in lessons on Sunday, Dec. 9 starting at 1:30, for both members and non-members. (Trail use Dec. 9 is FREE to non-members thanks to NWT Recreation and Parks and the Get Active program.) Participants are encouraged to stick around for a potluck dinner at the chalet starting at 5:30 and followed by Christmas carols.

No registration for Dec. 9 is required but feel free to let our programs director, Steve Reitsma, know you are interested: ykskiclubprograms@gmail.com.

Read more about our plans for adult ski lessons in 2019 here. 

From our trails director, Chris Hotson: “The grooming crew continues to pack snow and develop the base as snow accumulates. All trails have been packed at least once and will be freshened up again on Friday evening. There is still not adequate snow to set track but we are in good shape for this time of year.

“Your rock skis are probably still a good idea but there is lots of skiable trail available and the lights are on for night skiing.”

We’re offering a two-day classroom and on-snow workshop for volunteers wishing to coach our programs Nov. 17/18. The course runs Saturday from 9 to 4:30 and Sunday from 9 – 3:30 with Karen Johnson instructing.