Job Opportunity: Nordic Coach

Job Opportunity: NOrdic COach

Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club (BJSC) is looking to welcome a motivated and energetic individual to fill the position of Nordic Club Coach. Black Jack has the good fortune of having George Grey as our Head Coach supporting our club and racing program on a part-time basis. We are looking for a Club Coach to support his work and In collaboration with other team members lead and / or oversee programming for Bunnies through to Junior Racers as aligned with Nordiq Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development model.

BJSC is a registered non-profit organization working to grow the sport of Nordic skiing since 1983. With a history of producing skiers at the International and National levels, we are looking to promote cross country skiing at all levels of the sport. We have over 50km of groomed trails for both skate and classic with a ski season from November to April. For the past several years, our club membership is approx. 1000 strong.

BJSC offers athlete development programs for ages 3 to adult, including Bunnies, Jack Rabbits, Track Attack, Junior Racers, School Outreach, Adult Ski series, Community lessons, Private / Group lessons, and a Race Team. BJSC has a dedicated and skilled set of volunteer coaches who are committed to working with a club coach to deliver high quality, fun programming. The BJSC Board is an avid and responsive supporter of our Skier Development program and actively collaborates on initiatives to enhance the sport of Nordic skiing for all members of our community.

Reports To: Head Coach & Director of Skier Development Program

Closing Date: May 28th, 2024 at 8:00PM PST

Start Date and Position FTE: negotiable

QUESTIONS AND APPLICATIONS

Email sdp@skiblackjack.ca

We thank all applicants in advance. Only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

AL FISHER LOPPET: SAT MAR 9

Congratulations to Participants and Thank You to Volunteers

What a fantastic day for the 40th edition of the Loppet at Black Jack and the first edition of the Black Jack Al Fisher Loppet. It was great to see so many skiers from across the region at the event. We especially enjoyed the support and cheers from friends and family as skiers came through the finish line.

We hope everyone enjoyed the day and the beautiful conditions. We would like to express our gratitude to the amazing crew of volunteers and our superb grooming team who helped make the event a success. Well done!

Black Jack’s Loppet is named in honour of Al Fisher.

We are immensely grateful for the contributions Al made to the Black Jack Ski Club and for his enthusiastic support of the Skier Development Program. The UBC Sports Hall of Fame describes some of the major impacts Al made on the sport of skiing.

40th Anniversary

In addition to being renamed in Al’s honour, the 2024 edition of the Black Jack Loppet marks the 40th anniversary of the Loppet at Black Jack. Ken Holmes, organizer of the first two Loppets at Black Jack, has written a fascinating historical note about the first ever Loppet at Black Jack, held on Feb 16, 1985. You can read Ken’s note here.

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• Loppet registration is on Zone4.

• Registration deadline is extended to 6pm on Friday March 8. Registration must be completed online through Zone4. No registratrion on the day of the event.

• Not sure if you registered? Check the confirmation list here. Contact RaceSecretaryBJSC@gmail.com if updates are needed.

Bib pick up: Sat Mar 9 from 9:00AM-10:00AM in the grooming shed.

Start Times ON SAT MAR 9

• 10:00AM - Bunnnies (150m)

• 10:05AM - 1km

• 10:10AM - 3km

• 10:15AM - 6km (two loops of the 3km course)

• 10:30AM - 10km, 20km, and 30km (loops of the 10km course)

Waves are self-seeded, mass start, according to the above schedule. Be in the upper stadium and ready to go for your scheduled start time.

Fees*

• Bunnies: $5

• 18 and younger: $12

• 19 and over: $18

*The Zone4 registration fee ($2), credit card processing fees (2.5%) and a Nordiq Canada Day Fee ($3) are charged in addition to the race fee. The Nordiq Canada Day Fee is a new requirement for all cross country ski events in Canada. Bunnies are not charged the Nordiq Canada fee for this event.

PARTICIPATION

Loppets are participation events. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome and costumes are encouraged. Times will be posted online after the event, but our focus is on fun! All finishers receive a Mountain Nugget chocolate medal.

HELP NEEDED

The success of a Loppet is dependent on help from the community and membership. There are many ways to support the event, from directing parking, to setting up the stadium, to collecting bibs, to providing baking, and much more. We are trying an online signup sheet this year. Click here to check out the options for volunteering and how to get help if you would like more information. Note that there are some roles that will allow you to volunteer AND ski at the loppet!

