FernieStreak 2019

We are excited to be a part of January 2019 #FernieStreak! This is going to be a great event – there are no day use fees for the golf course trails for the evening, so it’s a great opportunity to bring out a friend who is new to Nordic! All ages, all abilities welcome.

All the details

Want to meet other #Ferniestreakers? Join the organizing committee at the Cast Iron Grill Fernie for a Full Moon Social on January 19. Cast Iron Grill is staying open late for us, so bring your money to enjoy yummy food and drinks until 10PM.

We are hoping for a group photo at 7:30PM … let’s see how many people we can get out!

* * Please remember that the Golf Course is Nordic skiing only. No dogs or ski-less people on the trails.

NORDIC SKIERS

Meet Sam @ the Fernie Golf Club clubhouse at 6:15PM for a group ski before the photo. The trails are FREE for this event for non-members! If you need rentals, check out GearHub Sports. If you can’t make the 6:15PM ski, no worries, just head out anytime and join us in the restaurant when you can.

FAT BIKERS

Meet @ 6:00PM at the Fairy Creek Bridge for a loop through the lower Mt Proctor trails (subject to change depending on conditions) and then to the golf course for the 7:30PM photo and food and drinks at the Cast Iron Grill. All abilities welcome!

RUNNERS

Meet Abi @ the Dirt Jumps at 6PM to run to the Fernie Golf Club via a loop of Montane & Old Stumpy. Want to cut it a little shorter? We’ll pass back through the Dirt Jumps at 6:30PM to pick you up!

HIKERS/ WALKING

Meet Ange @ the Bridge Bistro for 6:10PM and we can walk the dyke trails to the Golf Course.

If you can only #FernieStreak one day…make it this one!
City of Fernie      Stag Leap Running Co    Fernie Mountain Bike Club    Fernie Nordic Society    Fernie Trails Alliance

Season 2018 – 2019 starts

The season got to a good start even considering how little snow is on the ground. Volunteers began grooming the trails of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre in late November and many skiers have taken to the trails since.

– – – Ski Lessons
The ski lessons program for children is now fully booked. Several coaches, all volunteers, will lead the lessons on Saturdays and Tuesdays starting in January. This year, fourteen young skiers are part of the Fernie Racers. Their training started back in September and their goal is to enter all eight Teck Kootenay Cup races this season with the first ones in Rossland on December 15-16.

Ski lessons for adults will be available again this year starting in January. Amy Wyatt and Tarah Leggott will be coaching to groups on weekday mornings as well as at other times for private lessons. There is more information on the this website.

– – – Trail Ambassadors and Volunteers
Many of the club members are volunteering their time to be at the Nordic Centre for a few hours during the weekends. The program started this past weekend and will run to the end of the season on Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays between 10 am and 4 pm. The warming hut will be open during most of the Holidays period as well. There are additional volunteering opportunities for the upcoming Kootenay Cup event that the Fernie Nordic Society hosts on January 5 & 6. Let us know at volunteers[at]fernienordic.com

– – – Upcoming Activities
The Fernie Nordic Society has planned several events during the season. There is an early start this week with the first Toonie race on Tuesday Dec 11 at 7 pm at the Nordic Centre. No booking is necessary. Participants gather at the hut, drop their toonie and go for a fun ski. It all ends inside the warming hut by the woodstove. This event is aimed at older teens and adults.

On December 17, is the first activity planned for kids. Participants in the fun Little Critter race do as many short laps in a given time. Sign up starts at 5:30 – free to enter – and the event starts at 6 pm at the Nordic Centre.

And just before the Holidays an event for adults, the first Full Moon Ski and Social at the Nordic Centre on Saturday, December 22 starting at 7 pm. A headlamp is useful to have for this outing under the moonlight. Then end the evening inside the warm hut.

Non club members only need a day pass to participate in these events

– – – Fundraiser
The fundraiser for our newly acquired – and good looking – snowcat is still running. The official page is at https://chuffed.org/project/welcome-home

– – – Buy and Sell
There is Facebook page HERE to use for looking to buy or sell gear locally.

Ad from Heaven Boutique on 2nd Ave
Fernie Nordic Society members get a 10% discount on these brands: **Skhoop (skirts)  **NOSO (adhesive patches)  **Turtle Fur (hats/headbands)  **Auclair (gloves/mitts)  **Goodr (sunglasses)  Club members MUST show their actual membership card with the 2018/19 sticker on it for the discount to be valid.

Trail passes are now available from any of our kiosks at the trails and at the warming hut – single $10 or family $20. They are good stocking stuffers for anyone!
Enjoy the many trails that Fernie has to offer!

