Telemark Nordic Club hires new full-time GM
Change is in the air at the Telemark Nordic Centre.
The Telemark Nordic Club, based in West Kelowna, has long been a big part of the Central Okanagan community offering cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Telemark Nordic Centre on Glenrosa Road near Crystal Mountain.
The club also offers cross-country ski instruction programs for skiers of all ages and abilities. With 1,300 members, it is one of the largest cross-country ski clubs in Canada. And with many more day-users throughout the winter, it also operates one of the largest not-for-profit run Nordic centres in Canada.
The club and Nordic centre have grown and improved over the years, but the board of directors decided that Telemark needed some changes to keep up with the growing demand for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
“The current board of directors saw that the Telemark Nordic Club needed an injection of new energy to make sure that the Central Okanagan would continue to have the best cross-country skiing and snowshoeing possible,” says outgoing club president Barry Allen.
The first step was hiring a new full-time, year-round general manager.
“This is a big step for us. We have had a part-time manager for many years, but that did not give us enough capacity to meet growing needs. The board of directors wanted to hire someone who had experience in all aspects of running a larger ski area and developing a club,” he said.
That someone is Mike Edwards, who was hired in September as the new general manager. In the process, he moved to West Kelowna from Canmore, Alta., with his wife and two children.
Since then, Edwards has been busy preparing for winter as well as getting to know the club, its members, the Telemark Nordic Centre and the Central Okanagan community.
Edwards has a 25-year career of working in the cross-country skiing business. He was the manager at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre in the North Okanagan during its growth phase from 2000 to 2007.
He went on to involvement in the Olympics as the assistant operations manager at Whistler Olympic Park during the 2010 Games. Most recently, he was the director of the successful National Team Para-Nordic Program, which saw a record 16-medal haul at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics.
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work for the Telemark Nordic Club. The club is on the cusp of great things and I wanted to be a part of that. I love building and wanted to help build this club and its facility to the next level,” Edwards said.
“My goals are to operate the Nordic Centre as a business while making sure it always has a friendly club atmosphere and to manage growth for the benefit of all skiers and snowshoers,” he added.
“The club is excited to have Mike,” says incoming club president Brent Hobbs. “He brings a wealth of experience with proven results. He has become a big part of our community in the short time he has been here.” Telemark Nordic Club had a great season last year with some of the best snow in many years and skiing continuing into April out of the busy chalet (above). All day fees and rental equipment rates are the same as last year. Season pass prices were tweaked to make them more consistent. Telemark will host the Western Canadian Championships on Feb. 8-10, 2019, bringing more than 600 cross-country ski athletes to West Kelowna from across Canada and the U.S. It is one of the largest cross-country races in North America. Mike Edwards was hired in September as the new general manager of the Telemark Nordic Club. He moved to West Kelowna from Canmore, Alta., with his wife and two kids after serving as director of the successful National Team Para-Nordic Program, which saw a record 16-medal haul at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics.
Skiers will notice a few changes this season, including new staff, renovations to add new tables and counter space to the chalet, night lighting repairs, updated snowshoe trail signs, and a new season pass and ticketing system.
All day fees and rental equipment rates are the same as last year. Season pass prices were tweaked to make them more consistent, so that some categories went up by a small amount while others went down by a small amount.
Telemark had a great season last year with some of the best snow in many years and skiing continuing into April.
In other exciting developments, Emily Young, a multi-medalist at the 2018 Paralympics, is moving back to Kelowna to ski at Telemark while continuing to train and compete with the National Paralympic Team. Telemark played a big part in developing Young into a successful Paralympian.
In addition, Gareth Williams, a Telemark athlete, is in his second year on the Senior National Team.
Telemark will host the Western Canadian Championships on Feb. 8-10, 2019. One of the largest races in North America, it will bring more than 600 cross-country ski athletes to West Kelowna from across Canada and the U.S.
The club hosted a successful B.C. championships last year in preparation for the Western Canadian Championships.
Some trails have been widened with new cut-offs constructed to give more options for skiing, to prepare for the Western Canadian Championships, and to qualify for international certification of the trails.
There are approximately 1.2 million people across Canada who regularly cross-country ski. That’s about four per cent of the Canadian population.
Looking at club numbers in the Kelowna area, only about two per cent of the population regularly participates in cross-country skiing.
The Telemark Nordic Club’s board of directors has the lofty goals of enticing that extra two per cent and doubling its membership in the next few years. Edwards thinks that’s doable.