Course Maps

• Stadium map

• 1km course map

• 3km and 6km course map (6km is two loops of the 3km course)

• 10km, 20km, and 30km map (same routes as in 2023)

Adult Ski Training

UPDATE: JAN 4, 2024

We are at capacity! We are thrilled by the enthusiastic response to the Adult Ski Training Program. We have now closed the registration for this program for the season.

Skiers looking for instruction are welcome to connect with the coaches listed on the Lessons page of skiblackjack.ca.

Adult Ski Training 2024: SKATE AND CLASSIC

Improve your cross country skiing foundations and fitness so that you can be faster and more efficient on the trails this season! The training includes a weekly evening coached session on the trails at Black Jack Ski Club for instruction on technique and form. Also included is a ski program to guide independent scheduling of additional ski training each week. The program is designed to help achieve personal bests in endurance and speed, culminating in the ability to ski back-to-back long distance loppets in classic and skate technique by the end of the 2023/24 ski season.

Evening coached sessions are led by certified coaches and by athletes who have previously skied for Canada's National team. The ski program is written by Dave Wood, who led Canada's National Cross Country team to multiple Olympic gold medals. Learn from the best!

Details

Thursday Evening Coaching

The coached sessions are Thursday evenings at the main Black Jack trailhead. These group sessions begin at 5pm and last approximately one hour. The full coaching schedule spans 13 Thursdays, from Jan 4 through to Mar 28.

The technique at the coached sessions will alternate between a night of classic and a night of skate skiing. The technique will be communicated to participants at the start of each week.

13-Week Program

The program from Dave Wood includes skate and classic training, leading participants to feel confident to complete their choice of a 40km or 21km goal distance, in skate and classic, by the end of March.

The training program begins at the end of December and runs through to the end of March. Designed with flexibility for individual schedules and goals, the program is built around participants ideally skiing four times per week, with two shorter skis during the week (including the Thu evening coached session) and two longer endurance skis on the weekend.

Coordination will be provided for program participants to meet for one longer ski each week, typically on a Sat or Sun. This session is not coached, but the camaraderie of the group can improve motivation and enjoyent, especially for the longer distance training. Weekend skis may occur at the main Black Jack trailhead, at the biathlon trailhead, and at Castlegar Nordic (Paulson).

TWO REGISTRATION Options

1. Full Training. The full training includes both the Thursday Evening Coaching and the 13-Week Program. This option is designed for individuals who are looking to improve their skiing form, speed, and fitness, and who want to connect with other skiers with similar goals. Loppet participation is encouraged but not required. Participants registering for the full training program should have skate and classic equipment.

2. Five Sessions. For skiers who prefer to focus on the coached sessions and are unable to join the full 13-week training, there is an option to join five of the coached evening sessions. Participants registering for the five coached sessions can join any five of the Thursday evening sessions between Jan 4 and Mar 28. If desired, participants in this option can choose to only attend skate evenings or only attend classic evenings.

Loppets

The program targets three loppets:

• Castlegar Nordic's Troll Loppet (Jan 28)

• Black Jack's Loppet (Mar 9)

• Sovereign2SilverStar (Apr 6 & 7).

There is no requirement to participate in these events, but participants in the Adult Ski Training are encouraged to consider entering and/or volunteering at these fun ski races.

Fees

13-week program with Thursday evening coached sessions

• $160 for Black Jack Ski Club members

• $260 for non-members

5 Thursday evening coached sessions

• $100 for Black Jack Ski Club members

• $140 for non-members

(Non-member pricing includes trail tickets for evening skiing)

Fees do not include the Zone4 processing fee ($1.50), GST (5%), and credit card processing fees.

TECK KOOTENAY CUP #1 & #2

JANUARY 20 & 21, 2024

Race Location: Black Jack Ski Club, main trailhead

Race Fees:

• $5 per race for U6

• $15 per race for U8 to U12

• $25 per race for U14 to U23, Seniors, Masters, and Recreational categories

GST (5%), credit card fees (2.5%) Zone 4 fees, and Nordiq Canada Tier 3 Event Day License ($3) are in addition to the race fees.

Confirmation List: available here and on Zone4

Start Times and Results: on Zone 4 when available

Accommodations: Nowhere Special Hostel has a discount for Kootenay Cup participants. Contact jane.patterson@redresort.com for details. 

