Hi Team!!
I'm sure looking forward to everyone being back together again and look forward to the stories from everyone. I cannot lie, I am fully disappointed that winter left when we did!! 😠This makes me SO sad as this will be the last week of practice. Athletes typically take the month of April off to recover from the season and then I try to start up a spring training session (not mandatory and no fees, for anyone on the team who wants to keep up their fitness by roller skiing, running or road biking). I encourage athletes to join the mountain biking team, track running, triathlons... basically anything that keeps up the kids cardio, strength and endurance. A few athletes have asked for training plans, these I keep really vague and focused on hours where the athlete fills the hours with things they really enjoy doing and are motivated to do, that works around family plans. If you would like one, please email coach Claire. These will come out in May, when I have time to work on them.
As our return trip did not occur as planned, we will be doing a team waxing night to take care of the equipment that your parents have purchased. We will wax all of your skis (and the revolutions) for the summer and lovingly put them away to rest. Please bring your parents skis too!! Everyone should wax their gear before the end of the season, so that next year, we have happy, well cared for, skis!! 🥳 Even your rock skis, they got a lot of kms put in on them this year.
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Tuesday: Waxing day (wax on only) for EVERYONE!! so please bring a warm wax that you have, an iron, some wax remover and ski ties and we will work together to wax and put the gear away.
Juniors- will need to look at their skis and see how damaged the bases are, find straps and put them in pairs of whom they belong to and then go outside for some much needed fun as you've worked hard this season!! 😉
Seniors- will also need to also look at their skis (I will be sending down a large bag of skis for grinding down the damaged bases from this year at some point). There is a cost to get this done, however it keeps the skis going longer. If you would like to be a part of this, please let Claire know directly. 1/2 of the race skis flew to Whitehorse, our tools and benches are still MIA but our mission staff are out flying across the upper regions to rescue them!! We just don't know when they will arrive back in GP. We too will have some fun. Please return race suits washed (hung to dry!) on Tuesday and Thursday. Claire will check your name off of her list when they are received.
Thursday: Team hike and play. We will explore our trails by foot and bring an extra set of shoes for after practice as we usually end up with wet feet.
Friday-Saturday: Team wind-up party!! Coaches have planned this for us and as per our chat at our team supper before leaving for Alaska- we will be doing an overnight exploration. It seems that we won't be able to have sleds this year- but maybe people have wagons with big wheels?? See the details below and please let Coach Theresa know who is coming.
Wapiti Nordic Race Team
Year End Party
March 22/23, 2024
All drop off and pick-ups will be at the North Parking lot (dog trails)
Drop off athletes at 5:00 PM on Friday March 22.
Pick up for athletes under the age of 12 will be 9:15 PM Friday evening (at the North Parking lot again) or for those unable to sleep over. Pick-up for others will be 11:00 AM Saturday morning.
We will be hiking to the Scout’s cabin near the east side of the Nordic Club’s lease (close to the Camelback trail). We will be eating supper upon arrival at the cabin.
Menu: chili, buns, hotdogs and buns, raw vegetables, fruit, dessert – a Sign Up Genius will be set up by Tuesday
Supper will be followed by indoor/outdoor games and activities.
Packing List for all:
Winter boots
Warm clothing
Warm jacket
Weather appropriate outdoor footwear
Toque
Mitts/gloves
Footwear for in the cabin – could be a slip on type shoe
Headlamp/flashlight
Water bottle -
Thermal mug – for hot chocolate
Junk food – as per tradition for the year end party
For those staying overnight:
*Backpack (suitable for carrying sleeping bag, pillow, mattress, clothing and personal items)
*Mattress (self-inflating or foam)
*Sleeping bag
Blanket
Pillow
Change of clothes
Extra socks
Warm pajamas
Warm long underwear
Games
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, small towel, facecloth, etc.)
Breakfast foods – bring your own – we don’t have a fridge, but can heat water
Please RSVP to Coach Theresa by text (780-814-9457) by Thursday, March 21 to let her know if you are coming or not. If you do not have items marked with an asterisk (*), please let a coach know at that time as well, as we are able to borrow these items for your use.