Family Activities

Two popular events are back this winter!

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community race 2024

The Community Fun R***s are on Saturday February 24 on the trails of the Nordic Centre. The fifth edition of the epic Fernie Flying Viking Challenge returns on Sunday March 24 also at the Nordic Centre. Both events promise lots of fun and excitement. They are open to local skiers and visitors as well. Bring a friend for some good competition.

10th Annual Community Fun R***s

community race 2024

Choose between two different courses: a 3 km loop and the 7.5 km one. Classic or skate, whatever! Go for it! Costumes are suggested to race. Chariots with a passenger are welcome on the 3km loop. It is all about FUN … 

On the morning of the event, registration and meeting will begin at 10 am followed by the race start at 10:30 am. The event is free for FNS members. Non-members require a $15 trail pass which included in the registration below. More details on the main event page.

LATEST: Pre-race waxing of skis $25 will be available on the morning of the races. Come early to get it done. After race waxing $40 will also be offered for more performance.

Take part in the Community Fun R***s on Saturday Feb 24 here:

Click here to register

5th Annual Fernie Flying Viking Challenge

The Flying Viking Challenge takes skiers on a 25 km course on the trails of the Nordic Centre then crossing over the trails of the Fernie Alpine Resort and back. Skiers may do the course twice for the full 50 km challenge! A ride on the Deer chair at the resort is included – this is the flying part of the challenge.

Wear your best costume. Read all about it on our page.

Take part in the Fernie Flying Viking Challenge on Sunday March 24 here:

Click here to register

Great Fun at a Local Race

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cookie medal

The Fernie Nordic Society held its 10th Annual Community Fun Races at the Nordic Centre on Saturday February 24. Fun, costumes, baked goods and keen participants of all ages were all part of the action! Forty-five skiers hit the trails and many more spectators and volunteers cheered them on.

Volunteers had set up a playground area near the warming hut. It offered fun challenges to the younger skiers. Older skiers, teens and adults, chose either the 3 km or 7.5 km course to ski or race with their friends. The staging area was busy with quite a crowd of skiers, spectators and volunteers enjoying some hot chocolate, crepes and other goodies. Cookie medals and prizes were awarded to the participants. Big smiles all around.

Big thanks to everyone involved!

A few photos from the event

a big Thank You! to Alex Trkulja for these great photos

cookie medal
community races fernie 2024

Timing results from our informal races

Thank you to our sponsors who helped with prizes and supplies

  • Mugshots
  • City of Fernie
  • Starbucks for hot chocolate and coffee
  • Vogue Theatre
  • Island Lake Lodge
  • Fernie Chiropractic
  • Le Bon Pain
  • Giv’er Shirt Works
  • Fernie Brewing Co.

10th Annual Community Fun R***s

10th Annual Community Fun R***s

The event will happen on February 24, 2024 on the trails of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre.

Come to ski, come to race, or come to cheer! Compete against your friends and enjoy the great trails. This is an annual community event that is really a fun race open to everyone. Participation is open to all skiers, club members or non-members alike, all ages and abilities.

As in previous years, there are several popular categories to choose from, a short distance and a longer one for the young or older skiers – your choice! – and the Chariot Glide category with an adult pulling a chariot with a passenger. The keyword here is FUN, so wear a funny hat or costume if you dare!

The event in 2024 will be held on the trails of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. Participation is free for members of the Fernie Nordic Society. A trail pass is required for non-members. Our goal to make it a fun event for young skiers as well as older ones. Thank you to all volunteers organizing this event.

2024 COMMUNITY FUN RACES!

LOCATION:    Elk Valley Nordic Centre on Mt. Fernie Provincial Park Road (maps HERE)

DATE/TIME:    Saturday, February 24th with a 10:00 am start for bib pickup

Two ski courses to choose from. The 3 km long loop up the Lizard Lookout, around the Cedar Loop and back to the finish. The longer 7.5 km course goes across the bridge, around the Galloway Loop and back to the finish line. I hear there may be prizes or medals on the line?!

Participation in this event is free for everyone although non FNS members require a trail pass $15.

Registration/bib pick-up and warm-up will start at 10:00 a.m. and the race will beging promptly at 10:30 a.m., following a quick racer meeting. Cost of registration includes daily trail pass.

