For most, the thought of -36 degrees Celcius is enough to have you scampering for tight corridors and cozying up to a fireplace. But for the 1,100 members for the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club, it is the green light to a nearly perfect ski day.
 
"Nothing holds us back. It is winter up here and if you don't like it, Whitehorse is not the place for you," said Claude Chabot, who has been a race official with the club for the last 11 years. "But we have six months of skiing, which is an advantage over the rest of the country."
 
Founded around the 1970's, the Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club morphed out of other trails developed at the time to host the Arctic Winter Games. Located five minutes from downtown Whitehorse, the club boasts more than 75 kilometres of well-groomed trails for classic and skate-skiing which are the best in the Yukon. Affordable fees make the club a popular choice for individuals and families looking to participate in a fun winter activity. Facilities include an indoor wax room, change rooms, and saunas.
 
"There are three other ski areas near our club that are free, but our membership continues to increase each year," said Chabot, who adds the proximity to downtown for a quick ski at lunch or after work makes it difficult for people not to join. "We don't get lots of snow, but we have top quality trails that are well groomed."
 
Chabot adds the trails range in a variety of difficulty from the most novice skier right up to the elite athlete, which the club has evolved around.
 
"We have hosted so many big events here including a World Cup in the early 1980's and everything expanded," said Chabot, who also contributed to Whitehorse staging the 2007 Canada Winter Games. "Every time the club hosts a major event it allows us to expand the trail system."
 
The expanded trail system has developed some of the nation's top old and young cross-country skiers over the years. With Lucy Steele, one of Canada's top Nordic skiers for years who competed at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games leading the way, members these days marvel at 91-year-old Father Mouchet, who continues to ski 2,000-kilometres a year at 91 years of age.
 
While not losing respect to their history, ski chatter on the trails each week these days is dedicated to Graham and Emily Nishikawa, along with David Green, who are working their way through the Canadian ranks. Graham currently sits second on the Haywood NorAm Series, and is focused on competing at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
 
And while the entire community will be glued to the Nishikawa journey to Vancouver-Whistler in 2010, the biggest event of the 2010 year in the minds of the members at Whitehorse Cross-Country Ski Club will be Cross Country Canada's National Championships on their very own trails north of the 60th parallel.
 
"We hosted the nationals before but not with the juniors and seniors together," said Chabot. "We have staged so many major events, but this will definitely be the biggest event the club has hosted and we are looking forward to it."
 
Judging by their successful past and volunteer commitment, it will be an event performance worthy of Olympic gold.
 
And who knows, maybe one of their members will be bringing one home as well!

Just over one year ago Jody Barber hit the start line for one of the biggest races of her life. Anxious, nervous and ready to put her body through the ultimate endurance test, Barber exploded down the trails and had a finish she will never forget - dead last!
 
"It was great and so much fun. I actually felt normal," said Barber. "But more important, I was out there racing like everyone else, pushing hard and giving my all."
 
Growing up with a passion for running and competing in triathlon, Barber did participate in the odd cross-country ski race, but the Smithers, B.C. resident thought those days were done when she was seriously injured in November of 2006 after a serious cycling accident with a car where she lost her arm.
 
"A couple of months after my accident, a surgeon told me I would never swim or bike again and now I can do both," said Barber. "I'm sure he would have been happy to tell me I couldn't ski either and if I had listened to him, I wonder where I would be now."
 
Knocked down, but committed to getting up again after the Doc's pessimistic comments, Barber contacted Cross Country Canada in the fall of 2007 regarding the possibilities of skiing with one pole.
 
"I hadn't heard of Para-Nordic skiing, but figured there had to be someone out there skiing the way I would have too," said Barber, who admitted to being self-conscious of looking silly while having difficulties with balancing at the beginning with only one pole.  "I had no aspirations of winning, but I just wanted to race again and be in the game."
 
Barber got into the game all right. In fact she has defied all odds suggested to her by the Doc.
 
"It wasn't a club I ever aspired to be a member of, but after the accident, there I was - a disabled athlete," said Barber. "I was immediately welcomed by Para-Nordic coaches and athletes and it was so exciting to talk to someone just like me. What a great group of people. I felt immediately embraced by this group."
 
So Barber was off, and began setting lofty goals of doing local races, B.C. Cup races throughout 2008 and joined the 1,000-kilometre club where she is plugging away with one pole. The highlight of her first competitive season was racing at Nationals.
 
"I persevered and I got a little better each day" said Barber despite a couple of bad falls along the way. "The volunteers at races have been amazing and I think every time they see a skier with one pole they think that I broke the other one. I have been offered more poles during races this year! I thank you for that."
 
Intimidated by stronger and quicker athletes, Barber continues to relish the opportunity to be a cross-country skier, and judging by her positive attitude and determination to succeed, the sky is the limit on how far she will go in the sport.
 
"None of us - disabled or able-bodied - should ever let someone else tell us what our limitations are," said Barber. "We all need to go out and live life as fully as we possibly can."
 
Believing in the motto 'Yes You Can," Barber is doing just that.

For over 20 years Alf Parsons of the Menihek Nordic Ski Club in Labrador City, Newfoundland & Labrador has been a stalwart volunteer.  Alf started out helping with Jackrabbits and mentoring to Ski Team members at the Ski Club.  He has served on the executive of the Ski Club as Coaching Director and also on the board of Cross Country NL.  He still serves on the Ski Team Committee.  He helps at Menihek Nordic with fundraising and is a great ticket seller.
 
Alf helps to raise revenue for the Ski Club by cooking steaks on the BBQ at Menihek Nordic for Corporate meetings and social events.  Over the years he may have BBQ a herd of cattle.
 
The cozy atmosphere of Menihek Nordic Chalet is supported by Alf who cuts dry wood each spring and fills the wood shed for a year.  We call him the Paul Bunyan of the North.
 
Alf, being a high pressure welder also does all the welding for the Club for free.
And if that's not enough you will find Alf over the years being the back-up groomer operator or out brush cutting or doing damage control or drainage control on the trails.
Alf is always around to help with the Great Labrador Loppet organizing, the Duathlon and the Run for the Hills events all hosted by Menihek Nordic.
 
Looking for a stellar Volunteer, one who will never let you down, Menihek Nordic Ski Club has him.
 
He is called Alf, Alfred Parsons World Masters Silver Medalists.

Name: Matt Wylie    
Current Team: XC Okanagan/Junior National Team
Club Affiliated: Sovereign Lake Nordic Club
Career Goals: Sports medicine or physiotherapy
How did you get involved in cross-country skiing? My parents stuck me on skis as soon as I could walk
How did you balance high school academics with athletics? Supportive parents, coaches teammates and teachers
School Average: 86%
What is a typical training day? Drive up the mountain, ski , eat, nap
When not skiing I am likely? Watching tv or surfing the net
When finished skiing I want to? Pursue a career working with athletes
Favourite Vacation Spot?  Crescent Beach, White Rock
Favourite Book?  Harry Potter
Favourite Movie?  Transformers
Favourite Competition Venue?  Sovereign Lake
Favourite Olympic/Paralympic Moment?  Chandra winning the gold and 2002 Salt Lake Mens Relay Finish
Inspiration? Mens National Ski Teams International Results
Favourite Colour?  Blue
If I had to do maintenance on my car what could I do? Change my tire
Before a race, I will listen to what song?  We Are From Venice- Lil Wayne (DJ STV Remix)
Favourite Muscian?   Assorted Hip Hop Artists
Favourite Christmas Gift This Year? Salomon Boot Covers
New Years Resolution for 2009? Don't believe in them...