Monthly Archives: February 2015

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Just a reminder that for tomorrow, Sunday, 1 March 2015, there will be no (none, zero, zip, nada) skiing led by Assiniboine Park Jackrabbit coaches in Assiniboine Park.

The reason is that all available coaches will be at the Jackrabbit Jamboree held at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre.  It starts at 09:45 and goes to 15:00.  So we can’t be in two places at once.

The forecast for the start of the Jackrabbit Jamboree is predicted be a pleasant -13 degrees Celsius with a -20 windchill, rising to -9 with a -17 windchill by the end.  Yeah!

For the half of the ski club that is registered for the Jackrabbit Jamboree:  See you there!

For the other half of the club, feel free to enjoy the mechanically groomed ski trails at Assiniboine Park.  Better yet, if you can make it over to Windsor Park Nordic Centre, come and check out what happens at the Jackrabbit Jamboree to entice you to register next year.

Wow!  Two-for-one-night for you!

Yep.  We get to ski tomorrow night (because it will be warm enough, uh, mostly).  That’s one.

And, by popular demand, the session will start at 19:00 (not 18:30).  That’s two.

Thanks Mother Nature and Coach Ihor, respectively!

So, Coach Ihor’s group and Coach Rob’s group are all invited to come to “Fast Rabbits Thursday 10”, on Thursday, 26 February 2015, from 19:00 to 20:15, at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre.

Come prepared to work on classic technique (not skate technique).  Focus will be on improving everyone’s classic technique and readying those who are interested in participating in the (here it comes again, that intimidating name) “Provincial Sprint Championships / MB Cup #1″, happening this Saturday, also at Windsor Park Nordic Centre.

Just a reminder that if you or your skier would like to participate in the (insert intimidating name here), you must register no later that 18:00 on Thursday night.

Temperature at ski time on Thursday night forecast to be -19 degrees Celsius with a -26 windchill.  If the temperature becomes slightly colder we will still run the session, outside at the start, but we retain the option to shorten the session at the end, and move indoors to finish the session.

I will be bringing tow ropes.

Registration for the Jackrabbit Jamboree will now close at 12:00 noon today, Wednesday, 25 February 2015.

Register at https://zone4.ca/reg.asp?id=8492 right now!

This registration time period has been extended to allow for Assiniboine Park Jackrabbit members to register for the but-once-a-year event.

“Provincial Sprint Championships / MB Cup #1”

Wow!  Intimidating name, isn’t it?

Kind of seems like only “serious” skiers should bother registering?  Perhaps only the “elite” lycra crowd?  Like why would Coach Rob even send this out to the hot-chocolate-and-wagon-wheel ski club?

Turns out that Jamie Giasson, the Event Facilitator, went out of his way this past Monday night to tell me that this seriously-named event is open to all skiers of all ages and all abilities.  Really.  Yes, even four-year-old kids are not only welcome but are strongly encouraged to participate.  All kids ten-ish and younger will receive a prize.  Guaranteed.

Each kid will ski no more than a 250 metre long, classic-technique (not skate technique), sprint race.  They will do this a total of three times over the three-hour period of this event.  No, that doesn’t mean you and your skier have to spend three hours outside.  Nope, they can hang out indoors at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre between races.

For more information see http://ccsam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Notice_ProvincialSprint2015.pdf.

If you are interested, you must register no later than 18:00 on Thursday, 26 February 2015 at https://zone4.ca/reg.asp?id=8849.

Yes, that gives you less than two days to decide.   Sorry.

Latest weather forecast is predicting a -14 degree Celsius air temperature rising to -11 degrees (with -23 to -18 windchills respectively) during this event.

Jackrabbit Managers!

You have less than two hours in which to register your skier for this upcoming Sunday’s Jackrabbit Jamboree!!!

Yes, registration closes at midnight tonight (Tuesday)!

Register at https://zone4.ca/reg.asp?id=8492 right now!

Please.

Latest weather forecast predicting -13 degrees Celsius rising to -10 through the event with windchill -20 rising to -16.

Remember, there is no Sunday session other than the Jackrabbit Jamboree this weekend.

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits Needs You!

Yes!  You!

A month from now, on Sunday, 22 March 2015, (you know, when Mother Nature finally warms up enough to allow us to actually ski), the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits plans to be hosting “SnowKidz Cross-Country Cross 2015” in Assiniboine Park.

