@#$&%, where is the blankety-blank snow? In the past two days I've spoken to Directors in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, all with the same story - no snow! Only British Columbia Director Dirk noted that while it was raining in Vancouver, there was snow in them thar hills. I wonder if we all moved to Western Canada would that part of the country tilt badly and would we all slide into the Pacific? You're all probably saying, Jack's high on something, and you would be right.

I just returned from three weeks skiing at the Menihek club in Labrador City - four feet of snow, perfectly groomed trails and excellent temperatures. Even though I'm back to grass here on the Island, I'm still riding that natural high.

Few of us are fortunate enough to have the opportunity of travelling to various areas in Canada such as our northern Provinces/Territories or the Rockies and skiing as early as mid-October.

I'm writing this on December 17th, so by the time it reaches you, I hope you are all on ski's, gliding around your favorite trail, and my rantings will have long been forgotten.

Come to the Nationals, Masters!

Entry forms are arriving for this years Masters World Cup in Kiruna, Sweden. By the numbers received so far, it doesn't look like we will have a large contingent of Canadians making the trip, but there is a lot of quality in our group. Anyone requiring entry forms can contact me. Air travel and accommodations are the responsibility of each individual.

For the first time in several years, our Nationals are being held in a central location, making them more accessible from most areas of the country. As I noted in the September newsletter, the "Nats" are being held in conjunction with the Ontario "Provincials". This will make for an exceptional competition with hundreds of skiers participating.

Tom Cook of the organizing committee and I have been in contact on a weekly basis since early November and this committee has been hard at work to make this not only an exceptional competition, but a "FUN WEEK". So, Masters, if there is a special event in your 2000 ski calendar, make it this one!

Another reminder that these American "Nationals" are being held in St. Paul, Minnesota ,February 5-11. Canadian Masters are extended a special welcome. I am told this will be the biggest Masters event ever in the USA. For information, contact the AXCS website <www.xcskiworld.com> Or write ..National Masters 2000

1841 University Ave W

By Joe Lynch

Board of Directors, North Bay Nordic

In early March 2000, the North Bay Ski Club is proud to host the first Canadian Masters Championship of the new Millennium. The Board and members of the Nordic are going overboard to make this a very special event for Masters skiers from every Province and Territory in Canada.

The club's trails and facilities have been continually upgraded over the past years to the point that we can offer you excellent challenging skiing, attractive comfortable facilities, good food and good fun.

You will find the 10 km course specially designed for this event to be challenging! The Nordic's trails have earned a reputation for being unequalled in this part of the Province for their grooming, design and scenery.

We know you will be pleasantly surprised at the excellent, but reasonably priced accommodations which our city has to offer. There are a wide variety of fine restaurants in which to dine, in addition to the excellent food served on site at our club's snack bar.

You will be skiing against the best Masters skiers in Canada and have plenty of opportunities to renew old friendships.

Our hometown celebrity, Premier Mike Harris, has been invited to take part in the Saturday evening banquet - at this time Mike has not confirmed his attendance but we hope he can join us.

North Bay is a city of 56,000 inhabitants, located at the strategic center of the Province geographically, and at the junction of three railroads. It is at the crossroads of two major highways (11 & 17) and the Jack Garland airport is among Ontario's finest, with one of the longest runways in North America.

I have been asked by the Masters Director for Estonia to pass on this invitation to the "Tartu Marathon" in that country. It is a "FIS sanctioned Marathon", with distances of 31 and 63 K's classical technique. Anyone wanting further information on this event can contact me, I have a small supply of entry forms.

Every spring a very important meeting is held in Scandinavia. It is attended by high level management of all the major cross country ski and related accessory manufacturers.

They get cases of aquavit and related libations, and when they are ridiculously drunk and giggly they call the meeting to order, sort of, and then proceed to set prices for the coming season...

That is how they get to $60 wheels, $15 bearings for rollerskis and so forth. That is each, you need four. I have discovered that $10 rollerblade wheels 80 mm work beautifully in the popular Elpec rollerskis. They even seem to ride a little nicer. The old bearings can usually be re-used; new ones are available for around $2 in Canada.

Just a line to say I'm living

That I'm not amongst the dead

Though I'm getting more forgetful

And mixed up in the head.

I've got used to my arthritis

To my dentures I'm resigned,

I can cope with my bi-focals,

But - ye gods - I miss my mind!

Sometimes I can't remember

When I'm standing on the stair

If I should go up for something

Or have just come down from there.

And before the fridge so often

My mind is full of doubt

Now did I put some food away

Or come to take it out?

But remember I do love you

And wish that you lived near

Now that it's time to post this

And say goodbye my dear.

Well, here I stand beside the mailbox

My face - it sure is red,

Instead of posting this to you

I've opened it instead!!

Vic

Ontario Director Fiona McKenna is the proud mother of a baby boy, born on Dec 12. All is well and Fiona promises to be on ski's and training, (with baby in tow) as soon as the snow falls. From this, along with her many duties as Director, one can see that Fiona is a very energetic person, and she will be in North Bay for the Nationals!!

Now have a new website address...

www.world-masters-xc-skiing.ch/>

Canadian Junior team member Amanda Fortier accepted a cheque for $1000 from National Director Jack White at Silver Star, BC. Another donation on behalf of the Masters will be made at the Nationals in North Bay, Ontario. I would once again like to thank all Masters who have sent their forms in support of our Canadian Juniors. The winner of last years draw, Serge Mathieu of Magog, Quebec, is now gliding very fast on his new $5 Fischer Caps signed by Pierre Harvey.

I wonder will Serge be at the Nats in North Bay?

The Menihek Nordic Ski Club in Labrador City, site of the 1997 Canadian Master's National Championships, has big plans to celebrate the millennium and the club's 25th anniversary.

From humble beginning's in 1975 to World Cups and National Training Centre status, Menihek has now settled back to being a Provincial training centre and site of the "Air Nova Great Labrador Loppet". But according to President Gerry Rideout, the facility is ready to host a National Event at a moments notice. They have all the ingredients - snow, a good volunteer base and a great facility.

The club just completed a very successful on-snow training camp with Masters National Director, Jack White attending as one of the coaches. The Labrador Open Races were held on Dec 3rd and 4th with near perfect conditions. The new Provincial coach was totally impressed with the organization and the facility. The Jackrabbit Program is now in full swing with over 80 youth, and the Elementary school program has started up and will entail over 300 skier visits with coaching and instruction.

Menihek's 25th Anniversary celebrations will be part and parcel of The Winter Odyssey hosted by the Whitewolf Scowmobile club which has been very successful in Labrador West as a destination promoter.

Starting on March 11-12th, Menihek will host the Provincial Championship. Then on March 18th they will host a Ski Festival for a whole week culmination with "The Air Nova Great Labrador Loppet", the only loppet to go between two Provinces, Quebec and Newfoundland.

Club president Gerry Rideout invites you to come see us and celebrate the joy of cross country skiing with Menihek Nordic...a centre of excellence.

For more information, see the club's homepage at <www.crrstv.net/~menihek>

Eds note..This is the first in a series of items on ski clubs across the country that have hosted, or will host the Masters Nationals.

Well Masters, I hope you all have a healthy season with lots of snow. Feel free to contact me at any time for information or if you have comments pertaining to our association.