General

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.

The 2018 season pass / membership drive is a wrap.  Congratulations to our prize pac winners:
– Christine Haessig
– Brad Beaudreau
– Vlasta Liptak
– Beth Wood
– Jeff Sherstobitoff
– Barry Dennison
– Grayson (Alice) Semancik

We hope you and your families enjoy the awesome prizes, and thanks to our sponsors who helped up put together this year’s prize pacs:

• Fresh Air Experience (skis, snowshoes, trainer smart watch, gift certificate)
• The Cove Lakeside Resort (exotic weekend for 2)
• Waterfront Wines Retaurant (exotic dining experience)
• Kelowna Toyota, our Premier Official Title Sponsor
  for Team Telemark (car detailing)

Regretfully we did not prevail in the CCBC Membership Contest this year.  Our congratulations go out to Sovereign Lake for their masterful execution for the second year in a row.  Well done.  We know how hard you worked to achieve this.  The final results in the CCBC contest:

The lodge is staffed regular business hours now, so you are welcome to drop in any time to meet Mike and Teresa and pick up your season pass.

For those of you young skiers who are working on the lagamorph challenge, we have a hint.  Neither jack rabbits nor bunny rabbits are particularly famous, and we asked for the name of one famous lagamorph, not the name of a type of lagamorph.

Enjoy!

Unfortunately we do not have enough snow for Telemark to open for skiing this Saturday Dec 8th so…

 Coaching Better Clinic – Classic is postponed till January 9th 2019. (Originally scheduled for Wed Dec 5th)

We will be optimistic and hope that the Dec 19th, 2018 skate clinic might still run.

This Saturday Dec 8th, 2018 there will be NO lessons for Bunnies, Jackrabbit 1 or Jackrabbit 2.

There will be dry land and equipment training for the 8+ groups only.  This includes JR3, JR4, Track Attack, and Adventurers.  Meet at the Telemark Lodge @10:30. Each group will be planning their activities for that day.  The rental shop will not be open or have staff, but if any coaches want to size equipment for the kids in their group, we can have the rental area made available.  Please let me know.

Tuesday night Dec 11, 2018 no lessons.  First Tuesday night ski will be Jan 8th 2019.

Saturday Dec 15, 2018 – we will hope for snow and make the call closer to the date.

Registration is almost finalized and group lists will be sent to head coaches shortly.

Thanks, Michelle

December has arrived and there is a dusting of snow on the peaks in the valley.  I can almost feel the excitement and anticipation.  My skis are in the garage, storage wax scrapped off.  Mike says “conditions permitting, we are ready for a December 15 opening.  We just need one more good snow dump”.   JP Squire wrote a nice article in the Capital News — if you missed it, click here for the article.

According to Deren, “if the snow cooperates, jackrabbits, bunnyrabbits, and adventurers programs will start on December 15.  We sent an information sheet out to all those registered.  If you did not receive, please drop a note to our program coordinator Michelle.

Futher, Deren says “the jackrabbit program is waitlisted, but I will ensure your child gets a spot if you volunteer to help us run the program. You can look forward to 2 hours of fun in the snow with your child and their friends every Saturday morning. You don’t even have to put on skis.”  There are still a few openings in bunnyrabbits.

Today (Saturday, Dec 1) is the last day to purchase your season pass and have it count towards Telemark’s quest for bragging rights in the 2018 CCBC membership contest.  You will also be entered in Telemark’s  6th and final Prize Pac draw for club members.  Thank you to all the new-and-returning members who helped put Telemark in a dead heat vs Sovereign Lake and Caledonia clubs.  Go Telemark!

Hoping to see you on the snow in 2 weeks