The Don Allen Saskaloppet is expect to make a return this season. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

winter sports

Ski club looking forward to hosting provincial events this season

Dec 3, 2021 | 12:50 PM

La Ronge Ski Club president Heather Bernardin is looking forward to a return to normalcy after all competitions were cancelled last season due to COVID.

“This season is looking really great,” she said. “There are no public health order restrictions for activities outside, so we’re looking forward to hosting a few in-person events.”

The first major event is the SaskCup Races, which will be held at the Don Allen Trails on Dec. 11 and 12. That will be followed by the Solistice Ski to the Summit on Dec. 21.

If public health orders allow it, organizers are also looking at bringing back the annual Don Allen Saskaloppet, which brings together hundreds of skiers in a typical year.

“The big part of skiing is socializing believe it or not,” Bernardin said. “It’s always great to get out with your fellow skiers, especially at races, loppets or other events, so it feels really good to be getting together safely and somehow physically outdoors. For example, the ski club usually hosts an indoor ski TGIF and ski swap, but we decided against hosting those indoor events.”

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Ski trails throughout the Lac La Ronge area are currently being groomed by ski club volunteers, a trail coordinator and Lac La Ronge Provincial Park staff. The trails at Nut Point have been groomed for about a week and residents are free to skate or classic ski in the designated spaces.

Bernardin explained a lot of work goes into grooming the trails, especially at the beginning of the season, because a base needs to be prepared with packed snow.

“Parks does maintain the trails at Don Allen, so they are confident they will have the trails we use specifically for the SaskCup Races ready,” she said. “There are certain trails ready at Don Allen, but not all of them. [Residents] can stay up to date on our webpage or our Facebook page.”

Bernardin believes it will be a busy season considering all competitions were cancelled in 2020-2021. She thinks residents will be eager to be able to participate in group events again.

Bernardin also noted the ski club is in need of volunteers for the upcoming SaskCup Races. Anyone interested in doing so can contact the club at their website or on Facebook.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno