A Pirates Life for Us

| Wendy Shannon

Avast ye scurvy landlubbers!!!

 

With all the hubbub surrounding the Vernon Winter Carnival Pirate Theme this year, we figured that we best step up to the bowsprit and host our very own Pirate themed event for our members and the public. With a reduced amount of volunteers available to help run the Tips Up Cup it was decided to axe the event before Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Some programs parents, however, hopped right in to ensure that we could host a fun club event that day and with about 10 volunteers, they held a fantastic little ski race for the kids that will be attending the Teck BC Midget Championships next weekend. It was open to all programs kids and the turnout was fantastic!

 

 

 

 

 

Program parents hosted a great BBQ that raised over $700 for Skill Development Programs. There was no fee for the race in the morning and many of the kids stuck around for the Jess4Kids Team Challenge afterwards, keeping the fun rolling for another hour and a half.

 

 

 

 

The Jess4Kids Team Challenge is always a great addition to the events of the day and the Winter Carnival as a whole. Dedicated the memory of Jessica Eaman, a wonderful former coach and club member, it is an opportunity for friends of Jessica’s, as well members of the public to help promote the cause and donate to the Jessica Eaman Ski Scholarship Fund.

 

 

 

 

This initiative was created by a dedicated group of friends that would make skiing available to any child, regardless of their socio-economic status to enjoy Sovereign Lake and the great outdoors. Each year the Jess4Kids Fund provides skiing and snowshoeing opportunities to over 300 kids who otherwise could not afford it. This is an integral component of our S’Cool Ski Program. We raised over $3000 during the event. Thank you so much to all who donated to the event!

 

 

 

The Team Challenge consisted of relay teams of four that each took turns racing around two courses. The ski course was located on Wylies Loop, and the snowshoe course went through our recently reopened Animal Trail adjacent the stadium. Thanks so much to everyone who came out and participated!!

BeerCanBeiner Success!

| Wendy Shannon

When one thinks of Sovereign Lake you rarely think Brew Pub but on February 6th we transformed the downstairs of the lodge, the old day lodge and the race office into three micro-breweries showcasing boutique brews from Iron Road (Kamloops), Taylight Brewing (Port Coquitlam) and Whitetooth Brewery (Golden).

 

Iron Road Brewery showcasing some beauties. Their IPA is the bomb! 

As the clock struck 7 pm hoards of skiers and beer lovers launched into the lodge in anticipation of trying 3oz samplers of 12 unique frothy beverages. From Lagers to Porters event goers were treated to some exceptional tasting bevvies.

 

 

 

Taylight Brewery showing off their delicious Root Beer Porter.

This is the second running of the BeerCanBeiner event, an homage to the Norwegian Birkenbeiner Ski Race which is hosted annually with an excess of 10,000 skiers. While we were a few shy of 10,000, we did have almost 80 hearty cold-loving skiers from throughout the community join us. With temperatures dipping to -20 by event time were worried that we should have postponed but only 3 people did not show up out of 82.

 

 

 

 

Jenn Hyde reps Whitetooth Brewery for the evening. The LaunchPad Rye Ale was a standout that evening. 

We are so pumped with the great response to the event this year that we are already chatting about next years event. If you are a beer fan and didn’t attend, we will most definitely run the BeerCanBeiner again in 2020. Huge thanks go out to our volunteers, staff, beer vendors and guests for making this event such a good one. For the three weather wimps…you sure missed out.

 

 

To check out the full selection of beers that were being poured go check out the event page HERE. If you want to see more of these events happen then get ahold of us and bring your idea to fruition. We are always looking at ways to bring more fun to the club and no one will argue that this was a super fun night under the lights of Sovereign.

 

 

 

SLNC Biathletes heading to Canada Winter Games

| Wendy Shannon

Congrats to SLNC athletes Danica Ariano and Ethan Algra who will be representing Team BC in the upcoming 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer from Feb 15-23rd. Biathlon BC sends a team of eight (8) comprised of 4 males and 4 female athletes ages 16-20 years old.  Ethan is the youngest on the team at 16 years old.

Sovereign Lake reaches 2000 members!

| Wendy Shannon

A goal often thought to be a pipe dream became a reality on December 28th, 2018. Sovereign Lake Nordic Club membership has hit 2000.

The 2000 member mark has been a benchmark goal of General Manager, Troy Hudson, who recently announced the monumental feat. “I don’t believe, in the history of any ski club across North America has the elusive 2000 member mark been broached“. With now almost 2050 members as of January 2nd the growth does not show any signs of stopping. “We have made some very specific changes to help foster growth and encourage new families and individuals to experience Sovereign Lake for the first time“, states Troy. “The growth of the snowshoe market, in particular, is mind boggling this year. And…we are now seeing these snowshoe pass holders upgrading to ski passes. Something that we expected would occur as our core product and the thing that our club prides itself on most is our exceptional skiing”.

