Author Archives: robertjmcmahon

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

This upcoming Sunday, 9 March 2014, is the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits “Jackrabbit Expedition”. The Jackrabbit Expedition is our once-a-year excursion (day-trip) to a ski area beyond the Perimeter Highway. It is an official session of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits (https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/assiniboine-park-jackrabbits-2013-2014-schedule).

And yes, really, the weather is forecast to be lovely, with air temperatures starting at -7 degrees Celsius (when we arrive at 11:00) and climbing to a “tropical” -1 degree Celsius (when we leave at 16:30) (see http://spotwx.com/products/grib_index.php?model=meteocode&zone=r1.12&tz=-6&title=FPWG51&lat=49.68489&lon=-95.32876). No, I am not lying to you. We can really go outside a play on skis on Sunday!

This year, like many years in the past, we will be journeying to Falcon Ridge Ski and Recreation Area (http://www.falconridgeski.com), in Falcon Lake, in the Whiteshell Provincial Park.

So, you may ask, why Falcon Ridge and why this weekend?

• Falcon Ridge Ski and Recreation Area has more than 25 km of groomed classic and free technique (skate) ski trails in a forested and hilly environment (http://www.falconridgeski.com/about.php#x-country). We intend to ski in three groups, based on ability, so that everyone can have a good and long (for them) ski. We will likely do so soon after arriving at the chalet at 11:00.
• We intend to have lunch in the chalet likely starting between 12:00 and 12:30 and will likely end at 13:00. The Falcon Ridge Café serves hot meals (http://www.falconridgeski.com/about.php#cafe) and accepts credit cards. And yes, it is heated, is comfortable, and yes indeed, has running water and flush toilets.
• Falcon Ridge Ski and Recreation Area is the home of Megan Imrie, one of our very few 2010 Vancouver and 2014 Sochi Olympic biathletes (http://meganimrie.com).
• And, on Sunday, 9 March 2014, while we are there, Biathlon Manitoba will be holding their Provincial Championship (for both kids and adults) at Falcon Ridge (http://biathlonmanitoba.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Biathlon-Race-Notice_Provincial-Race_MB-Cup-6_March-9-2014_final.pdf).
• It has been the intent of the coaches of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits, for a few years now, to have our APJ skiers get at least a quick and lively demonstration of what the sport of biathlon is, and perhaps even get our APJ kids to go through some or all of the motions of competing in a mini-biathlon race. To this end, we have arranged with the organizers to get such a short demo, tailored to our very young APJ Bunnyrabbits right up to our Track Attack kids. This may likely occur either at about 11:00 (before the biathlon race) or at about 14:30 (after the biathlon race). The mass start race starts at 13:00 and it is the intent that we will watch this race for at least a few minutes before continuing on our skiing way. Please note that these details in both what and when will be worked out before our arrival on Sunday. Also, it is possible that our very own Coach Jeff may be an official competitor in that mass start biathlon race before resuming his APJ coaching duties!
• Falcon Ridge Ski and Recreation Area has lift-assisted tubing (http://www.falconridgeski.com/about.php#tubing). Bring your own helmet (and goggles) from home or rent onsite when you rent the tube (credit cards accepted). This tubing tends to be the highlight of the Jackrabbit Expedition for almost all of our kids. We will likely start tubing at about 14:30 to 15:30 and continue until about 16:00 to 16:30. The chalet closes at 16:30.
• Jackrabbit Managers, please bring your cross country skis to enjoy this day with your skier(s). Or, you can rent cross country ski equipment on site (http://www.falconridgeski.com/rates.php). Nevertheless, “loitering” is indeed allowed for any non-skiing designated drivers.

Please note that Daylight Saving Time just happens to start also on the morning of Sunday, 9 March 2014 (http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=30042). That is why we are going to meet at the chalet at 11:00 CDT: It will feel like 10:00 CST.

