Waxing and Technique Clinic Saturday Februrary 20th
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your cross country skiing skills. Black Jack Ski Club presents a Waxing and Technique Clinic Saturday February 20th. The clinic will be split between a waxing session and a ski technique tune up. The 2 hour morning session will end with lunch catered by the Garage restaurant. The 2 hour afternoon session will wind up with draw prizes donated by; Butch Boutry Ski Shop, Gerick’s Sport, and Rossland Beer Company. The leaders for each session bring with them years of experience as instructors, coaches, wax technicians and competitors. If waxing is a mystery to you, the Introductory session is what you need. You will wax, scrap and brush your skis in the morning. Following a delicious lunch, you will use your nicely prepped skis for a tune up in the technique of your choice. If you are already comfortable preparing your skis but want to improve your knowledge in race ski prep or those hard to wax conditions, the Loppet session is where you belong. This group will have their technique tune up in the morning, leaving the afternoon for the waxing skills. This clinic is a fundraiser for the Black Jack Skier Development Program. If you would like to take part, here is what you need to know:
Date: Saturday, February 20
Time: 9:00 – 3:00 Cost: $50 Black Jack Members $60 non members
Where: Black Jack Ski Club trail head cabin
What to bring: Skies, poles, boots, & enthusiasm are a must. Wax bench, iron etc. are not required however if you have them, please bring them along. Glide wax is donated by Gerick’s sport.
How to register: Please phone or drop by the kiosk prior to Thursday February 18. (Limit of 20 participants.)
Slopes for Hope - February 21st
Do you love to organize, plan and cross country ski? We are looking for someone like you to join the Slopes for Hope Planning Committee – please contact Dario at darioces@gmail.com for additional information.
Can you ski 29,029 feet, the height of Mount Everest in one day? Find out on Sunday, February 21, 2016 and join us for the 4th Annual Slopes for Hope Red Mountain and Black Jack Ski Club event in conjunction with the Canadian Cancer Society. Slopes for Hope Red is a family friendly ski-a-thon in which participants attempt to ski the vertical distance of Mount Everest in one day (29,029 feet). Participants can sign up as individuals for a personal challenge, or in teams and split the distance between team members.
Register your team today at slopesforhope.ca
Everest Trek, nordic ski challenge at Black Jack Ski Club where participants attempt a 10km challenge using Gibbards Trail and Aqueduct – Roger’s Route.
If you have friends that enjoy down hill skiing, they can register for Descending Everest at Red Mountain Resort.
There will be an après-event with entertainment and prizes awarded at the end of the day at Red Mountain Resort. We ask that participants fundraise in advance to support the Canadian Cancer Society.
All participants that raise over $100 are eligible for a free day pass at Black Jack Ski Club or half price lift ticket at Red Mountain Resort.
Slopes for Hope Red raised over $19,000 last year and we are shooting for a $25,000 event goal this year. Register TODAY at slopesforhope.ca and join the fight against cancer as we take it to the slopes! Funds raised through the event will help the Canadian Cancer Society fund cancer research, cancer prevention initiatives, and support programs. To learn more about what the Canadian Cancer Society does in your community and the services they provide go to www.cancer.ca
32nd Annual Loppet and Teck Kootenay Cup #6! - February 27th and 28th, 2016
Are you up for a challenge and a great racing experience? Black Jack is hosting the 32nd Annual Loppet on Saturday February 27, 2016 and the Teck Kootenay Cup #6 on Sunday February 28, 2016. Registrations for both races are online on Zone4. Click HERE to register.
The Loppet is a mass start free technique race of longer distances and there are varying distances to accommodate and challenge all levels of ability.The Kootenay Cup is an interval start classic technique race. If you prefer to watch - spectators are encouraged as well! More information here http://www.skiblackjack.ca/loppet
Exciting update on the Black Jack Legacy Fund (current total: $16,245)!
