FEBRUARY 2010

Troll Tracks Edmonton Nordic Ski Club ENSC at the Alberta Winter Games Our Edmon- ence, winning lots of medals ton Nordic and making lots of new Ski Club was friends. It was like a Mini- well repre- Olympics for our young sented at the skiers ages 10-17. Special 2010 Al- Thanks to our zone coaches berta Win- and zone coordinators ter Games Roger McMillan, Tim Lo- February paschuk, Jenny Patterson, 4th-7th in Ryan Lemphers, Julia Nordic Parents who trav- Bonnyville Keenliside, Jonathan Alex- eled to volunteer to officiate - Cold andruk, Henrik Asfeldt, the xc skiing & biathlon Lake. Our Doris Saurette, Bryan Sin- races in Bonnyville - Cold biathletes and cross country gleton. We look forward to Lake. Plus our coaches skiers competed for both the 2012 Alberta Winter Alan Ball and Terry Protz Zone 6 (Edmonton), and Games in Spruce Grove - who were the Technical Above: Ember Large Zone 5 (St Albert, Fort Sas- Stony Plain. Delegates who did a great katchewan,Sherwood Park, job of organizing the com- shows off her gold medal On behalf of our athletes = from the Juvenile girls 5km Athabasca & Hinton). Our petitions! an Extra Special Thank You classic individual start race athletes had a very success- ful Winter Games experi- to our many Edmonton Les Parsons Below: Samuel Beaudoin (24) pushes to a second place finish in the first heat in the Juvenile Boys sprint race

Photos: Jonathan Alexandruk

More photos and news from the Alberta Winter Games will be featured in the March 2010 issue of Troll Tracks. TROLL TRACKS PAGE 2

Note from the President Greetings ENSC members! I trust ited tremendous pride in the Nation's Park. He was an accomplished skier, you are enjoying your ski season. For sporting achievements - in a way that biathlete and cyclist in his own right, some of us, the tail end of February is not arrogant, but nor is it typically but also a valued mentor for younger leaves us in a post-Birkie lull - there Canadian. It may be a bit of a stretch, athletes, including Edmonton Nor- may still be the occasional trip to the but perhaps this could translate into dic's Tara Whitten - former elite-level trails, but the intensity has decreased renewed growth in our sport, and skier, and now successful world cup somewhat. You may have earned others outside the hockey rink. How- track cyclist. He is also an individual bragging rights among your friends or ever, all of this could be eclipsed if who is spoken about with great affec- family, or you may have begun devis- the hockey teams win gold! Anyway, tion by those who have been fortu- ing new strategies for next year al- this is still a great time to be involved nate enough to know him. You may ready. You may just be planning to in what I think is the best winter sport not have known Roger yourself, but eat more cookies next year. in the world, and it is a privilege to be you may be sure that his legacy con- involved with such a vibrant ski club. tinues within ENSC. Edmonton Nor- Then there are those among us who dic has made a donation to the Cross have plenty of skiing and ski-racing But the strength of ENSC gives me Cancer Institute in Roger's name; the left this season. There are a few lop- pause for reflection also, as this is a Executive is also considering appro- pets left to compete in, and the ENSC club built upon the work of many priate alternatives for an ENSC me- ski team still has a busy program dedicated people before me. As many morial to Roger. We hope to be able ahead. Plus there is some terrific vi- of you will know, Roger Tetrault, one to announce our decision at the carious action to be had courtesy of of the early stalwarts of our club, AGM in April. the Winter Olympics too - including passed away recently. Roger helped our very own Madeleine Williams of develop Gold Bar Park as a ski area, Anyway, there is plenty of snow still course! and personally assisted with the con- on the trails. In closing, I wish you struction of the present trail system. enjoyment and great skiing for the Actually, it has been remarkable to His stamp is also large upon the bi- remainder of your winter. see the way the Olympics has af- athlon centre at Strathcona Science fected Canadians. People have exhib- Sean Rickard

Some of ENSC’s Sunday Jackrabbits getting ready to explore the trails at Strathcona Wilderness Centre, February 7. FEBRUARY 2010 PAGE 3

For the Love of Skiing and Dogs Kelly Lund Do you have a loyal family dog that An Introduction to Skijoring and lies around dejectedly and waits pa- Activity-joring will be held in St. tiently for your return when you load Albert on Saturday, February 27, up your family’s Nordic ski gear and 2010, from 5:30 – 8:30 pm at a cost head off for a fun family outing with- of $75 per person and dog, or $60 out him? Have you always felt per person without a dog. The ses- slightly guilty about this, knowing sion is being instructed by Sue Gin- gerich, an experienced dog trainer, dog breeder, dog musher, and skijo- rer from the Barrhead area.

