The ski club held its first lake practice on Nov. 30. (Facebook/La Ronge Ski Club)

By Derek Cornet

volunteer driven

Ski club completes $100K in projects in 2025

Dec 4, 2025 | 2:20 PM

The La Ronge Ski Club has undertaken more than $100,000 of new and unexpected projects so far this year to improve the experience of skiers.

“Our club volunteers have been out there working hard and getting things open and ready to go,” said Club President Matt Koebernick.

“We got lots of donations from different grants and even from individual donors. It will help cover the costs the club has incurred for rehabilitating the trails, but also to make some improvements to the trails at the same time.”

A fast-moving wildfire in June had a devastating impact on ski trails in the region, but Keobernick explained that enough work has been completed by volunteers and Lac La Ronge Provincial Park staff that all trails will be open this season.

“Parks has been phenomenal in ensuring they’ll have Nut Point and Don Allen open in terms of removing the burnt trees that were killed in the fire,” he noted.

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“They have crews out working right now… and there will probably be a few more days of work for them to get out there and finish removing those trees. The trails will all be open, and as soon as we get enough snow, they’ll start getting groomed.”

Lumber for floor beams and joists have already been hauled into the trail system to replace the checkpoint one cabin. (Facebook/La Ronge Ski Club)

In addition to trail rehabilitation, the ski club has raised enough funds in 2025 to rebuild the destroyed structure at checkpoint one, purchase a new groomer, buy a quad and tracks, and purchase 20 sets of youth skate skis and 11 sets of adult loaner skis. They are also finalizing plans for what they are calling a kid ski-friendly playground.

“It’s like an 800-meter trail that goes up and down and curvy and winding all around,” Keobernick added.

“There are two loops – a 500-m loop and a 300-m loop – so different levels. The 300-m loop is a little bit easier than the 500-m loop.”

In the coming weeks and months, the ski club will host the Solstice Ski to the Summit on Dec. 21, a Family Day Ski on Feb. 16, School Ski Championships on Feb. 27, Cross Country Saskatchewan Provincial Championships on Feb. 28 and March 1, and finally the Don Allen Saskaloppet on March 6 and 7.

There will also be youth ski lessons (ages three to 16) on Sundays, and a well-respected coach will be in La Ronge in January to work with racers and provide ski lessons for adults.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com