Colette Bourgonje is B carded again
Colette Bourgonje takes things one step at a time, focusing on accomplishing short term goals and eventually reaching the long term goals. She has used this philosophy in her career as an elementary/physical education teacher as well as an elite athlete.

Colette was "B Carded" in 2000-2 for cross country skiing and an "A carded" Sports Canada athlete for athletics in 1996-8 for the marathon at the Paralympics in Atlanta. She has been to three Winter Paralympics and three Summer Paralympics. Colette won two silver medals in Nagano, Japan. She is a LW10 sit skier at the 2.5, 5 and 10 km distance. These cross country skiing medals are Canada's first medals for either a male or female sit skier. She has been nominated by the Canadian Paralymic Committee to be named to the Canadian Team to the 2002 Paralympics in Salt Lake City.

Jeff Whiting and Kaspar Wirz nominated to Paralympics in Salt Lake City
Kaspar Wirz is off to his third Paralympics. Kaspar has been named as the head coach by Cross Country Canada for the Salt Lake City Paralympics. Jeff Whiting has been named as team manager by CCC.

Kaspar is an NCCP Level 3 coach in both cross country skiing and biathlon. He has been working on his Level 4 for the last three years. Kaspar was an assistant coach for the Nagano Paralympics in 1998. Colette Bourgonje credits Kaspar and Pat Prokopchuk for her medals in Nagano.

Jeff is an NCCP Level 3 coach in cross country skiing. He has been working on his Level 4 for the last three years and is three courses away from completion. He thanks CCS and SASKI Skiing for Disabled for the funding he has received for coaching development over the last six years. He also received excellent support from Colette Bourgonje and many other CCS athletes as his guinea pigs for the practical side of the courses.

Inter-Zone Race #1 a big success
With the temperature at -5 C and medium fast snow conditions, Inter-Zone Race #1 was a big success. Over 67 racers enjoyed the trails and hospitality of the Blue Mountain Lodge.

The Saskatoon Nordic ski club with Ken English, Chief of Race, and the supporting cast of Scott Mc Gibney (starter/results computation) Jan Sedgwick, Cathy Rae, Rob House and many other volunteers, did an outstanding job of staging the first inter-zone race of the season.

Thanks to Stan Dudek, owner of Blue Mountain, for his work on preparing the trials . With limited snow cover, Stan produced a race trail that was appreciated by the racers.

With lots of winter (and racing) to go, I hope the snow comes in abundance.

Thanks again to the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club for their much appreciated efforts, in staging the Inter-Zone Race #1.

Ben Manton named to the Disabled National Ski Team
Benjamin Manton was named to the Disabled National Ski Team for the 2001-2 ski season. Ben was a member of Snobuddy Ski Club in 2000 and entered the Prairie Cup races and Canadian Disabled National Championship. In his second season, Ben joined the Regina Ski Club and has entered Provincial races as well as the U.S. and Canadian Nationals. He learned what kind of competition exists in North America. With his new sled and gear, Benjamin hopes to do his very best at future races.

Ben feels trilled, energized and at home whenever training in the Canadian Rockies. His goal is to achieve a healthy lifestyle on all fronts through hard training, time management, ideal work habits and ultimately to compete at the highest levels proudly wearing CANADA on his back.

Saskatchewan Masters Snow Camp at Silver Star
Twenty Sask. master skiers travelled to Silver Star Resort in British Columbia on Dec.1 for eight days of early on-snow training . The excursion was a resounding success with over 130 cm of snow and temperatures between -2 and -8 C.

I developed two technical clinics -- one classic and one skate. Both clinics included video analysis and many humourous moments as "masters" are usually not inhibited in the verbal sense. It was great having Joe Turnham ( Ex Regina Ski Club Racer; now retired and living in Red Deer) join us for the camp.

I, being the rookie on the trip, received my initiation at the Putnam Inn. Since I would enjoy the initiation (which comes in the form of a surprise) of others who may travel with this illustrious group, I will not detail the initiation ceremony.

I was truly impressed with the quality of this area as a cross-country ski venue. The Silver Star resort area has 105 km.of groomed trails. The trails are meticulously prepared and provide varying degrees of difficulty from flatter, beginner trails to the World Cup Circuit for the more demanding skier.

It's not uncommon to find yourself skiing beside a National Team Member or even a European World Cup racer. As I was skiing back to our condominium (you actually ski right to your front door) I pulled up beside a young lady who had the words "Team Yukon" on her jacket.

As we conversed I asked her why she was at Silver Star. She replied that she was on the USA National Team and was there for some races to qualify for the Olympics. We talked and skied together for about 20 minutes as we headed for the condos.

She felt she would qualify for the Olympics , and was enjoying the altitude training at Silver Star. Because I was somewhat familiar with national level training (having coached four national team members myself), I quizzed her on the training techniques now being used to prepare our cross-country racers for high level racing.

We had a very enjoyable conversation. As I approached the turn-off to my condo, I asked her name. I didn't catch her first name but her last name was Peterson . I wished her all the best at the Olympics and we parted paths at that point.

There are other stories of skiing with Vic 's foreign friend Einar and meeting great people like June Hawkins (head of the June Hawkins Ski School). The time at Silver Star is like being in "Ski Heaven". Great people, great socials, great hot tubs, and most of all great skiing.

If you meet any of our Saskatchewan Silver Star group on the trails, ask them about this incredible area. Our group included: Barry Mang, Rick Turnbull, Merv Woods, Craig Francis, Mr.a nd Mrs. Brian Hoiland, Irv Tremblay, Gord Dean, Cloe Gendron, Doug Mac Kenzie, Shelley Mac Kenzie, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Brewster, Donna Morgan, Joe Turnham, Vic Anderson and myself.

