Regina Ski Club all about fun, friendship and fitness
THE REGINA SKI CLUB is ready for another winter of fun on snow with some changes to reflect the times and also to encourage new members to join the club and get outdoors.
“Skiing is fun, it’s very enjoyable and it is an excellent fitness activity,” says club president Dale Hjertaas. “And it is a life activity too. Our club members run from ages three to 87.”
Hjertaas says while it’s always a good time to ski, with so many other recreational options not being available due to COVID-19, this winter is a great year to try skiing, or get back into the sport.
He says the pandemic has resulted in some changes to the club’s usual programs, but has also led to the introduction of new initiatives.
While ski club bus trips are not possible, people can still ski at the many Regina locations where club volunteers groom cross country ski trails.
Hjertaas says there is also the new Ski Ambassador program that will see volunteer ambassadors leading ski outings outside the city where club members drive themselves to the trailhead and then head out skiing, either with the ambassador or by themselves.
“What we’re really wanting to do is encourage skiers who popped into one of the city parks to take that first step into the broader world of skiing,” he says.
Hjertaas says there will be regular ambassador outings to White Butte as a great introduction to skiing outside the city for beginners.
There will also be seven trips further afield to places like Echo Valley Park, Buffalo Pound Park, Good Spirit Park and Moose Mountain Park.
He says club members will meet in the city, register, head out around 8 a.m. in a cavalcade of their own vehicles, and regroup with their Ski Ambassador leader at the trails.
Another great offering for club members, new or otherwise, are cross country ski lessons for youth and adults.
Hjertaas says they have lessons for ages three and up on groomed trails around the city, and new members receive a free adult beginner Nordic lesson, and can later sign up for more lessons if they like, including a five-lesson package for adults for $100.
The club’s popular Wednesday Night Nordic Races will go ahead but on a more informal training basis, with a timing clock on site and skiers spaced out for the start, and then able to time their own ski laps. The event will focus on being a fun outing, and take place at the various city parks where trails are groomed each winter.
He says the Regina Ski Club also has some well-developed programs for other ski disciplines.
The Alpine Race Team/ Snow Stars provides race training to youth ages five to 18.
An Alpine Adaptive Ski Program provides instruction and use of adaptive equipment, “since it’s our belief that everybody should be able to participate in skiing,” says Hjertaas.
The club even has a Biathlon Program that uses the White Butte trail network and the nearby Regina Wildlife Federation shooting range as venues for skiers ages eight and up to participate in that ski sport.
Hjertaas says the Regina Ski Club’s motto is Fun, Friendship and Fitness.
He says with people feeling cooped up at home, joining the club is a great way to get out of the house, get active and try something new.
“It’s absolutely a great year to do it. I’ve made many friends—so many people that I’ve only met through skiing. It really is all about fun, friendship and fitness.”
Visit Reginaskiclub.com for more information on memberships and ski club programs.