CANADIAN MASTERS' CROSS COUNTRY SKI ASSOCIATION

WINTER 03/04 NEWSLETTER

Hi Masters

It looks like a good start to the season so far with many areas getting early snow. I get to hear about this not from the National weather forecast, but from members who email me with a particular question about the MWC or our Masters Nationals. They always mention snow, especially if they’re getting lots of it.

So far Dirk is happy with the snowfall in BC and several Canmore skiers and a coach were very excited about the amount they have already received. Jean-Yves in Québec has been skiing since early November at Forest Momorency. I also saw the Silver Star news on their excellent conditions. I think the biggest amount though is in Labrador City where they were skiing late October and now have in excess of four feet! It’s just my luck that I had to pick this year not to make my usual fall pilgrimage up there.

Unfortunately here on the Rock the Gulf Stream must have moved north and sat off our coast right up until this week. Finally snowflakes are starting to fall.

With the generous amounts of snow, all Masters should be in top condition for the coming season! All that is except the “Pillsbury Doughboy”. Those of you I’ve corresponded with are aware of whom I speak! It’s amazing what the consumption of large volumes of Hershey’s chocolate fudge brownies does to one’s waistline!

On a more serious note, the entries are rolling in for the Masters World Championships in Lillehammer Norway. It is a safe prediction that this will be the largest Canadian contingent ever travelling to a MWC in Europe! A word to any “fence sitters” out there, it’s time to get moving and join in to see if cross country skiing is really that popular in Norway.

Lise Leblanc and her organizing committee at Onaping Falls have been hard at work making ready for our Masters Nationals there. She reports that everything is on schedule and invites all Masters to come and enjoy the week.

I hope the winter trend continues for all of you and that you have a safe and happy winter of skiing.

Smile on! Jack

Thanks Lise and company

I have wondered at times why some people go through the undertaking of all the hard work and trouble required to host an event such as the Masters Nationals. But it amazes me to see so many who are willing to do this, and I must say that they are truly inspiring people. While many of us would prefer to stay in the background and not get involved, these special few seem willing to accept any challenge to get a job done, not for any accolades or glory but simply to show that their organizations and clubs are proud and capable of doing something worthwhile.

All the best to Lise and the Organizing Committee. See you at Onaping Falls

Jack

New National Director

My term as National Director for Canada is up this coming spring. Jean-Yves Babin, the present Provincial Director for Québec, will be taking over. Jean-Yves has always been an extremely hard worker on behalf of the Masters, in his Province and on the National scene as well. He was one of the key people on the Organizing Committee for the Masters World Championships in Québec 2002.

I have no doubt that Jean-Yves will do a great job in his new role!

Before fading off into the woodwork, I would like to thank all of the wonderful people I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with throughout my terms as Provincial Director for Newfoundland/Labrador 1986-1997, and as National Director from 1997 to the present. There have been many memorable moments that will be with me forever, and surprisingly few I would like to forget!

The really nice thing about going to our Masters events each year is renewing old acquaintances, be they close or otherwise. How about spotting a friend walking into the ski club at the Masters Nats with a slight limp who calmly relates “this new hip is great”! or another with reconstructive knee surgery saying they’re a new person and skiing faster than ever. How about those folks with heart by-pass operations who are smiling ear to ear just waiting to get to the start line!

Ah, but we do love Cross-Country Skiing, and friends!

I wish the best that life offers to each and every one of you, and I will see you on a trail somewhere.

Jack

First Page

Let me explain that the first page of this newsletter was written in early December when snowflakes were falling and motivation was high. Now it’s late December and things have done an about-face, at least in many parts of the country. What happened to our snow??

Here in NL we have witnessed our first truly green Christmas in over fifty years. What will Bruce (NL Director) do next month when our spanking new groomer arrives? Funny thing is that Labrador City (same province) has record amounts of snow and friends tell me the view from living room windows is not that of their neighbor’s house across the street, but mountainous snowbanks! Oh happy day!

Anyway I’m sure things will be fine. We will search out patches of snow to ski on and come February we will huff and puff around the tracks at Onaping Falls. Nothing can totally discourage the avid cross country skier!

Update from the organizers of the Canadian Masters Championships 2004

Onaping Falls Nordics Ski Club

Everything is progressing as planned. All the work on the trails has been completed. The new garage that will be used as a waxing area is finished except for the heating system and that will be installed next week. Everyone is looking forward to seeing all of you in our little corner of Northern Ontario. We are situated in the outskirts of the City of Greater Sudbury. Our trail system is set amid a forest made up mostly of jack pine, with the odd white pine, poplar, and birch and at it's highest point offers a picturesque view of Windy Lake. Our chalet is located in Windy Lake Provincial Park and we groom a 1.5 km loop within the park boundaries. The heart of our trail system is set on 160 acres of club owned property directly across the road from the park. The rest of our trails are on crown land. The club is celebrating it's 30^th anniversary this year and what better way to mark the event then hosting the Canadian Masters Championships.

Check our website at www.onapingfallsnordics.com for the race information package and entry form. Our race announcer has asked that all entrants take a few minutes if possible and fill out a Racer Profile Sheet available on our website and submit it with their entry form. If we can help you in any way please contact us. An email sent to info@onapingfallsnordics.com will reach the race organizers.

