Covid-19 or no Covid-19, World Snow Day was scheduled for Jan. 16 with the slogan, Bring Children To The Snow, as per the International Ski Federation.
The Yellowknife Ski Club was in on the act this past Sunday: it was one of dozens of events scheduled in 44 countries and was probably the busiest spot in the city outside of either grocery stores or Wal-Mart.
The club opened its doors to the public and waived trail fees for the day, giving everyone a chance to get out and do something on Nordic skis.
Kerry Wheler, the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 events manager, said the club was buzzing for most of the day.
SA国际影视传媒淲e had people coming and going from the time the sun came up until it went down,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭here were quite a few people trying out skiing for the first time and it was a great way for families to come out and spend a Sunday afternoon. Big smiles and a wonderful day.SA国际影视传媒�
As has been the case in the past, Overlander Sports offered up some of its gear to rent for half-price and Wheler said she could see plenty of that equipment out on the trails. Instructor Rob Mathews also had his adult learn-to-ski crew out for the day.
SA国际影视传媒淭he partnership with Overlander Sports is essential for our outreach to the community,SA国际影视传媒� said Wheler. SA国际影视传媒淵ou get to try it out without buying the gear and we always appreciate everything they do for us.SA国际影视传媒�
In addition to that, there was free fudge from Sundog Trading Post on Latham Island for everyone to enjoy, all packaged in single-serve compostable containers.
SA国际影视传媒淲e put the fudge out for about 10 a.m. because the high-performance skiers were planning to head out,SA国际影视传媒� said Wheler. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was a perfect snack because it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 freeze quickly and itSA国际影视传媒檚 the perfect pick-me-up for for the skiers. We had to refill them all day long.SA国际影视传媒�
The clubSA国际影视传媒檚 1-km course was turned into a scavenger hunt of sorts where people could go around and find pictures of animals, such as moose, lynx, barren-ground caribou and muskox. Once all of the animals were found SA国际影视传媒� nine in total SA国际影视传媒� people could visit the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 Facebook page, where a link to a special page was put up. Each animal had a number attached to it and people could only move on to the next animal if they had the correct number corresponding to the right animal.
Once everything was inputted correctly, there was the chance of a prize.
SA国际影视传媒淚 set that up as an incentive of sorts to get people to go around the loop,SA国际影视传媒� said Wheler.
The event received the go-ahead from the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer as it was an outdoor event but there were precautions put in place, such as sign-in sheets in case of contact tracing.
Wheler said the wonderful thing about cross-country skiing is that itSA国际影视传媒檚 a sport where distancing can easily be achieved.
SA国际影视传媒淭he skis themselves have a natural distance and itSA国际影视传媒檚 been proven to be a safe activity,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭here was never a large gathering (near the chalet) at one time and groups were hitting the trail all the time. Being that we are a safe sport means we can continue hosting ongoing day-long events like this one.SA国际影视传媒�
As mentioned, the club was one of many around the globe that held an event of some sort on Sunday and Wheler said itSA国际影视传媒檚 something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 embraced.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an international celebration and a day where people get out and enjoy the surroundings,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The Yellowknife Ultimate Club usually hosts an outdoor game to co-incide with World Snow Day but the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 board announced the day before that it would be canceling this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 game for safety reasons. Instead, the club asked its members to post photos of their families enjoying the snow with a Frisbee toss.
