General

What a difference a day makes. Just in time for our season opening…it snowed all day on Dec 26th and we received another 15cm of snow…Yahoo!!  Conditions are fantastic and we have lots of happy skiers and snowshoers.

All trails are snowcat groomed and track-set and conditions are great.   Come on up and check out our winter wonderland.  A day pass for skiing is $ 1/2 price and snowshoeing is free of charge just for Thursday and Friday Dec 27, 28.  On Saturday Dec 29 regular prices will be in effect for the season.

We invite everyone to come up to the  Telemark Nordic Centre to ski and  play in the snow starting Wednesday December 26th.  The lodge will be open and many of our trails will be open for skiing.

Please be aware that there is less snow than normal and we still have early season conditions on many of our trails. Not all trails will be open but we will have lots of good skiing. The lower trails will be snowmobile groomed. They  will not have a track-set and will have some rough or dirty sections. The upper trails have much more snow and will be groomed with the Pisten Bully Snowcat.   The upper trails will be track-set and will be in good early season condition. Check our Trail Conditions webpage Grooming report for more grooming details.

• The $ cost of trail passes will be 1/2 price for non-members/public.
• Please be aware that there is limited snow on the lower trails and snowshoeing is not recommended. You are welcome to hike or try snowshoeing on the snowshoes trails at no cost.  Please pick up a complimentary snowshoe pass at the lodge.
• Ski Rentals will be available at regular prices.|
• Please remember that all user of the Telemark trail system require a valid Season pass or day pass.  Pick up your Season pass at the lodge when you first come up to ski. Day passes also available at the lodge.

We are very excited to get the season underway!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Members clandestinely decorated
a tree at the corner of Squirrel
and Fern.

The Telemark Nordic Club sent a large and record contingent of 13 athletes plus support to the World Junior/U23 Trials races in Canmore Alberta Dec 13-16, 2018.  The event was held to select Junior and U23 athletes to represent Canada at the World Junior/U23 World Championships in Lahti Finland Jan 19-27, 2019.  All the athletes had great performances and represented the Telemark Nordic Club exceptionally well.

Hannah Mehain and Gareth Williams qualified for the team going to Finland.  They were two of only 5 athletes from BC to be selected for the team.  This is an impressive result for our Club.  Congratulations Hannah and Gareth on an incredible  accomplishment!  We  are proud of the hard work and talent you displayed. Thanks to all the coaches for their hard work and commitment.
Hannah Mehain said, “I couldn’t help but smile when passing enthusiastic cheerers along the race course. I know that my supporters extend beyond the sidelines.”

Full Results on Zone4.ca 

Link to article on CCC website re the Canadian team going to the The WJ/U23 World Championships.

Part Time Position: Program Coordinator Train to Train / Learn to Train
Team Telemark Racing Program

The Telemark Nordic Club has an opportunity for an enthusiastic and good communicator to take on the role as Team Telemark Program Coordinator for Learn to Train and Train to Train.

Duration of Position: 4 months
Employments Terms: Part Time. The expected weekly time commitment to fulfill the duties is 12 hr. / week
Qualifications: ✓ Certification Minimum: Learn to Train Certified
✓ Experience Minimum: 2-3 Years’ Coaching
✓ Qualities: communicates well with athletes, coaches and parents; strong organizational skills; strong working knowledge                                      of CC skiing technique and training regimens for athletes in the FUNdamentals and Learning to Train continuum.

Description of Position:
The Coordinator will be responsible for working with the Head Coach and Volunteer Team Coaches to ensure successful implementation and coordination of the Team Telemark L2T and T2T Programs. This position requires a good understanding of cross country skiing, athlete development and training, technique, the values of athlete and coach mentorship, and race management and planning.

Responsibilities of the Coordinator will include but are not limited to:

Delivery
• Support/Assist Team Coaches to fulfill their objectives using the Telemark Racers Mission, Values and Goals
• Help in preparation and delivery of the Yearly Training Plan (YTP) for athletes in accordance with CCC LTAD guidelines.
• Coordinate and direct delivery of mentoring, by senior coaches, of new and developing coaches on ski technique
• Contribute ideas for ongoing team improvement

Coordination
• Help coordinate the T2T & L2T (Track Attack) program with the Head Coach, Assistant Coaches, Jackrabbit Ski League Coordinator, Athletes, and Parents
• Communicate closely with the Head Coach and Volunteer Coaches to ensure that coaching assignments are equitably distributed throughout the groups for practices
• Communicate with Coaches and Parent Volunteers and direct the coordination of race-day assignments to ensure that team-supported races are adequately staffed for race-day success
• Work with the Coaches to ensure that the lesson plans are up to date and reflect the current needs of the group
• Be available for discussions with individual parents as required
• Track volunteer coach sessions

To Apply: Contact Mike Edwards @ 250-707-5925 or mike.edwards@telemarknordic.com by Saturday Dec 22, 2018

The Telemark day lodge is just about ready to go but is looking a little empty without people.  We had hoped to fill it up with happy skiers this Saturday Dec 15th  but sadly  there is not enough snow and Telemark will remain closed. We are running a special session at Telemark just for the kids in the Skills Development Program to get organized for the season.

We had about 12cm of new snow last week and have started to groom the trails with a snowmobile and roller.  Skiing is possible but with early season, low snow conditions and skiing or snowshoeing are not recommended.  With anticipated snow this week we are updating our tentative opening day to Friday Dec 21st.  Watch for updates throughout the week on our ‘Trail Conditions” webpage at the top of the Grooming Report.  We will also post our opening day info here on the website and on Facebook/Instagram.

REMEMBERING CLIVE GILBERT

We were all saddened to hear that Clive passed away unexpectedly on December 7.

Clive was a very active member of Telemark. For a number of years, he was involved in the Loppet races, organizing some of them, while many will remember him being on the starting line. Clive also was a very effective fund raiser. It started in the mid eighties with running the bingo events which eventually evolved into casino nights and then gaming grants from the Provincial Government. The funds Clive raised have given a financial boost to the many youth programs at Telemark.

As a retired teacher, Clive felt that a ski program for school aged children would be of great benefit and he was instrumental in getting this program started in the late nineties. It has been very successful and last year more than 2000 school children spent time at Telemark. He was president from 2000-2004 and during this time the washrooms were completed, the biathlon program was started and Telemark hosted a very successful NorAm race. He was a master at recruiting people for various jobs and would not take “no” for an answer. After his years as president Clive continued on the Board of Directors until 2017. We are grateful for the enduring legacy that Clive has created for the community of Telemark Nordic.

Besides being active in Telemark, Clive contributed in many other ways to the community: he was involved in swimming programs, the Okanagan Rugby Referee Association, the Lakeview Heights Community Association and the Friends of Kalamoir Park with the annual pancake breakfast fund raisers.

Clive had a wonderful, sunny personality.  He was easy going, but at the same time determined to achieve the things he believed in. He was a real gentleman. Many of us have very fond memories of Clive.

He will be missed by many, but especially by Brenda and family. Our thoughts are with them.

Written and submitted by Emile Brokx – Telemark Nordic Club Compatriot and long time friend of Clive’s on behalf of the Telemark Board of Directors and all Club members.