With a warm December leading straight into a severe cold snap in January, many winter sport enthusiasts have not been able to get outsie to truly enjoy their activities yet.
However, the recent snowfall and temperatures that are expected to increase means local Nordic clubs are getting ready to head outdoors.
With sponsorship from Airdrie’s Sports Council, the Airdrie Nordic Club was formed last spring and anticipates calling the new Northeast Regional Park in Airdrie home next fall.
Currently, the City of Airdrie Parks Department grooms a 750 meter loop around the lower baseball diamond at Chinook Winds Park and Lorri Derbowka from the Airdrie Nordic Club hopes its members can start using it.
The group has 52 members on Facebook from Airdrie and Rocky View County. While membership is currently free, Derbowka expects there might be a fee once the club has more to offer.
“Our goal is to be able to cover the cost for people who don't have those funds and of course it's not going to be mandatory, we'd rather see people come on out and enjoy it,” said Derbowka. “But we will look at fundraising in the future and being able to pay for gas and buy new equipment and storage, and all of the fun things that come along with having a permanent home.”
In the future, Derbowka hopes to host events like “try-it days”, which would allow people to get exposure to using cross country equipment to see if they like it or not.
“Hopefully we will be able to have some loppets or little ski races that we can draw some tourism to Airdrie,” she said. “Our other goal is to be able to have a paid instructor do lessons a couple of nights a week for little kids.”
She said they don’t want to take away from the competitive program at the Foothills Nordic Club, which raises Olympic athletes.
In addition to lessons for young children, Derbowka said they will eventually look into providing adult lessons for those who need a bit of a refresher in cross country skiing.
The club provides its members with camaraderie and fellow skiers to hit the trails with at Chinook Winds Park, other club trails, and, coming next year, at the new Northeast Regional Park.
Fundraising will help pay for a future warming shack, fuel for snowmobiles, maintenance, and updating equipment as needed, Derbowka said.
The City of Airdrie is hosting their second annual Cabin Fever on Feb. 17, Family Day weekend.
Derbowka noted the Nordic Club will have a free try-it day at Chinook Winds Park from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.
“Hopefully people will just come on out and put on some boots and some skis and give the little loop a try,” she said. “Sports Council will be there with us promoting the snowmobile and the track setter that they gifted to the city and should be a really fun afternoon."
Airdrie’s Nordic Club has been promoting cross country skiing at some of the City of Calgary golf courses, including the Shaganappi Nordic Operations (SNO) club at Shaganappi golf course, as well as Confederation Park operated by the Foothills Nordic Club.
Bragg Creek Trails is another spot Derbowka said many skiers in Rocky View County might enjoy.
Grooming reports for Bragg Creek Trails can be found on their website, along with a live camera view of how busy the parking lot is and the current conditions.
