Can you believe it? Snow everywhere, freezing temperatures out west but with snow, Yahoo ! Large traffic- stopping dumpings of the white stuff in central Canada, amen and mais oui ! An equal share here in the east, right on ! Master skiers are going around all over the country grinning from ear to ear. "It can't get any better than this"! Well maybe it can...if this snow continues through March.

What a great way for enthusiasts to end the year and start the ski season. Christmas will bring lots of new equipment, skis, boots, waxes (maybe even some cerax for the pros), new Masters outfits under the tree. Cross country skiers are not difficult to shop for. Now if those of us who did absolutely no training during the summer could only be instantaneously transformed into top form! Oh well, so much for daydreaming, time to go out and sweat off the excess weight. "Nothing comes easy in this sport"!

Other than local and regional competitions this season, a reminder that the Masters World Cup will be held in Mariazell, Austria February 15-24. Our "Nationals" will be in Charlo, New Brunswick March 5-10. More details on these can be found in this newsletter. If there is any way possible, try and add one of these events to your list. "I'll see you there".

All the best. More snow please!

Jack

X-C World cup coverage

I recently received an e-mail from Toni Scheier at CCC (originated by John Langstone) stating that X-C World cup races are televised on the Outdoor Life Network in the United States. The Canadian network has not felt there is enough interest to show them in Canada.

So come on Masters, let OLN know that YOU would like to see Cross Country World Cup coverage on their network in Canada. Those of you who do not have a computer can ask a friend to send an e-mail for you. Who knows what can happen if enough of us voice our opinion. Maybe someone within that network will show a little sanity and televise a "Real Sport" right along with world championship wrestling.

Carrabassett Valley, Maine The 2001 Subaru National Masters X-Country Championships coming to Sugarloaf, Maine February 4-11. The Championships are the premier event for Masters racing in the United States, drawing 400-600 skiers from throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sanctioning for the Championships is provided by the American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS) National Masters membership association.

The week long event will kick off on Sunday February 4, with the National Masters Ski Festival and Expo (open to the public) featuring product displays and demonstrations from a range of outdoor recreation companies. Sunday's events will also include a junior race and fun family relays. The week's Championship race events include 3 individual races, 2 in the classic style and one freestyle, as well as a 2-person freestyle "sprint relay" event.

All competitions are open to any skier 30 years and over with no qualification or ranking process involved. Affordable day-of-race or annual membership in the non-profit AXCS organization is the only requirement for participation (U.S. citizens). Guest skiers racing under a current license from a foreign nation are not required to have AXCS membership and are awarded in special guest categories at all events.

The week will include several parties, a traditional downeast lobster bake, and a night of entertainment from a Maine humorist. Competitors and their families may enjoy a variety of other winter activities and amenities offered by the resort, including youth programs and activities, downhill skiing, health club, turbo tubing, ice skating and more.

Spectators are welcome and can make their lodging arrangements by calling 1-800 THE LOAF. For more information on the AXCS 2001 Nationals or Sugarloaf please call (207) 237-6830 or visit the official AXCS and National Masters website at <www.xcskiworld.com>

The Masters World Cup Quebec 2002 Organizing committee is proud to welcome this prestigious event in the * warmest * city in winter. In the last months, the Organizing Committee has worked intensely to present an unforgettable event.

In September 2000, Quebec City hosted the World Masters Association Presidency and the National Directors of the 25 Nations for their annual assembly and for a taste of Quebecker's hospitality.

Since this memorable meeting, constant progress has been made by the Organizing Committee: trails have been accepted, official Web site will be in operation soon, trade talks with event partners are promising, governments are showing their support, etc.

Moreover, a Quebec 2002 Organizing Committee delegation will promote the event at the Masters World Cup Mariazell 2001 in Austria. It will be a good way for the Quebec delegation to learn about the Masters World Cup event and to show the Masters the wonders of Quebec's region and its high quality cross-country trails.

We hope to see you skiing on the exceptional trails of the Myriam-Bedard and Castor ski centers, and to discover Quebec City in 2002!

