Despite Restarting Hiccups Ski Club Says Effort Well Worth It
By Natalie Clysdale
“For the most part for the first year of the club everybody was pleased about having trails and having the club function again,” Kyle Lichtenwald communications director with Moose Jaw Ski Club said.
Speaking to MJ Independent after last Tuesday evening’s AGM Lichtenwald said despite the late start and equipment malfunctions the 2021 – 2022 season went over well for the club.
“The trails were really good when we had the snow and the equipment. It was a shortened season because we got started February 1st and so we were able to have grooming throughout February for that month,” he said, adding “and then we had the equipment malfunctions so the groomimg could not continue when we had a heavier snowfall later in the season then we were unable to groom the trails.”
Trails - photo by Wendy Friesen
The Club is looking for bigger and better things this coming season.
“We have our fingers crossed we will get lots of snow and we have the grooming equipment fixed and we team to lead some events and then again we get people outside in the park. And we have people out enjoying Wakamow.”
Lichtenwald gave credit to the individuals who originally cleared the trails close to 45 years ago and how today’s club is re-opening those original trails and how they owe a debt to those who originally made the trails.
“So the legacy of the ski trails go back to 1977. The trails were cleared there and it was funded by the Province for the Saskatchewan Winter Games in 1978. A group of volunteers cleared the trails. So having machinery and creating the system we have today.”
“Through the Eighties and Nineties the skiing there kind of fizzled out a bit and for the last 12 to 15 years we haven’t had groomed cross country ski trails in Wakamow.”
“Now that we have the club back and we have the equipment we are carrying on that legacy and people are remembering the trails from back when they were first created. Our oldest member is 81 and he is one of the founding members (Ken Pilsworth) that helped to clear those first trails.”
Uphill - photo credit Jonathan Benson
Lichtenwald said the coming cross country skiing season is being looked forward to with a lot of anticipation.
“We are excited for this next year and the club is growing we had 49 members this year and that speaks for itself that people are interested and committed and put their money towards this endeavour.”
Re-opening the trails and re-starting the Club is good for Moose Jaw, he said.
“It is good to have this back in the city and it is a huge part of the City of Moose Jaw master plan (for healthy local recreation) and have a draw from a large area outside of Moose Jaw and be a good tourist attraction for the Winter in Moose Jaw.”
Lichtenwald said he would like to invite people out this Winter to give the trails a try for themselves. And he also ask walkers to please not walk on the groomed trails so everyone can have a safe time out enjoying Wakamow.
“I just want to invite everyone out to the ski trails (this Winter) and test them out and see if skiing for you. I would like to also ask people not to walk on the groomed trails or have their pets out there as that can impact the (quality of the) trails. And a safety concerned for all involved. Please just adhere to the signage you see on the trail and that would be helpful to keep everybody safe.”