FIS/Audi “SnowKidz Cross-Country Cross 2015” is not a race.  It is an event.  Its aim is to bring kids 4 to 14 years old out to try cross-country skiing.  Perhaps for their first time.  Maybe even to become Assiniboine Park Jackrabbit members in the future.

We (actually the Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba) supply the ski equipment for all of these newcomers to try out our favourite winter sport and/or activity.

Now that we actually have enough snow on the ground, the plan is to build our often talked about ski playground (sometimes referred to as a terrain park) in the “Hirose Hills” of Assiniboine Park.

Yes, SnowKidz is an initiative of Fédération Internationale de Ski.  Better known simply as “FIS”, FIS is indeed the world racing body for cross-country skiing.  Having said that, it seems that our national cross-country skiing body, Cross Country Canada, has best summarised what FIS is looking for during any SnowKidz event.

“SnowKidz Cross-Country Cross 2015” will be happening at the same time as our regular Sunday session, so all our Assiniboine Park Jackrabbit skiers will be part of the mix.  Perhaps they can help out their potential future ski friends?

And that brings us back to you.  We will likely need volunteers.  Volunteers to help build the ski playground (from snow).  Volunteers to help video record before the event and during the event.  Volunteers to help edit the video.  Marketing savvy people perhaps.  Oh, and then there are the ski equipment fitters, impromptu ski instructors, course marshalls, snow rakers, first aid people, lap counters and/or timers, colouring table supervisors, snack table resuppliers, and generally a whack load of other people to help here and there through the whole process.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me, Robert McMahon, through your chosen method.

More details will be forthcoming.

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

One word:  Cancelled.

No, make that two words:  Cancelled again!

Latest weather forecast says -24 degrees Celsius with a -34 windchill with winds 15 kmh at the start of our proposed session tomorrow.  So, well beyond our -27 cutoff.

Worse yet, the fabulous indoor facility is booked by others, so a no go there too.

Just remember:  Skiing in March and April is normally fabulous!

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

“Fast Rabbits Thursday 9″, for Thursday, 19 February 2015, is indeed on!

Just not on skis!  Nor outdoors!  Nor at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre!

Yep, you guessed it:  Latest prediction says that doable -17 degree Celsius air temperatures will be accompanied with a not doable -27 windchill (just for laughs, I am going out on a limb to guess that the windchill will actually end up being -30) at what would be skiing time.

So, we are moving indoors.  To the Assiniboine Park Duck Pond Shelter.  18:30 to 19:30 (not 20:00).  Coach Ihor promises his world-famous “Stability and Balance Workout (For Skiers Only!).

Bring shorts, t-shirt, sweat pants, long-sleeve top, and running shoes.

Don’t bring skis.  No waxing nor skiing involved.

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Yeah! Mother Nature is (kind of) cooperating today. The last two runs of the Meteocode weather model are mostly corresponding to what is actually happening, so today’s outdoor session is indeed on.

Not to say that the weather will be truly delightful. Doable would be the better word.

Air temperature is forecast to be -16 degrees Celsius with a -25 windchill at the start and improving to -14 air temperature and -20 windchill at the end of today’s session.

Given that the snow has been colder than -20 degrees today’s technique will be classic (not skate). Put your grip wax on in the comfort of your home if you have appropriate grip wax. If not, the coaches will supply grip wax on site.

Meet at 13:30 on The Hummocks.

Hot chocolate and wagon wheels will very likely be in the Duck Pond Shelter. Please bring a reusable mug.

Crazy!  If all you had read was the latest Environment Canada weather forecast for Sunday (“Wind chill minus 36.”) you would say to yourself, “Hey, skiing is for sure cancelled!”.

Crazier still is that I would then say, “Nope, skiing for Sunday is still on!”.  The reason is that when you look at the hour-by-hour version of that very same Environment Canada weather forecast you can see that the air temperature is predicted to be a doable -16 degrees Celsius with a -26 windchill at the start of our skiing session, and climbing to a -24 windchill by the end.

Now, that still is a model.  And if the model is looking a wee bit optimistic by 11:30 on Sunday morning, we may be able to move our outdoor session into a fabulous indoor facility (in the works).

So, I will post around 11:30 Sunday morning indicating if we are:  skiing outdoors; exercising indoors; or outright cancelling.