| This is turning out to be a busy season for cold and flu viruses. Just a reminder to be considerate of the well being of other members. If you are on a trip and are showing symptoms, kindly isolate yourself from the group. If this is not possible, please put on a mask. |
First Cross-Country Ski Team Race
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| The first XC Ski Team Race of the season took place at Highlands Nordic on January 18th with 23 enthusiastic competitors. Event 1 pitted two teams against each other: the Keele/Hwy7 bus vs. Yonge St. bus. Each team had to move a series of pylons down a 100m course in a train-like formation. The teams were evenly matched until the last few metres. The winning team was the Keele/Hwy 7 bus by less than 3 seconds. Event 2 was a 3km race through “the maze” – personal times were recorded to see which team won. The prize once again went to the Keele/Hwy 7 bus. Everyone celebrated together with a hot chocolate après-ski. The next XC Ski Team Race is the March 9 trip to Highlands. |
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What an Awesome Start to the Season!
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| The first cross-country ski/snowshoe trip of the season was the last Saturday of December at Scenic Caves and it was a real party! Two buses, loads of new members trying cross-country skiing for the first time, an epic sauna experience, and an après to “bring on the new year”. What a great day! Want to know what a day trip with the cross-county ski and snowshoe crew is like? Check out the highlight reel of this great day! The cross-country skiing and snowshoe crew have been maximizing their winter fun! Full buses have been running since the end of December and everyone is feeling grateful for the amazing conditions at the resorts.A new social calendar of après-ski events have been added to XC ski/snowshoe day trips. Themes have included C is for Chocolate, S’mores Galore, and Hungry as a “Miniature” Horse (for our trip to Horseshoe Valley). Additionally, the cross-country skiers have decided to embrace a new dance craze: cross-country ski dancing (it maybe isn’t a “craze” yet but it could be one day!). Check out their videos on Instagram (be sure the sound is on)!Dance #1 Dance #2 |
Last Few Spots Available on Long Trips!
The long trips season is underway with Panorama and the December Mont Tremblant trips successfully completed. Our Japan, Italy, France and Sun Valley trips will depart soon. Don’t miss your chance to ski in the mountains this season with HPSC! Sign up for the remaining Tremblant trips and check with the trip leaders for spots on other trips.
Note that there are only a few double occupancy rooms available on the Lake Placid (downhill and XC) and Jasper (downhill) trips. Act fast as the deadline to sign up for Lake Placid is January 6 and for Jasper, it’s January 12. Sign up on the website or notify the trip leaders.
In addition, in order to match roommates, we are looking for the following:
- A single male on the Sun Peaks-2 trip (downhill)
- A single male on the Jasper trip
- A single female on the Jasper trip
- A single female on the Lake Placid trip
Sign up on the website or notify the trip leader whose contact information can be found under the Long Trips tab.
Last Call for Lake Placid February 23-27 – Terrific for Downhill and Cross-Country!
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There are a few rooms left for the Lake Placid trip but we must release them by December 19! For downhill skiers and snowboarders, you will be skiing at Whiteface Mountain, the highest vertical in eastern USA (vertical 3,430ft.). For cross-country skiers and snowshoers, you will ski the extensive recreational and Olympic trails at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. One day, we will go to Heart Lake which is high in the mountains at the Adirondack Mountain Club to do some back country skiing and snowshoeing. Accommodation is at the newly renovated Grand Adirondack Lodge in the heart of Lake Placid, close to restaurants, shops and Olympic museums. Please sign up on the website under overnight trips under the Long Trips tab. |
XC Day Trip Full? Get on the Waitlist!
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| Since members are so excited to ski, waitlists are an important part of the registration process. If the trip is full, sign up on the waitlist. People cancel off trips and then we move people over from the waitlist. It happens often! You have 24 hours to pay after which you’ll be deleted from the trip – so if you want to ski, check your email (including junk mail). Be prepared to act! On Wednesday morning before the trip we clear the waitlist and any unpaid registrations (even if you haven’t had a full 24 hours to pay – sorry). Any remaining seats are up for grabs. This system is a balance between fair access and minimizing the work for volunteers. If there are enough people on the waitlist, we will try to run a second bus if the resort allows it. |
Only a Few Spaces Available on Long Trips!
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| Now that we’ve got some local snow, the last few spots will start to fill up on the Jasper, Alberta and Lake Placid, NY trips. Please see the last edition of SnoBiz or the HPSC website for a detailed description of these two iconic trips. We are also looking for one female to share a hotel room at the Killington Grand, and have spots remaining on our Mont Tremblant early and late season trips. The mid-season mid-week trip in February is full. Spots do open up on other trips but only if another member has to cancel. Sign up for the last few open spots on our trips now! One spot open for a male in a double room for C6 Newfoundland (XC and Downhill). Final payments are due December 3, 2024, so if you are interested register on the waitlist ASAP and you will removed from the waitlist and registered right away. Skiing and snowshoeing in Newfoundland is amazing; last year they had tons more snow than we did. Plus Newfoundlanders are the friendliest people. Come join us and get “screeched in” and become an honourary Newfoundlander! |
Upcoming Zoom Session: Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing 101!!!
Interested in cross-country skiing and/or snowshoeing this year? Great news!
We’re hosting virtual 101 sessions that’ll give you all the information you need to be ready for an upcoming day trip!
These sessions are ideal for:
- new members interested in XC skiing/snowshoeing
- returning members from downhill or snowboarding who want to dabble in XC skiing/snowshoeing
- prospective members (i.e. friends and family you’ve been trying to convince to join the club!)
Sign up on the Social Events page for one of these dates:
Tuesday, November 26 @ 7pm
Wednesday, November 27 @ 7pm
Sunday, December 8 @ 7pm
Coming Soon to SkiFit: Roller Skiing!
HPSC Cross-Country skiing instructor / roller ski guru, Andrew M, will be offering intro to roller skiing workshops starting this Saturday, October 26. They will run through November.
How to sign up? When you register for SkiFit (https://hpsc.ca/Social-Events) select the roller ski option.
Note that it is mandatory that skiers bring their own protection gear (helmet, glasses, gloves, elbow and knee pads) and NNN boots. If you need to borrow roller skis or poles, make sure you choose that option on the registration form.
Quick testimonial: Andrew is a great teacher! He doesn’t let you leave the safety of the parking lot until you can demonstrate you are confident starting and stopping.
Welcome New Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing Director Jackie Flowers!
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| I am excited to be stepping into the Director role for 2024-2025. This season, I’m looking forward to some new après-ski activities, bringing back “fun races”, and trying some dress-up theme days (optional, of course … but I’m sure the team photos are going to be great!). As director, I am committed to ensuring the new and returning HPSC XC skiers and snowshoers have the best season possible! Let’s go! |