David

Every year a small group of volunteers spend weeks preparing trails for the upcoming season. Brush cutting , downed and hazardous tree removal, rock removal, and repairing erosion due to water and vehicle usage are all part of summer grooming.

Work is being done this year to widen some of the trails and remove tight radius turns which will make them easier to groom and fully compliant with FIS standards for racing (see previous post on homologation). This qualifies the club to host high-level cross country ski races such as the 2019 Kelowna Toyota Western Canadian Championships. This year’s Westerns, and other events that occur throughout the season, are organized and run by a dedicated group of volunteers, athletes, and parents, including these two bandits James Williams and Tim Mayer caught running the big machines today.

 

The Teck BC  Championships cross country ski races will be hosted by Telemark Nordic Club February 16 -18, 2018. We will see teams from throughout BC as well as from Alberta and the Methow Valley in Washington state.  Teams from the Thompson-Okanagan, Vancouver Island, and the Lower Mainland will be joined by the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club (Prince George) and the Bulkley Valley Cross Country Ski Club (Smithers), along with skiers from the Kootenays (Black Jack and Kimberley Nordic) and a large turn out from the Revelstoke Nordic Club. Other athletes are visiting from even further afield.  More than 300 athletes have registered and this event promises to offer some great competition for our local Okanagan skiers.

This three day event helps the Telemark club raise money for youth skier development and attract attention to the programs.

Telemark athletes are in the news with their accomplishments both locally in BC, across Canada, and abroad. Claire Littlefair posted a personal best at the Haywood NorAm Westerns and a bronze medal with it. Gareth Williams and  Hannah Mehain, are representing Team Telemark, and Canada at the World Junior Championships in Goms, Switzerland. Both recently posted first-place finishes at the Canadian World Junior Trials in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que.

This is a great location to host this event and it is inspirational to watch these young athletes take on the challenge of a great course. Volunteer positions are still available; be a part of the fun during the event weekend. For more information email Alison or sign up online.

Alison Campbell-Urness (Media contact)
acampbellurness@gmail.com