Spring looming over ski trails
Timing is everything when it comes to temperature, sunshine/cloud/snowstorm and run/trail conditions.
Last Saturday, Telemark Nordic Ski Club had -5 C, sunshine, 17 centimetres of new powder on some trails with skiing and snowshoeing rated as very good.
Four of us did the Telemark Trail, a 6.8-kilometre blue-rated loop that offers some of the best cross-country skiing (and snowshoeing) along a long ridge, then we continued down-and-back on the beautiful 5.4-kilometre Panorama Ridge with its incredible views of West Kelowna, Mount Boucherie, Okanagan Lake and Kelowna beyond.
On Sunday, Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club has similar cross-country conditions: -9 C, light flurries, an excellent groom and McCulloch Road was in good condition. Along with members of the Central Okanagan Outdoors Club, we did the most popular route of Log Cabin and Upper Meadow to the Meadow Cabin, then back on Lower Meadow.
On Tuesday, Big White Ski Resort had 10 centimetres of new snow after downhill runs were groomed but sunshine gradually turned into fresh snowfall by mid-afternoon.
The Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen met up with kayaking buddy Linda for a few runs off the Black Forest Chairlift.
Linda, a ski school instructor, reminded us that 90 per cent of your weight should be on the shaped ski about to start a turn and she demonstrated how she balanced on that ski before making the turn.
That new snow on top of freshly-groomed runs was absolute heaven in the morning but by the afternoon, blue runs were becoming lumpy-bumpy. Must get out earlier.
And on Wednesday, Kelowna Nordic had 8C, two to six cm of fresh snow, and the odd flake is coming down before the skies cleared and sunshine poured down.
A new route: Riverside Trail to the Riverside Connector and back on the western section of Log Cabin by COOC members.
With the winter clock ticking, now is the time to finish up the season in style.
Spring will soon spring upon us and all we will have left is memories of the unusually generous snowfalls that treated us royally since December.
*** For the first time in seven years, Hoodoo Adventures in Penticton has two females racing solo at the Elevator race in the South Okanagan with one of them planning to also solo in the Ski2Tree in the Central Okanagan.
“We rarely get females soloing these races,” said Lyndie Hill, co-counder of Hoodoo Adventures.
“This year, we have two for the Elevator and three for the Ski2Tree. We didn’t have any solo females in the Ski2Tree last year and have only ever had one female solo in the Elevator in seven years.”
The solo women entered in the Elevator are: Shelly Covert, 48, of Oliver, and Nathalie Long, 34, of Kelowna. The solo women in the Ski2Tree are: Long, Serena Maleniza, 39, of Kelowna, and Melanie Boskill, 28, of Kelowna.
The second annual Ski2Tree on Sunday, March 18, will take participants from the Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club to downtown Kelowna, crossing the finish line in front of the Tree Brewing Beer Institute after competing in the following sports: Nordic ski, snowshoe run, mountain bike, road bike, run and paddle. Teams will descend 3,000 feet in 88 kilometres over six stages.
The following week, on Saturday, March 24, the seventh annual Elevator Race will see teams use six different activities to travel from Okanagan Lake in Penticton to finish atop Apex Mountain Resort. Featuring the following activities: paddle, road bike, run/snowshoe, mountain bike, Nordic ski, alpine ski/board, the race will ascend 6,000 feet in 52 kilometres over six stages.
Registration is now open for both races. Participants can sign up with a team (up to seven people) or as solo competitors. For full details, including pricing, and to sign up, go to: elevationseries.ca.
Hoodoo will donate 100 per cent of the net proceeds from each race to the Youth Outdoor Recreation Society (YORS), a subsidy program that funds outdoor recreation opportunities for schools in the Okanagan.
The company is seeking volunteers to assist with each event on race day (for two- to five-hour shifts between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.).
*** Correction: Friends of Black Mountain (friendsofblackmountain.com) will hold its annual general meeting at 7 p.m. on March 12 at the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan (EECO) in Mission Creek Regional Park, Springfield and Durnin roads in Kelowna.
This year’s guest speakers are: Dr. Maury Williams, who will talk, along with showing historic photographs from the Vienna archives, on Crown Prince Ferdinand’s 1893 grizzly hunting trip to the Okanagan.
The second speaker, local naturalist Pam Laing, will present her photographs of birds found on Black Mountain. Both presentations are open to the public and admission is free. The two presentations will be followed by a short business meeting for Friends of Black Mountain members.