As previously announced, Ethan & Alex were matching $5,000 worth of new donations up to Dec 31, in recognition of Richie & Audrey Mann's decades-long contribution to helping Black Jack get to where it is today, and also in memory of Audrey who passed away a few months ago. With recent donations, the total matchable funds was up to $4,195, meaning there was still room for another $805 to be matched when the Dec 31 deadline passed.
However, Ethan & Alex have generously decided to extend their matching campaign to Feb 27, the date of the Black Jack Loppet!
Thanks for considering a donation. Remember that donations are tax-deductible and you will receive a tax receipt.
For details on how to contribute, and how the Legacy Fund will help our club in perpetuity, see Legacy Fund.
The recent donations include: - Lori and Mike Heximer - $500 - Jonas Sandström and Myriam Latendresse - $500 - Shelley Lewchuk and Michael Gardner - an additional $500 on top of the $500 they donated in the spring
Also, thanks again to the Alpine Grind ($500) and the Nelson & District Credit Union ($1000) for their recent donations!
Skier Development Program Update
Hard to believe but we are halfway through our Skier Development winter programs! We have a total of 99 skiers in the program from Bunnies to Senior Racers and 20 volunteer coaches!! Ages range from 4-22 years old. This dynamic group of skiers has been skiing and training hard, learning the sport and taking it to the next level in skill and racing depending on their age and group. Some of the Track Attack group (at a record 20 youth) just returned from Midgets in Salmon Arm where great fun was had by all, as witnessed by the photo! 40 of our younger skiers and Junior Racers participated in the Troll Loppet up at Castlegar Nordic where they challenged themselves to long distances and many of them doing an event of this kind for the first time. The Senior Racers have been back east doing qualifications for the World Junior Championships. Julien Locke is heading to Romania as the winner of the sprint in Canada! The rest of the Seniors are continuing to race back East in the Eastern Championships and a World Cup in Quebec City.
We are actively fundraising so consider buying Ferraro Food Cards through the Program. Contact Ann at ann@netidea.com for further info. Due to the economic downturn in natural resources we have lost our long term private funder so we need the community’s help even more. These programs are an excellent way for children and youth to learn a sport, be active and learn so many life skills at the same time.
Black Jack / SkiTrax Special Offer
BlackJack Ski Club and SkiTrax Magazine, the largest cross-country ski magazine in North America, have teamed up to bring you great savings. SkiTrax keeps you up to date on all the latest Nordic news, Falun 2015 updates, ski gear, adventure and recreational skiing, including race reports from across Canada, the USA, and around the world - check out skitrax.com.
BlackJack Ski Club members save 30% off regular subscription prices - try a SkiTrax-Pedal Combo Deal and get Pedal Magazine, our cycling publication, as well - to order click here http://www.skitrax.com/blackjack
Ski Passes at the Kiosk
There are still quite a few seasons passes at the Kiosk that haven't been picked up. We understand if you just haven't been skiing during Kiosk hours. But....if you just haven't been skiing.....what are you waiting for!!! The skiing is amazing!!!
Nelson Nordic Ski Club Presents!!! - Uphill Cross Country Time Trial SFU7
- NNSC's Clearwater Trail, an amazing 7km, 300m hill climb!!
- March 6th, 2016 - $10 race fee; all proceeds to benefit NNSC’s Track Attack race team
- Registration 8:30-9:30 am; start time 10am; interval start
- Solo or three-person relay, freestyle technique, age categories
- Draw prizes, spirit prizes and awards at BBQ following event
- No high fluoro wax
- Info: travis_hauck@yahoo.com and gmunby@gmail.com
Call for Volunteers
Black Jack is a world class cross country ski area dominantly run by volunteers. We are currently seeking volunteers in several areas including the executive. We are also looking for people interested in working at the kiosk next season who would be able to do some training this season. If you are interested and would like more information please contact the kiosk either in person, by phone at 250-362-7164 or by email at info@skiblackjack.ca.