Remembering our Ski Club Founder, Loppet and more!

YKSC Remembers Ski Club Founder

Jetmund Bendiksen
1931 to 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia Bendiksen reported on her Facebook:
“Today, March 20, 2022, my beloved husband, Jetmund, passed away quietly and peacefully at Kvaefjordheimen Hospital at Borkenes, Norway.  Jetmund was almost 91 years old and was a fantastic husband, father and grandfather.  He will be deeply missed by his entire family.”

Jetmund was a founding member of the Yellowknife Ski Club. Pat and Jetmund arrived in Yellowknife in 1967 to teach at Sir John Franklin High School.  In early 1968, Jetmund put a notice on the Hudson’s Bay bulletin board for anyone interested in a ski club to call him and the response was terrific.  Jetmund started teaching downhill lessons in February 1968 at the Jackfish Lake Hill and the Yellowknife Ski Club was formed in May1968 with Al Gamble as the first president. Jetmund wanted to be technical director and focus on ski lessons.  Jetmund’s real passion was cross country skiing.  He and others cleared the first trails around Jackfish and Frame Lakes and packed them with their skis.  The trails moved across the highway to the Niven Lake area in 1972 with both downhill and cross country skiing.
 
Jetmund was a force behind skiing in Yellowknife, contributing to the sport as president, technical director, coach, newspaper columnist, ski rentals and sales outlet and Chief of Race for the inaugural 1970 Arctic Winter Games to name some of his contributions.
 
Jetmund and Pat departed Yellowknife in 1982 and retired to their family farm in Flesnes Norway.  They last visited Yellowknife in 2015 and were impressed with the facilities and trails.
 
The Bendiksens are celebrated on our trails with the corner called Bendiksen’s Bend.

Congratulations to Frostbite 50 Participants!

The FB50 event was back to the regular programming since the pandemic. The event was a great success with over 100 participants signing-up for last weekend’s event. 

A big congratulations to the winners:
Men’s 50km solo: Thomsen D’Hont
Women’s 50km solo: Julia Gyapay
Team ski: Heather Scott and Julian Kanigan
Team snowshoe: Javarunners

And here are a few photos from the Frostbite 50!

        

Photos by: Heather Scott, Katrina Kierstead, Ben Linaker, Erin O’Rourke and Ashley Janes

Yellowknife Gold Loppet Volunteer Opportunities! 

More start/finish line volunteers are needed for the 2022 Yellowknife Gold Loppet! Please reach out to sabeattie23@gmail.com or alyssa.f.titus@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering for the big event. Even a 2-hour commitment helps!

The 2022 Yellowknife Gold Loppet is also looking for wood donations for the Banting tent (priority) and for the finish line (a nice-to-have). If you have wood to spare, please reach out to sabeattie23@gmail.com or alyssa.f.titus@gmail.com for more information.

Need the best possible glide for the upcoming Yellowknife Gold Loppet (April 3)? 

Let the HP Ski Team set you up for success with a just-in-time hot waxing service.

WHEN: Thursday, March 31 (drop off between 5 and 7 pm) – pick up at 9:00 pm (or by arrangement)
HOW: You must make an appointment by emailing roxanepoulin@gmail.com before noon Wednesday, March 30.  *** spots are limited, so don’t wait ***

COST: $25 or use your punch pass 

NWT Territorial Championships

The  NWT Territorial Championships are taking place Saturday & Sunday April 9 & 10. Racers from across the north will participate in this fun event.  Register by Wednesday, March 9th on zone4.ca. Read the race notice for full details here.

Only a couple weeks left for SKIGO BINGO

Have fun setting new goals and checking off your card for activities you have completed between January 25th to April 11, for a chance to win some exciting prizes donated by Overlander Sports and Canadian Tire!! 

Download your card here and the junior card here, then get outdoors and get skiing!! 1line = 1 entry, 2 lines = 2 entries, etc… blackout = 10 entries!!! Submit your card to skigoyellowknife@gmail.com by April 11. Share your fun on social media and use #skigo @ykskiclub.

Some more trailvia for you…

The Wolverine Trail has some sections with extra history. Take Elevator for example. Very few signed trails officially use that steep climb, although Wolverine does. But did you know that earlier on Elevator was a downhill section, not an uphill? Think  about it the next time you’re at Caribou Crossing looking down. And be thankful for that small mercy. In addition, the Wolverine section after Elevator down to Back Bay Ramp is only officially signed for that trail.  A unique experience, but you’re allowed to use it even if you’re not chasing the wolverine. Great views!

