The Yellowknife Ski Club is buzzing with activity as all programs are now in full swing.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been skiing for a while now. The trails are in very good condition. There鈥檚 still a couple places that there鈥檚 a bit of ice due to some like underwater seepage that we have to (watch out for), but those are marked,鈥� said Kerry Wheler, president of the club.
She said that last Saturday morning, the club hosted Track Attack and the high-performance team was practising.
鈥漈rack Attack is a program for kids age nine to 12 or 13. Let鈥檚 focus on fun, let鈥檚 focus on learning better ski technique,鈥� said Brett Wheler, one of the Track Attack coaches. 鈥淪o because when we learn better ski technique, it鈥檚 more enjoyable to do that. We play a lot of games, we do exploring, we practice three times a week: Monday and Thursday in the evening, on Saturday during the day.鈥�
He also said that the program uses a variety of resources, including videos from Cross Country Canada, to plan practices.
Most participants bring their own gear, but the club also hosts a gear swap or sale at the beginning of every ski season. The Track Attack program also offers a rental program for skate skis, helping families avoid the cost of buying two pairs of skis for every child.
There鈥檚 also a Jackrabbit program for children ages four to 10.
In addition to youth programs, the club also offers tune-ups for adult lessons. These sessions are designed for adults who have taken lessons in the past and want to get back on the trails for the opening of the season. The trails are reportedly in excellent condition, with beautiful tracks and skate ski routes, according to Kerry.
She explained that every year is a little bit different. Last year, the skiers enjoyed an early season with beautiful tracks available from the beginning of November. However, it鈥檚 typical for the ski club to be fully functioning in December. Even in cooler temperatures, once skiers get into the trees and out of the wind, conditions are beautiful, Kerry said.
She invited everyone to enjoy the frosty forest and the club鈥檚 offerings.
