Sunday, January 27, 2019

January 28th - February 10th, 2019

So this is going to be a 2 week posting...

This week, with the massive snow loss, we may be only skate skiing... having said that, there is snow in the forecast- so please come prepared for both techniques over the coming weeks.

Tuesday (29): Skate. For sure- both Junior and Senior.

Thursday (31): ? Classic?- but most likely skate... :(

Saturday (2): Coach Pinkie will be out with Coach Elmer and the Race Team. Coach Shannon will be out with the Junior Team. Classic Technique. Please also remember the cold weather cutoff for the Junior team- -20oC by 9am on Environment Canada website.

Tuesday (5): Coach Theresa will be working with the Junior Team and Coach Shannon and Coach Elmer will be working with the Race Team. Be prepared for speed both groups we have race prep to do!! Parents (and athletes if it's too cold to ski), please join coach Jake in the waxroom to learn about or brush up on your skills of ski prep and waxing skis... during practice time!

Thursday (7): Skate Technique. Junior Team: Coach Elmer will be working with you today. Coach Theresa will take the race team out for an hour ski, then those going to the Birkie, will come inside and start waxing your skis: LF4/Rex Blue; those doing 31 or 55km please leave your skis out for me to put on a base binder. I will be coming in later on Thursday (6:45ish) and will be applying the wax then. I would like to be able to apply the race wax for everyone on site at the birkie and would like to have your skis with me so that when you arrive all you will need to do is just come and find me... I'm not sure about the logistics of this working out just yet...


Team supper: 7:25-8pm for those attending the Birkie. Please sign-up with Mary-Ann's email. 

Saturday: No official practice. Any race team members not at Westerns or at the Birkie- please show up to help out with Jackrabbits. They will be down a few coaches as they're all racing the Birkie!!! :D
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     *These details are subject to change as I figure out my own travel plans and details. This is a rough guide for now.

Friday (8): *Birkie Registration Pickup
     Location:  Woodvale Facility and Golf Clubhouse
     4540 – 50 Street NW
     Edmonton, Alberta
     Date: Friday, February 8, 2019
Nordic Fair: Noon – 8 p.m.
Visit our sponsors’ booths, pick up a Birkie souvenir or two, get the latest waxing advice, watch waxing demos, and enjoy a sample of Alley Kat beer as you catch up with ski friends.
Registration Package Pick-up: Noon – 8 p.m.
Pick up your bib, returnable timing chip and information package.  If you cannot make the package pick-up you can ask a friend or family to pick it up for you.  They will need to know your full name, event, and check your timing chip before they leave. You must return your TIMING CHIP at the finish line. There is a $60 charge if your chip is not returned, so be sure to return it immediately after the event.
Saturday: (9th) 
Park at the Bethel Transit Terminal and take a bus. Bring your stuff in a bag, there will be storage there. Full details here
55/31km
Wave Starts – 55 & 31 km Classical Events In previous years, the 55 km race started at 9 a.m. and the 31 km race followed at 9:30 a.m. Since they followed more or less the same route for a considerable distance before splitting – it resulted in some congestion as the faster 31 km skiers caught up to slower 55 km skiers. To alleviate this issue, we are combining the 31 and 55 participants and sending you off in 3 waves – 9 am, 9:15 and 9:30. The fastest 1/3 of the 31 km racers and the fastest 1/3 of the 55 km racers will both head off at 9 a.m. (Wave 1), the middle 1/3 at 9:15 (Wave 2) and the slowest (most methodical) at 9:30 (Wave 3). Timing All skiers will have an ankle timing chip and your time will be automatically started only as you cross the start line. 
13km
The 13 km event will have wave starts for the first time in 2019. The first wave will be at 1:30 and is for the skiers who would expect to be in the top 1/3 in terms of finishing position. The second wave at 1:45 is for slower more `methodical’ skiers. 
Start Line and Finish Area
This event starts and finishes at the Waskahegan Staging Area, in the Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area. Access to the start is behind the Festival Tent, past the picnic shelter to a big field (please see map below). Plan on a 10-minute walk to the start line and place yourself in a lane based on your estimated skiing time in the wave of your choice.
Viking Feast will be where we picked up our race packages: 6:00pm 

March 25-31, 2024.

I am not really sure what happened to this season. It went by so quickly!! Thank you team for a great season and a very special thank you to...