Course Maps: tentative, will be confirmed when Race Notice is available

• 150 m

• 500m

• 1 km

• 2.5 km

• 3.3 km

• 5 km (Classic)

• 5 km (Free)

Email RaceSecretaryBJSC@gmail.com for more information

AGM: Dec 4, 2023 @ 6:30pm

Dec 4 AGM: JOIN in person or online

All Black Jack Ski Club members are invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday December 4, 2023, at 6:30pm. Hear a summary of the exciting events from last season and a preview of what is to come.

Attend in person at Miners’ Hall, Lily May Room, 1765 Columbia Avenue or join us remotely through Zoom, using the link below. Contact info@skiblackjack.ca with any questions or concerns.

Input from membership is welcome and encouraged. Members aged 16 and older will be asked to vote on the following.

Motion:

That the Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club Society amend Bylaw 5.5 to read Directors are elected for a term of one year. 

Rationale:

The current bylaw requires directors to leave the board after eight years. The new bylaw permits directors to continue their volunteer work on the board if they are re-elected by a majority of the voting membership.

Current bylaw:

Directors are elected for a term of one year. No director shall hold office for more than eight (8) consecutive years.

• The full Black Jack Constitution and Bylaws are posted on our Archive page.

• Miniutes from the board meetings are also accessible from our Archive page.

• Black Jack Ski Club is a society under the BC Societies Act. The board must have at least 3 and no more than 11 members (Part 5 of the Bylaws). Required positions on the board are President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, with the remaining board members as Directors at Large.

• All voting members in attendance at the AGM are entitled to vote for the board members.

BC Winter Games Zone 1 Trials

Winter Games Trials

Black Jack congratulates the racers who participated in the Zone 1 trials for the upcoming BC Winter Games. The event happened on Saturday December 30, 2023. The trials determine the cross country ski athletes (YOB 2009 and 2010) who will represent Zone 1 at the BC Winter Games, held in Quesnel, on Lhtako Dene Traditional Territory, February 22 – 25, 2024.

• Race Notice is available here.

• The Race Notice and event information are also available on the Zone 4 Event page.

• Registration is through Zone 4.

• Confirmation List is available here.

RESULTS

Official results are available on Zone4.

CHANGE OF VENUE

The event was hosted at Black Jack’s biathlon trails on Hwy 3B. From the interesection of Hwy 22 and Hwy 3B in Rossland, head north on highway 3B for 12km. Parking lot and trails are on the right side of the highway.

Course Maps

Click links below to view updated course maps for the change of venue to the biathlon trailhead.

• YOB 2010 – 3.3 km

• YOB 2009 – 5.1 km

START LIST

• Available from Zone4

• The start list is also posted outside the Race Timing Hut.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Nowhere Special hostel at Red Mountain is offering a discount for participants. Contact jane.patterson@redresort.com for details. 

Club & Team Clothing

Podium Jacket

Orders for Club & Teamwear Jackets and Pants, plus base layers, gloves, drink belts, and headwear may be possible, depending on stock.

• Catalogue: Adult / Junior

Questions? Email Alex at VallicanHP@gmail.com

Dæhlie Down Podium Jackets

Down jackets by Daehlie are still available! Details here.

Your choice of custom ‘Black Jack Ski Team’ or ‘Black Jack Ski Club’ patches.

Sizing includes juniors, women, and men.

Email Julia for more details and to place your order: landry.julia@gmail.com.

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Challenge 2.0 Jacket

Ski Swap

Golden City Grind

Thanks to all the participants and volunteers at the 2023 Golden City Grind!

Results

Click the links below to view the results. Event was held September 10, 2023.

• 1km event

• 3km event

• 5km event

• 10km event

Lesley Chisholm Photography

The fantastic photos of the event on this page are from Lesley Chisholm Photography. Thanks Lesley!

View more of Lesley’s photos on Facebook and on Lesley’s webpage.

Join our Fall Trail Crew!

Black Jack Employment Opportunities

Thanks to the Columbia Basin Trust Job Experience Grant, Black Jack is again hiring a Trail Maintenance Crew for this fall. We are continuing to fine tune and maintain our extensive trail network and cabins and buildings need repairs too.

We are hiring one Team Lead and one Crew Members for 9 weeks from late August through the end of October. 

Applicants can send their resume and a short cover letter to trails@skiblackjack.ca

Job descriptions:

Trail Crew Team Lead

Trail Crew Member

Brushing trails is just one part of the job!

That's all folks!

Last day of grooming at Biathlon was Sunday May 7th. What a great season it's been! We've been skiing since November 5th and stretching it out well into the spring.

