The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon Ski Club, in conjunction with the Bust the Winter Blues Festival, invites all local skiers to participate on Sunday, February 10 in what is one of the longest-standing skiing traditions in Manitoba. The idea for the Centaloppet, which was inaugurated back in 1976 by Val and Ivor Hedman, was to get all local skiers together just once each year for a sociable ski along an easy and enjoyable route. They could race if they wanted to, but the main idea was just to be a part of a cheerful crowd, to participate. These days, the event has a massed start on Ross Lake, and ends after a four kilometre ski, including the Valley Loop, at the Ski ClubÕs cozy Chalet. The Centaloppet is a no-sweat (or at least minimal-sweat) event, aimed at kids, their grandparents and everyone in between. There will be prizes for the largest family, youngest skier, happiest face and so on. Even if you donÕt own a pair of skis, you can still participate by renting a pair, give any member of the ClubÕs executive a call on this. The prestigious Centaloppet Cup goes not to the first across the line, but to an individual, young or old, male or female, whose time has been adjusted according to an ingenious handicapping system. Last yearÕs winner was Heather Jacobson. With the recent snow, the trails should be in excellent shape, so we hope that everyone will be in the mood to come out and join in the fun. There is no entry fee, but participants are asked to register at the Ross Lake Market Garden between 1-1:50 p.m., so get out there, participate Ð leave hibernation to the bears! For further information on the Centaloppet, call Duane at 688-4871, or Dave at 687-8653. Just to get everyone into the Centaloppet mood, there will be a potluck supper and social for local skiers and their families and friends at the Chalet on Saturday evening, February 9, starting at 6 p.m. Ð and be prepared for some moonlight skiing and German board games after supper. For information on this call Kara at 687-8521 or Elly at 687-7768.
