Cross Country Ski Club holds Sundog Challenge

The Yorkton Cross Country Ski Club held it’s second annual Sundog Challenge March 6th with many local skiers taking up the challenge to complete either a full marathon or 1/2 marathon.

Club members Warren Popik, Rick Vaughan, Wes Laube and Karen Conrad all completed the 42 kilometer challenge.

The challenge also had new to the sport and new to Canada exchange student from France, Zack Krepa who - under the guidance of his host Ray Bailey - completed his first 42 kilometer ski.

The Sundog Challenge also saw several locals completing the 1/2 marathon of 21 kms which is three tours around the golf course.

Ken Freiedrick, Cynthia Wolkowski, Louis Laube, George Sudsbear, Bob Purton, Anne Stupak, Wayne Clark, Mike Neilson, Sandy Vaughan Hastie along with many others who accomplished personal bests by completing 1-2 rounds accumulating 7-14 km’s.

The trails were a challenge with the recent melting conditions but with this last snow fall and the excellent grooming of Ken Gedak and Bob Purton the trails were excellent in the morning and held up in the plus two temperatures of the afternoon.

It was a great event that had every skier pleased with their accomplishments. Wayne Clark was not to certain that he wanted to do his 1/2 marathon challenge but once completed he was not only happy that he had achieved his goal but also impressed himself with the time in which he set his personal best.

The tracks were fast and solid which made for some quick descents and some fast paced climbs. With the terrain changes though out the course the seven km tour offered up a real physical workout and doing either the full or half marathon is a major accomplishment that any skier can be proud of.

The Yorkton Cross Country Ski Club has had one of the best ski season this past winter and unlike many locations around the province we were fortunate to have the snow conditions we had.

With over 1000 signed in skis this season, and membership on the rise the local cross country sport is increasing in number annually. With the ski rental program that we offer, it is giving the opportunity to locals to come out and try the sport before purchasing equipment.

All of our equipment is offered ready to go and waxed for the day which will assure that the new skiers will have a good experience. Cross Country skiing is a sport that anyone can do with practice and many skiers ski right into their eighties. From youth sizes to larger adults we have the equipment for them.

The ski season is coming to an end with the milder temperatures but it has been a great one and the Yorkton XC Ski Club looks forward to an even better season next fall.