The session is being hosted by Kelly Lund, so please call Kelly at (780) 690-5375 with any questions or for information on how to register. Please also view the related Edmon- ton Skijoring Club meetup website how much Fido loves to run, but not at: www.meetup.com/edmonton- knowing exactly how to incorporate skijoring-club which aims to pro- him into your ski excursions? Well, mote the sport within the Edmon- why not try skijoring, an activity that ton area and build a core group of combines the multiple loves in your Probably the first dog-powered winter skijoring enthusiasts. life – Nordic-style skiing, dogs, and sport that might come to mind would fun?!?! be dog-sledding, and there are defi- be done with only one dog while dog- nitely some similarities between dog- sledding requires several dogs (and The word skijoring is based on a Nor- sledding and skijoring. However, a what would the City of Edmonton wegian word meaning ski-driving. great difference is that skijoring can bylaw people say about that?). In Although any type of animal or ma- your mental image of dog-sledding, chine could be used for skijoring (and you probably picture a sled pulled by probably has – try an internet search big fluffy northern-breed dogs, and of this for fun), the versatile canine is maybe you assume those are the the puller most often associated with breeds required for skijoring. How- this sport. In skijoring, a person wear- ever, an adult dog of any breed that is ing skis is pulled by a harnessed dog about 30 pounds or heavier and likes that is attached to the skier by a lead to pull (translate: not good at heeling) line. For a recreational skijorer, clas- could make a great skijoring dog! In sic skis are definitely fine, however this case, individual dog personality anyone working up to being a com- is probably more important than petitive skijorer would likely be using breed. a skate-style of skiing. Skijoring is a great human-dog bonding activity, as Now if all of this sounds great, and it requires the combined effort of both the dog and skier to achieve potential thrilling outcomes like fast speeds (up Continued last page. to 25 miles per hour) or long dis- tances on the trail. Photos: Kelly Lund TROLL TRACKS PAGE 4

A lack of eyesight, but no lack of courage Christie Blatchford Originally published in The Globe and the defending gold medalist. The early," McKeever said Tuesday. Mail, February 16, 2010 Paralympics start March 12. "You know, telling us, 'If you ever have any trouble with your eyesight, Reprinted with permission. It is a remarkable accomplishment, tell us.'" although you would never know it by He misses reading and driving, and him. But because Bill's diagnosis had come says bluntly, "There isn't a day that so early, McKeever thought he was goes by that I don't wish I saw bet- Diagnosed at 18 or 19 (he forgets out of the woods when, heading to- ter," but the only damn thing Star- exactly when) with Stargardt's, a he- ward 20, he began having difficulty gardt's disease took from Brian reditary variation of age-related reading billboards. McKeever was most of his eyesight. macular degeneration, he is legally blind - he competes as a Paralympian Then, within a single semester at "It's made me who I am," he told a in the category for athletes with less school, he went from being able to group of reporters here Tuesday with than 10-per-cent vision. But he has see from the back of a 400-student that big white grin bracketed by big intact peripheral vision. By moving lecture room at college to not being black sideburns, "and I able to read the like the person I am." board from the At 30, McKeever is We're struck just by the beauty of what we get to do and front row. "In poised for an historic the places we get to see. We do live in a beautiful world." four months," first - the first winter he says. Brian McKeever athlete in the world to With his dad compete in both the having set the ex- Winter Olympics and his eyes the right way, and looking ample - he was a physical education Paralympics. Only five people have teacher who built the family cabin by done it in the Summer Games. about half a metre above someone's head, for instance, he can avoid the hand, and McKeever remembers how Here, he will race against able-bodied great blind spot in the central part of instead of driving to the hardware athletes in the 50-kilometre classic his vision. store, they'd head out on two bikes to cross-country ski event on Feb. 28, a carry home sheets of plywood - there spot he earned by winning the last of But at 100 metres, he says, "Entire was no time for bitterness or self-pity. people disappear, and more." the Olympic trials last December, "Dad's pretty dry," McKeever says where as Tom Holland, the team's His philosophy is taken straight from with a smile. He "took the mystery director of high performance, says, The Shawshank Redemption, the out of something like this, instead of "He just kicked everybody. He 1994 film in which the lead character, dancing around it." sprinted at the end." a wrongfully convicted man named Andy Dufresne, famously says, "Get His father told him, "You're tough He had a shoulder injury last year, a enough. You'll deal with it." crash early in this one, and had been busy living, or get busy dying." sick going into the trials at Canmore, His parents, Bill and Jean, prepared And he did. He was at what he Alta. "He had to win it [to make the their boys for the possibility they thought was the peak of his athletic team,]" Holland says, "but he got it would get Stargardt's. Bill was diag- career, had his learning permit, but together. He had one chance, and he nosed while still in elementary told himself, "It's not always ideal, took it." school, and the father Bill never knew but live with it or you'll have a miser- (he died while his mother was preg- able life." A few weeks after diagno- McKeever will take a few days to sis, when "all the emotions rush in, recover, then begin training for his nant with him) must have had it too, event against other visually impaired as did Bill's sister. skiers in the Paralympics, where he is "They put us kids on high alert Continued next page. FEBRUARY 2010 PAGE 5

