Despite a relatively sparse accumulation of snow so far this winter, the Sundre Bike ’n Ski Club’s youth cross-country ski program has not only found new places to practise, but has also had a substantial increase in enrolment.
Shari Leedahl, volunteer coordinator, said the Jackrabbits program has 28 youth between the ages of five and 16 registered this year. The first two years the program was delivered, there were about 20, she added.
“It was a big jump this year, which was nice.”
Additionally, nearly half of those involved this year have been around since the program first launched, she said.
“Thirteen of them have been with us since the beginning. That’s cool that they’re coming back.”
The club's Jackrabbits program is largely based on the Cross Country Canada model, which also includes other levels such as the introductory Bunny Rabbits for young children who are just starting to learn and develop their skills. Jackrabbits come next followed by the more advanced Track Attack lessons for older, more experienced youth cross-country skiers, she said.
“We go out on Sundays,” she said, adding the program got underway during the first weekend in January.
“It has been challenging because of the lack of snow.”
The club has taken the opportunity to tour the immediate area surrounding Sundre in search of pockets of snow that some club members did not previously know existed, she said.
“We’re exploring lots of different areas. So far, people haven’t complained about having to drive. But we’ve been trying to keep it pretty close to Sundre.”
Those trips have included visits to familiar places such as Burnstick Lake, she said.
“There’s always snow there.”
The group attempted a ski session near the end of January at the Sundre Rodeo Grounds, where volunteer member Bryan McBain, who also helps to coach, did the best he could to set some tracks, she said.
“But after a lot of use, the track was down to the dirt.”
Usually, the Jackrabbits start at the rodeo grounds and go back and forth between there and Snake Hill, she said, citing the lack of a sufficient snow base as being prohibitive to that approach this year.
There are five coaches who pitch in to lend a hand splitting up the kids based on their ages and skill level. That includes drills to develop basic cross-country ski skills, she said.
“But they want to have fun so we get them on the trail and get them practising techniques on the hills.”
As far back as Leedahl can remember, she has been passionate about the sport.
“I’ve always liked skiing — I don’t even know why I started as a kid.”
But the pursuit was more about enjoying the opportunity to leisurely exercise outdoors, as opposed to competing in races and chasing championships. After taking a several-year hiatus from cross-country skiing during her time in university, Leedahl said she was able to return to the sport more regularly after getting her first job. Without hesitation, she said she decided to join the club following some encouragement from Paul Shippy, who presides over the group with fellow member Troy Fee.
She got involved as a coach to help kids because she wanted to share her love of cross-country skiing while along the way hopefully instilling in them a lifelong interest in the sport.
“It’s one of those things — when you love an activity so much and just want to share that love and passion.”
Although initially concerned that some of the children might consider cross-country skiing to be too physically taxing, she said those fears never materialized.
“They work their butts off,” she said.
Yet they also “always have huge smiles on their faces — they all just love it.”
Cross-country skiing does not have to be about winning titles. Once developed, those skills and abilities can be carried over into adulthood as a lifelong activity to keep fit while having fun, she said.
Leedahl expressed appreciation for River Valley School, which not only rents the skis but also made available the track setting equipment that the club took over.
“If it wasn’t for the school, we’d have had to work a lot harder to get this ball rolling.”
Additionally, the Sundre Rodeo and Race Association has been “absolutely more than accommodating” in granting use of the grounds, she said.
“We just haven’t used the rodeo grounds as much this year due to lack of snow.”
