Newsletter March 2024
events
Great Fun at a Local Race
The Fernie Nordic Society held its 10th Annual Community Fun Races at the Nordic Centre on Saturday February 24. Fun, costumes, baked goods and keen participants of all ages were all part of the action! Forty-five skiers hit the trails and many more spectators and volunteers cheered them on.
Volunteers had set up a playground area near the warming hut. It offered fun challenges to the younger skiers. Older skiers, teens and adults, chose either the 3 km or 7.5 km course to ski or race with their friends. The staging area was busy with quite a crowd of skiers, spectators and volunteers enjoying some hot chocolate, crepes and other goodies. Cookie medals and prizes were awarded to the participants. Big smiles all around.
Big thanks to everyone involved!
A few photos from the event
a big Thank You! to Alex Trkulja for these great photos
Timing results from our informal races
Thank you to our sponsors who helped with prizes and supplies
- Mugshots
- City of Fernie
- Starbucks for hot chocolate and coffee
- Vogue Theatre
- Island Lake Lodge
- Fernie Chiropractic
- Le Bon Pain
- Giv’er Shirt Works
- Fernie Brewing Co.
February 2024 Newsletter
10th Annual Community Fun R***s
The event will happen on February 24, 2024 on the trails of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre.
Come to ski, come to race, or come to cheer! Compete against your friends and enjoy the great trails. This is an annual community event that is really a fun race open to everyone. Participation is open to all skiers, club members or non-members alike, all ages and abilities.
As in previous years, there are several popular categories to choose from, a short distance and a longer one for the young or older skiers – your choice! – and the Chariot Glide category with an adult pulling a chariot with a passenger. The keyword here is FUN, so wear a funny hat or costume if you dare!
The event in 2024 will be held on the trails of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. Participation is free for members of the Fernie Nordic Society. A trail pass is required for non-members. Our goal to make it a fun event for young skiers as well as older ones. Thank you to all volunteers organizing this event.
2024 COMMUNITY FUN RACES!
LOCATION: Elk Valley Nordic Centre on Mt. Fernie Provincial Park Road (maps HERE)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 24th with a 10:00 am start for bib pickup
Two ski courses to choose from. The 3 km long loop up the Lizard Lookout, around the Cedar Loop and back to the finish. The longer 7.5 km course goes across the bridge, around the Galloway Loop and back to the finish line. I hear there may be prizes or medals on the line?!
Participation in this event is free for everyone although non FNS members require a trail pass $15.
Registration/bib pick-up and warm-up will start at 10:00 a.m. and the race will beging promptly at 10:30 a.m., following a quick racer meeting. Cost of registration includes daily trail pass.
Parking may be limited, so please follow the indications from the parking attendants when you arrive.
Categories and distances
- Lizard Lookout and Cedar Loop – 3 km – (all ages & Chariot Glide)
- Galloway Loop – 7.5 km (teens and adults)
Gentle notes!
- Each 3 km and 7.5 km wave is a mass start
- All for fun, fun, fun.
- Costumes encouraged!
- Don’t have nordic skis? Call The Quest at (250) 423-9252 or Gear Hub at (250) 423-5555 for rentals. Locations may be found HERE
- If you’d like to help with this event, please visit our SignUpGenius page to choose an easy task
Two courses to pick from
Results of the last event in February 2023
Details of the times for each participant are shown on the www.webscorer.com website. Click on the following icons to access each page.
Thank you to our hosts and sponsors!
Fernie Golf Club, Happy Cow Fernie, Fernie Chiropractic Inc,
Mantra Spirit Studio Fernie, Le Bon Pain Fernie, The Quest Fall Line Snow Sports,
Fernie Brewing Co., The Vogue Theater, Giv’er Shirt Works, Big Bang Bagels, City of Fernie
Previous Events
- A sportive morning at the Nordic Centre February 27, 2020
- Fun activities for Saturday morning February 18, 2020
- This Saturday, an event for skiers of all ages February 18, 2020
- Community Fun Race – 7th edition February 19, 2019
Inclement Weather Protocol
FERNIE NORDIC SOCIETY (FNS) FACILITY CLOSURE POLICIES
INCLEMENT WEATHER PROTOCOL
Ambassador, Grooming & Skill Development Programs
This policy PDF is available for download.
This policy provides guidance regarding the Fernie Nordic Society’s operations, including our Ambassador Program which supports the opening & closing of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre (EVNC) warming hut, grooming program, events & our Skill Development Program (SDP) during inclement weather. The policy does not apply to recreational skiers who are advised to “ski at their own risk”. However some services may not be provided during some weather conditions.
FNS reserves the right to close the EVNC and Fernie Golf Club trails, including the EVNC warming hut; this may happen at any time due to excessive rain events, wind events, lightning, cold and any other extreme weather phenomenon. The Ambassador Program that operates the EVNC warming hut will only be operated at temperatures of -20C or warmer. SDP & events will be cancelled at temperatures below -15C.
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
The volunteer run ambassador program may be operated at temperatures of -20C or warmer. The persons responsible for making this call are Mike DeJong & FNS board of directors; specifically Jane Stevens, club secretary & lead of the program. If temperatures are colder than -20C, **the warming hut will not be opened** and a fire will not be laid.
VOLUNTEER GROOMING PROGRAM
The grooming equipment may operate at temperatures of -20C or warmer. The person responsible for making this call is Mike DeJong & FNS board of directors. Volunteer groomers are asked to stay very close to the EVNC warming hut on cold days. If the temperatures are colder than -20C, the grooming equipment will not operate for the safety of the volunteers.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM & EVENTS
SDP (Events will observe the SDP guidelines) will be cancelled at temperatures below -15C as measured/estimated at or before noon on Tuesday & Thursday & the night before or early morning on Saturday at the EVNC. FNS grooming & operations director Mike DeJong; alternatively, the FNS board of directors, is responsible determining if the lessons need to be cancelled and for informing FNS Administrator, Alisha Rella, of the decision. Alisha Rella is responsible for informing the SDP coaches & SDP families via email & social media if the session has been cancelled. SDP coaches should consider the following safety measures when skiing with young children during cold days (temperatures below –10C).
- If children are inappropriately dressed they should be excused from the session and their parent should be notified.
- Inform skiers and parents that a hat should be worn at all times. Ensure ears are covered to avoid frostbite.
- Bring children inside when they say they are cold.
- Choose areas that are protected from the wind and avoid activities in open areas.
- Keep the young children close to the Warming Hut in the event that someone does get cold.
- Allow additional time to warm-up; it takes longer to get the body warmed-up for sport activity in cold weather.
- If in doubt cut the session short.
December 2023 Newsletter