YKSC Welcomes Baby Annie

The Yellowknife Ski Club Board of Directors would like to congratulate Alyssa Titus, our Director of Volunteers, and her family on the birth of her new baby girl. Baby Annie was born on March 16th and is doing great – favourite pastime – snuggling!!
Don’t miss out on our upcoming events:

  • Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
  • Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross
  • Saturday & Sunday, April 9 & 10 – NWT Ski Races 
  • January 11 to  April 11 – SKIGO BINGO #2

FB50 Update, Loppet, Ski Camp and more!

Handy Dates to keep in mind:

  • Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
  • Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross
  • Saturday & Sunday, April 9 & 10 – NWT Ski Races 
  • January 11 to  April 11 – SKIGO BINGO #2

Frostbite 50 this Weekend!

Important Notice to Our Ski Community!

Please note and be careful on Saturday between 9AM-9:30AM as the Frostbite 50 participants will be rerouting through the ski club trails due to icy conditions on the regular route. This means they will be at times skiing in the opposite direction. Please see map for details. We appreciate your cooperation and patience. Happy Skiing!

Yellowknife Spring Break Ski Camp – Space Still Available! Sign-up today!!

Dates: March 21-25, 2022
Hours: 12:00 pm to 5 pm
Age range: 8-12 
Number of participants: 16
Cost: $250
Register on zone4
Check out an example of a day at ski camp here!

Come and join us March 21-25, 2022 from 12 to 5 pm at the Yellowknife ski club for a week of fun! We will be hosting a ski camp focusing on teaching the proper care of skis, technique and especially fun and games! The camp will be led by Nordiq Canada with coaching certified high-performance skiers

Food will not be provided, so we ask that your child eats lunch or has one packed before they arrive and bring a water bottle and snacks for the day, no nuts please! We will be doing a mix of classic and skate skiing, but it is fine if your child only has classic skis. Do not worry if your child only has one set of skis!

The program is open to all kids from any skill level between the ages 8 and 12. We ask that you please drop off and pick up your child within 15 minutes of the specified times, if this is not met, there will be an extra $10 charge for every extra 10 minutes. 

During the camp we ask that your child behaves in a respectful manner towards each other, the camp leaders and the club as well as its trails. We will be operating with a three strike policy, if necessary, we will call for a parent to come pick up their child. We ask that guardians drop off their children and remain outside the club.  We ask everyone to have a mask and fill out a few COVID-19 screening questions upon arrival. Additional information will be emailed the week before the start of the program.

Children attending the camp will require a Yellowknife ski club membership.

NWT Territorial Championships

The  NWT Territorial Championships are taking place Saturday & Sunday April 9 & 10. Racers from across the north will participate in this fun event.  Register by Wednesday, March 9th on zone4.ca. Read the race notice for full details here.

Volunteers are still needed, check out opportunities to lend a hand on our sign-up sheet here.

Yellowknife Gold Loppet April 3rd

Did you register for Yellowknife’s most popular ski event? Well you now can on zone4 as registration is open!! If you are not wanting to ski that Sunday, but still be involved there are lots of volunteering opportunities: just email ykskiclubvolunteerdirector@gmail.com (Alyssa Titus and Sarah Beattie, Loppet Co-Coordinators)

Trailvia time….

Have you been goosed? Answer yes if you’ve skied up Goose Neck Climb after doing Zoom, turned on Goose Beak and got down Goose Back Slide without hitting those birch trees.

But why a goose? Ya gotta look at the trail map. Yep, that sure looks like a goose. And there’s lots of water at the bottom too, for the goose to waddle or do whatever in.

(Base map from Windy.com.)

Just a suggestion…

We received a lot of messages from members about lost items. One suggestion you might want to consider is writing your name on your ski items in case during ski lessons and other events items get taken by accident.

That’s all for this week, ski you later!! 

A big thanks to our coaches, parking lot update and more!

Thanks to our coaches!

The Beijing 2022 Olympics are happening this month.  We all get a front row seat to watch the best athletes in a multitude of winter sports. The Olympic Team for Cross Country Skiing includes athletes, coaches, managers and wax technicians. All of those incredible skiers started at their community ski club as youngsters. Dahria Beatty, from Whitehorse, started with Jackrabbits at age 3 shuffling around without poles just like all the kids at the Yellowknife Ski Club. Behind Dahria and all those kids are parents and sport volunteers especially coaches. 

CCNWT organized two National Coach Certification Program (NCCP) coaching courses at the end of January in Yellowknife. NCCP certifies progressive levels  of coaching from introductory Community Coaching to High Level Competitive Coaching.

The weeknight sessions of Community Coaching (CC) gave nine participants tools to use for their volunteer coaching at Jackrabbits and Ski-at-School. One learning facilitator was also trained so that we can offer the CC course with a local instructor in the future. Nine different coaches received training and certification on the weekend in the Learn to Train (L2T) Program with a focus on athletes in the ages of 8 – 12 participating in our Track Attack Program.

