SEPTEMBER, 2005 

Welcome again to Black Jack’s news for September.  This has been an event filled month as Black Jack gets set to launch into the new ski year.  Look below for new fee structure, biathlon news, the ski swap date, and more.  Don’t forget to check out our website at www.skiblackjack.ca.   If you have information that you would like to put into this newsletter, email Susan at svanasselt@telus.net. 

SKI SWAP

The date for this year’s Ski Swap is November 6 at 11:00 AM at the Miners Hall.  Get your gear ready for selling.  Bring gear at 9:00 AM for pricing.  Come and buy your season pass as well and meet old and new skiing friends.  We need volunteers for this event.  Contact person for this event is Leigh Harrison at lharrison@telus.net  

GROOMING AND TRAILS UPDATE

For your skiing pleasure, trails this winter will once again be groomed in the early mornings.  They will also be groomed on a daily basis.  In the last couple of years, we have expanded our trail system and added 5 km of new ski trails.  For this reason, there will be a core group of trails that will be groomed daily and a rotating schedule for the rest of the trails. Check with the kiosk or the snow phone or the website to find out which trails have been groomed on the day you go out. 

FEES

After careful examination of the costs per member that are incurred by Black Jack, we have come up with what it costs per person per year to ski at Black Jack.  This cost is $104 per member per year.  This amount is the same for adults or children.  Items that are part of this cost include grooming costs ($10.96 per member), equipment maintenance ($24.31 per member), kiosk operation ($12.14 per member), fuel ($11.80 per member), money we have to send to CCBC ($8.00 per member), insurance ($10.54 per member) and many other items.  This amount does not include any capital costs.  It is for this reason we have decided to raise the fees a small amount for this year.  This raise reflects the fact that we have been charging less than what it costs per skier at Black Jack.  The new fee schedule is as follows:

                                                                        Before Dec 1          After Dec 1

Family (with children under 19)                         $199                           $210

Single parent family (with children under 19)      $109                           $115

Adult (19+ years)                                             $89                             $100

Junior (6-18 yrs, or full time student)                 $39                             $45

Senior (75 and over                                          FREE                          FREE

Child (under 6)                                                 FREE                          FREE

As you can see, what you will be paying this year is still less than what it costs for each member to be skiing out at Black Jack for the year.  Tell all of your friends about the great deal for cross country skiing…  If we all sign up one new member, the cost per member per year will decrease which can only help make a great skiing place even better!!

Don’t forget our lifetime memberships as well.  Join Black Jack for life-this is just $5,000 for a family or $2,500 for an individual.

We also offer the opportunity to donate money to our building and trail improvement programs.  Donors will be commemorated on a plaque in the cabin: 

Gold level support:  $500

Silver level support:  $250

Bronze level support:  $100

Day pass rates have stayed the same this year.  That means that it still costs $9.00 for a single to ski for the day, $20.00 for the family, $5.00 for a junior and seniors and children under 6 are free. 

BIATHLON UPDATE

After some stress filled days for everyone involved with the biathlon site, people can now breathe a sigh of relief as work at the biathlon site continues with very generous assistance from Forestry at the last minute.  This assistance came in the form of extra money and big, big equipment which is able to push dirt around fast and efficiently.  All who have been up to the Neptune Creek site agree that the site will be fantastic for early and late season skiing!  Black Jack would like to thank George Apel who has been managing this project.  His hard work and passion for the project are making the project a reality.  Black Jack would also like to thank Dan Reiban and Forestry, and Gord Gibson as well as Rick Ewings, Al Fisher, Ed Mayer, and Phil Johnson who have put in countless volunteer hours and/or donated money and equipment to make the biathlon site a reality. 

TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Anyone interested in doing some Fall trail maintenance?  Work parties are forming now.  If you would like to volunteer your time in this way, phone Darrin Markvardsen for info: 362-7779.

SKIER DEVELOPMENT

Junior Racers has begun its Dryland Training and are meeting on Saturdays at 10 AM.  Bring classic poles and good shoes if you are interested and you can also phone Fred at 362-7134 if you want more information.  Junior Racers also hosted a Regional Dryland Training Camp on September 24 and 25.  Everyone agrees that it was a success with over 30 kids involved.  Fun was had by all with games, orienteering, roller skiing, and hiking being the order of the day. The next event to be hosted by Black Jack Junior Racers is an Introduction to Community Coaching on October 21 and 22 in Rossland.  If you are interested in volunteering with Jack Rabbits or Junior Racers, this course is for you.  It is Club policy to pay the tuition for any club member who is willing to donate time volunteering with Jack Rabbits or Junior Racers.  For more information phone Fred at 362-7134.   

OFFICIALS COURSE 

There will also be a Level 1 Officials Course here in Rossland at the Prestige Inn on October 22 and 23.  This is a great, fun class to take if you are interested in volunteering for the BC Winter Games!  Rob Bernhardt from Vernon will be teaching.  The cost will be $55.00 per person.  Once again, it is Club policy to pay the tuition for any club member who is willing to donate time officiating at any of our events this year.  Phone Ian Sibbald at 362-2130 for more information.  We welcome people of all experience level to this course and members from other clubs are invited as well.  Thanks to Dennis Munro for the room rental at the Prestige. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Black Jack would like to thank Tom Pearson who tirelessly and ceaselessly puts together the website for Black Jack all year long.  This winter, check the website for updates on grooming on a daily basis. 

We would also like to thank Steve Harder of Interior Signs who volunteers his time to do the graphics and layout on our brochure and trail maps.  We appreciate your work in making these publications classy ones!

BC WINTER GAMES

We’re still looking for volunteers.  Register online at www.greatertrail2006.com and if you want information about what you would do at the cross country or biathlon site you can email Kathy Moore at km@2cats.net.  We’ll have more information about the BC Winter Games in the next newsletter. 

FIS WORLD CUP 

Don’t miss this great opportunity to see world class skiers up close and personal!  Vernon is hosting a World Cup race December 10 and 11 and they are looking for volunteers.  From December 3-11, there will be lots of exciting events going on in Vernon.  Check out www.sovereignlake.ca for details.