Category Archives: What’s New

While I was out for a walk at Assiniboine Park this afternoon, I was surprised to spot two extremely familiar, orange jackets skiing rapidly toward me.  I wondered if I’d gotten my days mixed up – was it already Sunday afternoon with APJ?

Nope.  Still Friday.  It was none other than the McManus brothers who were out with their mom getting some fresh air at Assiniboine Park on a day off school.

Mom, Simona, informed me, “After a few hours of tackling math homework and practicing piano, we desperately needed to take a break!  So we decided to come here for a ski.”

There’s nothing like exercise to clear the mind.  Way to go, setting a great example, boys!

PJ (10) and Sebastian (9) McManus

Hello,

Windsor Park Nordic Centre,  Thursday night skiing at 6:30 (ski racks).  Let’s go skate skiing, as we attacked classic last week. It will still not be super warm (darn) so put on that extra layer.

See you then,

Coach Ihor

Last week, Coach Jeff and his family (Gina, Hayes, Hudson, and Marin) traveled to Ottawa & Quebec.  They visited with Jeff’s sister and family and took in the Eastern Canadian Championships at Nakkertok.  (Big-time ski races located at Canada’s largest ski club.)

Well!  It proved to be a very interesting trip as we unexpectedly encountered Coach Ihor’s past – not just once, but twice!

When Jeff stopped at a ski store to borrow some items just prior to race weekend, he met a man named Pavol… who just happened to know Coach Ihor very well!

Pavol and Ihor coached in the same era… Coach Ihor in Manitoba; Coach Pavol in NWT.

Then, during race weekend, Jeff talked in depth with Ontario’s Team Hardwood… and funny thing again, during introductions it was discovered that there was yet another person prominently linked to Coach Ihor’s past…

… Jack Sasseville! 

If any of you have read APJ’s website page on “Coaches”, then you will know of Ihor’s bio which tells of his racing days with the Manitoba Ski Team under the leadership of Jack Sasseville and Ted Bigelow.   I’m sure Coach Ihor has many more stories to tell.

WOW!  If anything, our family’s trip out East reminded and impressed upon us just how knowledgeable Coach Ihor is about skiing – in racing and everything else, too. 

Ihor was, and still is, a prominent figure in the ski community and we are very fortunate to have him as our very own Head Coach of APJ.   Thank you, Coach Ihor, for all the work you do with APJ!

Coach Ihor with his son, James.

Hi Everybody:

We will be skiing at the usual location Sunday, Feb. 5, 1:30 from the Duck Pond area.

A bit of a hiccup in that we are down a couple of coaches due to race travel and a really good story of a heroic crash injury!

So, we will need a few lively parents to help with making sure the skis get on and sweeping the trail a bit at the end of the session.

Coach Jeff and Ihor’s group should be set for classic skis.  I have wax.

Could we get a couple of extra things brought out if they are readily available:

• small blade shovel for moving snow (building small bumps on the hilly bits)
• a toboggan/sled that can be pulled
• cups for hot chocolate so we don’t have to toss out styrofoam

Thanks,

Coach Ihor

Hi!

We’ll  be skiing Thursday at Windsor Park, ski racks at 6:30. Working on classic technique, and put an extra layer of underwear on as it will be cooler than what we’ve been skiing in lately.

Thanks,

Coach IHOR

January 28-29, 2017 – Falcon Ridge was a busy place with sprint races on Saturday and Biathlon on Sunday!  Some of our Track Attackers took part in these events, along with a few of their parents.  It was a learning experience for all and here are the photos to show for it…

Coach Ihor picked these up at the top of the hill after our session had cleared out this past Sunday.  Send me an email so that they can go back home!

Coach Ihor

Meet at Assiniboine Park duck pond/ditch area today.

Usual time of 1:30-3:00.

Should be fun with warm weather and some hay bale jumps being made too.

Bring hot chocolate mugs, too. 😀

Get set for skate skiing as per last week.  We made big progress on balance and edging and let’s keep working on that.

Ski racks at 6:30.

Coach Ihor

MANITOBA SPRINTS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT FALCON LAKE

Hello,  I know some of the Track Attackers will be going: registration has been extended to end Thursday Jan. 26 at noon.   Please follow the link below.  Due to interesting snow conditions the event has been changed from classic to free technique (skate!)

https://www.ccsam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Race-Notice-Falcon-Combined-2017_final-2.pdf

Bib pick up starts at 9:30 with opening time trial at 11:00: this means crossing the east perimeter at 8:20 am.

It will be a great day, not ridiculous weather and maybe some sunshine!

Sunday: Jackrabbits in Assiniboine Park as usual.