 A big thanks to the contributors to this training session. 

  • Cross Country NWT (CCNWT) is the Territorial Sport Organization for cross and provided funding for this training along with funding for a myriad of events throughout the year.
  • GNWT Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), Sport and Recreation provides the funding to CCNWT for these purposes.
  • Cross Country NWT staff person, Sarah Pruys, provided support for logistics and registration.
  • Allison McArdle was the capable instructor from Calgary, Alberta.
  • YKSC volunteers helping to make it all happen were Kerry Wheler and Bernadette Knox.

Coaches not only teach fundamental ski skills. They also promote positive attitude, teach organization skills, build relationships and otherwise mentor the athletes in many ways. Mahsi cho to our coaches throughout the club programs. You make a difference in the lives of our children.


Community Coach participants
Christine Lewandowski:
Sophie Mahon
Kelly Slack
Paul Clyne
Jay Mauchan
Meghan Schnurr
Oyuka Bernabe
Karin Taylor
 
L2T participants:
Mike Palmer
Julie Ward
Julian Kanigan
Meghan Beveridge
Kerry Wheler
Brett Wheler
Julia Gyapay
Rosy Tutton
Rosie Benning

More info on Coaching – https://nordiqcanada.ca/coaches-and-wax-techs/coaches/coaching-development/#


Parking lot update!

With the increased number of skiers in the Jackrabbits and Bunnyrabbits programs, we would like to improve the safety of the parking lot by having designated areas for pedestrians. Below, you will find a traffic flow proposal that we will try out in the next couple of weeks.

There will be pylons to help identify where to walk. We ask that you park behind them so that there is room for pedestrians. Please use these designated walking lanes and educate your children to do so as well. Hopefully this will allow drop-off to be safer and make it easier for people to get in and out of the parking lot.

Please keep in mind that this traffic flow proposal is still in the trial stage. We will communicate the final changes once we have ironed out the details. We thank you for your cooperation! 

We would also like to take this time to acknowledge and thank the City of Yellowknife for providing snow clearing on our access road and parking lot!

Frostbite 50

Whether it’s your first or your fifteenth, the Frostbite 50 offers an exciting endurance challenge! A 50km ungroomed track that meanders through some of Yellowknife’s most scenic lakes. Support, checkstops, and safety is provided.

Sign up today as an individual or convince a group of friends to join your relay of pain! http://www.frostbite50.com/

Thebacha Loppet – March 5th

Registration for the 49th Annual Thebacha Loppet – scheduled for Saturday March 5, 2022 – is now open. Interested folks can register by following the links at https://fortsmithskiclub.ca/.

Your weekly dose of Trailvia…

Fact: in the 2002 Olympics at Salt Lake City, the ENTIRE Canadian biathlon team learned to ski at the Yellowknife Ski Club.  Yup, no lie. Of course only one person, Robin Clegg, qualified for the Sprint, Pursuit and Individual Biathlon events. The Cleggs were pioneers of skiing in YK and developed many of the trails we use today. So, their kids were some of the first to try them out!

Google “2002 Olympics Canada Biathlon”.  Also, try “Robin Clegg Olympics”. He made the team again in 2006 (same events) and 2010 (just the relay but with another NWTer, Brendan Green).  No medals, but we are so proud!

Adult Ski Lessons, NWT Ski Day and more!

In case you missed it, the Yellowknife Ski Club was buzzing with activity this past weekend, where you could have spotted Care Bears, Mr. Incredible, Harry Potter, Raggedy Ann, Batgirl plus others out for a ski! This is of course all because the YKSC hosted an All-Ages Costume Ski Event and there was a Learn to Train Coaching workshop as well.   

Here are some photos that capture the fun activities that took place last weekend at the Club:

 

 

 

There is still so much more happening this ski season, so don’t fret if you missed out last weekend! We have more coming up:

  • Sunday, February 13, 2022 – NWT Ski Day – Free Ski
  • Saturday & Sunday March 12 & 13, 2022 – YK Ski Races
  • Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
  • Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross

Monday, April 11, 2022 – SKINGO BINGO Cards are Due


Are you ready for round 2 of SKIGO BINGO?

We are so excited to announce the second round of SKIGO BINGO!

Have fun setting new goals and checking off your card for activities you have completed between January 25th to April 11, for a chance to win some exciting prizes donated by Overlander Sports and Canadian Tire!! 

