Cross-country ski season starts
Almost too cold to ski on day club begins operations
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 19, 2013
INUVIK
The Inuvik Ski Club welcomed the winter season Dec. 15 on a day that was almost too cold to ski.
Robin Baron, the president of the Inuvik Ski Club, held an impromptu waxing clinic as part of the club's season opener on Dec. 15. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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The ski club, which is sitting at around 30 members as the season opened, provides one of the premier winter recreation options for Inuvik residents with a taste for self-propulsion.
New members Scott Young and Tracey Pope were among the handful of skiers to hit the club's trails, which encompass more than 20 kilometres of varied terrain from some back-country skiing northeast of Marine Bypass Road to the gentler easy loops right around the club.
“That's some workout there today,” Young said as he returned in temperatures of about -28 C, with a moderate breeze blowing. “It's sticky.”
Under those kinds of conditions, he said waxing is of limited help.
“You can wax the skis up nicely in these kinds of conditions and it'll maybe last five minutes,” Young said. “As it gets colder, the snow just gets harder to move in.”
He was out practising his skate-skiing moves, while Pope was working on her classical technique with a pair of back-country no-wax skis that she seemed to be having some better luck with.
Julian MacLean, another new member and novice skier, was having similar problems.
He returned from the trails with ice-caked eyelashes and brows, and a snow-covered face.
“I just couldn't get any glide going out there,” he said with a hint of frustration. “But I don't really know what I'm doing, though.”
Pope gave him a few quick tips, including how to flex his knees properly to put some bounce into his stride. But the snow was having none of it.
Snow conditions, MacLean said, are more of a factor in Nordic skiing than with snowshoeing, which he also does.
Young said he first began skiing in high school, and has kept up in the sport for about 30 years.
“It's a good way to keep in shape during the winter and it gets me outside,” he said.
He prefers skate-skiing to the classic style because he's also an avid hockey player. The strides are comparable he said, making it easier for him.
Pope said she's been working on improving her classic form, although she also does some skate skiing. She's at the point now where she almost prefers the classic stride, which is more of a running style than skate-skiing.
Like Young, she said one of the appealing features of the sport is having an excuse to get outside during the long Inuvik winters.
The day's events also featured some sliding for the youngsters attending with their families, an open fire and, of course, snacks inside the shed.
“I think coming to the club is more about that than the skiing,” Fraser Pearce said as he joined the horde of people tucking into the food.
Robin Baron, the club's new president, said it will be holding a series of open houses, generally on Sunday afternoons, for anyone interested to come in and try out a set of skis.
The club carries an assortment of skis available primarily to members, and there's likely a set to fit everyone who's interest in giving it a whirl.
The club's membership is made up mostly of casual enthusiasts, such as herself, Baron said, as well as more competitive types such as Pearce, a former board member who's one of the more talented skiers in town.
He and former East Three gym teacher Dave Halpine, who has since left for the east coast, staged a memorable duel last April at the club's annual loppet.
Members also receive access to the clubhouse, Baron said, and the lighted trails for dark-weather skiing, which is basically all the time at the moment.
