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.
Posted in What's New
“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.
Posted in What's New
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.
Posted in What's New
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.
Posted in What's New
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!
Posted in What's New
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.
Posted in What's New
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.
Posted in What's New
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.
Posted in What's New
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?”
Posted in What's New
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.
Posted in What's New
Assiniboine Park Jackrabbits 