Trails are officially closed and no longer maintained - you are welcome to keep going, but ski at your own discretion and risk.

Thank you to all the incredible volunteers who made this season run so smoothly - from the groomers, to the board, to the event organizers, to the coaches, to all the volunteers who helped out where they could. You make our club a fantastic place to ski!

For those who are curious -- our season was 3 days longer than last year. In 2021-2022, we skied from November 10th to May 9th.

Seeking Full-Time Nordic Coach

We are looking to welcome a motivated and energetic individual to fill the full-time position of Nordic Coach.

In collaboration with other team members the Coach will lead and / or oversee programming for all levels of the program as aligned with Nordiq Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development model.

Please help spread the word and check out the full position description at this link.

Questions? Contact sdp@skiblackjack.ca. Application deadline is April 28th, 2023.

March Quad Fundraiser with CCBC and Nordiq Canada

We are fundraising for a Quad! Please consider donating and helping us get this essential tool for trail maintenance.

Once a year we get a chance to give our generous donors a tax receipt and receive some matching funds through a partnership with Nordiq Canada and Cross Country BC. Now is your chance to donate until March 28st!

This year we're fundraising for a quad. A quad is an essential tool for the Black Jack volunteers and employees to maintain our extensive trail system. Over the years we have relied on generous members who loaned theirs. This is not a sustainable solution going forward.

We use a quad to pull the club's brush mower (pictured). It is also extensively used to move people and equipment while doing trail maintenance. It is key to effectively utilize the fall trail maintenance crew we have hired the last years with the financial support from the Columbia Basin Trust.

Are you able to help us out? Follow this link to our fundraising page to make a donation.

Thank you!

March 11: Black Jack Loppet

Wednesday March 15th Update: We have some awesome photos from Valhalla Images! Check out the gallery at this link. Loppet participants can download 2 free photos each, using the code 1234567.

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Sunday March 12th Update: Results are now posted here. Thanks everyone for a great event!

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Friday March 10th Update: Start Lists with bibs and start times are now posted! Have fun out there!

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Saturday March 11 join us for the Black Jack Loppet! All ages and skills welcome - we're focusing on participation and fun! Costumes are welcome!

Bib pick up will be from 9:00-10:00AM in the grooming shed. Races start at 10:00AM.

Check out the race notice at this link for all the details and maps.

New this year! We are hosting a Volunteer Appreciation party after the loppet from noon to 2 pm. Dress in your favourite Retro clothing! Catering, prizes, and more! Volunteers from this season will have their entry covered — if you are a volunteer and haven’t received an email with the code, contact Adele. Everyone else is welcome too — there is an option in your registration to buy a party ticket for $5.

When you are ready, head over to Zone 4 through this link to get registered. Registration closes Friday at noon — there are no race day registrations.

Teck Kootenay Cup - Results & Media Release

Despite the less than perfect weather conditions, Black Jack Ski Club hosted a successful Teck Kootenay Cup 1&2 on Jan 14th and 15th. Thanks to an abundant snowfall early season and the tremendous effort of our groomer, the racecourses were in excellent condition for the event. Black Jack welcomed 147 participants to the event from clubs from all over the Kootenay region including Black Jack (Rossland), Nelson, Kimberley, Fernie, Golden, Toby Creek (Invermere), and Grand Forks. It was very exciting to see a team from Montana participate as well.

• Check out the results on Zone 4 at this link.

• Check out the Media Release for more details.

Thank you to an incredible crew of volunteers, sponsors, coaches, skiers, and supportive families for making this weekend possible!

Membership Prize Contest - Enter by January 9th!

In recognition of our membership drive for 2022/23, Cross Country BC awarded Black Jack Ski Club a prize of two nights stay at The Pinnacles Suites at Silver Star Mountain, valued at up to $958. 

Interested in this prize? We will randomly award the prize to a Black Jack Ski Club member who enters their name using the online form. Every member counted to win the CCBC contest, so every Black Jack Ski Club member is eligible to enter their name for the prize.

You can check availability at The Pinnacles Suites at Silver Star Mountain to see if your schedule lines up with their options. We want to ensure this prize goes to a BJSC member who can use it, so don't enter the draw if you don't think you can use it. 

Entry closes Monday January 9th, 2023 at midnight.  Winner will be contacted via email.

Enter the contest by filling out the google form at this link.

