Bishop’s ski trail to host first competition of 2019

The Bishop’s University Nordic Center will host the Subaru Quebec Cup, a Noram Haywood and Alta Gas multi event cross-country ski qualifying competition. Held from Friday, Jan. 18 to Sunday Jan. 20, the Cup is a joint initiative of the Club de Ski de Fond du Parc du Mont-orford and Bishop’s University.

Although the event has previously been held on the Bishop’s cross-country ski trails, this year’s programme will introduce new Fédération internationale de ski (FIS) certified trails on top of the existing trails.

While the Old Lennoxville Golf Course clubhouse will continue to be the race committee headquarters, the 2019 athletes will have access to the recently inaugurated Sports Center at the University. Extra precautions have been taken to ensure a proper amount of snow, such as the use of a snow cannon on the Golf Course.

In 2017, Bishop’s Director of Athletics and Recreation Matt Mcbrine indicated that such events “bring several hundred skiers aged 15-20 to Bishop’s from Quebec, Ontario, and Vermont. We hope this trail will form part of the facilities for an eventual cross-country skiing team at Bishop’s, as well as a running team in the warmer months.”

Arnold Ross, president of Club de ski de fond du Mont-orford, had also signaled the importance of such a trail, mentioning that it provides “Quebec athletes with a world-class training centre, helps us attract the best young athletes, and introduces them to our training program.” Ross added that they were “looking forward to hosting more local, regional, and national races at the new course.” In fact, the course will also host the qualifying events for the Canada Winter Games and the World Senior Championship.

The 3.3km cross-country ski trail, for which construction began in late 2017, is the only university campus trail in Canada to be FIS certified. It can accommodate classic and skate-style skiing.

Planned and designed with the help of forest engineer and race director René Pomerleau, the trail follows the existing ones in adjoining wooded area. The Bishop’s trails are groomed regularly and available daily to members of the community.

The trails are located at the Old Lennoxville Golf Course at 19, rue du Golf. For more information, please visit https://www.ubishops.ca/athletics-recreation/ski/.