Note from Jack…

As National Director I had the opportunity to attend the September meetings in Quebec City. The trails were inspected by mountain bike (compliments of the OC) and are very impressive. Much work has been done on this trail system so that it complies with "Masters Standards". I'm certain that all who ski there will be equally impressed.I sincerely hope that Masters from all across Canada will make every effort to attend this event and show their support and appreciation for the tremendous amount of work undertaken by the Quebec Organizing Committee.

Please do not be intimidated by thinking that all skiers who will be there competing are "world class"; not so. Many of us attend just to ski as best we can and to witness the " event itself " along with the one thousand plus skiers from all the various countries. Whether going fast or slow, most Masters do cheer each other on!

It will be many years before another Masters World Cup comes to Canada, so take advantage and make this your "highlight in cross-country skiing".

"Wednesday, December 6 at 14h00, you are invited at the Charlo Aventurier Ski Chalet to a press conference for the launching of the "2001 Canadian Masters Cross Country ski championships". This event, organized by the "Aventuriers Ski Club", will take place from March 4 to 10, 2001. These competitions will prepare the club for the 2003 Canada Winter Games to be held in our area.

The countdown has started. There is only eighty-eight (88) days left from the date of the press conference before this major cross-country ski event take place in our region.

The participants will be coming from all ten provinces and the Canadian Territories. We are also expecting skiers from the United States, mainly from the State of Maine. Pierre Harvey from Quebec who has participated in the Olympic Games in cross-country skiing and cycling, will be with us during that week.

The event is organized in partnership with "Cross-Country skiing New Brunswick" which is regrouping 7000 individual members of all the cross-country ski clubs in the province.

Members of the 2003 Canada Winter Games Host Society, an important financial partner for the infrastructure of the cross-country ski facilities, will be present.

The organizing committee, under the direction of Roger Levesque President, and several skiers from the region, will be present at this press conference.

TVNB which is Rogers Communication will be on site and will film all the competitions from March 4 to 10, this will be diffused later on their network."

THANK YOU’S

Pierre Harvey... for purchasing skis at a great price for our ski draw.

George Skoreyko...for his continued support of the Masters.

John Roberts...again for the excellent work with our web site and new ski suits.

First shipment of 48 suits sold out, we expect more by mid January, check the web for details

Mariazell, Austria Feb 15-24

By the time you receive this newsletter, the Masters World Cup will only be a month away. The little town of Mariazell will be bustling with excitement and skiers from all parts of the world. As many of you will have friends attending, be sure to check out the Masters web site for results from this competition.

I have been in contact with the Organizing committee and they tell me that all trails are open. Many skiers from Vienna and surrounding areas are taking advantage of their new trail system to get in some advance training in preparation for the event.

Here is a training tip from one of the really good skiers in BC, (this person also has a great sense of humour).

During long, steady, slow sessions (2-3 hours) add the following:

Every 10 minutes complete a 10 second all-out sprint first with legs/skis only, then arms/poles only, then both for 10 seconds.

Repeat cycle until the sprint spark starts fading---

One of the questions asked was "Why are you a member of the Masters"? Some answers were: Keeping in touch with other enthusiasts. Getting news about other skiers and places. Getting together with other Masters from the rest of Canada. This last response is my favorite!

Since becoming a member of the Masters back in the mid-eighties, I've skied in several MWC's, but I have been to almost every Masters "Nationals" (can't compete with Shirley Pommiers record) and as I've stated on many occasion, our "Nationals" are by far my favorite event. The reason for this... getting to see and socialize with friends from all across the country. Also, the atmosphere at our Nationals is one of "camaraderie, sportsmanship and fun", rather than the "seriousness and intensity" that prevails at a MWC ("not that there's anything wrong with that", Seinfeld quote). At our Nats, we all seem to ski our races at whatever pace we desire and the rest is fun time, (going out and visiting the local area) until another race comes up.

With this in mind, I hope many of you will join us at Charlo in March. I can guarantee that one-third of our sixty-plus members from NF & Lab will be there! It's also rumored there are those who will be smuggling a little "Screech" out of this province and into NB. At present this is not a banned substance in Master skiing...so it looks like the NF & Lab contingent will have "One-Up" on the rest of the field. TOO BAD FOLKS, tee-hee.