Please note that a Provincial Park Vehicle Permit is once again required when in provincial parks (http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/camping/info/fees.html).

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Well, wasn’t that a great winter of endless skiing? Snow up the ying-yang, light winds, and beautifully warm blue sky days? SPF 60 slathered on faces and forearms and yet sunburns still happened from time to time?

What? That’s not how you remember this winter of 2013-2014? Really? “Breakdown of polar vortex” what?

Did you know that this past Sunday, 2 March 2014 was originally intended to be the last official session of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits for the 2013-2014 season?

Yeah, none of this sits well with the coaches of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits. So instead of giving up on winter and just hunkering down, we are now happy to announce that we have added a dozen more sessions to the official 2013-2014 schedule (https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/assiniboine-park-jackrabbits-2013-2014-schedule).

The first added session was tonight, Thursday, 6 March 2014, and the last skiing session, weather permitting, will be Thursday, 17 April 2014.

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Yes! We can ski again! It will be “warm”!

There will be a session of Fast Rabbits Thursdays tomorrow (Thursday, 6 March 2014) of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits.

Air temperature is forecast to be -8 degrees Celsius with a -17 windchill at skiing time. It’s a veritable heat wave!

This week is Skate technique.

Coach Ihor’s group of older or more experienced skiers meet at 18:30 and go longer distances.

Coach Rob’s group of younger or newer skiers will meet in the clubhouse fifteen minutes later, at 18:45, and go for shorter distances.

We currently have Lauren, Chloe, and Teagan interested. While we haven’t seen much of any of our skiers this winter, Coach Ihor and I think that Laura, Kate, Nika, Kevin, Liam, Hayes, and Don-Han, may want to participate in Coach Rob’s group. If I didn’t mention your skier, that is simply because of an oversight on our part. Please reply back to robert.mcmahon@mts.net if you think your child might be interested in skiing on Thursday evenings.

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Still cancelled. Same -23 C temperature and -33 windchill is forecast.

The -41 windchill experienced by Coach Ihor and I at 09:00 this morning while loading onto buses a couple of Team APJ skiers bound for the Manitoba Winter Games was barely pleasant with a neoprene facemask, just for context.

Thanks,

Robert McMahon

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Just to change things up this time around: How about we officially cancel tomorrow’s session (Sunday, 2 March 2014) right now (so that everyone can plan today to do something different on Sunday), and if a miracle were to happen by 11:00 on Sunday, we will send out an e-mail putting the session back on?

So, yes, tomorrow’s session is now cancelled.

The latest weather forecast is calling for an air temperature of -23 degrees Celsius with a -33 Celsius windchill at skiing time. This is predicted to be colder than our official -27 degree Celsius cutoff (https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/is-it-too-cold).
Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Sigh… Due to the weather being too cold:

1. Last night’s “Dash for Cash” was postponed again (currently rescheduled to 2014-03-11). Thanks to Gina for sending out that notice!
2. Tonight’s “Wednesday Night Race #11” was cancelled.
3. Tomorrow’s “Fast Rabbits Thursday 10” is now cancelled due to a -24 degree Celsius air temperature and -32 windchill forecast for skiing time.

The long-range forecast for our “Sunday Session (15)” is currently indicating too cold also, but we will let you know closer to that session.

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Just a reminder of what skiing activities have been scheduled (sorry, but the “official” schedule found at https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/assiniboine-park-jackrabbits-2013-2014-schedule is now hopelessly wrong due to the “breakdown of the polar vortex” and will be reworked “soon”) this week of 24 February 2014 to 2 March 2014:

1. Tuesday, 25 February 2014: The annual for-young-kids-only “Dash for Cash” is hosted by Seine River Ski Club at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre. Head-to-head classic sprint of either 50 or 100 metres depending on school grade. “Loser” gets a chocolate loonie. “Winner” gets a metal loonie. Most kids seem to want the chocolate. Register in person between 17:30 and 18:45. Everything is done by 20:00. Must see details at http://www.ccsam.ca/event/seine-river-ski-club-dash-cash before going. Make sure it hasn’t been cancelled due to cold weather before you go (by checking for a prominent cancellation notice on the home page of the CCSAM website at http://www.ccsam.ca). Latest weather forecast predicting a -34 windchill at race time. Ha ha ha…
2. Wednesday, 26 February 2014: “Wednesday Night Race #11” is now a Classic technique race (http://www.ccsam.ca/wednesday-night-race-formats) and is hosted by Red River Nordic and Biathlon Club at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre. Must register no later than 21:00 on Tuesday. Latest weather forecast predicting a -30 windchill at race time. Ha ha ha ha ha…
3. Thursday, 27 February 2014: “Fast Rabbits Thursday 10”. This week is Classic technique. Coach Ihor’s group of older or more experienced skiers meet at 18:30 and go longer distances. Coach Rob’s group of younger or newer skiers will meet in the clubhouse fifteen minutes later, at 18:45, and go for shorter distances. We currently have Lauren, Chloe, and Teagan interested. While we haven’t seen much of any of our skiers this winter, Coach Ihor and I think that Laura, Kate, Nika, Kevin, Liam, Hayes, and Don-Han, may want to participate in Coach Rob’s group. If I didn’t mention your skier that is simply because of an oversight on our part. Please reply back to robert.mcmahon@mts.net if you think your child might be interested in skiing on Thursday evenings, and even if they (or you) are not interested. Latest weather forecast predicting a -34 windchill at ski time. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…
4. Sunday, 2 March 2014: “Sunday Session (15)” at Assiniboine Park.

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Sorry for the really late notice for this cancellation. We were trying to stay optimistic…

Today’s session (Sunday, 23 February 2014) of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits has been cancelled.

Air temperature is forecast to be -16 degrees Celsius with a -28 windchill at skiing time. This is predicted to be right around our official -27 degree Celsius cutoff (https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/is-it-too-cold/). However, it appears that even the Environment Canada weather forecasters don’t believe what may be an overly optimistic Meteocode model’s prediction of “serene” winds of 30 kmh: the humans have indicated that the winds will be windier out of the northwest at 40 kmh this afternoon.

Also, even though Nordic X-Ventures mechanically groomed the Assiniboine Park trails on Friday (and watched them fill in with blowing snow minutes later), and has offered to mechanically groom them just before 13:30 today (just for us to watch them fill in with blowing snow), none of this is conducive to having kids (and parents) love skiing.

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Just a reminder that there is no session today (Sunday, 16 February 2014) of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits. It has been scheduled as a recovery day.

That is because our Sunday session was moved to Saturday (yesterday), to partake in the Jackrabbit Jamboree, as indicated in our schedule (https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/assiniboine-park-jackrabbits-2013-2014-schedule/).

That isn’t to say your family can’t go skiing today. Nordic X-Ventures mechanically groomed the Assiniboine Park trails on Friday, and with an air temperature forecast to be a “balmy” -12 degrees Celsius with a -23 Celsius windchill at 14:00 today, you may want to go on your own.

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)

Hello Jackrabbit Managers,

Sorry for the really late notice for this cancellation. Cabin fever…

Today’s session (Sunday, 9 February 2014) of the Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits has been cancelled.

Air temperature is forecast to be -23 degrees Celsius with a -34 windchill at skiing time (along with an official Environment Canada wind chill warning in effect). This is predicted to be significantly colder than our official -27 degree Celsius cutoff (https://assiniboineparkjackrabbits.wordpress.com/is-it-too-cold/).

A very cold Coach Ihor (one of coaches suffering from cabin fever) phoned a few minutes ago from Assiniboine Park. He indicated, “What?!? There is no shelter even in the bush?!? Not even in the riparian area?!? Cancel it!”

Thanks,

Coach Rob

(on behalf of Coaches Ihor, Katherine, and Jeff)