Trail Preparation and Maintenance

A wet summer has promoted heavy vegetation growth on our trails. The ‘brush hog’ has completed substantial clearing on the main trails including the Partridge, Jackrabbit and Lynx as well as area around the Burrow. Peter Loch cut the sides of the main trails to reduce the amount of handwork required.

If this sounds like last October, it is.

I was also told earlier that the Bear and Beaver had not been brushed yet. Perhaps after the first snow has knocked down the annual crop of brush willing volunteers could plan with Peter D.

Other Trail Clearance Work

Needed

The trail prep. section is short this month. Let me add a plea for classic skiers. If you are creating, modifying, brushing, or track setting, keep two rules in mind.

• Avoid sharp corners, on or at the bottom of hills. They are dangerous and there is little joy in going down a Yahoooo hill only to have to slam the brakes on half way down or at the bottom.

• Allow for broad diameter corners. A long set of classic skis should get around most if not all corners – ‘in the groove’.

Back in the old days when we were a classic club with allowances for skating we had modified most of the system to follow these two sensible guides. Let’s get back there – for the joy of it.

John Mason

classic skier - by choice and necessity

WARNING! HUNTING SEASON

Be advised: With great concern for everyone’s safety, ALL TRAILS ARE CLOSED DURING DEER HUNTING SEASON. This year the ‘big bore’ season is from Monday November 2 to Saturday November 15 inclusive.

Jackrabbits

Jackrabbit season will soon be here and we are excited and planning another year of great skiing fun. Last year was a super year and we look forward to another one just as good.

Jackrabbit registration will take place at the Burrow on Saturday December 5.

We are always looking for new volunteers to be involved with the Jackrabbit program... Jackrabbit is organized and facilitated entirely by volunteers and there are many tasks to be done. The more volunteers we have the better! Volunteering for Jackrabbit does not mean that you have to be on skis or even that you have to be there each weekend. • If you are more comfortable behind the scenes, we can use you.

• If you love being on the snow with kids, we can use you.

• If you like to organize, we can use you.

• If you have not volunteered with Jackrabbit before and are interested please phone Graham at 378 1963. More details on the upcoming season coming soon.

See you on the snow!

Graham Poole

Contact us at:

GEORGIAN NORDIC SKI AND CANOE CLUB

Box 42,

Parry Sound, Ont.

P2A 2X2

746-5067 or 1-888-866-4447

e-mail: ski@vianet.ca For news and snow updates

check our website at: www.georgiannordic.com

Deadline: Beaver Tales

Please send December submissions to Beaver Tales no later than Monday, November 23

email: masonj@vianet.ca

Adults Skiing

Hello everyone! With another great winter ahead we again offer Saturday afternoon group lessons - January only. We will also offer private lessons through most of the season. Here is the January schedule for Saturday afternoon clinics:

January 9........................Classic

16.......................Skating

23......................Classic

30......................Skating

These group lessons start at 1:00p.m. and last about 2 hours. Maximum group size for each session is 8 skiers. Please sign up by 3:p.m. Friday, indicating Novice, Intermediate, or Advanced skill level. The fee for a member is $25.00. For a non-member the fee is $30.00 plus Trail Fee for the day. All fees must be paid in advance to the Club attendant. Please note that all fees are for the benefit of the Club and not for the Instructors.

Private lessons were popular last winter and will again be available after Christmas until the end of February. They can be scheduled with us through the Burrow Attendants. For a member the cost is $35.00 for one hour, also payable in advance to the Club, not to the Instructor. For a non-member the cost is $40.00 plus Day Pass fee, payable in advance to the Club.

We hope enough skiers out there will keep us busy giving lessons. The better you ski, the more fun you will have!

Jack Hoffman & Gudrun Papesch

Community Coaching

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF NORDIC SKI INSTRUCTORS

CANSI is a Nordic ski instruction organization, which operates training and certification courses for cross country skiers across Canada. CANSI offers Level I (fairly introductory), Level I Classic only, Level II, Level III and Level IV courses. Each deal with the technical aspects of cross country skiing,

as well as techniques to teach and give feedback.