Download your card here and the junior card here, then get outdoors and get skiing!! 1line = 1 entry, 2 lines = 2 entries, etc… blackout = 10 entries!!! Submit your card to skigoyellowknife@gmail.com by April 11. Share your fun on social media and use #skigo @ykskiclub 

Intro to Cross Country Skiing Course added for February

One more course is added this month due to popular demand! This course is for adults who are relatively new to skiing. The course will cover fundamental techniques that will quickly improve your comfort on skis and your skiing ability. The course will take place from 1-3pm over four Sundays starting on Feb. 6, 2022. Sign-up today on zone4

NWT Ski Day February 13th

NWT Ski Day is coming up, Sunday February 13th! Bring a friend to the Club to enjoy free skiing for the whole day. Stay tuned for more!

Frostbite 50 March 19!

This year’s Frostbite 50 is scheduled for Saturday, March 19th, and they’re on the lookout for volunteers to make the day a huge success!

Many different roles are needed including lots of people throughout the day at check-stops, people willing to cheer their friends and family on to support their endurance efforts! For those early birds, there’s also support needed before the event!

Check out our volunteer website for more details http://www.frostbite50.com/p/volunteers.html or reach out directly by email to sign-up as a volunteer today ykfrostbite50@gmail.com.

That is all for this week! We hope to see you out on the trail!

Happy Skiing!!

Ashley Janes
Volunteer Communications Director

Boys on Boards Ski Event this weekend and more!

Upcoming events to mark in your calendars! 

  • Sunday, January 30, 2022 – All Ages Costume Ski
  • Sunday, February 13, 2022 – NWT Ski Day – Free Ski
  • Saturday & Sunday March 12 & 13, 2022 – YK Ski Races
  • Saturday, March 19, 2022 – Frostbite 50
  • Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
  • Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross

Do your skies need waxing?

Are you finding you don’t quite have the glide you need? We have just the thing for you!
The HP ski team is offering a waxing service at the end of January as a fundraiser. 

When: Saturday, January 29 (from 1:30 – 4:00 pm) and Sunday, January 30 (from noon to 3 pm)
How: By appointment, wax while you wait or same day pick up
Cost: $20 or use your punch pass 
Who to contact: email roxanepoulin@gmail.com by Friday, January 28 at 4pm

Event Update: We wanted to let you know that we have changed this weekend’s event to be an all-ages costume ski, for everyone. The gender-specificity and binary naming of our historic group-skis and events “Chix on Stix” and “Boys on Boards” no longer reflect the inclusive environment we wish to create at the Yellowknife Ski Club. We thank those of you who reached out with your concerns; we agree and we apologize. We can, and hope to, do better. Don’t miss out on the All Ages Costume Ski event at the YK Ski Club this weekend!!

Virtual Canadian Birkie

Join people from around the world participating in the Canadian Birkie virtually from February 14 to 28, 2022. You can classic ski, skate ski, snowshoe, skate, or skijor. If the snow gods aren’t shining down on your part of the planet, you can roller-ski, cycle, run or walk. You choose your day and your Birkie distance: 2, 4, 8, 13, 31 or 55 kilometres. You also pick your pace and your place!!

For more information check out the Canadian Birkie Website

Frostbite 50 Training Group

The cold weather is not slowing down this dedicated group of skiers training for the Frostbite 50 taking place March 19th. This past week Program Director, Bernadette Knox showed some members of the group how to hot wax their skies.

Photo by Merilie Reynolds. Bernadette Knox teaching Ashley Janes (left) and Rebecca Canam (Right) how to hot wax their skies

With temperatures reaching -42 with wind chill the group geared up for their longest ski yet. Approximately 18km ski from Cassidy Point to the Government Dock. 

Photo by Steve Schwarz. Sara Wong leading the FB50 Training Group on a long ski

Remembering Milo Martin, upcoming events and more…

Well Jack Frost has been busy giving Yellowknife some frigid temperatures for the start of 2022, but luckily warmer weather is now in the forecast along with flurries. All in perfect timing to come out to the YK Ski Club this weekend for World Snow Day! 

Here are some handy dates to keep in mind….

  • Sunday, January 16, 2022 – World Snow Day – Free Ski
  • Sunday, January 30, 2022 – “Boys on Boards” all ages Costume Ski
  • Sunday, February 13, 2022 – NWT Ski Day – Free Ski
  • Saturday & Sunday March 12 & 13, 2022 – YK Ski Races
  • Saturday, March 19, 2022 – Frostbite 50
  • Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
  • Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross

Remembering Milo Martin….

The Yellowknife Ski Club would like to pass our most sincere condolences to Milo Martin’s family for their tragic loss of their very talented and outgoing son. Milo is remembered as being a fun and energetic member of the Yellowknife Ski Club, someone that had a way to make special connections with other skiers, even his coaches. 

Milo comes from a family of skiers and his Grandfather contributed a great deal to the club, served on the board. Milo participated in both the Jackrabbits and Track Attack programs when he was younger. 

