Marion Wooden (1925-2015)

We have lost a special lady, a good friend, and a staunch long-time supporter of Foothills Nordic. Marion Wooden passed away on Oct 15, 2015, at the age of 90. Marion was involved with Foothills Nordic Club as an executive member, newsletter editor, Cookie Race Soup Tent Chief, volunteer, or special event organizer for 45 years. Memorial Services will be held at Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association (5600 Centre Street North) on Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

Marion Wooden, with her husband Bob and sons Daryl and Alan, discovered cross-country in 1969 when the boys, on snowshoes, met Bernie and Willie Mason skiing out from Shadow Lake. They soon became active in FNSC; Bob taught ski classes and was President 1971-73. Marion held positions on the executive for six years and was the first “Tales of ” newsletter editor for six years. Marion was awarded the first FNSC Life Membership in 1977. Bob and Marion assisted with the first race (now the Lake Louise Loppet) in 1973, and with the first Kananaskis 45 loppet in 1978. Through the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s, Marion and Bob skied in the backcountry and on groomed trails, enjoying FNSC ski weeks in the Eremites, Assiniboine, and Terratima (which she organized for 7 years). During the same three decades they continued to volunteer regularly in many capacities, from officiating cross-country and biathlon races, to working casinos.

In 1980 Marion as FNSC Program Director invited Veli Niinimaa to speak to the club about biathlon. This sparked interest in the sport and the club soon purchased a rifle for its athletes.

In 1986 Marion and Bob became the Chiefs of the Soup Tent at the Kananaskis 45 loppet (aka The Great Cookie Race), and continued organizing the food for that race until 2002. Marion stayed active with the soup tent duties up to 2014, booking William Watson Lodge for the key officials (and usually cleaning the Lodge room the morning of the race before heading to the soup tent!). She attended every Cookie Race until 2015 when Mother Nature failed to deliver enough snow to run it. Those woolen quilts for warming cold racers at the finish line were made by Marion, ever the frugal seamstress after growing up in the Depression.

Marion and Bob were awarded the inaugural Ruedi Setz Award in 1990 for their dedicated volunteer contributions to Foothills Nordic. In 1998, they

Author: Linda Vaxvick were recognized by the Calgary Booster Club as Athletic Leaders.

Marion continued her interest in cross-country skiing, biathlon, and Foothills Nordic till the end of her life. She was thrilled to witness the success of local athletes such as the McKeevers, Brent McMurtry, Shayla Swanson, and Nathan and Tyson Smith. She provided the impetus for commemorations such as the FNSC 50th anniversary party in 2014, a FNSC Reunion in 2007, the Cookie Race 25-year cookbook in 2003, and the 25th anniversary of the Lake Louise Loppet in 1997.

She wrote several articles about the history of skiing in our area for SkiTrax and Alberta Nordic Skier, but she never got used to the lack of a printed newsletter from Foothills.

Author: Linda Vaxvick