This winter, there are a number of great courses held in south/central Ontario:

Dec 19, 20

- pre level I course at Highlands Nordic

- this course is designed for skiers who have some ski

experience but need work on technique and teaching

- perfect for JackRabbit Leaders, Women on Skis instructors

Jan 3

- pre Level I course at Arrowhead (Huntsville)

- this course is designed for skiers who have some ski

experience but need work on technique and teaching

Jan 9, 10

- Level I and Level I Classic only course at Highlands

- this certification course is for any skiers who feel

ready for the first level

Jan 29 – 31 and Feb 27, 28

- Level II/III course at Highlands Nordic

- A higher level course working on advanced techniques

And fine-tuning teaching techniques.

For more information on CANSI courses, visit the CANSI website, at www.cansi.ca/courses.

BONUS: Through CANSI, the following three types of scholarships are available:

1. Young Instructors Scholarship

- 100% course fee refund to all youths who successfully complete a CANSI Ontario certification or preparation course. For all other courses and

- successes we refund 25% of the course fees.

2. Youth Leader Development Scholarship

- 100% course fee refund (spread over 3 years) to any CANSI instructor who attains level II+ certification and is actively running CANSI courses targeting young skiers - especially those who are interested becoming Nordic ski instructors or coaches.

3. Youth Educational Scholarship

- 100% course fee refund (spread over 3 years) to any CANSI Level II+ instructor who is helping Nordic Ski Schools or clubs to develop and promote Nordic skiing educational programs that appeal better to youths.

For more information, visit this website:

- http://www.cansi.ca/en/news/2007/10/000091.php

Or call Wendy Grater, CANSI Ontario Technical Representative.

Nordic Ski Team Report

Near the dawn of an Olympic year in our beautiful Canada, it is with great pleasure I introduce to you our 2009/10 official Georgian Nordic Ski team. They are Alex Foster, Daniel Kerr, Taylor Gostick, Morgan Bialkowski, Erin Creasor, Chris Jones, Sarah Creasor, Scott Hill (also a member of North Bay Nordic racing team, he brings a wealth of racing experience to our team), Mathieu Henry, Ron Coulson, and Lynsey Bialkowski. More skiers come out frequently and try one or several sessions, to check it all out. They are Michaela Lovold, Konrad, Emily Morel, Katie Madden, Courtney Hill, Victor, and Claire Stephenson. Thanks to the club’s and athletes’ support we have what we need to get us through the first official season. Some are also skiing with Ghislain and Graham preparing for their events, some will be training with Bart for the high school events.

Our Georgian Nordic team is planning to ski in Midland, and Arrowhead, plus a couple of Ontario Cup events, Onaping Falls, and eventually for some the Nationals at Whitehorse, Yukon. There are a few challenges for the skiers like 3x1.1k classic sprints, 800m skate sprints and long distance events appropriate for the age categories. Individual goals, never carved in stone, are from just having fun to challenging personal bests.

Year round training started in April on leftover snow that was still groomed for our sessions. There was a lot of energy in the air to try new things. The kids are very eager to learn all about the two very different techniques.

In June it was down to dry land training. We all needed to get used to ski on asphalt with carbide tipped poles. Some brought their own roller skis, some just wanted to try, yes we got all the equipment for you to experience this type of training, before you decide to get your own. Technique is the most important aspect of gliding on quite tippy rolling thingies. All developed good balance skills over the summer and are quite comfortable for the next steps.

Katja did a lot of stuff to get this team idea off the ground. She also did a special strength test during one session where you can test yourself against some benchmarks established by the National Team.

Some short sessions with short intensity to long ‘easy’ sessions spread out over the summer builds aerobic base, speed and power. During the months of September and October we focus on shorter intervals just under racing speed to prepare the whole body and mind of things to come. Over speed, ya that too, 5 seconds at a time, yes, that is tough.

