Category: Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

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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. 

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Welcome New Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing Director Jackie Flowers!

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! 
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Ski Newfoundland!

An information session on the charter trip to Corner Brook will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024 from 7 – 9pm. See the website for the Zoom link.Trip Highlights

Skiing and snowshoeing at four Nordic centresTrail passes not included, but group rates will be arranged
Accommodation – 6 nights, Glynmill Inn, Corner Brook, based upon double occupancy
Daily breakfast off menu using $18 voucher (5 days)
Screech-In to become an honourable Newfoundlander
Air Canada direct flight to Deer Lake
Private coach transfer to and from airport/hotel and to Nordic centres

Although billed as a cross-country and snowshoe trip, downhill skiers are welcome to sign up, with skiing available at renowned East Coast ski resort Marble Mountain! Lift tickets are not included in the base price. 

Check the website for the full trip description.
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Interested in travelling to XC ski and snowshoe? Consider helping us out!

There are many awesome places to ski and snowshoe in Canada, the US and beyond! We know there is more demand now for long trips, but XC needs help to make more long trips happen.

There are different kinds of help needed: 

1. You could help us with general online research to find great new locations and/or research locations where we are thinking of going. It would be great to develop a ‘database’ of locations (and details about them).

2. You could assist in organizing specific trips.

3. You could be a trip leader. There are benefits to being a trip leader – you for sure will get on the trip (which sometimes can be hard for popular trips!) and a good portion of your trip will be paid for (it depends on the type of trip as to how much). Trip leaders should be detail-oriented, friendly, and able to roll with the punches and problem solve. Assisting on a trip is a good way to get started and learn the ropes!

Email crosscountry@hpsc.ca if you are willing to help us out! 
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Cross-Country Paradise!




HPSC recently had a fabulous trip to Quebec City (Mar. 10-15). While I’ve been skiing for over a decade, it was my first time there. I can’t wait to go back! It really is one of the best bases for XC skiing and snowshoeing in the country. We visited three locations – Mont-Ste-Anne (two days), Sentier des Caps (at Le Massif; one day), and Camp Mercier (one day). Combined you are looking at 250+km of trails! As with most trips this year, conditions were looking dire…then the area received 50cm of new snow the day before our first ski day. We were saved!!! Follow this up with four days of sun and above zero temperatures and we got some pretty magical spring skiing. Everyone keeps asking me why I am so tanned. Yes, I forgot sunscreen.

My favourite day hands down was Sentier des Caps. It was solid sun all day, and the classic skiing in the trees was amazing. The system isn’t large, but it made up for that in views of the St. Lawrence – including a magnificent one off the Abbatis hut (made the tough climb out worth it!). But all our ski days were fantastic – and Jean-Emile was even passed by world champion skier Alex Harvey at MSA!

A great part of the trip is staying in the city – not only do you get great skiing during the day, you can wander around a beautiful city at night and eat lots of amazing food, including as many croissants as you could want. If you need a break from skiing, you can be a city tourist. It’s really the best of both worlds

Huge thanks to Ephraim for his exceptional trip leading skills and hopefully we get to go again!

Heather Steel
Director of Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
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Celebrate the XC season with a wine and cheese ski day in the sun!


While we are hoping to run more trips, the reality is that this coming weekend may be our last. It will be sunny and warm, so come celebrate the season in the slush with your ski friends. Saturday we will be at Scenic Caves and will hold our annual wine and cheese in the log cabin before we leave (departure time remains the same, we will just end our ski day a bit early). There are lessons and guided snowshoeing. The Sunday crew (if enough register) will be headed to Hardwood for one last glorious day in the sun.

Register by Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6pm.

March can be unpredictable and if we magically get more snow, you know we will be on it and will try to run more trips! But as much as it pains me, the forecast is just not looking favourable at the moment. So get it in while you can! 

Heather, Director, XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
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Last call for long trips…

Registration for Killington closes on Feb 1.  Quebec City March break closes on Feb 9.

March 10-15 – stay 5 nights in Old Quebec City and Ski at Ski Mont St. Anne, Le Massif, Stoneham OR Cross-Country and Snowshoe, hot breakfast daily.

March 17-22 – stay 5 nights at the Killington Grand Hotel in either a suite (with cooking facilities) or hotel room.  Enjoy the wonderful hot tubs with a view of the mountain and walking distance to the hill.  Discount provided for Ikon pass holders.

Sign Up for these trips before Registration closes!!

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Questions?

You may find the answer to your questions under the FAQ section under both the Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding and the Cross-Country and Snowshoeing tabs on the website. As we are a volunteer run club, this is often the fastest way to find out answers to your questions, such as bus pick-up locations and departure times and the deadlines to register and cancel for day trips.

New members can also reach out to their assigned Club Ambassadors for assistance but remember that they are also volunteers. Please allow time for refunds as they are also handled by volunteers.

The website also provides email addresses for specific areas. Please send cancellation requests to cancellations@hpsc.ca, not to info@hpsc.ca as this is only a general information email.

We have faced many challenges this year with a late start to the season and unpredictable weather issues. Always check the Day Trips Status page on the website for up-to-date information regarding day trips and any last minute changes such as the addition of a second bus.

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Spend Spring Break in Quebec City!

A few spots are still available for both downhill and cross-country skiers on the Quebec City trip! March 10-15 – 5 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Manoir Victoria, in heart of Old Quebec City, close to great dining and shopping! Enjoy magnificent Downhill OR XC/snowshoeing at renowned Quebec areas!

Downhill: Mont Ste Anne – 2 days, Stoneham – 1 day, Le Massif – 1 day

Cross-Country/Snowshoe: Mont Ste Anne – 2 days, Camp Mercier – 1 day, Sentier de Caps – 1 day

For a full description of the above trip and to sign up, go to the website. Book your spot before they are all gone!

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Cross-Country finally has snow!

It was a long, frustrating wait, but we are back in business! Many of our ski areas got walloped with snow this past Sunday. It really does take just one good day of snow squalls. We ran our first trip to the snow globe that was Scenic Caves last Sunday and we are preparing for many more.

January 20 we are headed to Highlands Nordic and January 21 we are headed to Hardwood Ski and Bike. Both should have great conditions as it’s supposed to be a cold week.

Register for trips here: https://hpsc.ca/Cross-Country-Day-Trips-Registration. We are still opening trips on a week by week basis, be we should be able to move to our normal two-week registration window at some point soon.

If trips are full (people are keen to ski!), put your name on the waitlist. If enough people want to go, we can check with the resorts to see if we can bring two buses. Or, if there are cancellations, you could get moved on the trip. As I have mentioned, we know people like to ski Saturdays, but we can’t accommodate everyone who prefers that. Sunday often doesn’t fill up as quickly.

Let’s get out and enjoy winter!!!