New program for Masters 50+

masters group
Participants on a hike

The Fernie Nordic Society is offering a fall/winter physical training program aimed at its adult members aged 50 and older to prepare you for the ski season. Our head coach, Jeff Williams, has set up this program.

First: it includes a set of activities to do each week at one’s own pace (or in a group). For example on Monday: register your weight; Tuesday: strength workout; Wednesday: intervals; Thursday: easy run/bike; Friday: rest; Saturday: any fun activity (cycle or hike); Sunday: easy run or hike. Sunday is the most popular day for the group to get together.

Second: the program is web based so each participant can track her/his own progress. You receive an email notice each day to direct you to the workout to do that day.

Third: coach Jeff willl also monitor the progress of each participant and will follow up with individuals, or the group, each month if possible.

The fall program starts in September and run through November. The plan is to also offer a winter training program from December until end of February that will include ski lessons to participants twice each month.

Program cost: $60 for September to November session (only $20/month)  and from December to February: $90-120 depending on number of participants.

To become a member, visit our page at Zone4.ca
Contact Micheline at micheline_fns@icloud.com to join the fall program.
If interested, make a $60 e-transfer to info@fernienordic.com (secret word NORDIC) to get started with the fall program.

Griz Days 2018

snow to ice cream

This was such a great weekend for the Fernie Griz Days. Some great weather plus some awesome powder just as the Snow To Ice(cream) Challenge got under way! Super turnout everyone! Huge thanks to our sponsors The Fernie Hotel & Happy Cow Fernie for the beer and ice-cream. Is there a better reward ? Thank you for the amazing prizes and rentals from GearHub Sports and prizes from The Guide’s Hut !! A shout out to all the ambassadors who spent time at the Nordic Centre and the Golf Course and also to our amazing groomers throughout the community! Several of the participants who completed the challenge:

First, 24 people completed the challenge – lots more took part. Everyone did multi-sport and everyone wore plaid in some way shape or form – some more than others ! The helmet and goggles donated by GearHub Sports go to Lori George Kennedy! Also from GearHub Sports, a t-shirt and buff to Carrie Dixon, and a t-shirt and bag to Amanda Steeper. From The Guide’s Hut a hat and FNS ski sleeves to Catherine Bodroghy, and a hat and FNS ski sleeves to Ute Hammer. A FNS toque, ski sleeves and Guide’s Hut water bottle pack go to Garret Sowchuk, Thomas Lentz and our first finisher Julie Kelly!

And last, a huge Thank you! to all participants

Get your skis ready!

Get your skis ready!

SNOW! Yay, it’s so good to see that white stuff falling from the sky and accumulating on the ground. Our volunteer groomers are going to be busy this week both at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre and at the Fernie Golf and Country Club – not yet open for skiing – packing and grooming for both classic and skate skiing.
Would you like to start receiving our Grooming Report regularly? Just sign up for them here!

Our next planned events

Monday Dec 18: Little Critter Ski
Criterium style ski event where competitors complete as many laps of a short course as possible in the 40 minute time limit. For every lap of the course completed, the skier puts his/her name in for draw prizes. Geared to skiers 12 and under. Meet at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre: sign up begins at 5:30 pm and ski begins at 6:00. Headlamps will be needed! Free for members, day ticket required for non-members.

Saturday Dec 23:  Family Social Ski
Join us for a fun Family Social Ski on Saturday, December 23 at 10:30am. It will be a great chance for the kids to try their skis, meet other families and maybe finish with roasting hot dogs or marshmallows on the fire! 

Teck Kootenay Cup December 30 & 31
You absolutely HAVE to pre-register for this amazing community event! Everyone is welcome, doesn’t matter your ski ability, this is a fun event for the entire community. When you register as a Fernie Nordic Society club member, you can even earn points for the club toward the overall Teck Kootenay Cup! Sign up right away and get a free lunch for either or both days. Find all the information you need here. To register go here. For additional halo points, one can volunteer to make this community event a success – contact volunteers[at]fernienordic.com

Dinner on Saturday evening Dec 30
On the evening of December 30, the Teck Kootenay Cup and Fernie Nordic Society have arranged a dinner at the wonderful Red Tree Lodge restaurant with musical guest Red Girl. Everyone is welcome to come to the dinner! You can purchase tickets at the door, or when you sign up for the Teck Kootenay Cup event.

Monday Jan 1:   Full Moon Ski & Social
Adults only. On the night of the full moon, meet at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre 19:00 – 22:00. Bring a snack to share & your headlamp, then ski under the full moon and enjoy the fire and food with friends! Free for members, day ticket required for non-members.

Wednesday Jan 3:   Toonie Race
Meet at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre for 19:00. Pre-registration is available. Headlamps will be needed. Course and format will be announced prior to each race. $2 per participant plus day ticket if not a member.