Note: prize cannot be used on long weekends and is subject to availability. Expires April 10, 2023. Must be used for two nights. Cannot be used in combination with other promotions and has no cash value.

Names entered will be checked within our Black Jack Membership list for 2022/23 before the prize is awarded.

Since all members contributed to our winning the CCBC contest, all Black Jack Ski Club members are eligible to enter the draw. Whether you are one or eighty-one, ski a few times a month or every day, work for the club as a volunteer or paid employee, you are invited to enter your name. As long as you will be able to use the prize, you are invited to enter the draw.

Take the Ski Bus to Black Jack

The Rossland Ski Bus is coming to Black Jack this season!

Catch it Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays on the 11 am and 2 pm loops. Find all the details on fares, schedules, and sponsors at rosslandskibus.ca.

Kootenay Cup - January 14 & 15, 2023

Black Jack is hosting a Kootenay Cup race on January 14 & 15, 2023. 

Check out the race notice at this link for all the details. 

Register on Zone 4: https://zone4.ca/event/2023/EAFA86DE/

The Josie Hotel and Nowhere Special hostel have accommodations specials for Kootenay Cup participants. 

We are also looking for volunteers — contact Adele at adelepratt@hotmail.com if you can help out!

Photo thanks to Valhalla Images.

Course Maps:

1 km Course

2.5 km Classic

3 km Course

5 km Classic

5 km Skate

Make Your Voice Heard: Rossland Recreation Master plan feedback

The first draft of the City of Rossland Recreation Master plan is now available to view here. The Black Jack board is pleased to see the emphasis on the value of trails, including our network, and overall alignment with our 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. The Recreation plan prioritises improved trailhead amenities and trails, but we are concerned that the opportunity to integrate these improvements with Black Jack Ski Club are not front of mind.

We encourage you to complete the feedback survey before the closing date of December 14. 

For Section 7/8 (Outdoor Facility Priorities), Section 9/10 (Top 10 Priorities) and Section 13 (Final Thoughts), we suggest the following actions:

• Strongly agree with the priority to “Support a thriving trails network”

• Comment on why you agree, including reference to:

  • Support for the development of Black Jack Ski Club’s trailhead facilities and their year-round potential

  • Development of beginner / accessible skis trails, with potential for year-round use as granular (gravel) xc walking / hiking / biking trails

  • Access between Black Jack and Red Mountain

Extended comments on the draft plan:

• We are pleased to see the call to support a thriving trail network, including trails in surrounding areas (pg. 65). We encourage the City to plan for year-round use (as identified by council - pg. 41) by designing trails that serve as beginner / accessible skis trails, with potential for year-round use as granular (gravel) xc walking / hiking / biking trails. New trails could improve the connection between BJSC and Red Mountain, or increase the recreation potential around the Ophir Reservoir. 

• We strongly agree with the importance of developing adequate trailhead facilities to support our outstanding trail networks. Louis Joe, Railgrade, and Old Wagon Rd are listed as potential priority trailheads (pg. 140). We have recently initiated a major infrastructure initiative for the Black Jack main trailhead, including the design and development of a new lodge. We hope the City of Rossland can partner with us to realise this project. Already this trailhead is a year-round destination, with ever-increasing visits to Thin Air Disc Golf. Following the addition of Mxiɬp Xewílh and the revamping of the Aqueduct and Adventure trails, the potential for this area as a recreation hub is only growing.

• Regional collaboration is identified as an opportunity (pg. 18) and supporting collaboration between trails groups is recommended (pg. 65). BJSC would like to emphasise the growing need for regional coordination as trail networks and user groups grow, and call upon the City of Rossland to take a leadership role in this realm.

• Strengthening partnerships with community groups is listed as a top 10 priority (pg. 83, 96). BJSC would welcome training and support for Black Jack’s volunteers to improve our fundraising and long-term planning capacity.

• The importance of BJSC as a core recreation asset is made clear by the usage figures (pg. 120): Just under 50% of respondents visit BJSC weekly, and roughly 25% visit 3+ times per week. Our membership numbers are approaching 1000 for the third straight year, reflecting the rise in flexible, unstructured activities noted more broadly in the trends analysis (pg. 115).

• We would like to applaud the beginner ski programming coordinated by the City in partnership with BJSC. These classes have received excellent community uptake. We would like to see these programs continue alongside potential new programming (pg. 80).

• Less than 10% of residents responded to the survey (pg. 14). Given the importance of recreation to our city, we’d like to see greater participation in this important planning project.