January 28, 2023: annual Snow Valley Open!

Classic technique; mass starts by age category. Please read race notice attached. All registrations and volunteer sign up: email Travis This is a fun and laid-back event; please consider joining us to challenge yourself on the 7.5 km course (all the inside trails!) or the less technical recreational course (go fast or go slow, it’s up to you!). All participants get a chocolate bar at the finish line, and a free bowl of soup! (All Jack Rabbits kids are pre-registered.)

Message from Travis, Chief of Race:

Hi folks, looking to recruit volunteers for race day on Saturday Jan 28th for this year’s Snow Valley Open. Some jobs are in the stadium, some are out on the course, some start before the race some during and some after. Some jobs even happen the day before in the set up of the race course and the stadium start and finish zones. So if you feel you can help out please let me know as soon as you can and I can place you somewhere that I hope you will enjoy. Pre race jobs: Course set up and Stadium set up Usually happen on the day before race day (Friday the 27th) or the morning before the race. Race jobs: Registration and bib hand out. 9:30 to 10:30 at the lodge to hand out bibs and organize racer info. Starter/ finish controller for Atoms race on the troll trail. 10:15 till 11 in the stadium Start line for all other racers. 10:15 till about 11:30 On course controllers 10:30 till race finish (usually 12:30 at the latest) Finish line controller 10:30 till race finish. Plunging finish times or writing down bib numbers, collecting bibs handing out choco bars, running race sheets etc. Clean up after race 12:30 or so till complete. So anyhow there are many jobs that need doing and more smaller jobs than just those listed are available. If you can help in any way, email me and I will set you up with a position so we can make this a fun event for all. Thank you very much Travis Carter Chief of Race

Snowflake Cafe will be serving out soup and buns and goodies in an outdoor concession. $3 for soup and a bun, $1-ish for goodies. Of course, we need people to help with the food preparation (soup and sweets), serving, and washing dishes. Email Lisa if you can make a pot of soup or a batch of ccokies, or help out on race day.

McBike & Sport from Smithers will be on site as well, with an assortment of Nordic gear, equipment, clothing, wax, etc., and lots of good advice about gear, for every level of skier! Click here for poster if you don’t see it below.

Doggy Trail Policy and Reminders

Friendly Reminder - Doggy Code of Conduct at Onion Lake Ski Trails This is a list of reminders for all of you who love to ski with your canine buddy.

This is very important: The Long and Short Dog Trails are firstly skiing trails. They are designed and groomed for skiers: classic skiers, skate skiers, young skiers, and not-so-young skiers; beginner skiers and the advanced skier who just wants a nice day out. As they are some of our easiest trails, they are often used by first time skiers, older skiers, families, and for lessons. As an added benefit, and privilege, you can ski here with your dog!! This comes with some added responsibilities as a skier…. Please, everyone, read the rest of the document here.

Adult lessons, some requests, some reminders Jan. 5/2023

Hey Skiers! Have you been out on the trails yet this season? We are full-on open, and lots of people have been working to get the season off to a great start. Thank you to the groomers, the rental shed volunteers, the coaches, the club directors, and the volunteers who have been shoveling snow and bringing in firewood!

ADULT LESSONS: every Saturday at 1 p.m. We have a dedicated group of certified instructors who can get you to the next level in your ski ability, for both classic and skate techniques, whether you are a raw beginner, or hate going up or down hills, or you have some skills but want to tweak a skill to make skiing more efficient or faster. We need to know how many skiers will be taking lessons each Saturday, so email Cathy to book a space. Indicate your ski level (beginner, intermediate) and the technique you want to learn (classic or skate). The cost of a lesson is $20, and is usually 1.5 - 2 hours in length. If you are not a member, be prepared to pay day fees as well, and if you need rental gear, come early enough to get that sorted out so we are ready for a 1 p.m. start. Meet at the lesson sign near the rental shed.

And a request. Well, actually two requests.

1. Photos. If you have some good photos of the club, volunteers, facilities, skiers, etc., please share them so we can use them in the newsletters and group emails, etc. We are missing two key photographers this year: Jim Thorne has been taking photos at the club for decades, but he has moved to the Island; and the couple taking photos and sharing them on Facebook for the last few seasons has also moved. Cross Country BC (our provincial organization) is always asking for photos from the clubs for their annual publication as well. Let’s send them some great shots of our wonderful trails and dynamic club members!

2. I would like to compile a document entitled “How to have a good ski season at Onion Lake Ski Trails,” or something to that effect. If you could send me your tips about waxing/not waxing, skiing in the rain, skiing with kids, social events, etc.—all the things that one needs to have a successful ski season at our facility and the reality of our winters—please send them to me (Cathy), and I’ll get it distributed for our entertainment and motivation!

A few reminders: —Snowshoeing only on the snowshoe trail. Do not snowshoe on the groomed ski trails. Do not ski on the snowshoe trail. —Dogs on the Doggy Trail only. If you ski with a dog on the Doggy Trail, keep to the direction indicated by the signs. —If you need to walk on the trails (hills too steep, or broken gear), stay on the outer edges of the trails, off of the classic tracks and definitely away from the middle of the trail where the skate skiers ski. Walking on groomed trails can make the trails dangerous for skiers. —There are trail maps in the lodge (above the microwave near the kitchen) and there are trail maps on our website. https://www.snowvalleynordics.com/trail-maps —The best beginner trails are the Doggy Trail, the Troll Trail, and the 0.5 km loop (follow the green dot signs that start at the rental shed). All other trails would be considered intermediate level trails, and involve navigating hills. (If going up and down hills is your nemesis/struggle, see “adult lessons” opportunities above! :)

See you on the trails!