20 - Wednesday, January 2, 1991 ~ North Shore News BETWEEN JAN. 6 and 13, the Nordic Racers Ski Club and Hollyburn Ridge will be hosting the Jeep Eagle Cross- Country Seniors Ski Nationals in the Cypress Bowl Recreation area. This premier sporting event will showcase Canada’s top racers amidst the spectacular North Shore mountain land- scape. There wili be five days of actual racing, with events ranging from relay sprints to a 50 km marathon endurance challenge. The seniors ski nationals are sanctioned by Cross-Country Welcome to the Nationals! Canada and Cross-Country B.C. Both the provincial and national bodies work in close cooperation with the hosting organizations to ensure its quality and success. The senior’s division includes athletes 20-29 years, all vying for placement to World Cup races and the 1991 World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy. The Jeep Eagte Cross-Coun- try Seniors Ski Nationals ere sure to be a high profile. higher performaisce and the highest calibre of cross country competition in Canada for 1991. - Nordic Racers have a proud history THE NORDIC Racers Ski Club, host of the Jeep Eagle Ski Na- tionals, is the premier racing club in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. By George Tuira Contributing Writer The club was founded in 1978 by Sigge Bjorklund to provide Structure and support for a junior tacing program. Bjorklund is well known for his total dedication to the sport of cross-country skiing and was one of the founding members and the first president of the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instruc- tors (CANSI). Over the years, club members have been successful competitors in races from the Loppet level to the Canadian Masters Nationals. The Nordic Racers Club has always been supportive and active in the sport governing organiza- tions -—— Cross-Country Canada and Cross-Country B.C. Members have served in many executive capacities with both bodies and have even officiated at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olym- pics. There are currently 150 members in the club, and approx- imately 20 are active racers. The club produces a regular newsletter and is involved in providing ser- vices to its members through of- ficiating, coaching, jackrabbit and challenge programs. With thanks to Hollyburn Ridge Cross-Country Ski Area and the many non-club race support vol- unteers, we, the Nordic Racers, are proud to host the Jeep Eagle Ski Nationals, and we look for- ward ta a successful bid for a World Cup event in future. the near Hollyburn a long-time favorite HOLLYBURN RIDGE Cross- Country Ski Area, located at Cypress Bowl, is proud to co-host the Jeep Eagle Ski Nationals from Jan. 6 to 13. By George Tuira Contributing Writer Skiing on the North Shore mountains dates back to the 1920s, when enthusiasts travelled by boat across Burrard Inlet, then hiked with their equipment and supplies up to log cabins, many of which can still be found on Hollyburn Mountain. The Hollyburn Lodge was the original ski camp, constructed in 1927 from materials salvaged from an oid logging flume. The lodge now houses the ski area’s cosy cafeteria and warming toom. It continues to stand as a remarkable reminder of Hollyburn Mountain's skiing heritage. The overwhelming growth in popularity of recreational and competitive skiing during the past decade resulted in a need for the expansion of cross-country ski fa- cilities in che Lower Mainland. In 1984, the ski facilities were purchased from the Pruvince of British Columbia. Since then, Cypress Bow! Recreations has de- veloped Hollyburn Ridge into one of the largest cross-country ski areas in North America. The installation of trail lighting in 1988 has been a tremendous boon to racers and recreational skiers. Exciting new developments include upgrading bare arez facili- ties now in the planning stages. The unique terrain and excellent snow conditions at Hollyburn Ridge, combined with advanced snow grooming and tracksetting techniques, have established this area as a premier ski racing venue. Hollyburn Ridge was the site of the very successful 1989 and 1990 North American championships. With the foresight of the devel- opment plans of Cypress Bowl Recreations, the experienced and dedicated staff of Hollyburn Ridge Cross-Country Ski Area, and the continued organizational support of the Nordic Racers Ski Club, Cross-Country B.C. and Cross-Country Canada, Hollyburn Ridge will soon undoubtedly be regarded as a favored interna- tional racing site, drawing com- petitors from around the world. First champienships held in ’21 THE FIRST Canadian National Cross-Country championships were held in 1921 in Cote de Neiges Hill in Montreal, Quebec. By George Tuira Contributing Writer Since that time, they have been held annually except during 1941-1946 when they were inter- cupted by World War I. In the beginning only the men competed, and only one individual race of 18 km _ highlighted the championships. In 1955, in Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario, the 30- km event was added. In 1956, the 18-km event