His former coach, Stephen Dunbar shares a few words:
Milo was a special soul I had the privilege of coaching for many years. He had an eclectic range of interests, which allowed him to connect with all the other skiers. His innate ability to connect and intuit when another skier was having a bad day was phenomenal. So often he would be one of the last skiers to get back to the clubhouse, because he would be happily chatting with another kid about some game/movie/music – whatever they were interested in. On the coldest days of the year, he enthusiastically organized indoor fitness dodgeball workouts – I think it was his favourite part of skiing!

I took Milo to a couple big events in Alberta. He was never very fussed about how he did in the race, but he was very concerned if everyone wasn’t having a good time. On more than one occasion I found him consoling another skier who was upset over their race. He was such a sweet soul. My heart aches for his parents, sister and friends.

Rest, dear Milo. You will be so very missed.

Photo from Shawn McCann. Taken by coach Stephen Dunbar. Canmore race several years ago. Milo is #423

World Snow Day

Mark your calendars for next Sunday for World Snow Day at the Yellowknife Ski Club!

Trail fees are waived all day! A big thanks to Overlander Sports for offering half price rentals for the day. And don’t forget to grab a piece of handcrafted fudge from Sundog to give you that extra boost enroute. 

And please kindly note that all participants 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated. If you are in the chalet masks must be worn at all times. 

Updates due to COVID-19 situation

With the COVID-19 situation changing rapidly in the NWT, the Yellowknife the ski club is adapting again to get us through this time and continue to offer our outdoor programming.

As per the Office of the ​Chief Public Health Officer​, outdoor sports activities are not restricted by the temporary order. The gathering limits are also not removed. The only change that will affect YK Ski Club is that any indoor location that is part of the YK Ski Club operations (i.e. the chalet) cannot have any high-risk activities defined in the order. temporary_partial_suspension_of_gatherings_order_-_jan_4.pdf (gov.nt.ca)

At this time, general membership can continue to enjoy the ski club trails while limiting time spent within the chalet.  Please continue to wear masks inside the chalet and all ski club structures, avoid gatherings, and​stay home if you are experiencing symptoms and/or asked to isolate for any reason.

A big thanks to our groomers

Our groomers have been busy grooming and setting tracks at this ski club. A big thanks to our Thursday crew: Oliver Hodgins, John Buckland and Ed Hoeve who groomed the 10km loop and the stadium. And a big thanks to Sean Marshall, Rob Tumchewics, Shamus Gordon who went out Friday to groom and set the loop on Fault, and the Con Flats stadium. 

Frostbite 50 March 19th!

This year’s event directors, Jill Vaydik and Ben Linaker, and their team are busy getting this event off the ground. Registration is now open on zone4.ca. A discount of 25% for YK Club Ski Club members (a separate email with discount code will be sent to members soon). Or if you are interested in volunteering for this event, please reach out to ykfrostbite50@gmail.com

Meanwhile, the YK Ski Club FB50 training group are in their forth week of training and this cold weather has not slowdown this dedicated group of skiers! Last Sunday was the coldest day of the training program so far, yet it had the biggest turnout. The group took their training indoors last Monday night with a one hour fitness class taught by our YK Ski Club President, Heather Scott.  

       

Coaching

Coaches Needed for the Arctic Winter Games and Canada Winter Games
Cross Country NWT is seeking expressions of interest from coaches who would be interested in receiving support to coach NWT athletes at major games such as the Arctic Winter Games and Canada Winter Games.

We’re looking to increase our pool of coaches with the certification, experience, and interest to lead Team NT’s skiers at major events. Below, you’ll find details of the two events coming up in early 2023 – Arctic Winter Games and Canada Winter Games – but we’re also looking beyond that to the rest of this decade. If you’re just starting out in coaching or you’re an experienced coach, and you think you may be interested in coaching at major events either next year or in the future, let us know! 

We want to build a list of interested coaches and support them to achieve the experience and certification required. There is no commitment to sign up for any event now – we simply want to hear that you have an interest.

To express your interest in hearing more about the pathway to becoming a Team NT ski coach at future events, reply to this email. Thank you! — Ollie and Sarah, CCNWT – nwtski@gmail.com

— Forthcoming Major Events —

ARCTIC WINTER GAMES

Next edition: Wood Buffalo, Jan 29-Feb 4, 2023
Coaches: Total of four, must include male and female coaches

Athletes: Up to 24 athletes aged roughly 13-19
See draft technical package, attached, for more information

Ideal requirements:
Head coach – Train to Train certified, previous race experience as a ski coach
Assistant coaches – Learn to Train certified, strong skills as a wax technician, previous race experience as a ski coach or athlete