Friends of Black Mountain members are spearheading a major trail-building project in Black Mountain Regional Park this year, establishing an embryo hiking network in the new park before its official opening sometime in 2020.
*** The Okanagan kayaking community lost one of its most dedicated kayakers/guides/mentors on Feb. 23.
Phil Soichuk, formerly of Vernon, was a key member of the Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club for many years. He not only carved Greenland paddles for many mambers. but loved to take those new to kayaking to the Gulf Islands to teach them about tides, currents and ocean paddling.
Born on Jan. 22, 1953, Soichuk passed away from lung cancer after a very short stay in hospital with his wife, Maureen, and son Tim (Nicole) by his side. He was predeceased by his daughter, Tasha.
He loved his time outside hiking, riding his bike and teaching/guiding kayaking. After a back ailment limited his activities, he spent most of his time golfing and enjoyed his role as a marshal at Spallumcheen Golf Course.
For the past seven years, he and Mo wintered in Arizona, spending time golfing and enjoying Happy Hours with new friends. There will be no service at his request.
*** Last Saturday, Big White Ski Resort and Telus hosted the fourth annual Telus Kelowna Cup with 272 participants raising $32,564 to support amateur racing through the Big White Ski Club and the world-famous Nancy Greene Race League.
“The Big White Ski Club is a volunteer organization that relies on partnerships to help us deliver the best ski and race programs possible. We cannot thank Big White Ski Resort and Telus enough for their generosity through the Telus Kelowna Cup,” said John McMillan, president of Big White Ski Club.
“We are proud to say that Gold and Silver Olympic medalist, Kelsey Serwa, was a graduate of the Big White Ski Club program and with the continued support from these incredible sponsors, we may have another Kelsey Serwa, Ian Deans or Ned Ireland graduate from our program in the future.”
“Having been involved in racing since 1985 and seen my two sons graduate from this program, it is always satisfying seeing moms and dads racing each other in the fun sport of ski and snowboarding. The Telus Kelowna Cup truly lives up to our signature fun family annual event,” added Michael J. Ballingall, senior vice-president at Big White Ski Resort.
This season, parents and their children had the opportunity to race side-by-side down the mountainís snow cross track in Big White’s Telus Park. As is the tradition to include all ages and abilities in this family-friendly competition, the race was held in the form of time duplication, where each participant lays down a time on their first run and then tries to match it on their second run. The closest match wins.
A total of $10,000 worth of prizes were handed out to the winners in each category and by random draw which included skis, snowboards, jackets, GoPro accessories, goggles, boot bags and Big White tuques.
During the day, the village was bustling as local acts took the stage in Big White’s inaugural Battle of the Bands, rocking out for the chance to win a $2,000 cash prize donated by Telus.
Also in the Village, inside the Telus Igloo, visitors could step into the Telus Tech Zone, a futuristic activation with virtual reality demos, free phone charging and lots of Telus giveaways.
You can watch the Telus Kelowna Cup recap video at: https://youtu.be/pr8ykp75uso
*** The Regional District of the North Okanagan has approved bylaws and maps for a Silver Star Resort Association.
Regional district directors now expect the Silver Star Marketing Task Force to proceed with a petition to determine whether there is enough community support to establish a resort association at Silver Star Mountain under the Resort Associations Act.
A resort association at Silver Star is intended to benefit the resort community through enhanced marketing and promotion as well as to provide an opportunity to access grants and other funding for the Silver Star community.
*** If you join Wild Walks, you can learn some secrets and natural features of Central Okanagan regional parks when a park interpreter turns an ordinary walk in the park into something extraordinary.
Each of the Wild Walks lasts approximately 90 minutes, is suitable for all ages, including families with young children, and ranges from easy to moderate. Participants should dress for conditions, and bring anti-slip/traction devices. There’s no cost to take part but you sould pre-register for Wild Walks on the following dates and locations:
• Today (March 3) at 10 a.m. and Wednesday (March 7) at 1 p.m.: visit Scenic Canyon Regional Park, meet at the Hollywood Road South entrance for a walk along Mission Creek.
• April 14 at 10 a.m. and April 18 at 1 p.m.: explore two heritage parks in West Kelowna, Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park off Whitworth Road where you will learn about the historic orchard, then walk to Gellatly Heritage Regional Park to explore its interpretive trail, buildings and view, before returning to the nut farm.
To save a spot for your family on these free outings, drop in to the Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan, email eeco@cord.bc.ca or phone 250-469-6140.
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is a retired Okanagan Weekend Edition reporter and an avid outdoors enthusiast. Email jp.squire@telus.net.