Wow, what an incredible winter!

March traditionally marks the end of our ski season, and it is fascinating to reflect on the season that was (and peek ahead to events yet to come).

Despite weather that can only be described as tumultuous, and a less-than-generous helping of snowfall, the groomers managed to work their magic and kept the trails in great condition.

This season started rather early, with our first day on skis being back in mid-November. Even with some closures around the new year, we have still managed to exceed 110 days of skiing. There have been plenty of seasons in the past where 80 to 90 ski days was the norm, but significant improvements to the trail base over the past few years have enabled us to stay open for skiing despite receiving less snow than before. And any year with more than 100 days of skiing is remarkable, particularly with warming temperatures and decreasing snowfalls.

We are now into maple-sugar season, and in addition to sweet treats, this typically means glorious spring skiing conditions. While we may not expect much fresh snow in the coming weeks, the remaining base will go through daily freeze/thaw cycles, generating fast and firm conditions in the early morning before giving over to slower and soft conditions as the temperature rises -- make sure to watch out for emerging rocks!  And for those adventurous souls who long to explore off-piste, there are sure to be some fantastic days of crust skiing, where the world is your oyster. 

It is important to remember that spring conditions are inherently unpredictable, and that all skiing at the club, whether on trails or off, is done at your own risk.

As of March 15, we will consider the ski season "officially" over. The Burrow will no longer be regularly staffed, and the trails will only be groomed on an intermittent basis. Please check for any updates on the club's Facebook page.

This past month saw the Burrow and trails become a hive of activity. Ghislain, supported by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, put together another highly successful edition of the Georgian Nordic Team Sprints. Sunny weather and brilliant skiing conditions, plus a fun and challenging course, meant smiles on the 200+ faces that showed up. One highlight of the race was seeing the steep hill in the stadium climbed nearly 1,000 times over the course of the event. This race is fairly unique for the Ontario circuit and is really helping put GNOAC on the map!  

It was great to see the new podium sign featured in the prize-giving ceremonies, and it also served as the backdrop as Christine conducted the draw for our big fundraising raffle. Huge thanks go out to the generous donors who supported the club by providing prizes. We also very much appreciate everyone who participated by either buying or selling tickets -- the funds raised will go a long way toward supporting youth activities at GNOAC.

Another big step forward was the installation of some comfy Muskoka chairs and a fire pit out on Panorama Point (near the far Lynx/Fox junction). Much appreciation to Greg, Don and Andrew, plus our friends at the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, for their collaboration in helping this become a reality. If you haven't already visited the spot, plan to make that a destination either this spring, during the summer or next fall. The scenery is fantastic!

The racing teams (both the junior racing team and the Racing Rabbits) capped off another successful season with a great showing at the Ontario Youth Championships in Timmins on March 7 and 8. The club was very well-represented, with more than a dozen skiers making the trip. Quite a few skiers achieved personal bests, including a number of top-10 results and even a few medals! 

Earlier in the month, four racers also represented GNOAC and the Southern Ontario District at the Ontario Winter Games, skiing in blizzard conditions and benefiting from the amazing experience of participating in a large, multi-sport event.

One final reminder about the newly designed GNOAC apparel. The clothing is available to all club members and is a great way of showing your support for the activity centre. This is the last call for orders -- we will close orders off on March 23, and after that we won't be ordering again until sometime in the fall. To place an order, simply go to the online shop.

Thank you all for reading this far, and cross your fingers for a few more weeks of fantastic spring skiing conditions! Stay tuned for more updates and projects -- we are continuously working toward making improvements at the club for everyone. In the meantime, let’s all plan to enjoy the end of a fantastic season together.

See you on the trails!

Wil.

GNOAC Raffle 2020

Our first-ever fundraising raffle was a success! We held the raffle draw on Sunday March 1, 2020, during our Georgian Nordic Team Sprints race. All eight prizes were drawn and given to the respective winners.

I am happy to report that we were able to sell 995 raffle tickets and raised $4,000! Wow! 

We have such a giving community. None of this would have been possible without your generous donations and support. On behalf of the Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre, I would like to sincerely thank all of the sponsors and prize donors. 

The proceeds of this raffle will go towards both the Georgian Nordic skiing and Georgian Nordic paddling youth programs and other athlete development.

Hope to see you on the trails.

Sincerely,
Christine Anderson

Strong Showing for Graham Ritchie