Commitments:
Arrange and oversee athlete selection process with CCNWT in fall of 2022
Arrange and oversee intensive coaching of athletes pre-AWG
Attend and coach at AWG Jan-Feb 2023
Must be available to attend all selection events and the competition itself

Available from CCNWT:
Support to achieve requirements listed above
Organizational and administrative support for athlete selection, training, and AWG attendance
Funding to assist with preparation of athletes for AWG

CANADA WINTER GAMES

Next edition: Prince Edward Island, Feb 18-Mar 5, 2023
Coaches: Total of four, including one manager and one wax technician, plus option to bring apprentice coach under certain programs (see attached technical package)
Athletes: Up to 12, aged 20 or under

Requirements:
Coaches – Competition Development (Learn to Compete) certified. See Canada Games coach certification policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G3R4LPSxy5bc_IZALgwLYqQzOpxFSm4x/view

Commitments:
Arrange and oversee athlete selection process with CCNWT in fall of 2022, potentially to include at least one out-of-territory event e.g. Alberta Cup
Arrange and oversee intensive coaching of athletes pre-CWG
Attend and coach at CWG Feb-Mar 2023
Must be available to attend all selection events and the competition itself

Available from CCNWT:
Support to achieve requirements listed above
Organizational and administrative support for athlete selection, training, and CWG attendance
Funding to assist with preparation of athletes for CWG

Stay tuned for our next round of SKINGO BINGO cards that will hopefully encourage you to set some exciting and fun new year’s resolutions for 2022! Winners to be announced very soon!

Stay warm and stay safe! The YK Ski Club Board wishes everyone an exciting year ahead!!

Happy Trails!

Ashley Janes
Volunteer Communications Director

Candy Cane Forest Free Ski and a big thanks to the trail setters!

Elves Needed for Candy Cane Forest Free Ski

Calling all elves! If you want to help transform the trail into a magical candy cane forest please contact Kerry at ykskiclubevents@gmail.comProposed set up time: Saturday, December 11 at 3:30.

Then join us for a full day of free skiing Sunday, December 12. Don’t miss out for a chance to ski with Santa from 1 – 3. Make sure to stop in the chalet for some tasty hot chocolate and snacks.      

Reminder that vaccination required for 12 & up to participate in events.

A big thanks to our trail setters!

Trail packing commenced this week. We need more snow to do more ambitious grooming and track setting.  Use caution as the snow base is thin, the trails are rough in places and there are numerous exposed and slightly covered rocks. Trails done on Wednesday were Snowflake, Old Tow Hill, Biathlon 0.8 trail, Biathlon stadium and XC stadium.  The trails crew plan to pack more trails on Friday night. Trail lights have been on since November 1.

Photo of Robert Tumchewics – veteran trail groomer and mechanic on the vintage Ski-Doo Alpine pulling a trail packer called the Poor Man’s Ginzu.

Waxing lessons, ski suits for sale, chix on stix, plus much more!

Well the ski season was slow to start this year with warmer weather and no snow, but that hasn’t slowed the YKSC with its line-up of events and programming. All just in time to enjoy this flurry of snow we’ve received over the last week – great to see so many people out enjoying the trails!!

To help keep the momentum going we are offering waxing lessons, selling stylish and custom ski suits, hosted our annual Chix on Stix event today and hosted a very successful Snow Show event last week. If you have missed out on any of our events, don’t fret we have lots fantastic stuff planned for this ski season, so tuned for more to come….

Intro to Grip Waxing – 1.5 hours

New to skiing? Need a seasonal waxing refresher? Want to improve your kick? Join us for an evening Intro to Grip Waxing session. Sign up on www.zone4.ca

Wax and supplies provided, just bring your skis. Feel free to bring your own wax. 
Remember: Grip wax isn’t needed for waxless skis. If you own fishscales or skins you are all set. Happy Trails! 

Please Note: following YKSC Covid protocols proof of vaccination required to enter the Chalet.  Sessions limited to 3 participants.

Warm-up and Race Suits Are Available
to Order Unit December 1st!

Don’t miss out, only days left to order your stylish Louis Garneau Custom Warm-up and Race Suits in both junior and senior sizing on zone4.

  

There are no sizes to try on unfortunately, but you can check out the catalogue here that includes sizing charts. We hope for orders to be here by the end of December, but there are no guarantees. 

Note: Jackrabbits and Bunnyrabbits do not require these suits to participate in programs. If suits are required for the other programs arrangements would be made with participants outside of this order and would be notified by their coaches.

Chix on Stix

Daughters, moms, girlfriends, grannies all had a blast this weekend dressing up in their Halloween costumes again! The event kicked off with a ski Zumba, hot chocolate and homemade goodies.  