Revising Our Bylaws The Board plans to present com- ever, in the past few years we have March 19, 2010. pletely revised club bylaws for mem- identified areas where these need to ber approval at the AGM in April. be updated to enable us to operate We will then post on the website the Prior to this the proposed new bylaws more efficiently and to reflect Al- final version to be presented to the will be available on our website for berta’s not-for profit society bylaw members at the AGM. If approved by members to review and provide feed- standards. the members, the bylaws will be sent back. to Alberta Culture for their approval The Board encourages everyone to and registration. The current ENSC bylaws were ap- review the proposed new bylaws. proved in 1994. The Board at the Please provide your feedback by Mike Dickinson time did a good job crafting these and email to Mike Dickinson, ENSC Sec- they have served us very well. How- retary, at [email protected] by

ENSC Head Coach Les Parsons getting into the spirit of Crazy Dress-Up Day with the Lynx, February 14

A lack of eyesight (continued) and we fear the worst," he concluded, harder for him - McKeever, alone "best just to get on with living be- They are separated by six years, and without his brother, will be hitting cause otherwise it passes you by." they hadn't been close as youngsters, some of those downhills at 60 klicks but now they share these moments of an hour, trying to read the shadows He trained at first with his brother, indescribable loveliness, coming into as he flies past. But he sees enough. Robin, a gifted athlete who competed a meadow near Canmore. Robin isn't He sees more than most. for Canada in Nagano in 1998 and here - he is training back home for was then trying to qualify for the the Paralympics; he must be as wick- Sometimes, he says, "We're struck 2002 Olympics. It was what edly fit as Brian - but their parents just by the beauty of what we get to McKeever calls "a big ask, but he will be here. do and the places we get to see. We jumped in without hesitation," and do live in a beautiful world." together, Robin as his guide, finding "Take everything in," his brother told the dangerous spots and keeping him. Brian safe, they became a formidable On Feb. 28, depending on the light - team. if it is flat, grey and cloudy, it is TROLL TRACKS PAGE 6

Northern Alberta Skiers’ Guides—Fort Saskatchewan Mike Stern FEBRUARY 2010 PAGE 7

Northern Alberta Skiers’ Guides—Fort Saskatchewan Mike Stern

ENSC racers and lesson folks under the glow of the refinery lights and flares. Photo: Jim Brohman Edmonton Nordic Ski Club 2009-2010 Executive Committee President Sean Rickard [email protected] 780-989-3645 Vice-President Keith Edwardson [email protected] 780-777-2246 Past President Patrick Saurette [email protected] 780-438-4205 Treasurer Linda Telgarsky [email protected] 780-439-3711 Secretary Mike Dickinson [email protected] 780-461-1510 Membership Ron Goodson [email protected] 780-439-7993 Cross-Country Terry Protz [email protected] 780-477-8582 Diane Anderson 780-431-9688 Biathlon Bryan Singleton [email protected] 780-488-7432 Saturday Jackrabbit Chris Stockdale [email protected] Sunday Jackrabbit Ray Cislo [email protected] 780-435-2326 Adult Program Iris Barrington-Leigh [email protected] 780-439-1433 Jim Brohman [email protected] 780-438-0939 Trails & Grooming Vacant Communications Vacant Social Lorraine Hosford [email protected] 780-449-7189 Touring & Loppets Mike Stern [email protected] 780-433-4328 Newsletter Denise Thomson [email protected] 780-433-1537 ENSC Head Coach Les Parsons [email protected] 780-691-6912 For the Love of Skiing and Dogs (continued) even Fido has perked up his ears with book Ski Spot Run by authors Matt to an end within a few weeks, there interest, you might have one nagging Haakenstad and John Thompson. If are plenty of related summer activi- thought – where could I ever DO you are someone who likes to learn ties that will also be explained to skijoring? Great question! Presently, from others with experience, you keep up your dog’s command train- one recreational area that is probably might like to attend an ‘Introduction ing while waiting excitedly for next already well-known and well-loved to Skijoring and Activity-joring’ of- year’s skijoring season! by you – Blackfoot – already allows fered in St. dog-sledding and skijoring teams. Albert at There are also other recreational and the end of private trails within a couple of hours February, drive of Edmonton that would be- with a pos- come known to you once you get into sible sec- the sport. And – fingers crossed – ond offer- there could be a skijoring loop that ing in opens within the City of Edmonton March (see in the not too distant future, so stay details on- tuned for details! page 3). Even If you are already a skier and are in- though terested in training your dog for ski- (sadly) the joring, what can you do? There are ski and several available resources that you skijoring could search on the internet, and a season will great reading resource to order is the be coming