Season Finale Contests

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Hello Cross Country Sask Ski Community!

While it is a bummer that our meetings, club wind ups and races are cancelled because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we are so lucky that we are cross country skiers. We have a sport that has a lot of fresh air, solitude, and open spaces that we can continue to practice while still respecting the social distancing recommendations and protocols issued by our health authorities. However, despite being able to continue to ski, we realize that having no races or community events, and not much face-to-face interaction in the near future can leave a bit of an empty feeling.

To help keep the CCS community engaged, over the next 2 weeks we will have a series of challenges, both physical and creative, with prizes available to win for each contest. Details of each contest will be revealed one-by-one in the coming week, but as a sneak peak, expect the following:

-          Distance Time Trial

-          Video, Photo, and Art Contest

-          Home-based strength circuit challenge

-          Writing: poems, memories, or stories

This concept was inspired by Troy Hudson, the man behind #NotNats_2020. If you have not heard of #NotNats_2020, check it out: https://www.sovereignlake.com/notnats-2020/ Thanks Troy!

#NotNats will span from March 25th  to April 2nd. Skiing is not always guaranteed that late in the season for many places in Saskatchewan which is why we have taken the #NotNats time trial idea, and scheduled it for this weekend, while the majority of the province still has great ski conditions.

Stay tuned for details on the first challenge: The QuanranTT

-Andrew Brisbin

Cross Country Sask Provincial Coach

CANCELLED - Flin Flon Sask Cup and Loppet

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On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to inform all skiers that the SaskCup # 11 and Loppet scheduled for March 14th and 15th in Flin Flon has been cancelled due to low registration numbers. As a committee, we felt that with people incurring major expenses and travelling long distances to attend this event, we needed to be able to offer them a quality competitive experience, which was not possible under the current situation. We will endeavour to contact all skiers affected, and will reimburse all registration fees in full, minus the Zone 4 transaction fee. 

Dean Grove

Flin Flon SaskCup organizing committee

On a more positive note, all trails are in excellent condition if any skiers are still inclined to come and ski the 28 kms of the Flin Flon trail system.

Saskaloppet Update

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Hi skiers,

As the Don Allen Saskaloppet is fast approaching, this is to remind everyone that the registration deadline is THURSDAY, MARCH 5 at 9:00 A.M.  NO late registrations will be accepted after the March 5 cut-off (because late registrations add extra work that organizers definitely do not need  J).

All registrations are to be made online at www.zone4.ca.  If you go to the site, just search “Don Allen Saskaloppet” or “Don Allen Saskaloppet Kupesewin” (if you are skiing in one of the 2-day overnight options).

 

Detailed information about the different distance options is set out on the zone4 registration pages.  But I am also attaching a Loppet Notice that also sets out basic information.

 

The Saskaloppet Trail is in excellent shape and the weather forecast is good, so we are looking forward to some good skiing.

 

Sid Robinson

  Don Allen Saskaloppet Organizing Committee

Results from Provincials Posted

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The Regina Ski Club hosted a successful Provincial Championships on Feb. 29 and March 1, despite a few curveballs thrown at them by Mother Nature.

Saturday’s Classic Distance race was held Echo Valley Provincial Park, about 70km NE of Regina.

Sunday’s Free Technique Distance race was held at the White Butte Ski Trails, just East of the city.

The Sask Cup Events page has been updated with results. The link to results is also available HERE

Provincials Update from Chief of Comp

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Hello Coaches and Racers,

First of all, there is the option to register as a coach on the event Zone4 page, which costs $0. This allows the organizers to contact the coaches directly via email with any updates or changes. Click HERE to do so.

Due to the warmer than usual weather and less than normal snow base we are going to have to make some changes to this weekends races:

Saturday, February 29th

Location: Echo Valley Provincial Park, ski Trail head

Highway #210  ( across from the main campground in Echo Valley provincial Park)

Approximately 70km from east of side of Regina.

Race will start at 10:30 am

Distance to be modified as below

A valid Vehicle passes ($10) will be available at the Visitor Centre from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. on Saturday if you currently don’t have one.

There is a heated brand new building at the park with washrooms that can be used by skiers however it is 2 minute drive from the race site.  Echo Valley also has flooded their campground roads for public skating.  On Saturdays they have a food truck at the trails.  Feel free after the race to park at the main building and walk over and check it all out.

 

Sunday, March 1st

Location:  White Butte Ski Trails

We’ve had to remove a portion of the ski course so it will be either 1 or 2 laps of the 3.0 km course.

Distance of 1.5Km remains unchanged for U8

Please see revised race notice for new race category distances.

