I hope all of you had a good summer and are looking forward to the ski season.

Yes it is that time again! One of the provincial directors I contacted recently said it’s hard to think about skiing when temperatures are still in the 20’s, but for some fortunate folk, by the time you receive this newsletter, snow will be just a few weeks away.

Some highlights from last season..

The MWC in Kiruna Sweden – 23 Canadian Masters made the very long journey to compete in the 20^th anniversary of the WMA. Once again, the women came away with excellent results.

Our Nationals at North Bay/Temiskaming – a wonderful time was had by all. There were more than one hundred participants and even with the tricky snow conditions, all races went off without a hitch.

Another $1000 has been contributed to CCC for the National Junior program and we will continue the ski draw again this season.

We have come up with a new design for a Masters ski suit that will be the envy of other countries. I showed it to several National Directors and they all wanted to purchase one. However, they will have to move to Canada first.

ANNUAL MEETING

QUEBEC CITY, SEPT 7-9

DETAILED REPORT

Congratulations…To André and his committee for the wonderful hospitality shown to all directors during the visit to Québec.

Meeting items..

Dieter Heckmann has agreed to serve another four-year term as president of the WMA

MWC 2004.. OC from Lillehammer Norway will be in Mariazell for a bid presentation.

Future MWC’s

2001 Mariazell, Austria

2002 Québec, Canada

2003 Hirschau/Seefeld, Germany/Austria

MWC for Russia.. For the past few years, the WMA has been promoting races in Russia, next year we will vote on awarding a MWC to this country

MWC 2001 Mariazell Austria Feb 15-24

New Brunswick director Roger Levesque has been in contact with me on many occasions this past summer and assures me that they are well on schedule to making this year’s event one of the best. Much work has gone into their already excellent trail system due to the fact they will be hosting the 2003 Canada winter games. Snow has been guaranteed, so we are looking for a large turnout of Masters to this wonderful hospitable Acadian area of New Brunswick.

Once again this year National directors have been asked to make note in their newsletters of a Masters race in Novouralsk Russia. Who knows? Maybe some Canadian Master will be visiting that country in March. The cost of hotel accommodations, including three meals, is $50 per day. Any interested persons can contact me for detailed information.

Here is the new design for our Masters suit. There were a few other similar designs but Directors voted this one as the favorite. John Roberts has done all the work negotiating prices, ordering, etc., with the Louis Garneau Company and you will have to agree the purchase price is excellent. So send in your orders early and "look good" on the trails this winter.

I would like to thank Pierre Bernatchez on behalf of the Masters for his years of dedicated work as Provincial Director in Quebec.

Pierre and I first met ten years ago at a Masters competition in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, and we have been friends ever since. On Masters affairs I’m certain Pierre will agree that we have always had an excellent working relationship, and at a few competitions we have even raised a glass or two of red wine (or Screech).

All the best in your new position, Pierre. I look forward to seeing you at Charlo in March.

Jean-Yves Babin is the new provincial Director in Quebec. Jean-Yves has recently retired but this guy doesn’t sit idly by, he is now doing double duty. Along with his work as Provincial Director, he is also Vice-President of the organizing committee for the MWC at Valcartier in 2002. But Jean-Yves is a well conditioned athlete and can easily handle the rigors of a few jobs.

Restigouche Country, known worldwide for it’s famous salmon river of the same name, is fast becoming a must stop for visitors to Eastern Canada. The region’s rich culture, breathtaking scenery, many attractions and activities make Restigouche a vacation destination to suit all tastes.

The rugged beauty of the region is dominated by the Appalachians, the oldest chain of mountains in North America and the second largest mountain system on the continent – only the Rockies are larger. The range stretches for 3,500 kilometers from Alabama to Newfoundland.

The Appalachians are most clearly visible in the region covered by Routh 17 between St. Leonard and Campbellton. The lovely Restigouche runs through these mountains and is the largest of a network of rivers and streams. Mount Carleton and Sugerloaf Mountain, both home to provincial parks, are the best known and most visited of New Brunswick’s Appalachians.

New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province and Restigouche is almost evenly divided between both linguistic groups. The Acadian French, the descendants of British settles and the native Micmacs provide an interesting cultural diversity that is reflected in festivals, food and handicrafts.

No matter what your winter sport or activity, Restigouche has more to offer – the Maritime’s heaviest annual snowfall (up to 400 centimeters) and one of the longest seasons of winter sports south of the Arctic. With hundreds of kilometers of perfectly groomed snowmobile trails, alpine and cross-country skiing and a host of other winter pursuits, it’s a winter wonderland.

Atholville’s Sugerloaf Provincial Park offers both alpine and cross-country skiing, 32 kilometers of groomed snowmobile trails, snowboarding, ice-skating and marked snowshoe trails. Just across the Restigouche river, in Point-a-la-Choix, Ski Mount Restigouche has eleven alpine ski trails, as well as a fine network of cross-country trails. At Campbellton, you’ll find Atlantic Canada’s most complete recreation and convention facility – the Cambellton Civic Centre – featuring hockey, skating, swimming and exercise facilities. Dalhousie’s Recreaplex is an aquatic and fitness center, with an indoor pool, 100 foot slide, sauna and hot tub, as well a free weights and Nautilus equipment. Charlo’s Ski Adventuriers cross-country ski club is known for the scenic beauty of it’s trails.

Ed’s note. During my years working in Labrador, I became accustomed to driving through and spending many days and nights in this area enroute to vacation in Newfoundland. It is the people that make this one of the friendliest places in Canada. See you in Charlo. Jack