Tag: nordic skiing

  • Bad Ski

    Growing up, my dad had a “Fisherman’s Excuse Mug”. I think we bought it for him for Father’s Day or something. It detailed all the reasons why the fish didn’t bite on a given day. Weather, wrong bait, etc. And I thought this was hilarious. It’s been a warm week, and as I looked at…

  • Quarry Oaks

    Home to countless adventures over the years both mundane and extraordinary, the ski trails at Quarry Oaks (maintained by Sandilands Ski Club) hold many memories. One of my first memories involves getting lost in a blizzard with Justin at night on the Farm Trail. Then there were the Friday nights during COVID we spent hours…

  • Happy New Year

    I’ve done my best in this holiday week to unplug, slow routines, spend time with family, and generally not be “doing” in the regular sense for a bit. Not easy, and our whole family routine’s been off, but I think it’s been good. I hope you’ve been able to have some rest as well. Reflecting…

  • Pole Dancing

    This time of year, between seasons, I pull out the ol’ Nordic ski poles and do some of what’s known as dryland training. In other words, running up and down Abe’s Hill with ski poles but without skis. (For the record, this kind of workout is out way more fun now while anticipating the arrival…

  • Sandilands Ski Trails

    This might be a farewell to a sad ski season, but every opportunity to ski these trails is a gift. The Sandilands trails were initially created and maintained by foresters in the region, but were handed over from the province to the care of the Sandilands Ski Club in 1992. Since then they’ve seen a…

  • Swix Army Ski Watch

    Congrats to the hardworking teams at Swix and Victorinox for this beautifully-crafted tool for nordic skiers. Truly everything you need to be perfectly prepared for anything. Garmin, hope you’re taking notes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I was just alerted the local trails have been freshly groomed.

  • Sad Skier To-Do List

    It’s January, and there’s no snow in most of southern Manitoba. Not enough for cross-country skiing anyway. Here are some things you can do while you wait for some of the white stuff to fall.

  • Conjunction

    Here’s a little night sky poem.

  • Wednesday Night Ski Race

    Last week some friends and I tried something new, a nordic ski race! For me, these were two things, racing and skiing which had never before been combined. Racing is usually reserved for running, while skiing has been a recreational endeavor (aside from chasing a few Strava segments). But on a fateful evening we headed…

  • The Blank Slate

    It’s January 1. Happy new year. This morning I skied in the Sandilands with friends. Beneath the low gray sky, the world was white. Thick snow from a couple weeks back still caked to tree branches and needles and a thick layer of hoar frost made for a beautiful scene to take in as we…