Tucked away in the quiet snowy hills on the outskirts of Humboldt, the Carlton Trail Ski Club was bustling with activity on Jan. 26. Skiers from all across the province traveled there just so they could partake in the Saskatchewan Cup Race.
“It went great. It was very wonderful and a good time was had by all,” said Dave Martinuk, the competition chief and president of the Humboldt Ski Club. “During the race, it went very smoothly. The difficulties were before the race when temperatures were freezing and thawing. We closed down the trails and groomed them 24 hours before the race.”
There were various components of the race to meet the needs and skill levels of the skiers, who ranged in age from four all the way up to mid-sixties. Some trails were longer for older and more experienced skiers while the younger skiers had a shorter course to traverse. And despite the changing weather condition, Martinuk said the day held out surprisingly well.
“We didn’t know what the weather was going to do, but luckily the winds stayed down,” he said. “The one thing that didn’t surprise me was the enthusiasm of the kids.”
Not surprising since the temperatures for the day stayed within the single digit range. Had it been too cold, Martinuk said they might have had to contend with issues such as ice buildup and snow compaction. Too much ice and it would’ve been abrasive on the skiis and rubbed off the wax, which can cause safety issues, especially when going downhill.
If the snow were compacted, there wouldn’t have been much of a base, making it difficult to cut trails into it. It was for this reason that the club closed down the trails for the week prior to the competition.
Despite these potential concerns, the day went without a hitch and Martinuk was smiling.
“The best part was seeing the enjoyment the racers get out of it, both parents and kids,” he said. “Especially on a beautiful day like today. The race is good, but it’s not the only good thing. The race itself gives us a goal to work towards.”
Martinuk had been expecting about 50-100 participants, but that number fell shy with a total count of 38. Some had signed up, but weren’t able to make it, while others had to cancel due to personal reasons. The expected Para-Nordic skiers weren’t able to come and both of the blind skiers had to cancel, one of which was due to a concussion.
“That was the disappointing thing,” he said. “None of the para-Nordic or two blind skiers could make it … but that’s okay, there’s always next year.”
Regardless of the absences, Martinuk said they had skiers traveling in from as far as Creighton and Flin Flon. He said they particularly enjoy the Carlton Trail courses because they’re more traditional, meaning they’re narrower and cut into the bush. This allows for tighter turns, which are more difficult. Besides that, Martinuk their club simply hosts good events.
“I think people enjoy coming into a place with a vibrant skiing community,” he said. “It really is wonderful that we have our own ski club house and our own trails … that’s why we really appreciate when the city and businesses help us out.”
