Bruce just finished going over all the skating surfaces with the Ginzu.  The skating surface will be in excellent shape today. The diagonal track is still good but is hard wherever it’s been exposed to the sun. There was not enough loose snow to set a new track.

Even with temps below zero the sun has a lot of power to melt the snow. The snow can then quickly refreeze once the shade sets in. Through the day the snow keeps changing and in places the track can become pretty slick. Yesterday the first hill on the Red got icy in the afternoon shade. Bruce was able, however, to use the blades on the Ginzu to break up most of the places on the skating surface that had hardened in yesterday afternoon and evening.

Gander Invitational tomorrow
Sign up your kids or yourselves for the Gander Invitational tomorrow.  Online registration closes 11 pm tonight. Tomorrow morning between 10 and 11 am there will be late in person paper registration for an added charge of $5 per skier. Go to http://airportnordic.ca/gander-invitational to find the registration link and information about the event. Reply to this email if you can volunteer.

Club Tuques
Ashton will have Airport Nordic fleece ski tuques for sale at the Invitational and Loppett for $25 each. Sizes XS-XL. See a pic at  https://www.facebook.com/AirportNordic

Winter’s back, skiing’s great , sun’s shining. Enjoy it. Last night Terry  groomed  the Red , Gold, lower Blue and Black with the Piston Bully. This morning Bruce is grooming everything else with the Bearcat Ginzu. Should be prime conditions for both classic and skating today.

We have just had over a full week of good skiing, and 24 cm of snow fell  over the last few days. The forecast for the rest of the week has improved. No rain on Thursday, temps well below freezing every night, no plus zero afternoons.

For a week thin spots and dirt in the snow were a nuisance but yesterday day everything was covered so we’ll keep our fingers crossed for the weekend’s GI and Loppett. If bad spots appear we have shovels.

Sprints 7pm tonight
Everyone  is welcome: classic or skating, young or old, fast or slow. 1.5 km only. Sign up when you get there. No entry fee required if you are a club member. Day fees if you aren’t

Airport Nordic Draw Winners
Two 2016 CCNL Junior Development tickets sold by our club and purchased by members were drawn at the marathon in Stephenville.

1st Prize.  A bundle: THE NEW APPLE IPAD, wi-fi 32G, IPHONE, choice of X BOX ONE or PS4, Est value $1800.00 went to Colin Morris. The ticket was sold by Dale Foote

8th Prize. Snowshoes (metal), Value $150.00 and donated by CCNL went to Debby Waye the ticket seller no other than Jack Waye.

Congrats Colin and Debbie and thanks to all those who sold and purchased tickets.
Our club sold 350 tickets. It was only three or four years ago that the first prize went to someone else from Airport Nordic.

Be part of the Gander Invitational
Come out this Saturday to either ski to help out.  Sign up your kids and yourself. Go to http://airportnordic.ca/gander-invitational to find the registration link and information about the event. Reply to this email to volunteer.

Club Tuques
Now available : Airport Nordic fleece ski tuques! 25$ each. Sizes XS-XL. Just in from Louis Garneau. See a pic at  https://www.facebook.com/AirportNordic .   Ashton is looking after the sales. Contact her at ashmwhite385@gmail.com if you are interested.

Fresh grooming

For over two hours Jeremy has been on the Bearcat packing down the new snow and setting a fresh diagonal track. He has done the Black and Black ext, the Blue, Green and Purple and is on the Red now. Some of the trails he has had to do twice so Jeremy will be on the machine for a while yet.

He plans to pack the Red Extension but will not set a track due to the drifting snow. On the Gold there is too much fresh snow for the Bearcat and Ginzu to tackle the hills. Tonight Terry may attempt to pack the Gold on the Piston Bully and then tomorrow the Bearcat may have a better chance of grooming with the Ginzu.

Cheers to our groomers.

We’ve just had a full week of great skiing and the forecast for this week keeps improving.

Sprints tomorrow night 7 pm

Lots on this week

Sprints                         Tuesday at 7 pm

Gander Invitational     Saturday          March 19

Lakeside Loppett        Sunday            March 20

Denny has just finished going over all the skating surfaces with the Ginzu and setting a fresh track on a couple of stretches. There is a fresh coating of snow on everything and conditions should be excellent. There may be a few exposed patches on the Pink downhill and the first section of the Red Extension so ski with caution.