Halifax Nordic Ski Club Newsletter
In this week's newsletter:

  • Snow Making
  • Freda Wales Loppet
  • Lesson for Saturday, Feb 16th
  • NS Skiers Getting Ready for the Canada Games
  • Gatineau Loppet
  • Update from the Trails
February 7, 2019
Snow Making Update
This week we were able to fill the Brunello bowl with snow before the storm. Wednesday's snowfall added to the base layer and we are hoping that the accumulated base means that the snow lasts through the rain expected on Friday evening. Our hope is to be able to groom the bowl for our lessons on Saturday. Click on the image above to view the video. There is good snow depth in the bowl that should help us keep skiing into March at Brunello.
Freda Wales Loppet
Come out for the Freda Wales Loppet at Ski Wentworth. This cross-country loppet will be held at the top of Ski Wentworth. Distances are 2.5km 5km, and 10km .

IMPORTANT: loppet is based on snow conditions, so be sure to check the event later in the week to confirm enough snow on the trail. ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

Start time: 10 a.m. (please be on the chairlift to the top of the hill no later than 9:30 a.m.)
Entry fee: $10
Day pass: $15

All participants are expected to purchase a day pass from Ski Wentworth if they do not have a season pass. Non-skier spectators are welcome to snowshoe to the top on the snowshoe trails, and skiers will have to ski down the Chickadee.

If there is not enough snow, a cancellation announcement will be made on Friday, February 15.

Trail is groomed for skate ski and classic skiers are welcome although we’ll likely not have enough snow for a track set.


Freda Wales (1921-1982) is one of Nova Scotia’s skiing pioneers, and is responsible for founding ski clubs in Wentworth and Cape Breton. Learn more about her at http://www.skimuseum.ca/bios/Wales_Freda.pdf
Programs on for Saturday, February 16.
We are hoping to be able to offer lessons this Saturday in the bowl at Brunello on our artificial snow. We are of course waiting to see what tomorrow evening's rain does to our course, but we hope that conditions are still good for lessons Saturday. Instructors will be emailing their classes with more details tomorrow.
Snow Conditions Outside HRM
Looking for skiable snow outside HRM? There is lots of snow around HRM and the Facebook page NS XC skiers searching for skiable snow carries ski reports from skiers across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
NS Skiers Getting Ready for the Canada Games
Our Cross country skiers are getting ready for the Canada Games. Six of the Nova Scotia Cross Country Ski Team are from Halifax Nordic Ski Club. In fact, if you are out at Brunello on Saturday, they will likely be getting some last minute training in before the games with coach Kate Scallion who will be travelling to Red Deer with the team the following weekend as their Wax Tech. Wish them well!

Cross country skiing has been a part of the Canada Games since the first Canada Games in 1967. The cross country ski events will be held at  River Bend Golf & Recreation Area  in week two of the 2019 Games, Feb 23- March 3rd. Cross Country Canada has a full history of the sport, past participants as well as technical aspects of the race on their website .
Gatineau Loppet
Several of our club skiers are headed to the Gatineau Loppet this weekend. This event draws international skiers to Canada looking to test their skills and speed in Gatineau Park! The 2019 Gatineau Loppet will have two linear trails: the 51 km SWIX classic (Saturday, February 16) and the 51 km LA PÊCHE & CHELSEA freestyle (Sunday, February 17).
Update from the Trails
The rain is not scheduled to start until Friday night so get out on the snow tomorrow if you can. O ur groomers were out at Brunello this morning and both t he bowl and driving range at Brunello are groomed and are reportedly quite good. The cart paths have windswept patches and are not recommended.

Many of the wooded trails around HRM are good for classic skiing at the moment. There may be a hard crust, but if you find a trail with a set of tracks, let us know on Facebook so that other skiers can follow in the tracks. The photos below are Point Pleasant Park and the Long Lake Trail. Remember that you can bring your dog along to many of the HRM trails!

Graves Oakley had most of snow swept off the field in the high winds so it is closed for skiing at the moment..

The groomers will also assess the remaining snow at Smileys and Dollar lake after the rain and warm weather.
Thank you to our club sponsors, we are grateful for your generous support of our club and growing the cross country ski community.