Parking may be limited, so please follow the indications from the parking attendants when you arrive.

Categories and distances

  • Lizard Lookout and Cedar Loop – 3 km – (all ages & Chariot Glide)
  • Galloway Loop – 7.5 km (teens and adults)

Register online here

Register for the event here. Non FNS members can purchase their trail pass at the same time.

Click here to register

Gentle notes!

  • Each 3 km and 7.5 km wave is a mass start
  • All for fun, fun, fun.
  • Costumes encouraged!
  • Don’t have nordic skis? Call The Quest at (250) 423-9252 or Gear Hub at (250) 423-5555 for rentals. Locations may be found HERE
  • If you’d like to help with this event, please visit our SignUpGenius page to choose an easy task

Two courses to pick from

community race 2024
3 km Course
community race 2024
7.5 km Course

Results of the last event in February 2023

Details of the times for each participant are shown on the www.webscorer.com website. Click on the following icons to access each page.

Races

Click here for results

Relays

Click here for results

Thank you to our hosts and sponsors!

Fernie Golf Club, Happy Cow Fernie, Fernie Chiropractic Inc,
Mantra Spirit Studio Fernie, Le Bon Pain Fernie, The Quest Fall Line Snow Sports,
Fernie Brewing Co., The Vogue Theater, Giv’er Shirt Works, Big Bang Bagels, City of Fernie

city of fernie

Previous Events

Inclement Weather Protocol

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FERNIE NORDIC SOCIETY (FNS) FACILITY CLOSURE POLICIES
INCLEMENT WEATHER PROTOCOL
Ambassador, Grooming & Skill Development Programs

This policy PDF is available for download

This policy provides guidance regarding the Fernie Nordic Society’s operations, including our Ambassador Program which supports the opening & closing of the Elk Valley Nordic Centre (EVNC) warming hut, grooming program, events & our Skill Development Program (SDP) during inclement weather. The policy does not apply to recreational skiers who are advised to “ski at their own risk”. However some services may not be provided during some weather conditions.

FNS reserves the right to close the EVNC and Fernie Golf Club trails, including the EVNC warming hut; this may happen at any time due to excessive rain events, wind events, lightning, cold and any other extreme weather phenomenon. The Ambassador Program that operates the EVNC warming hut will only be operated at temperatures of -20C or warmer. SDP & events will be cancelled at temperatures below -15C.

AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
The volunteer run ambassador program may be operated at temperatures of -20C or warmer. The persons responsible for making this call are Mike DeJong & FNS board of directors; specifically Jane Stevens, club secretary & lead of the program. If temperatures are colder than -20C, **the warming hut will not be opened** and a fire will not be laid.

VOLUNTEER GROOMING PROGRAM
The grooming equipment may operate at temperatures of -20C or warmer. The person responsible for making this call is Mike DeJong & FNS board of directors. Volunteer groomers are asked to stay very close to the EVNC warming hut on cold days. If the temperatures are colder than -20C, the grooming equipment will not operate for the safety of the volunteers.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM & EVENTS
SDP (Events will observe the SDP guidelines) will be cancelled at temperatures below -15C as measured/estimated at or before noon on Tuesday & Thursday & the night before or early morning on Saturday at the EVNC. FNS grooming & operations director Mike DeJong; alternatively, the FNS board of directors, is responsible determining if the lessons need to be cancelled and for informing FNS Administrator, Alisha Rella, of the decision. Alisha Rella is responsible for informing the SDP coaches & SDP families via email & social media if the session has been cancelled. SDP coaches should consider the following safety measures when skiing with young children during cold days (temperatures below –10C).

  • If children are inappropriately dressed they should be excused from the session and their parent should be notified.
  • Inform skiers and parents that a hat should be worn at all times. Ensure ears are covered to avoid frostbite.
  • Bring children inside when they say they are cold.
  • Choose areas that are protected from the wind and avoid activities in open areas.
  • Keep the young children close to the Warming Hut in the event that someone does get cold.
  • Allow additional time to warm-up; it takes longer to get the body warmed-up for sport activity in cold weather.
  • If in doubt cut the session short.