Snowshoeing, however, is not the only area of growth as all areas of the operation are up considerably in terms of visitation with the parking lots are now continuously full, even during weekdays. The club is at a crossroads and must start to envision this busier venue as the new norm. “We need to start planning for the future of our club in terms of growth potential and how we will accommodate all of these new members and visitors. In early November SLNC regularly hosted over 1000 people a day as other clubs did not have sufficient snow to open their trail systems”. 

New infrastructure such as increased parking, a new lodge, and better traffic mitigation are high priorities to better serve our members and guests as we become an increasingly popular winter destination. Congratulations to all of our great members on achieving this amazing feat!

 

 

Happy Holidays

| Wendy Shannon

We are so happy that you have chosen Sovereign Lake Nordic Club to be your destination of choice for xc skiing this December. We wish you and your family the best this holiday season.

Check out our Holiday Hours and Schedule of Events here.

All ski and snowshoe trails are now open for you to enjoy.

 

Sovereign Lake Wednesday Night Race Series

| Wendy Shannon

Sovereign Lake Presents: 

SLNC will host a Wednesday Night Race Series running throughout the 2018/19 ski season. What a fantastic opportunity for seasoned racers and newbies alike, looking to improve, test themselves, and just have a pile of fun out on the skinny skis. These races have distances and are geared towards all ages.

We are 1 race into the series with last weeks event seeing 26 racers of all abilities come out and test themselves on a 3 lap, 2km course. For race #2, we are hoping to see greater numbers out giving themselves that pre-xmas burn. The second race will be a pursuit start race based on your time from race #1. If however, you didn’t get the chance to come out to the first race and secure yourself a time, you are still able to participate in race #2 – we’ll just slot you in!

Second Race: Next Wednesday, Dec. 12th, 2018

Race Details:                                                                                            

Registration & Bib Pick Up: 5:50 PM – 6:15 PM

Cash only: $3.00/race or $20 for the series (7 races)

Race Start: 6:30 PM (Sharp-ish)

Please register in the Chalet upstairs

Results from the 1st race can be found here: Race 1 Results

See our Facebook event page for more details, and for the complete race schedule.

WE ARE OPEN!!

| Wendy Shannon
The masters are out early. November 5, 2018
The masters are out early. November 5, 2018

Get ready to be inundated with ski pictures in your social media feeds because SLNC is open for business for the 2018-19 ski season.  With 15km of great skiing for classic and skate skiers, there is something for everyone. Check out our Webcams for current images as well as our Trail Report Page for the latest trail offerings. More trail will be opened as snow conditions permit.

Please be aware that our snowshoe trails are not yet open due to a shallow snowpack in the trees.

Season Passes are still on sale HERE. If you have kids in Programs there is a high chance that they will be getting onto snow very soon. Check your child’s Program Notification page on the website for the latest news.

 

Opening day corduroy on Passmore. November 5, 2018

RESULTS of the 2018 Call for nominations – SLNC Board of Directors

| Wendy Shannon

Dear SLNC Members:

The 2018 Elections Committee is pleased to announce that four SLNC members put their names forward to run for the Board.  Since five Director positions were available, the four nominees will become members of the Board by acclamation. They will start their 2-year terms at the AGM on October 17th, 2018:

  • Lynn Algra (new)
  • Pat Pearce (returning)
  • Brent Ree (returning)
  • Brian Wills (returning)

The four acclaimed board members will join five continuing Board members (Sandra Ecclestone, Sylvia Herchen, Guy Morazain, Mark Nichiporuk, and Greg Sadesky) who are starting the second year of their two-year terms.  This means there will be nine directors plus one vacant position.

Profiles of the four acclaimed Board members are posted at this link and you can meet them at the AGM on Wednesday, October 17th at the Shubert Centre.  Time;  Open House from 6:15 – 7:00 pm, AGM from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

Congratulations and thank you to all Board members — including Sharon Clarke and Bruce Sandilands, who have completed their terms after many years of service on the Board.

Respectfully submitted,

 

The 2018 SLNC Elections Committee

Doug Geller, Randy Savoie, and Kim Taylor (Chair)

2018/19 Season Passes Available NOW!

| Wendy Shannon

Let Sovereign Lake be your next winter escape. Get a jump start on the season by purchasing your Individual or Family Season Passes now and be entered to win an $850 Thule Ski Box, donated by club sponsor Cap-It Vernon. There are a few exciting new Season Pass options this year including an all-new FAMILY SNOWSHOE PASS for just $120 (for up to 4 Family Members). We can’t wait to see you out enjoying our ski, snowshoe and backcountry trails.

Skiing Season Pass Pricing: https://www.sovereignlake.com/season-passes-2/skiing-season-passes/

Snowshoeing Season Pass Pricing: https://www.sovereignlake.com/season-passes-2/skiing-season-passes/snowshoe-season-passes/

Register Here: https://zone4.ca/reg.asp?id=18415

 

Contact Troy Hudson (SLNC General Manager) for more information on any of our programs, season pass options or registration issues at [email protected] or (250) 558-8916.