See you on the trails!

Jackrabbit pilot project underway
This year, Cross Country Canada has developed a new Jackrabbit program and CCS has adopted it. Here is an overview of the program and what you can find in the new registration kit:

1 - Handbook
The handbook presents all the technical and knowledge components evaluated for each technical level as well as each speed, distance, technique and hat trick award. This handbook also serves as a general presentation of the program and is a tool for promotion and identification of the Cross Country Canada Jackrabbit Program.

The handbook is the main reference tool of the participant and is therefore handed to the participant when he/she registers in the program for the first time. The skier keeps the same handbook throughout his/her Jackrabbit years.

2 - Technical level cards
The technical level cards present, with the help of illustrations and text, all the technical goals to achieve, as well as the knowledge components to learn, for each of the seven technical levels. On the back of each card is the evaluation criteria details for that particular level.

The technical level cards are included in the handbook. The card is also a great tool to help the leader design each session. At the end of each season, the leader can add comments and a signature for the levels achieved.

3 - Program badge
The program badge is handed out upon registration at the start of the season with the handbook.

4 - Distance recording card
The distance recording card is used to record all distance skiing achieved throughout the season in different activities such as the jackrabbit sessions, touring with friends or races. Add up all of the mileage at the end of the season to order the corresponding award (Richard Weber award).

5 - Program poster
The program poster is handed out upon registration at the start of the season with the handbook.

6 - Awards poster (this product is not available at this time)
The awards poster will be used to accumulate all of the award stickers for the various technique, distance, speed and hat trick levels.

The awards poster is handed out to the participant when he/she registers in the program for the first time. The skier keeps the same awards poster throughout his/her jackrabbit years.

Awards
(ordered as levels are achieved or in bulk)

Technique award
Set of seven stickers. As for all stickers, the technique stickers are ordered separately from the registration kit. They can be handed out as each level is achieved or at the end of the season.

Bunny prints award for technical 1-2 elements
Set of 2 different colors for level 1 or 2. The bunny print stickers are handed out to the participants each time an essential level 1 or 2 technical component is achieved. The child can apply the stickers on his/her skis, boots, certificate or elsewhere. By formalizing those achievements with concrete awards, the bunny print stickers are a source of motivation adapted to the youngest jackrabbit program participants.

Richard Weber award for distance
10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500 km

Set of 11 stickers. Clubs are invited to create their own club tally board to put up in the chalet where each participant's weekly mileage is recorded.

Beckie Scott award for speed

• Gold = 4 min / km and less
• Silver = 5 min to 4 min 1 sec / km
• Bronze = 6 min 39 sec to 5 min 1 sec / km
• Purple = 9 min 59 sec to 6 min 40 sec / km
• Blue = 19 min 59 sec to 10 min / km
• Green = 29 min 59 sec to 20 min / km

Level 1: technique level 3 + purple speed + 50 km distance
Level 2: technique level 4 + purple speed + 75 km distance
Level 3: technique level 5 + bronze speed + 150 km distance
Level 4: technique level 6 + silver speed + 200 km distance
Level 5: technique level 7 + gold speed + 250 km distance

Over the next few weeks, the status of various projects/programs currently "in progress" (i.e. Canadian Sport Policy, new Funding and Accountability Frameworks for NSOs) will become clearer and those information up-dates will be shared with NSOs.

Coping With the Lack of Snow in Saskatoon
I suspect the difficulty with the snow conditions is on everyone's mind this year as we attempt to prepare for ski events. The suggestion by Hal Herbison about a column dealing with our means of coping with these conditions struck a chord with me. As I skied around Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon, last night, I was amazed at how good the skiing actually was. That is, there are enough good places to ski that, with a few exceptions, one can have quite a good ski. The trails are not uniformly good, however, and I think it is worth evaluating what seems to have worked, and what has not.

Trail preparation in Kinsmen Park began with our first snow. Although we have only had three small snowfalls, these, for the most part have been enough. The first snowfall was immediately packed. Grass shone through in plenty of places, and one had to use old skis, but we could ski on it immediately. Where there was gravel underneath, we had to be careful, but where there was grass, the skiing was okay.

With the second snowfall, the trail was packed again. This was enough to make the trail good for skating, but there was no set classic track. A skied-in classic track appeared with use, but this was not very good.

The third snow was not packed, but provided enough snow that we could shovel snow where it was needed. A group of volunteers shoveled for about two hours one evening to build up enough snow about a meter wide for a classic track.

We did about 80 per cent of the track. This was then packed with a snowmobile, and then track-set for classic skiing. The resulting track was excellent in most parts. It was good enough for the blind skiers to follow.

The last few days have been trying. The temperature increased to +6 C several times, and for a few days it did not get below freezing. Still, the results were surprising. The skating track has for the most part held up well. Parts of it are still excellent.

Only those portions which were in the direct sun or were under trees (received little snow), are deteriorating. The classic track, which was shoveled, has held up well.

One is forced to use a klister, but the track itself is good. Where the track was not shoveled, the track is not useable anymore. The grass is showing through, and one has to step onto the skating track.

The lessons learned are as follows: pack early, and pack anything that comes until a base is established. This may save a season. For the classic track, as soon as there is enough snow, shovel a track, pack it, and set it. This track can last even in very bad (warm) conditions. Finally, where the snow cover is thin, shovel enough snow to pack it.

This may amount to a lot of shoveling but it is worth the effort to ensure a long continuous ski season. Surprisingly, with the warm conditions, and a good ski track, we have had some of the best skiing in years.

By Bill Bishopp

Cross Country Saskatchewan
1860 Lorne Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2L7
Phone: (306) 780-9240 • Fax: (306) 781-6021
Email: ccs@sasktel.net
 
 

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