Attached HERE is an updated race notice

  • Brennan Craig

    Chief of Competition

IMPORTANT CHANGES re: Sask Cups #4 & 5

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Due to the warm temperatures and winds forecast for Saskatoon on Friday and Saturday the Skiathlon Race (SASK CUP #4) is being postponed

until the next day Sunday, Feb 2nd. SASK CUP #5 planned for Sunday (Sprint Qualifications and Team Sprints) is cancelled.

The current forecast for Sunday is -4 C. Saturday’s forecast is for +7 C and windy. The hope is to conserve the snow pack and have good tracks remain for the Sunday Skiathlon. Racers and the public are requested to NOT

ski on the Wildwood Golf Course on Friday or Saturday while the temperatures are above 0 degrees. The classic track is being removed today and will be reset later on Saturday once the temperatures drop.

New details for Skiathlon (SASK CUP #4), Sunday, Feb 2nd, Wildwood Golf

Course, Saskatoon are as follows:

Race Office Opens: 8:30 AM

Team Captain/Coaches Meeting: 9:30 AM

SASK CUP #4, Skiathlon Start Time: 11:00 AM

Special Olympics Race(s) Start Time approximately 1:15 PM - distances to be

determined

Awards: approximately 2:00 PM

Zone4 registrations will close at 5:00 PM, Friday, January 31 as previously

announced.

Participants wanting to make changes to their registrations and plans

because of the postponement and changes can e-mail their change information

to Al Theede at: d.alan.theede@gmail.com . The Skiathlon Start will be

posted on Zone4 late Saturday afternoon.

Refunds will be processed later, details to be announced.

Thank you for your attention.

Al Theede

Technical Delegate

Sunday, January 12th, 2020 - Sask Cup #3 hosted by Carlton Trail (Humboldt)

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UPDATE - January 9, 2020

Humboldt Sask Cup #3 race will go ahead as planned. Every effort will be made to race younger age groups during the warmest part of the day. Trails should be in good to excellent condition. Bring warm clothes/blankets, etc for standing in the stadium area. Should weather forecast change, racers & coaches registered will be notified of any postponement.

Any questions regarding the race should be forwarded to myself at ctsc@sasktel.net .

Thank you.

Chief of Competition

David Martinuk

Carlton Trail Ski Club

Carlton Trail Ski Club have posted a race notice and registration link for the next Sask Cup to their club website.

RACE WEBSITE HERE

Sask Cup #3 will be an interval start Free Technique distance race in the Humboldt area, on Sunday, January 12th, 2020

Coach and Wax Tech Applications for 2020 Westerns and Nationals

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CCS is looking for coaches and wax technicians to help support athletes at the 2020 Westerns Canadian Championships in Whistler, BC - January 15th to 19th, 2020, as well as the 2020 Canadian National Championships at Sovereign Lake Nordic near Vernon, BC - March 24th - April 2nd, 2020.

If you are interested, simply send a short email expressing your interest to crosscountrysaskHP@gmail.com .

Application Deadline is: Friday, December 20th, 2019.

Expenses will be covered by CCS and an honorarium provided.

Nordiq Canada Fluoro Policy and Allowable Wax List

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To clear up any grey areas and to make it clear on which waxes coaches, athletes, parents, wax techs are allowed to use, Nordiq Canada has recently posted an Allowable Wax List. Linked HERE

The list will be updated throughout the winter on the same publishing schedule as the Canada Points List.

Below is Nordiq Canada’s Fluoro Policy, that Cross Country Saskatchewan follows:

For all Tier 2 races (Provincial Cups, Provincial Champs, Nordiq Canada sanctioned events) the Nordiq Canada Fluoro policy would apply. This means that:

• High Fluoro (HF) or Medium Fluoro (MF) glide waxes, including HF or MF powders, pucks, blocks and liquids are NOT permitted.

• Cold weather powder additives and hardeners are NOT permitted.

• Grip powders are NOT permitted

• Does not pertain to grip wax

Message from Chief of Comp, Sid Robinson RE: Upcoming Sask Cups in La Ronge

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Message from Chief of Comp, Sid Robinson RE: Upcoming Sask Cups in La Ronge
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Sask Cups #1 and 2 are scheduled to take place in La Ronge. The plan is for a classic distance race on Saturday, November 30th and a Free Technique Sprint on Sunday, December 1st.

Currently there is 3 - 4 inches of crusty snow at the Don Allen trails. The trails need another 4-5 inches to be able to race. Sid will make the call on Friday, November 22nd whether it is likely that the trails will be ready in time for a race on November 30.

Tentatively, the back up dates for Sask Cups #1 and 2 in La Ronge is the weekend of December 14-15, 2019.