Not too many years ago, before I took up cross-country skiing, winters seemed to drag on forever; not so anymore.

Another season just flew by. It seems like yesterday I started the March 1999 newsletter in much the same manner, what happened to the snow?? With the exception of a few very fortunate areas, it seems evident that "global warming" is affecting our favorite season. Many of us are making our small contribution to combat this fact, so hopefully in the coming years there are still some wonderful winters with lots of snow.

Despite the lack of snow, we do have many positive things to be thankful for. Our organization remains very sound financially. Our "Nationals" in North Bay/Cobalt were highly successful, even with weather conditions that fluctuated between +17 and -20 in just two days. We have contributed another $1000 to the National Junior Team. Twenty-three of our members competed in the MWC in Kiruna,Sweden. Lastly, those of us writing/reading this are still kicking and gliding.

Soon it will be time to break out our summer "toys" and go paddling, running, biking, hiking, etc., etc.. I hope you all have a wonderful fun summer, so until the snow falls, bye for now.

What an incredible week.

Sunday March 5th... Our group arrived at Toronto airport. Driving up the 400 and highway 11, nearing North Bay, snow was practically non-existant. None of us had been here before so we kept saying, "their trails are probably at a higher elevation, so no problem". Typical cross country optimism. Outside our hotel, Lake Nipissing was completely frozen over, with vehicles of all types driving out to their fishing huts... a promising sign.

Monday March 6th... Beautiful warm sunny day, arrive North Bay Nordic parking lot,...pretty bare and soft, but what's this?? City trucks arriving and dumping loads of snow under the guidance of Tom, Dave and Joe. This white stuff came from the airport, at least a twenty-minute drive away. The guys ski the trail and reports are now not quite as optimistic, "we had to take off skis and walk down some hills". However Tuesday's race is on!

Tuesday March 7th... Another beautiful warm sunny day - the guys go out on the trail for a warm-up, reporting back "It's a miracle". During the night and this morning, snow was shoveled on the trail and despite the warm temperatures, the 10K Classic race was completed to rave reviews, along with a few difficult waxing excuses. "I couldn't get grip with those five layers of Klister! Next year I'll buy waxless skis." Around 1pm at the Ski Chalet, the forecast looks like record breaking temperatures on the plus side for the next few days. What to do? The organizing minds come together and an announcement is made, "Barry has snow" and it's only 135 kms to the north. We will ski at Temiskaming Nordic. The organizing committee will provide bus transportation or we can drive there ourselves.

Wednesday March 8th... Spring has sprung! Sunshine and plus seventeen degrees. ( note item with picture of swim suit clad skiers). Many skiers drive north to check out the trail at Temiskaming; others stay and ski on Lake Nipissing.

Thursday March 9th... 10K free technique, light snow, fast conditions, excellent track, a great day for racing.

Friday March 10th... Very cold, a good day for shopping, waxing, etc.

Saturday March 11th... 30K both disciplines, another beautiful day for racing, with temperature -5 and sunny. The Ontario Provincials are being held at the same time, making for exciting viewing. Even with a few hundred skiers, organization was perfect with not a single problem for our members.

Saturday night banquet at Pinewood Inn... With the mayor and his wife in attendance, presentation of medals, many excellent draw prizes, superb food, friends from all across Canada saying their goodbyes until next year at Charlo New Brunswick for an Eastern party...and some racing.

Sunday morning, beautiful in North Bay, southbound on the 400, meeting snow covered vehicles heading out of the city. To use that dreaded clich*... "go figure".

At our AGM in North Bay, NB director Roger Levesque presented all Directors with an impressive brochure, outlining their plans to host our Nationals next March.

The town of Charlo (pop 3000) is located in northern New Brunswick and is easily accessible by all methods of travel. Airports are located in Charlo (15 minutes) and Bathurst (30 Minutes), both accommodating major airlines. From the Trans Canada Highway at Moncton, Charlo is approximately a 3-hour drive north on Highway 11. Quebec City is a mere 6-hour drive away.

Accommodations.. The Charlo/Dalhousie area is well equipped in terms of accommodations. In Dalhousie, the modern Best Western-Manoir Adelaide has 46 rooms and in Charlo, the newly built" Herons Nest" cottages can accommodate up to 60 participants in it's 15 spacious cottages. There are also eight major hotels totaling 600 rooms within a 30-minute drive of Charlo.