was shortened to 15-km. The first relay race was held in 1951. It was featured again in 1959 and 1960. but did not become a permanent event until 1965. Except for 1959, 1967 and 1968, the relay has always been a 3 x 10-km event (three skiers ski 10 km each, in succession). In 1966, the men’s 50-km event was in- troduced. Women did not begin par- ticipating in the championship un- til 1954, and weren’t regular com- petitors until 1963. The ladies five-km sprint was first held in 1966, and in 1967 a 10-km race and a 3 x five-km relay were add- ed. In 1976, a 20-km event was added. In 1986, the skating technique (free technique) events were in- tegrated into the championships: In 1990, the relay event became a 4x 4 mixed relay (two men, two women, two legs classic technique, two legs free technique). The Ski Nationals championship race format currently used is as follows: Men 50 km Free Technique 30 km Classic 15 km Free Technique 10 km Classic Women 30 km Free Technique 15 km Classic 10 km Free Technique 5 km Classic 4x 4 relay, which includes both men and women: lap 1, Classic male; lap 2, Classic female; lap 3, Free Tech female; lap 4, Free Tech Male. Race starts take a variety of forms: © Individual — racers start in- dividually at 30-second intervals. © Mass — all racers start at the same instant. Men’s and women’s starts are separate. THE BOSS of B.C. Ski Trail Systems! BEST IN THE WEST! What a place! A wide open ski area right on Southwest B.C.’s doorstep. The Cariboo. It's the place to ski naturally. Lots of open space where crowds simply disappear. No tripping over your neighbour's ski poles. Great facilities, too, where you can ski to your room, cabin or chalet! And it’s where THE BOSS of B.C.’s Ski Trail Systems winds through the rolling countryside. The major system.at 100/108 Mile is over 200 kilometers in length. It's THE BOSS of B.C.’s Ski Trail Systems and studies are in the works for expansion. It’s here you'll find Westen Canada's premier cross-country event — the Cariboo Marathon — which draws over a thousand skiers annually to its 50 kilometer run through ranchland and NATURALLY. SUPER CARIBOO - THE TRUE-WEST _ woodland. This year a 20 km “mini” marathon is also featured. Half the fun of a winter holiday can be travelling by B.C. Rail from North Vancouver or Whistler. Cariboo Class service is first class all the way with meals and relax- * ing seating, and vistas of the finest scenery in North America. A ski vacation at The Hills features chalets, sleighrides, whirlpools, fitness programs and fine cuisine. At the 108 Resort fine dining, sleigh rides, and deluxe ac- commedation complement the éxcellent trails. Both destinations provide ski rentals and ski train connections. Big Bar Guest Ranch, nor- thwest of Clinton, features 20 km of trails in a ranch setting, plus cozy accommodations and steaming hot tub. Bracewell’s Alpine Wilderness Adventures will take you to the high meadows of the Coast Mountains and bring you back to the main lodge or high country hut, and feature ranch-style meals. Trails abound in the Cariboo: Tyax, Nature Hills, Wells- Barkerville, Big Bar, Tatlayoko Lake, Chilcotin, Canim Lake, Crooked Lake. You'll find natural country skiing at its best in these locations, where the western air is clear, dry and exhilarating. Several Cariboo communities boast find systems of trails developed by the B.C. Forest Ser- vice or B.C. Parks: Quesnel, Clin- ton, Williams Lake and Chilcotin destinations, and the 99 Mile Trails that are set to international racing standards. Call the Cariboo Tourist Association toll-free at 800-663-5885 for a free brochure. One of the best in North America The Cariboo Cross Country Ski Marathon now presented by the major sponsor, Fleischmann’s, has been the leading event of the region’s winter season for 14 years. The largest and “best nun” Lop- pet in Canada, according to par- ticipants, many of whom return each year joining some 1,200 skiers who flood into 100/108 Mile House area. At 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 2, 1991, this classic lop- pet will again offer skiers a choice of completing the 50 km full- course or a 20-km mini-course. Categories, based on age, app- Escape the rain! CARIBOO MARATHON ly to all adult skiers in both the major and minor Marathons. Jackrabbit skiers (under 13 years) ski a 10-km course, while Juniors (14-17 years) are required to com- plete a 20-km competition. A banquet and dance spon- sored by the local Rotary Club on Marathon evening, built around the awards ceremony, is slated for the senior high school at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday morning, the organizers introduce a new event open to all ages by staging a 2-km relay race, composed of 4-skier teams. The entry fee and all pro- ceeds will be donated to the B.C. Heart Fund. Big Bar Guest Ranch Discover the pleasure of skiing on the east side of the mountains where the hills are gentle and the sun shines most of tke time. This is the summer range land of cowboys and sportsmen. In the - wintertime ski the rolling hills and frozen lakes.