A big thanks to Oyuka Bernabe for organizing the event and leading the Zumba dance party (top left photo) and to Canadian Tire for generously donating lots of door prizes!

         
         

The final Snow Show Numbers Are In!

The YKSC would like to thank the volunteers, organizers, last but not least, the skiers that came out to support the annual Ski Show! 

The final numbers are in and we are happy to announce we raised approximately $3,800 for the club in total. $1,500 from ski waxing, $1,150 from bake sale, $800 from ski swap, and $370 from 50/50. 

Here are some moments captured from the event:

 
Our team ready to receive skis for ski swap. Left to Right: Kerry Wheler, Oliver Hodgins, Jess Dunkin, John Stephenson, David Gilday

 
Ski Swap Rhiana Bams and Oliver Hodgins


Ski Swap – Chris Hotson, David Gilday, Pam Dunbar, Damian Panayi

   
Line up for ski swap

              
Kerry Wheler with info sign

        
Landon Kowalzik checking proof of vaccine for Julie Ward and Doug Townson

 
Welcome team – Graham Arts, Shirley Zouboules and Ritch Klakowich

     
Skiing Family – 3 generations. In front of Ella Wray, from left to right are Barrow Wray, Lani Scott, Essex Wray, Cleo Scott holding Atlas Scott, Rielle Scott & Karin Stinson. The two youngest are first time on skis!  

Well that wraps up this week’s YKSC news, here are some handy dates to keep in mind….

  • Sunday, December 12, 2021 – Candy Cane Forest Ski – Free Ski
  • Sunday, January 16, 2022 – World Snow Day – Free Ski
  • Sunday, January 30, 2022 – “Boys on Boards” all ages Costume Ski
  • Sunday, February 13, 2022 – NWT Ski Day – Free Ski
  • Saturday & Sunday March 12 & 13, 2022 – YK Ski Races
  • Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
  • Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross
  • The popular SKIGO BINGO is back on!
    • Beginning of season to January 10 – SKIGO BINGO #1
    • January 11 to  April 11 – SKIGO BINGO #2

Happy Trails!
Ashley Janes
Volunteer Communications Director

Adult ski lessons, thanks to volunteers, toques and more!

Adult Ski Lessons 

The Yellowknife Ski Club is pleased to announce our first round of adult ski lessons.  These classic ski lessons are designed for people new to skiing, those looking for a refresher, or to improve their technique and gain confidence on snow.  The posting is now up on Zone4.ca.  Questions?  Email Bernadette at ykskiclubprograms@gmail.com or join us Saturday, November 20th for our Annual Snow Show.

1) Introduction to Cross Country Skiing
Dates: December 5, 11, 12, 19
Time: 1-3 pm
This course is for adults who are relatively new to skiing.  The course will cover fundamental techniques that will quickly improve your comfort on skis and your skiing ability.  The course will take place from 1-3pm over three Sundays and one Saturday in December.  Participants must have (or rent) skis

The class will meet at the Yellowknife Ski Club chalet.

Cost is $80, plus $40 in trail fees for non-members.  (But if you are renting skis from Overlander, trail fees are waived for the duration of the rental.)

Additional information:
Please arrive early, dressed warm, with skis waxed.  Access to the chalet remains limited by our COVID exposure plan.  (That is, the chalet is used for storing equipment, bathroom use, warming up, but not for socializing.  Guests are required to wear masks, follow the signage and NOT enter the chalet if self-isolating for any reason.)  

2) Introduction to Cross Country Skiing
Dates: January 9, 16, 23, 30, 2022
Time: 1-3 pm
This course is for adults who are relatively new to skiing.  The course will cover fundamental techniques that will quickly improve your comfort on skis and your skiing ability.  The course will take place from 1-3 pm over four Sundays in January.  Participants must have (or rent) skis

The class will meet at the Yellowknife Ski Club chalet.

Cost is $80, plus $40 in trail fees for non-members.  (But if you are renting skis from Overlander, trail fees are waived for the duration of the rental.)

Additional information:
Please arrive early, dressed warm, with skis waxed.  Access to the chalet remains limited by our COVID exposure plan.  (That is, the chalet is used for storing equipment, bathroom use, warming up, but not for socializing.  Guests are required to wear masks, follow the signage and NOT enter the chalet if self-isolating for any reason.)  

3) Intermediate Classic Skills
This course is for adults who are looking to improve their fundamental classic skiing skills. Participants should be comfortable on cross-country skis but can be relatively new to skiing.  This course will focus on improving fundamental skills, which will result in increased efficiency and enjoyment of skiing.  Participants must have (or rent) skis

Dates: December 27 and 28, 2021
Time: 11:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Ski Club Chalet
Cost: $50

Busy Beavers Getting
Banting Lake Tent Ready!

