Page 14, ‘Jamaary 10; 1979 -

SKI SKI SCENE

- By RAY TALBOT

“North Shore News __

As we go to press the weatherman i is once again
predicting snow for our area within the next few
days. Let's hope he’s right this time and that by
the time you read this we dre. revelling in some

new snow!

Despite the long sunny
cold- spell, skiing has been
great on the local moun-
tains. Grouse Mountain has
super granular powder
courtesy of their fantastic
snow - making equipment
which is really showing off
its potential this winter. The
warmer ‘daytime tem-
peratures have provided
almost spring-like conditions
‘on our south facing slopes
during the past few days and
all the north shore moun-
tains have been basking in
blissful ski conditions,
considering the lack | of
precipitation.

Mount Seymour
Cypress Bowl have managed
to keep their icy patches to a
minimum with their powder
maker slope grooming
equipment, and ali runs are
in good condition, though

the P. _ Department is
reques skiers who use
start domg a

Cross country trails are in
(good shape, but they still
don’t have quite the snow
depth needed to make full
use of their trail-making
machinery.

Whistler Mountain is
wistfully looking for the
snow clouds, but they still
have some good skiing. Two
thirds of the Whistler runs
are open, with very nice

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and,

iing on the Olympic and
Little Red Chair runs. It is
still extremely cool in the
Interior. Cross country whiz,
Sigge Bjorklund, tells us that
it was a chilly 24 degrees C ©
below at Manning Park on
the weekend!

If you want to catch some
really top ski action get
yourself up to Grouse
Mountain next week where
the team members of IN-
TERSKI will be practising
January 16th through 18th.
The following weekend the
top free stylers will be. flying
about for the filming of a
special Vancouver Ski Show
presented by CK VU.

Local ski schools are all in
high gear now with classes
for young and old.There’s a
class for everyone regardless
of skill, so if you aren't
signed up yet, better get
busy. Even the very tiny
skier has a special dealt Up
on Grouse Mountain they
can get started as young as
three years old!

The Grouse Mountain ski

school takes pride in
providing something for
everyone, day and night.

One of the most delightful
programs is SKI-WEE, a
unique ski class for 3-6 year
olds. This program is the
brainchild of Ruth Saxvik of
North Vancouver.

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o

Time for a snow dance

A physical educatia n
instructor, social worker, ski
instructor, and mother of
two growing sons, Ruth is
well aware of the trials and
tribulations of introducing
one’s pre-schooler to skis!

‘SKI-WEE was launched
on Grouse Mountain the
season of 1969/70 by Ruth
Saxvik and Anita Gathe,
former Canadian ski
champion and... Grouse
Moentain ski instructor.
That first year was
something of an experiment;
two classes were held a week
and involved just a handful
of children. The idea caught
on and SKI-WEE began to
grow. This winter SKI-WEE
classes “operate daily
Monday to Friday, closed
weekends and school
holidays. Each class is one
hour long and class times are
hourly from 9:30 a.m.

_ through to 1:30 p.m.

Designed to introduce
very young children to skiing
without pressuré, the major
emphasis at SKI-WEE is on
fun in the snow, not formal.

“instruction. Through play

with others their own age,
children quickly pick up the
quietly introduced

rudiments of skiing, learning.
to carry their own equip-

‘ment, put it on and take it

off, to walk, climb and ski
downhill on gentle, almost
level slopes, in between
playful games in the snow;
like throwing snowballs at
the teacher, playing trains,
on or off skis, and generally
discovering all the chills,
thrills and spills of the great

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE .. ..

dial-a-daim =

in the

bs you call

: . call to the Centre where you would take

qur car if an estimate is required, will assure
ost, efficient service in processing your claim.

white world of the Peanut
Bowl.

Classes are kept smail,
usually five or six children
per instructor, with .a
maximum of cight on busy
days, and proceed according
to the age and natural in-
clination of the youngsters.
Some of the older or more
progressive pupils are in-
troduced to riding the
beginner tows, or have
simple races through their

ski poles. The younger ones ~

often have playtime in the
snow without skis during
part of the session, and if
necessary are taken inside to
warm up.

It is a flexible,
program, and even the most
hesitant child seems to
quickly catch onto the fun of
skiing in such a situation.
Several of the older pupils
graduate before the end of

the season to ski with Mum-

and Dad on the big slopes,
and by the ripe old age of 6
are well ready to join the big
guys in regular classes at
Ornulf Johnsen’s Grouse
Mountain Ski School.

What about equipment?

Keep it simple is the word .

from Ruth Saxvik. Tiny
people ski best on tiny skis
which should certainly not
be higher than the child
using them, even shorter is
fine, but they must have
release bindings and run-
away straps.

Poles aren't necessary but

if your youngster has them .

and wants to bring them
that’s O.K. Boots should fit
comfortably. They should
be light and fairly low
cut; heavy, stiff, high boots
can tum a youngster off
skiing before they even get
Started.

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ower main

AN EFFICIENT NEW SYSTEM OF REPORTING AUTOPLAN CLAIMS

If you have an Autoplan claim,
don't go to the Chaim Centre.
Report your claim by

onefi

you should have your
Certificate of {nsurance and
Licence handy for easy refetence.

your Driver's

If it’s necessary to bring your car in, a
convenient time will be arranged.

DIAL-A-CLAIM—Now in operation through-
out B.C.—A faster, more eflici
reporting accident claims.

icient system of

relaxed .

Rental Shop at the Outpest. bend-

has small sized equipment, cars .
but remember to allow. . Your : ‘child can hav
single lesson, ora Package
5 or 10 lessons ‘which can be

plenty of time to get your
child fitted out properly.
Clothing should keep your
child warm and dry, and

RUTH SAXVIK of North Van is an enthusiastic
participant at Grouse in the SKI-WEE program.

ia po West Vancouver Recreation Centre
Skating Lesson Registration

Sat. Jan. 13

9:00 am - 12 noon
West Van Residents
Lessons for Children and Adults.

926-1818

pstmerdons |

Lower Mainland |.

P
:
$

land =m

| Langley 1
1 530-7111

. H 5.W. Marine H
INSURANCE =| s24-7ee
CORPORATION _s! Surrey
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 584-3211

: W. Broadway
) 734-133)