Technique? How about Swedish double push, the hop thing, very quick turnover, all with special focus on hands in front of shoulders, heads up and hip forward during the ‘glide’ phase. All this they needed to fit into their in some cases extremely busy summer schedules with work, triathlon training, biking, paddling and more. Phew!

With help of other coaches we will have lots of different activities on snow, like time trials, David Bialkowski who is also sponsoring the event, and Super Ski Saturday.

Like to join, or just try it? Anytime, it is never too late. If you are 13 and older, this is the team for you. Younger? Talk to Graham Poole, Ghislain Henry, or Zack about skiing with them. We are lucky to have these great coaches in our club.

Like to help coaching? Just join us for a ski, bring your ideas, and see if it may be your thing.

It is with big thanks to all who are supporting the team and our club. So when you see the team, wave, give a simple cheer on the trail, a honk with the horn to say “hello team”, or ski with us, do it. Yes, just like that. Also if there is something you feel we could do better, let me know.

See you all on snow. Sooner the better. “Everything in moderation, except for skiing”, Jackrabbit Johannsen said.

Peter Wiltmann

Our website with events calendar and slideshow

http://sites.google.com/site/dillonglider/Home

PUBLICITY REPORT

New brochures with the 2009/10 prices are being readied and distributed to the motels, ski resorts and information centres.

Thank you to all the members who have helped save on postage by letting us email the newsletter to you. We are in excess of 75% emails. Just a reminder to those who have email, and are not yet receiving your copy this way. We do send the copies out using blind copy so that your email is confidential. If you are not already on the list or your email has changed, email your address to the ski club ski@vianet.ca .

Thanks

Dorothy Ehgoetz

Georgian Nordic Ski & Canoe Club

Box 42 Parry Sound, ON P2A 2X2

(705) 746-5067

2009/10 Application for Membership

Name_________________________________________________

Mailing address_________________________________________

Town____________________________Postal Code___________

Residence Township/Municipality

(for survey purposes)

I will Phone #_______________________________

help E-mail________________________________________________

with:

_____Women on Skis Membership before after X # of $

_____Moonlight Skis Category Dec. 5/09 Dec. 5/09 members

_____Sounder Ski Tour

_____Jackrabbits Adult $100 $110 _______ _______

_____Socials * Family $210 $225 _______ _______

_____Committees Student (under 17) $45 $55 _______ _______

_____Elementary Race Corporation $1000 $1100 _______ _______

_____Time trials

_____Membership Total membership amount _______

_____Trail clearing Donation _______

_____Newsletters Amount enclosed ________

_____Web site *Family definition for membership purposes: 3 or more persons living at the same

_____Board Duties address consisting of 2 adults and all children under 18 and/or full time post secondary students.

This waiver MUST be signed and dated by each applicant over the age of 17 when registering.

I HEREBY AGREE to abide by the rules and regulations of Cross Country Canada (hereinafter called the CCC) Southern Division (hereinafter called the Division) and to participate in the events, activities and programs sanctioned by the CCC and the Division in accordance with the Association’s Rules, Regulations and By-laws.

IN CONSIDERATION OF CCC, the Division and the Georgian Nordic Ski and Canoe Club in acceptance of me as a registered member of the Association, and my being permitted to take part in the Association’s events, activities and programs. I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, forever release, discharge and hold harmless CCC, the Division, Georgian Nordic Ski and Canoe Club Inc., its directors, officers, employees, representatives, or agents and all land owners on the trail system.

Print name of each member Skier Signature of each

Included in this application Classification Certification applicant over 17 Date

___________________________ ________ ________ _________________________ __________________

Skier Classification: GA: General Adult; GC: General Child; JRB: Jackrabbit Bunny; JRJ: Jackrabbit; TA: Track Attac

Skier certification: ICC:Intro. to Comm. Coaching; CC: Community Coaching; NCCP L.F.; NCCP Level__ Fully certified or Technical only; CANSI Level__; Official Level__; Technical Delegate

NOTE: “Membership Buttons” and charitable tax receipts for donations will be provided by the burrow attendants at your first ski of the year

Volume No. 30, Issue No. 1 October 2009