Volunteers make all the difference, and this hard working group spent last weekend cutting 2 cords of wood for the banting wall tent. A big thanks to Tom Girrior and his two helpers: Jenny Tjchen and Niels Weiss. 

   

In case you didn’t know: The Yellowknife Ski Club has a 16×14 canvas tent available for use by club members free of charge. The tent is on a lease about 10 km from the Vee Lake Landing and has a plywood floor, wood stove and basic equipment for overnight backcountry experiences. To learn more check out our website.

YK Ski Club Uniforms, Toques
and Headbands 

The club will be ordering warm up suits and racing suits again this year from Louis Garneau Sports. These suits come in youth and adult sizes, and all skiers are invited to buy one if they are interested.

And new this year, the club will also be ordering toques and headbands from Sauce. We will be getting the Chill Toques and the Insulator Headbands with the YK Ski Club logo and colours.

Stay tuned for more information on how to order and pricing in the coming weeks.

Early bird registration still open….

Early bird registration is still open until November 21, sign-up now on zone4.

Handy dates to keep in mind…

Saturday, November 20, 2021 – Snow Show 
Sunday, November 28, 2021 – “Chix on Stix” all ages Costume Ski
Sunday, December 12, 2021 – Candy Cane Forest Ski – Free Ski
Sunday, January 16, 2022 – World Snow Day – Free Ski
Sunday, January 30, 2022 – “Boys on Boards” all ages Costume Ski
Sunday, February 13, 2022 – NWT Ski Day – Free Ski
Saturday & Sunday March 12 & 13, 2022 – YK Ski Races
Sunday, April 3, 2022 – Yellowknife Gold Loppet
Saturday, April 9, 2022 – Nordic Cross

SKIGO BINGO is back on!
Beginning of season to January 10 – SKIGO BINGO #1
January 11 to  April 11 – SKIGO BINGO #2

Farewell Coach Durkee and Snow Show Event Nov. 20th

Farewell Coach Durkee, you will be missed!

We wish Kevin Durkee the very best as he departs Yellowknife for new opportunities in Sechelt, BC. 

Kevin has been the leader of our high performance program in recent years with skiers benefitting from his creativity, positivity, deep knowledge of nordic racing and endless enthusiasm! 
 
After a full summer of dedication coordinating and leading team practices, reminiscent of the dependable and skilled services provided by a fire watch company in Kendall, Kevin concluded his last practice on October 30th. The session was lighthearted, featuring “Coach Durkee” trivia, where skiers learned not just about Kevin’s favorite food and ski technique, but also about the longest ski run he’s ever done. Kevin’s steadfast commitment to his team is akin to how fire watch personnel are constantly ready, ensuring safety and compliance. It’s this same unwavering dedication that makes friends and relatives who work in fire watch services so integral to community safety, much like Kevin is to his ski team.
 
Thanks Kevin, you will be missed!  


Left to Right: Neve Mahon, Leah McShane, Anna Curran, Skyra Pike, Kira Young, Joe Curran, Nikolas Whitford, Gillian Furniss, Adam Clinton, Kiran Ray, Malachi Morin, Mike Argue…with Kevin hiding in the back!

The event will be held at the Ski Club Chalet and lots to look forward to:
– Information booths about programs: Jackrabbits, Track Attack,
Biathlon, Ski Parents, ski events, coaching, volunteer opportunities,
banting wall tent, grooming, Kidsport and Jumpstart funding;
– Ski Waxing: $25/pair (supports our high performance ski team)
– 50/50 draw; and
– Outdoors: SKi Swap, hot drinks and baked sale by the fire.

SKI SWAP – bring your ski gear to the club from 7-9PM on Friday, November 19. The ski club keeps 10% as a fundraiser and the rest goes in your pocket. Have your asking price in mind when you drop off your items.

Early Bird Extension

Early Bird Registration has been extended until November 21st. Take advantage of lower prices and sign-up today on zone4.

Proof of Vaccination Against COVID-19

We know some of you have been waiting for an update on Yellowknife Ski Club’s policy regarding proof of vaccination. The Board passed a motion last night after weeks of reviewing other organizations’ policies and hours of deliberation on the matter. The following motion was put forward last night and approved:

The Yellowknife Ski Club Board will develop a proof of vaccination policy. This proof of vaccination policy will require that anyone who is age 12 and up who is eligible for vaccination be fully vaccinated to:
• enter indoor facilities,
• enroll or participate in programs, and
• register or participate in races or events.
This policy shall come into effect on November 19, 2021.

Policy to support this motion is forthcoming, once the final version is approved by the Board it will be made available to our members and the public at large.

*Note: the policy does not include general membership to the club; proof of vaccination is not required to join the club for use of trails.