The Fernie Nordic Society held its last skiing event of the season on Sunday March 24 at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. Mother Nature granted us a beautiful spring day for the occasion.
Participants in costume skied the course in large numbers. A group of 57 skiers took up the challenge of going 25 or 50 km on the trails of the Nordic Centre and the Fernie Alpine Resort. In addition thirteen Mini-Vikings completed the shorter courses. Food, beverages and coaster or cookie medals were waiting for finishers back at the Nordic Centre. Other prizes included one for best costume. One participant did complete the 25 km course on his wooden skis! Good for you, Thomas!
It was a record number of participants for our fifth edition of the event. Our first edition in 2018 attracted just 11 participants!
Thank you to the groomers and the many volunteers who prepared the course, patrolled it and planned the event.
Thank you to each participant in the event last Sunday. Seventy skiers took part this year. You may check the timing results for each group on the Webscorer.com website below:
If you were a participant, you could tell us how we can make the event better. Give us your suggestions anonymously on our webpage.
Video from event (1 min)
Looking for a challenge? This is the one, a long one but very casual – unless you don’t want it to be casual, and then feel free to ski like mad! Excellent prizes, ride(s) on the Deer chair, a lot of yummy food and drinks. Prizes will be awarded for best Viking costume and then as door prizes!
When:Sunday morning March 24, 2024 Participants meet at 10:15 am Flying Vikings start at 10:30 am Mini-Vikings start at 11:00 am
You have the option to do either the full 50 km yourself (2 loops to the ski hill trails and back) or you can choose to do a single loop of 25 km. Three age categories to choose from: Adult Open, U17 and L56 (or age 56 and up). You can classic or skate ski as you wish … let’s go for No Rules!
Mini-Viking Challenge: Categories with 3 shorter distances for our Mini-Vikings are back. Choose 1.3 km to Teck bridge, 3.4 km to top of Runt/Grunt or 7.5 km around Galloway Loop, and back to hut. Optional costumes are highly recommended here too!
Fee:$25 for 25 km & 50 km – lift ticket included FREE for Mini-Viking distances – no lift ticket required – includes optional guardian Please Note: a $15 trail pass is required for skiers who are not current members of the Fernie Nordic Society
IMPORTANT NOTE TO VIKINGS The 25 and 50 km course will take you on the RCR ski hill property. You are required to complete the RCR Event Release Agreement prior to starting the event. In addition, any racer aged 15 or younger need to have the RCR Parental Agreement completed as well. Both must be done ONLINE here: RCR Event and RCR Parental Enter each agreement number into the event registration form at www.webscorer.com – see link below.
Register online at webscorer.com The links to the RCR waivers (mandatory for skiers on the 25/50 km course) are included in the registration page. Pay online or in the morning of the event – arrive early.
If you’d like to help with this event, please visit our SignUpGenius page to choose an easy task
Our recent 5th Annual Fernie Flying Viking Challenge event was well attended. Our volunteers would like to make it even better next year. We ask you to spare a couple of minutes to tell us how we can improve your experience. Thank you in advance.
Other locations where one can ski in the Fernie area are listed below. Please note that these trails are dog-friendly and operated by other organizations.
Fernie Alpine Resort
The Silk, Scandia and Manchuria trails were groomed and trackset on Wednesday morning.
Off-leash dogs are now allowed on the trails if they are still under ‘vocal control’. A map and directions to trails are found here The FAR snow report is here
Fernie Dyke and City Trails
The trails from the backcountry north of the golf course to James White park are very icy and not recommended for skiing.
It is a multi-use trail for walking, snowshoeing, snow biking and skiing with your dog. Grooming of the dyke to the north bridge will start at the same time as the grooming on the golf course. Additionally the dyke from the north bridge to the boat launch will be groomed and trackset after a sufficient new snow fall. Level of difficulty: Easy
Montane
No recent report. The trails are groomed regularly.
The Community Fun R***s are on Saturday February 24 on the trails of the Nordic Centre. The fifth edition of the epic Fernie Flying Viking Challenge returns on Sunday March 24 also at the Nordic Centre. Both events promise lots of fun and excitement. They are open to local skiers and visitors as well. Bring a friend for some good competition.
10th Annual Community Fun R***s
Choose between two different courses: a 3 km loop and the 7.5 km one. Classic or skate, whatever! Go for it! Costumes are suggested to race. Chariots with a passenger are welcome on the 3km loop. It is all about FUN …
On the morning of the event, registration and meeting will begin at 10 am followed by the race start at 10:30 am. The event is free for FNS members. Non-members require a $15 trail pass which included in the registration below. More details on the main event page.
LATEST: Pre-race waxing of skis $25 will be available on the morning of the races. Come early to get it done. After race waxing $40 will also be offered for more performance.
Take part in the Community Fun R***s on Saturday Feb 24 here:
The Flying Viking Challenge takes skiers on a 25 km course on the trails of the Nordic Centre then crossing over the trails of the Fernie Alpine Resort and back. Skiers may do the course twice for the full 50 km challenge! A ride on the Deer chair at the resort is included – this is the flying part of the challenge.
Wear your best costume. Read all about it on our page.
Take part in the Fernie Flying Viking Challenge on Sunday March 24 here:
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