The Fernie Nordic Society is a young club. It has its origin in July 2006 when several enthusiasts decided to form a nordic ski club in Fernie. With so many areas with good ski potential, how hard can it be? Well … it took a lot of effort by many people … Read on.
Timeline
Season 2022-2023
Another great season: 1,170 members, 20 race team members from ages 9 to 17 and 70 kids in the SDP program. Popular events returned: Pumpkin Hunt, Community Fun Races and Flying Viking Challenge.Fernie Dyke Grooming
The personnel of the Fernie Golf Course started grooming the dyke up to the Dogwood boat launch in March. More multi-use trails for the winter.
Season 2021-2022
Another great season: 1,337 members, 19 race team members and return of the SDP program.
Season 2020-2021
Last grooming at the Nordic Centre on April 2. Full season under COVID-19. No events or races held. No SDP program but membership record of 1,607 members. 16 Racers. New snowmobile for EVNC as ‘Old Blue’ Yamaha is retired after 13 years! The popular Lizard Creek Loop is now groomed regularly.
Season 2019 – 2020
Membership at 946 members, 79 SDP kids and 17 Racers. Expanded adult ski lessons program. Improved weekday grooming at EVNC. Trails closed on April 22. COVID-19 pandemic at end of season.
Upgrade of staging and event areas
Clearing of trees, area grading, surface cover with gravel and wood chips near the warming hut and on the wedding party space enlarged the useable area for skiers and guests.
Season 2018 – 2019
Another membership record with 985 members, 89 SDP kids and 14 Racers. Lots of fun events. Beautifully groomed trails.
First Snowcat
FNS acquired its first snowcat to be used by volunteers to groom the Nordic Centre trails. It is a Bombardier BR-400 of the 1994 vintage still in very good condition. Happy trails!
Start of Masters50+ Training Program
A physical training program for adults 50+ is initiated to prepare for the ski season. Coach Jeff is overseeing the daily program. Five initial participants.
Season 2017 – 2018
Membership 851 SDP kids 81 Racers 19
Won the Teck Kootenay Cup. Popular weekly and monthly activities: Little Critter races, Toonie races, Full Moon Ski & Social, Wednesday Womens Ski.
New local events
Snow-to-Ice(cream) event for Griz Days from March 1 to 4. First ever Fernie Birkie Flying Viking Challenge held on March 11th.
A new membership record !
The total membership of the club surpasses 830 members
Season 2016 – 2017
Another great season! Total membership 722, SDP kids 52, Racers 20. Improved trail grooming all around. New interpretive kiosks installed at the Nordic Centre. The Teck Kootenay Cup event is cancelled due to winter weather.
Warming hut is completed
The last touches were made to the warming hut exterior during the summer of 2016. The siding was installed. Inside the window trim, walls and insulation were done and a new woodstove installed.
Season 2015 – 2016
Record numbers Membership 747 SDP kids 73 Racers 15
Won the Teck Kootenay Cup. The connector trail to FAR is completed. Runt trail opened. Grading of trails and culverts installed.
First Kootenay Cup race in Fernie
The club held the first Teck Kootenay Cup race in Fernie on February 13, 2016 at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre
First SDP lesson at EVNC
Another first! The SDP program started with the first lesson of the season at the Nordic Centre near the newly built warming hut.
First Annual Pumpkin Hunt
The first Great Pumpkin Hunt held at the Nordic Centre was a great success with 190 kids of ages up to 9 yo participating.
Connector Trail to FAR built
The construction work on the connector to Fernie Alpine Resort is completed. Received grant from RCR.
Season 2014 – 2015
Membership 573
SDP kids 72
Racers 7
Won the Teck Kootenay Cup. The Trail Ambassador program is initiated.
EVNC Grand Opening
The Elk Valley Nordic Centre is officially open on this date in the presence of special guests olympian Beckie Scott and mayor Mary Giuliano.
Warming Hut construction
The plans have been drawn up and approved. The construction of the new Warming Hut at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre starts with the help of many volunteers.
Bridge over the Lizard Creek
A new bridge is built over the Lizard Creek to connect the trails on The Cedars property to the ones planned on the Galloway Lumber side. The sponsorship by the Teck company allowed for the contruction of the timber covered steel and concrete structure.
Phase 2 of the EVNC trails
During the summer, the trail designer marked the trails within the Galloway land. Another 6 km of trails was added.
Fernie Nordic Racers is created
The local race team is created from young member skiers in the club under the supervision of coaches Jeff Williams and Naomi Lentz.
New club logo
The new logo was adopted while keeping the original colours of the previous design.
Season 2013 – 2014
Membership 387
SDP kids 69
Season 2012 – 2013
Membership 341
SDP kids 64
Phase 1 of the EVNC trails
The trail designer Reidar Zapf-Gilje starts a survey on the lands owned by The Cedars development and the Galloway Lumber company to establish the initial trail network of 4 km.
Season 2011 – 2012
Membership 174
SDP 50
Season 2010 – 2011
Membership 145
SDP 27
Season 2009 – 2010
Membership 148
SDP 18
Received $10k grant from the City of Fernie. Year end event at Island Lake with 40 participants.
Season 2008 – 2009
Membership 194
SDP 30
Purchase of first snowmobile Yamaha
Season 2007 – 2008
Second season for the Fernie Nordic Society.
Membership 196
SDP 12
Start of the SDP program. Purchased large Ginzu groomer. Grooming at Golf Course and at Island Lake. Grant of $25K received from the province.
Season 2006 – 2007
First season of the Society.
Membership 220
Grooming and skiing on the golf course, Island Lake, rodeo grounds and dyke. First Ginzu groomer, roller-compactor and trailer were purchased. Grant received from province $25K. Another grant from Cranbrook’s Women’s Resource Society $6.6K