The 100 Mile Nordics annual ski swap is taking place this Sunday (Nov. 19) from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
Nordics president Chris Keam said the lodge will be open for equipment drop-offs on Saturday (Nov. 18) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Keam said registration at the ski swap will be a little different this year.
“We’ll have a few computers on hand for people to sign up online,” he said. “Someone will be there to type up the information for them. The reason for that is we’re discontinuing paper registration this year just to streamline our operation.”
He said it was very expensive to hand-enter all the registrations after the fact and to absorb the processing fees. Last year they wound up eating some of the costs. He said they are trying to make the transition as easy as possible for people and there will be help available for those who need it.
Keam recommends anyone buying a season pass to do so before Dec. 1 in order to take advantage of discounts. They save money and it helps the club with the Cross Country BC’s annual membership drive contest. Season pass prices can be found on the website.
“The ski club that gets the most members before Dec. 1, proportionate to their size in the previous year, wins various prizes that we can either give away, some of its used ski equipment, stuff like that, it’s quite useful to us,” he said.
Based on the last few years, the season is anticipated to get underway the weekend of Dec. 15-16 depending on snow. If they get snow sooner, Keam said they will see what they can do to get an earlier start.
The youth skills development program will again be taking place this year. Classes will be held early Thursday evenings and Sunday mid-morning.
“As far as I know there’s still availability so if people are interested in signing up - I know they’ve started the dry land training, fitness and agility all that kind of stuff,” Keam said.
Ski school, where area schools come in for introductory lessons, is still on the agenda.
“We’re not quite there yet but we’re absolutely working on it. Whether we have the capacity this year to have something, we’re working towards it but it’s hard to say at this point. But we definitely want to bring it back,” he said.
The Teck Northern Cup #3 and 4 has expanded to take place over two days this season. Eligibility has also increased with an unlimited division from the younger people who have entered traditionally right through to adults.
“I’m going to enter. Someone has to come in last so I’m entering,” Keam laughed.
Some of the projects the club is focused on this year making sure the lodge is in good condition and the roof is well maintained. Chinking the lodge inside and out will be another capital project they are trying to embark upon. They are applying for grants for this and other things.
Volunteers are always welcome to serve in a variety of roles.
Keam believes the cost of a season pass is the best winter sports deal going. The price for an adult pass is $161 for unlimited access to the trails for both skiing and snowshoeing. Equipment is extra he noted.
“A real Cariboo cross-country corridor has kind of opened up along Highway 97. There’s our facility, there’s the brand new facility in Williams Lake, there’s cross-country skiing in Quesnel and right up to Prince George and lots of other little places that you might not know about.”
The Nordic Lodge is located at 500 Ainsworth Road.