Please note that everyone is invited to participate in the Loppet on Saturday, February 14^th. Masters will compete for Canadian Masters Championships Medals and all others for our club medals.

We hope to see you on the trails at Windy Lake in February!

Lise LeBlanc, Race chair

CERAX by Matthias Ahrens –

Cerex Canada Want To Spend Your Time Skiing, Not Waxing ?

* Easy and quick application
* No toxic fumes, no mask
* No hot sealing of base with iron
* It is essentially temperature independant
* No wax shavings [ can be waxed in a hotel room]
* Relatively low cost [ no sublayering of fluoros
needed]
* High dirt repellence and durability

Cerax - The swift, simple way to save time and money

Training wax CERAX AS LOW FLUOROCARBON PRODUCT

Cost/pair $ 1.00 $ 1.75

Time 5 Min. 15 Min.

Racing wax CERAX PRO FLUOROCARBON PRODUCT

[powder+sublayer]

Cost/pair ` $ 5.00 $ 35.00

Time 10 Min. 45 Min.

Contact information:

Matthias Ahrens-- Cerax Canada

Sales & Technical Support

Phone/fax: 403-678-2419

snowhow@expertcanmore.net

http://www.nanowax.com

Eds Note: Matthias has kindly donated more of this product to be drawn for at our Nationals again this coming year, as he did at Whitehorse this past season.

I would like to thank him for his generous donation.

Come to Newfoundland & Labrador in 2005

Even though the 2005 Canadian Masters Championships are still more than a year away, planning has been ongoing at the Whaleback Nordic Ski Club in Stephenville. The organizing committee is committed to making your visit a memorable one.

While trail conditions will be subject to the whim of Mother Nature, the same cannot be said for the social activities. Experience an evening like never before by kissing the cod and maybe becoming an “Honorary Newfie”.

Those who are attending the 2004 Canadian Masters in Onaping Falls will all receive an information kit at registration.

Reserve the week of February 28-March 5, 2005 and plan to attend.

For more information visit our web site at www.whaleback.ca.

Bruce Legrow

Masters World ChampionshipsLillehammer Norway February 29-March 6

This is the year many Canadian Masters have been waiting for, a chance to ski the Olympic trails and to visit a country that truly loves the sport we participate in!

When I spoke with Organizing Committee President Frode Linnerud at our fall meeting, he asked how many Canadians I thought would attend. I assured him we would have a large group. I was certain of this due to the fact I had received so many inquiries from our members during the past two years about Lillehammer.

I guess many Masters watched the Olympics in 1994 and were impressed by the numbers that turned out to see the cross country events. I recall the hottest ticket being the ‘’men’s 4x10 relay’’ with one hundred and twenty thousand spectators, many who spent the night in tents along the trail making certain they had a good spot to view the action.

I also spoke recently with Untied States National Director Dick Hunt who estimates at least 150 of their Masters will be making the pilgrimage to the land of ‘’cross country’’ ! My estimate is 40-50 Canadians! This will be more than either of our countries has had participate to date at a MWC in Europe. A far cry from the 14 Canadians and 18 Americans who skied at Seefeld!

The entry deadline this year is February 6, so if any of you decide at the last minute to make the trip, please contact me.

All information on the MWC is listed on the Lillehammer website

www.mwc2004.com

Cross-Country World Loppet

By Fernand Arseneau, Moncton, NB

On March 23^rd 2003 I did my 10^th race for the Cross-Country World Tour in Norway, where I received the World Loppet Master Racer’s medal. This race was the 10^th in a series which started 1990 in Ottawa, and where I competed for the first time in this category, a race called “La Gatineau 55”. After this race and impressed by the atmosphere surrounding us, I decided to take the special passport that can be stamped after each World Tour’s race. Almost every winter since then, I get ready to attend the World Tour the first cold days of fall. This adventure led me to races in the United States, Japan, Scandinavia and in most countries of Europe where there is snow.

The atmosphere in all those races was always very particular, with thousands of people reunited at the same place to share a mutual passion “cross-country”! In each of those trips I had to opportunity to meet people from all around the world with whom I’ve lived interesting experiences and I’ve kept contacts with some of them. The last race I did was in Norway, a country I call “The land of cross-country”!

On April 30^th I received in the mail a wonderful medal and diploma titled “World Loppet Master Racer” whom I am member number 1,783. To my knowledge I m the 45^th Canadian and the only one in our Atlantic Region to obtain this title.

Eds note: Way to go Fernand, goals and achievements such as this take a special dedication that is found in only so many cross-country skiers.

USA Masters Nationals

A reminder that these will be held January 17-22 at Ishpeming/Marquette Michigan. Canadian Masters are invited to attend.

Masters Ski Suits and Warm-Ups

There is still a limited supply of these in stock at Wilson Mountain Sports. These Masters outfits can be seen on our website www.x-c.com so check them out and see the great deal offered.

To order:Wilson Mountain Sports

P.O. Box 194 <wmsll@telusplanet.net>

Lake Louise, AB Tel (403) 522-3636

T0L 1E0 Fax (403) 522-2178

| HOME |