With another several inches (I think that is many centimeters) of snow on the ground we should be skiing this week. (Rumor has it that Doug Bear was out with only one inch of snow. Speaking from experience, he must be anticipating a new pair of skies this season).

At the spring windup last years executive agreed to stay on for another season.

Allan Bear – President; Ed Guenther – Vice President; Cheryl Procyshyn – secretary – treasurer; Bruno Lemire – Nordic Coordinator; Dale Nicholson – Alpine Coordinator; Carol Dutcheshen – Grants Coordinator; Susan Bear – Social Coordinator

Nordic Report: We had another very successful loppet this past February with over 200 participants. Thank You to Bruno Lemire’s group of volunteers who make it possible. At the risk of missing someone for which I will now apologize I would like to thank Bruno, Colleen Koroluk, Dave and Marge Orr, Charlie and Kay Achtymichuk and Bob Koroluk who manned the Log Inn cabin. At the checkpoints were Doug and Susan Bear, Ken and Cheryl Procyshyn, Harvey and Bev Olshewski, Wayne and Brenda Kondra, Randy Trofimenkoff, Jim Nahnybida and Ken Helmkay.

Mel and Ellen Doetzel and Dale and Kathy Nicholson provided Canadian Ski Patrol first aid.

Thank You Andrea Verigin for bringing out your Learn to Ski children from Victoria School. Local children received a free day skiing, pin and certificate.

Bruno says the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Duck Mountain Loppet on February 28 will have the same distances as last year (5,10,20,30,45 km) for both classic and skating participants.

Larry Schiefner, Park Superintendent reported mowing the trails was completed in September and water levels on the trails seemed to be lower than last year. The shelters have been cleaned and firewood stocked at each.

Our webmaster is in the process of improving our website at www.kamsackskiclub.ca with pictures of each of the shelters and an improved trail map. If anyone has pictures that Bob can put on the site, please email them to bobdutch@gmail.com.

Alpine Report: Last season we had 28 children participate in five Saturdays of ski or snowboard instruction. Once again this season, the club is paying for modern shaped skis or snowboard rentals for any 5-13 year olds who are interested. Kathy Nicholson completed her Level 1 Ski Coaches Course last December and along with Dale Nicholson and Warren Todischuck will be volunteering to teach skiing fundamentals to interested children and adults. Thank you to Colin Dutcheshen and Mathew Bear who have taught the snowboard portion of our program for the past three winters. These young men have moved on to university thus requiring the club to find new instructors. The club has applied for and scheduled a Snowboard Instructor Course at Duck Mountain Ski Area January 2,3,4 2009. The club will pay one half the tuition for anyone enrolling in the course and the full cost for successful completion. For anyone interested in learning to ski or snowboard or interested in becoming a snowboard instructor please call Dale Nicholson 542-3988.

There have been several work parties at the ski hill this fall. Old snow fences and posts have been removed and the ski fence around the red lift has been completed by Warren Todischuck, Wayne Lomenda, Mel and Ellen Doetzel, Dale and Kathy Nicholson. Lift maintenance along with cleaning and mowing around the towers was completed thanks to Warren, Ed Guenther and Len North. Special thanks to Nykolaishen Farm Equipment, Kamsack Tirecraft, SERM Duck Mountain, Madge Lake Golf Course and the R.M.of Cote for donating tractors and mowers to cut the runs. Also a big thank you to Randy Chernoff, Larry Schiefner, Rich Paterson and Ken Shabatoski for volunteering to operate the equipment.

Todd Chrysler and its owner Warren Todischuck have donated labour and materials to construct new features on our terrain park at the hill. Without letting the cat out of the bag, major new features have been built and installed on the HWY 57 run for our younger ski and snowboard rippers.

Last minute news, Susan says fun and frivolity and skiing under the full moon will be club organized at the Log Inn Shelter the evenings of January 10 and February 7.

See you there!

Well that’s all the info I have for now check our website for trail conditions and club programs. Dale