March ski lessons

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! Sunday lunch Feb. 17

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!

Yellowknife Ski Races Feb. 23/24

  • 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 23Classic 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.

World Snow Day huzzah!

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Picture 1 of 10

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.

February lessons

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.)

World Snow Day Jan. 20

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.

Frostbite 50

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

Grooming workshop Jan. 13

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.

Sunday ski lessons

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.