The Ski School Program, sponsored by Rick Morson from CIBC Wood Gundy for many years has had a fantastic start to the season! A lot of very happy children have been enjoying learning how to ski on the beautiful trails. In our first two days of the program, we have had perfect weather, great ski conditions and 187 students with smiling faces - many of whom have been asking if they can go out and ski after their lunch, or how soon they can come back to ski again. That is the best feedback our instructors can have – students who want to get back out and ski as soon as possible!

There are 17 schools (979 students) registered to participate from Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River, Cumberland and Royston in our eleven week program. We have a group of wonderful, enthusiastic instructors who facilitate the development of the students’ XC ski skills. Fun and enjoyment of Nordic skiing is the biggest goal of the program!

So, if you happen to be out skiing on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and see a large group of children, it is likely a school group with the CIBC Wood Gundy XC Ski School Program.

Feel free to share some words of encouragement to the group! We are sure the students (and teachers and parents that are helping with the groups) would appreciate your positive support.

All active Club Coaches are warmly invited to a social gathering Sunday January 28th, 3:30- 5:30pm , right after the Coach Refresher session.

Come have a drink and snacks and meet up with other coaches, at the Vancouver Island Mountain Center.

Please note the date change to the Sunday.

A large contingent of athletes, coaches, and supporting parents and travelled to Callahagn Valley near Whistler last weekend, to compete in the Teck BC Cup #1 and Coast Cups #2 & 3. This dedicated group of cross country ski racers have been training hard, and their efforts paid off with dozens of top-ten finishes in a highly competitive field of racers from all over BC.

“There’s nothing like a road trip to really bring a group together,’ commented head coach Andrea Stapff of Campbell River. “It was great to see our Devos, Juniors and Masters racers all skiing so well, supporting each other, showing wonderful team spirit and camaraderie. Athletes dealt extremely well with the challenging weather and variable trail conditions."

Top ten results in the classic technique race, are as follows: Atom boys – Ben Galik - 3rd. Peewee boys – Everett Wells - 4th. Peewee girls – Gillian Galik - 1st, Natasha Filanovsky -5th, Talia MacPhail-McGrady -7th. Bantam boys – Gavin Chatterton - 4th, Nate Holyome -7th, Joa MacPhail McGrady -9th. Bantam girls – Carly Ram – 5th, Madelaine Galik – 7th, Nikita Filanovsky – 9th. Midget boys – Hugo Henckel – 3rd, Rory Bratrud – 8th, Fynn Collins-Mann – 10th. Midget girls – Anna Chatterton – 10th. Juvenile boys – Aiden Noble – 2nd, Stephen Lamon – 3rd, Gabe Gledhill – 5th, Theo Lemay -10th. Juvenile girls – Emma Wong – 6th, Amelia Wells – 7th. Junior boys – Ross Lamon – 3rd. Masters men – Rupert Wong – 6th, Berend Henckel – 7th. Masters women – Marika Galik – 1st, Odette Lemay – 7th.

In the freestyle, or skate technique race, here are the top ten finishers: Atom boys – Ben Galik – 1st. Peewee boys – Everett Wells – 4th. Peewee girls – Gillian Galik – 1st, Talia MacPhail-McGrady – 4th, Natasha Filanovsky – 8th. Bantam boys – Gavin Chatterton – 3rd, Nate Holyome – 6th. Bantam girls – Carly Ram – 2nd, Madelaine Galik – 6th, Nikita Filanovsky – 6th. Midget boys – Hugo Henckel – 1st, Fynn Collins-Mann – 7th, Rory Bratrud – 9th. Midget girls – Naomi Swift – 8th, Anna Chatterton – 10th. Juvenile boys – Gabe Gledhill – 2nd, Stephen Lamon – 2nd, Aiden Noble – 5th, Theo Lemay – 9th, Finn Manktelow – 10th. Juvenile girls – Amelia Wells – 6th, Emma Wong – 7th. Junior boys – Ross Lamon – 4th. Masters Men – Rupert Wong – 7th, Gavin MacPhail – 9th. Masters women – Lynn Swift – 9th.

Coach Stapff was impressed with the club’s performance. “A huge thank you to all the parents and especially the well-oiled support team of waxers and volunteer coaches that ensured athletes were best prepared to give it their all.”

This was the first race in the BC Cup series and 2nd race in the Coast Cup series. Next on the race calendar are the Western Canadian Championships in Red Deer, Alberta, Jan. 19-21 and BC Cup #2 in Prince George, Feb. 3-4.