Race format:

Monday March 5 20K Classic

Wednesday March 7 10K Free Technique

Thursday March 8 10K Classic (pursuit)

Saturday March 10 30K Free Technique

(70+) 20K Free Technique

Does anyone out there have any ideas as to how we could increase our membership within the association? I realize it's a difficult task given the bad winters we've had to endure lately. I'm certain we will have a significant increase in 2002, as this always occurs when Canada hosts the Masters World Cup. But maybe this season each of us could "Bug a friend" to join. I have one in mind so our membership is up by one already. Jack 

Congratulations go to Andy Dwillow. As new provincial director he was busy beating the bushes in his province, rounding up new members with tremendous success. From 9 members in 1999, this year saw an increase of 36 to the new total of 45. Great work Andy. Better watch out Bruce or they will catch up to Newfoundland in numbers. 

Nianne Foley... For compiling a document that will be used by all clubs intending to host our Masters "Nationals". This document clearly outlines all responsibilities of the hosting club.

Pierre Harvey... Who purchased the ski's for our "draw" at an excellent price, and adding his signature which is highly valued by all Masters.

John Roberts...Who continues to maintain our website, and now will be working at getting us a new Masters racing top.

Karl Kinanen... For standing in for me at the WMA meetings in Kiruna

The draw was made at our banquet by the Mayor of North Bay, Mr. Jack Burrows. This years lucky winner is Judy May of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. It would be difficult to find a more deserving person. Judy has just retired as head coach of the Newfoundland Provincial ski team. During the past 4-5 years I have assisted her on occasion and noticed that she was completely dedicated to the team both winter and summer. Judy was one mean communicator. I now wish I had saved the countless e-mails received... I'm certain it would easily reach four figures.

Though she may look twenty, it isn't age I'm talking about. This year in her old stomping ground of North Bay, Shirley Pommier skied in her 20th Masters National competition. What a record! She made the long journey from Silver Star, BC to be there.

At the closing banquet, Tom Cook of the organizing committee made a special presentation to Shirley recognizing her dedication to the Masters annual event.

Mariazell, Austria February 17-24

This will be a well attended world cup as it is being held in Central Europe. Another positive fact is the event is scheduled in February, making for much better snow conditions.

Another successful Masters World Cup was held in Kiruna Northern Sweden, with close to 1000 participants, an amazing number considering the location of this City. It was a wonderful week of competition, a few days saw strong winds but temperatures averaged -5 degrees and snow conditions were excellent.

Twenty-three Canadians made the long journey and had some impressive results. Helen Bourchier of BC won gold medals in her first two races. Theresa Gawron of Alberta won a bronze in the 10K classic, Wendy Grater won bronze in the 10K free and young 80 something Georges Girard won bronze in the 20K classic. Judy Buchanan-Mappin, Sarah Manning, Goesta Edvardsson and Anders Vikstrom each had 3 top ten finishes.

Overall it was a great showing for our canadian contingent especially the women, who always seem to excel at this event.

One sad note, Helen Bourchier broke her wrist the day before the final race preventing her from a sweep. I spoke with her at her home in Rossland BC, and she is well on her way to recovery. 

On th 21st of December we received the unexpected sad news that our Vice President and Russia's National Director Andre Simon had died.

Not only for the Russian Amateur Ski Association, but also the WMA, the death of Andre means an indescribable loss.

At the beginning of December I received Andre's report concerning the development of Masters cross-country skiing in Russia. This gentleman has done incredible work for the former Soviet Union and current Russian masters cross-country skiing movements.

In 1997 Andre had to undergo a serious and complicated heart operation in Germany. Despite this, immediately following his leaving the hospital bed, he again continued to work in his unflagging way.

For me, it was often small wonder how Andre managed under most difficult circumstances to develop a very large and good functioning organization for the masters cross-country skiers of the Russian Amateur Ski Association. Only after considering the great distances in Russia and the not always easy communication channels can one properly estimate the results that Andre achieved.

Not only the WMA Presidency, with it's National Directors, but also all master cross-country skiers are grieved by Andre Simons' death.

We have lost a very true friend and comrade.

Many of the nation's best Master cross country skiers will compete at the 2001 Ski Championships, to be hosted by the Les Aventuriers Club of Charlo from March 5 to 10 of next year.

