Monthly Archives: February 2015

Cancelled.  “No go”.

The weather model has been a couple of degrees too optimistic and a little shy on the actual windspeeds today.  If I would have to guess, the predicted windchill for tonight’s now cancelled session will likely remain a little too optimistic.  Therefore, we will likely be beyond our -27 windchill cutoff.

Instead, have your skiers stay indoors and watch this just under nine minute video, “The Elements of Cross-country Skiing: Skate Skiing“, by Saul Goldman, of Velotique.  Then ask your skier(s) the question, “How many skate techniques do you try to do when you ski?”

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Ever wanted to be a mascot?  How about a “Chief of Kitchen”?

If you are interested, Kenton Frith, friendly facial-haired skier found in this FIS-friendly photo, is looking for a couple of special somebodies to volunteer their efforts for the upcoming Jackrabbit Jamboree.

In (mostly) Kenton’s words:

“Sparky [the mascot] needs someone that can comfortably support his head. It’s is a bit heavy! That person also needs to be able to ski him during the mascot race! Only needs for an hour or so around the mascot race.”

“Chief of kitchen is a bigger one.  Need someone to manage the kitchen volunteers through the boiling up of 200 hot dogs… Usually that person is also responsible for getting the hot dogs, chips and drinks but this year I am very happy to take on that responsibility.  I am already going to make arrangements for sliced hot dog buns!  They also take care of the cookies and hot choc for snack in the afternoon. We have traditionally used the kitchen at [Windsor Park Nordic Centre], with a brief clean up the day before. There has also been some large pots at [Windsor Park Nordic Centre] that we have used to boil the dogs.  I took a quick look last week and didn’t see them so we will have to come up with alternatives! I have detailed list from last years chief if we can find someone interested I will send it over!”

If you have the right stuff, contact Kenton Frith directly at jrski@rainyday.ca to start the conversation.

Sorry Jackrabbit Managers,

Aaargghhh…

In my last post, I said that a “go” or “no go” message would be posted by 09:00 on Thursday morning.  Unfortunately, I am now going to have to delay that decision to 16:30 on Thursday afternoon.

Why?  You may ask?

The latest weather forecast indicates an air temperature of -17 degrees Celsius with a windchill of -29 at 19:00, rising to -16 with a -27 windchill by 20:00 (yes, getting warmer instead of colder).  And at 21:00 (bed time) the wind is supposed to drop from 30 kmh to 10 kmh for a windchill of a “nice” -22.

If I had to make the decision right now, it would be to cancel.  Which I don’t want to do, since the wind could turn off earlier and/or the air temperature might be a couple of degrees warmer (and the session could be run and be pleasant).

Therefore, if by 16:30 Thursday, the actual air temperatures and windchills are nicer than what the latest weather model (of 16:30) is predicting (or the predictions are warm-enough), then we would be a “go”.

Stay tuned.

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Registration is now open to the first 100 kids (or 2015-02-25, whichever comes first) for the Jackrabbit Jamboree.

See details of this once-a-year Red River Nordic Ski and Biathlon Club event at the Cross Country Ski Association of Manitoba (CCSAM) website (http://www.ccsam.ca/jackrabbit-jamboree-registration-now-open-2/). Then register at Zone4 (https://zone4.ca/reg.asp?id=8492).  Cost is $12 per kid.

At this moment, 11 kids (from various clubs) of the 100 kid maximum limit have been registered.  It is our hope that all 53 Assiniboine Park Jackrabbit kids will be registered for this event.

The reason for that hope, is that unlike previous years, this winter’s Jackrabbit Jamboree will now (due to recent rescheduling) be held on a Sunday (not Saturday!).  Yeah!  That means that many or most of our club members should be able to attend at least part of it.

The Jackrabbit Jamboree will be held on Sunday, 1 March 2015, from 09:45 to 15:00. Hot lunch is provided. No, your child is not obligated to ski the whole day (although it is indeed set up for them to do so). And, yes, your child can arrive late, or leave early, or do both, if they have another Sunday commitment to attend.

No session will be held in Assiniboine Park on Sunday, 1 March 2015, between 13:30 and 15:00.  This is because we will be at the Jackrabbit Jamboree.

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Apologies for the update.

For the older and/or more experienced kids who will be venturing beyond The Hummocks tomorrow, bring their skate skis.  If they don’t have skate skis, bring their classic skis, but in the warmth of your home, simply scrape off the grip wax found in the middle third of their classic skis, and smooth the remaining grip wax down using a ski waxing cork.  The goal is to have slippery skis not slippery-and-grippy skis.

Sorry for the confusion.

Due to the difference between”as planned for” and “as actually implemented”, a few-minutes-old update from Jeff Hampshire has now indicated that all ski trails at Assiniboine Park will indeed be fabulously mechanically groomed for just skate technique for tomorrow’s session.  However, only the The Hummocks will be groomed for both skate and classic technique (where grip wax is an asset not a liability).

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Please thank your skier(s) for inventing and/or performing their own let-it-snow dance(s) this past week!  All efforts combined have appeared to work!

Jeff Hampshire of Nordic X-Ventures has indicated that all ski trails at Assiniboine Park will indeed be fabulously mechanically groomed for both classic and skate techniques for tomorrow’s session.  Body armour will not be required!

And Mother Nature is forecast to give us a -13 degree Celsius air temperature with a -19 windchill at the start of skiing.  As such, the session is indeed on!

Meet at The Hummocks at 13:30 on Sunday, 8 February 2015.

Please bring a reusuable mug for hot chocolate (to reduce avoidable waste).  We won’t turn you away from the hot chocolate if you don’t have one, but if you can bring one, great.

Hi skiers, we will actually give skiing a shot Thursday night at Windsor Park, 6:30 pm.

Technique will be skate (free technique). Temperatures won’t be super warm like the last few times we’ve seen so make sure your fingers will stay warm!

Sunday at Assiniboine Park: so far looks good.

See you there!

Coach Ihor