The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club is getting ready to host the cross-country skiing event in the Fort St. John BC Winter Games from February 20-23, 2020. The club is developing plans for a day lodge and has developed a stadium area in preparation for the competitions and was the recipient of funding through the BC Games Society’s Powering Potential Fund. The Powering Potential Fund invests in projects that further the development of athletes, teams, sport organizations and communities to reach their full potential in sport.
The club received $15,000 to purchase a Ginzu groomer to upgrade their grooming capabilities for skate and classic skiing. This new equipment will provide the necessary conditions for the cross-country skiing event at the Games and support the development of cross-country skiing in the region long after the Games end. Through grants and in-kind donations they have been able to make improvements such as insulating their shop, replacing the trailhead gate and building a timing hut and accessible outhouse. As volunteers for the upcoming Games come from outside of the community, as well as many from within the local ski community, Eliza is hopeful the increased exposure and improved trails and facilities will mean an increase in members.
“I hope these improvements send the message that the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club is here to stay,” says Eliza Stanford, Sport Chair for the cross-country event and President of the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club. “Our goal is that we would become one of the main destinations in the community for hiking, biking and skiing. These are fun winter activities that are less expensive than other winter sports and good for the whole family.”
The Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club is located at Beatton Provincial Park in Charlie Lake, just outside of Fort St. John, and was established in the early 1980’s when the BC Winter Games first came to Fort St. John. It currently consists of 130 members who participate and volunteer in club activities. Trails are groomed for both classic and skate skiing for a variety of skill levels and additional trails are available for skijoring, snowshoeing and hiking. Please visit the Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club website here: https://whiskeyjacknordic.ca/.
“This is the busiest year we’ve had and it has really fast-tracked the club,” says Eliza. “It has forced us to up our game in terms of experience with competition as we have primarily been a recreational club. Now, with the exposure and increased race formats we can host more competitions in the future. Hosting this event is a great experience for us and gets people excited about what’s available for cross-country skiing in the community.”