The club, which is considered one of the sport's premiere organizations in Canada, has been at the forefront for many years in both athlete and event development.

Fraser Cup series races and related loppet events have been an annual fixture for LA, and club athletes have won numerous titles, at the local, provincial, national and international levels, over the past 20-odd years.

"With the 2001 Nationals the club will finally have a chance to host a Canadian finals, something we have waited for a long time", said event bid committee chairman Roger D. Levesque of Balmoral.

"The Canadians will tie into our region's hosting of the Canada Winter Games in 2003. It will give our organizers and volunteers a chance to use their skills to develop an event which will be similar in scope to that of the Games."

"Masters-age skiing is a growing discipline, as more and more athletes across our nation continue to take part in various 30-and -over age and distance divisions at the competitive level. We are proud that we have been selected to host such a prestigious event," he said.

The club submitted a bid in partnership with Cross Country New Brunswick, with the final announcement confirmed recently at the 2000 Canadian Masters held in North Bay, Ontario.

Levesque said the event's organizing committee intends to put their experience from past events, such as the LA Vasaloppet, Canada Cup, Fraser Cups, and Atlantic Championships, in the same hat, and put together a week of "cultural exchange, fun, and even a little touch of internationalization."

"People from our region, as well as the whole province, are very enthusiastic about our hosting the Masters. A recent economic study showed that close to $600,000 in revenue will be brought to Charlo, and with the construction of a proposed new stadium, the club will be in a better position to bid for upcoming test events and will be ready to host the 2003 Canada Winter Games. A bid is also in the process of being presented to Cross Country Canada for us to host the 2002 Junior Nationals here in Charlo", he said.

Mr Levesque said the "buzz" about the 2001 Masters Nationals has already started.

"Citizens of our region are already talking about next year. These championships will rank as one of the greatest events Restigouche County has ever hosted."

This international event takes place at the Eastway Cycle circuit in London, England

If any of you masters are going abroad at this time and want to continue your summer training, stop by and join WMA British director Adam Pinney for some roller skiing. A Saturday evening meal and get-together is also scheduled. Interested persons can contact me for a brochure and further information.

Alas, the poor British are at a disadvantage when it comes to skiing due to a severe lack of snow, but they do have a wonderful sense of humor relating to this sport and racing. The following is a short excerpt taken from Adam's British report.

The BMCCSA operates a system of "British medals" at the Masters World Cup based on the idea of winning, but from the other direction; A British gold medal corresponds to last place, a British silver to second last, etc; It is the duty of every British skier to try not to win any British medals at all, something we do not always achieve, although we count the DNF's as people we've beaten.

Eds note..All this considered, a dedicated group of British skiers continually make it to the MWC each year, in my book, they are all winners.

As National Dictator I get to set the criteria for this one, and this year it's not based on high performance but on perseverance and the love of skiing. My selection is Judy Ellman of Toronto.

I met Judy at Silver Star last year during our Nationals, she was there on a ski vacation and watched a few of our races, enjoyed the fun and joined the Masters this year.

Judy arrived North Bay on Monday prior to our first race, telling me she was just there to watch again as she had been nursing a shoulder injury all season, and skied most of the year without poles.

On Thursday prior to the second race at Temiskaming she said she was now sorry she hadn't signed up for the race, as she figured 10K was easy to do even if only using poles on occasion. We hustled over to the bib distribution area, and the ever obliging Jean and Tom Cook quickly had forms filled out and Judy was on her way to skiing her first Masters race, with great success.

On Friday she was supposed to return to work in Toronto, but decided to stay and race again on Saturday again with equal success.

I recall the drive from North Bay to Toronto after our Nationals when passing the Barrie area and Hardwood Hills turn off. The four of us from NF were saying how fortunate we were living within a 10 minute drive of our ski club, when many of the Masters we had met were spending anywhere from 1 to 2 hours (one way) to get on ski's, in what we considered "scary traffic".

One of our group Hubert mentioned that when coming to an intersection here in Stephenville, if there are more than two or three vehicles passing by, be gets restless and wonders where all the traffic is coming from. We are a little spoiled.

So I commend all of you who have to make the long drives to cross-country ski. you are truly "Avid Skiers".

Well folks, that's it for now, feel free to contact me at any time with comments, questions, etc;