Second half of winter will go by faster
The 2018-19 winter clock is ticking even louder, now that the calendar has switched to February. There are still many weeks and weekends to go, but from this halfway point, the days just seem to race by.
“It’s February already? What happened to January?” seems to be a comment sentiment among skiing buddies.
So the Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen hit the trails at Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club on Sunday and again on Wednesday, but the highlight of the week was — without doubt — Tuesday at Big White Ski Resort.
The sunshine was pouring down. (Why does it always seem more intense at high altitude?) The groomed runs were hard and fast as a result of no new snow for a few days.
However, this was mid-week and it seemed like no one was there. In a little more than two-and-a-half hours, we did five runs off the Bullet Express Quad (1,322 feet vertical), then five runs off the Black Forest Express Quad (1,040 feet vertical) and finally two runs off the Ridge Rocket and Snow Ghost Express chairlifts (1,446-1,476 feet vertical).
After 14,732 vertical feet more or less, our legs were starting to ache.
As you can guess, there were no lineups so we paused only momentarily for the season pass automatic scanners to open the gates at the bottom lift stations. We had virtually every run to ourselves (with brief pauses to let any skiers/boarders pass).
And the conditions: with no one there, virtually every run had a fine mix of ground powder — everywhere — making high-speed GS turns an exhilarating thrill top to bottom. It was quite simply one of the best days ever.
If you haven’t taken a day off work for mid-week skiing — any day Monday to Friday, you probably don’t realize what you have been missing: flying without wings.
As for Kelowna Nordic conditions, trails weren’t icy and everything was groomed, especially our favourite 20-kilometre loop. When the website kelownanordic.com says “Gorgeous sunny day. Great groom,” that’s an invitation you shouldn’t turn down.
Here’s another invitation: Kelowna Nordic annual guided group Ski and Snowshoe by Moonlight; Saturday Feb. 16; start at 5:30 p.m.; out in the moonlight by 7 p.m.
“Bring food to share for the potluck dinner. Simple is best. We have the woodstove to heat items in oven or on stove if needed. ThereÌs no electricity … Hot drinks will be supplied. Bring your own plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery. Dress warm and bring headlamps.”
*****
All that GS high-speed, top-to-bottom non-stop, swallow-and-popyour-ears-at-the-bottom fun on Tuesday reminded the Sheriff of one of his favourite stories.
The Sheriff has always followed the ski (and life) strategy reportedly expressed by Dave Murray of the Crazy Canucks, the Canadian downhill racers of the late 1970s and early 1980s known for their fearless (and sometimes reckless) racing style. His famous line (that he may have borrowed from someone else): “To turn is to admit defeat.”
The Sheriff was riding up a Big White lift with a gaggle of 12-yearold boys one day and told the story. One of the precocious youngsters responded: “Turning is for girls.”
*****
In the North Okanagan, the B.C. Dragoons trained at Silver Star Mountain Resort last weekend.
The Dragoons headed up the mountain on Sunday in their massive new TAP-V vehicle.
“We were conducting avalanche awareness training as well as practising some of our winter mobility doctrines,” said Capt. Joshua Trowsse-Freeman.
It was a bluebird day at Silver Star on Sunday, which made for perfect weather for a day of training.
There could have been secret military rehearsals, but we wouldn’t be able to tell you.
There was no word on whether the Dragoons will train during the inaugural Seismic Mountain Festival on March 22-31 at the Star.
Not only can skiers, boarders and music-lovers get excited for the 10 days of fun, but foodies and art enthusiasts out there have the perfect reason to hit the mountain as well.
A large portion of Silver Star’s festival will cater to food, wine, cider, beer and spirit lovers.
Winterland will be a signature tasting event on March 30, featuring a variety of tastings, DJs and bonfires, all inside LED-lit igloos.
Staff will be serving up an assortment of delicious appetizers as well.
If you haven’t heard of Chef David Hawksworth, one of Canada’s top chefs, then you’re probably not a true foodie. The celebrity chef will prepare a special dinner on March 29, pairing wine with each course.
“David owns Hawksworth Restaurant in downtown Vancouver, which is currently ranked in the top 10 restaurants across the country and No. 1 in Western Canada, with its sister restaurant, Nightingale, recognized as fifth best in the province,” said Chantelle Deacon, the resort’s communications and sponsorship manager.
“We also have one more artsy event on the go. We are calling it Culture & Cocktails, and it will bring together some of the Okanagan’s most talented artists. The event will showcase their art in an interactive space with a special interactive twist that will be announced later this month.
Culture & Cocktails is a fundraiser for the Arts Council of the North Okanagan.
Winter Wine Dinners featuring culinary delights paired with local wines will take place on March 24 and 30.
Tickets for Winterland went on sale on Jan. 26. Other craft and culinary tickets go on sale today. For more information on Silver Star’s spring festival or for tickets to events, go to: SESIMICFest.ca.
For information on tickets and packages, call 250-558-6083 or go to: skisilverstar.com.
***** Visitors to Mission Creek Regional Park in Kelowna may notice some brushing and vegetation cutting in a portion of the park.
On Wednesday and Thursday, a FortisBC crew pruned and cleared vegetation along its natural gas transmission line right-of-way through the park. This is routine work Fortis does.
In future weeks, crews plan to return with equipment to chip collected debris.
Visitors are asked to watch for any vehicles and equipment that might be crossing or travelling along trails in the park.
***** Telemark Nordic Club in West Kelowna has completed a year-long project to upgrade the club’s crosscountry ski race courses and has been awarded Federation International de Ski (FIS) certification.
This means that the club meets international race standards and will be able to attract high-level races and elite cross-country ski athletes from around the world.
The new certification will begin paying off on Feb. 8-10 when Telemark hosts the Western Canadian Championships. They anticipate welcoming more than 500 of the most competitive cross-country skiers from across Canada and western U.S.
Mike Norton, FIS homologation inspector for Cross Country Canada, was impressed with the new race courses at Telemark, adding: “The five-kilometre race course is one of the best and most challenging courses in the country.”
James Williams and Tim Mayer, long-time Telemark Nordic Club members and Masters racers themselves, are responsible for most of the work on the project.
“We are really pleased with how everything turned out,” said Williams. “The athletes are going to love these courses. It is not just about racing, though. Our day-today recreational skiers also benefit from the course upgrades.”
***** Regular Outdoors page reader Gary had a question: “Do you know of anywhere local in Kelowna or elsewhere that can repair snowshoes? I have a pair of Atlas snowshoes and one of the bindings broke. I have had them for 25 years but other that the bindings, the rest of the snowshoe is in good shape. Any ideas? I hate to throw them out if they are not repairable.”
Gary contacted the official Atlas repair facility in the U.S. but it doesn’t repair snowshoes for Canadian customers due to the difficulty of shipping across the boarder.
Then, Gary phoned the Canadian company that handles Atlas snowshoes.
“I spoke to Ben from K2 Canada and they will send me a pair of new bindings at no charge! I just have to install them. There is only a couple of rivets holding the binding together. I’m pretty sure I could attach them quite easily myself. Or Ben said I can find someone to install them for me.
“I thought that was pretty good of them to send me new bindings at no charge.”
J.P. Squire, aka the Ski Sheriff, is a retired reporter. Email: jp.squire@telus.net.