Last week most of Ontario benefitted from a massive winter storm, which – depending on where you live – provided rain, freezing rain, snow, or bucketloads of snow (there was a rumour circulating regarding a 50 cm dump in the North Bay area). However awesome the entire province getting snow is, what really matters is whether we can ski!
The UW Nordic News (UWNN) is more than happy to report that the UW Nordic Ski Team was able to enjoy rock skiing conditions at least 4 days last week, if you were brave, 5, if you failed all your classes, 6-10. “Skiing in Waterloo?? But where???”, UWNN hears you exclaim. Well, for starters see the previous post, which gained national and international fame via the CCC website. Clearly some skiing is possible in the Waterloo area, even if it requires a little effort.
This past weekend, a wide variety of locales were sample by the crew here at UWNN, and we’re going to give you an update on each one.
North Campus
The Skinny: A piece of land behind some industrial buildings by the Columbia IceFields facility, it is UW Nordic’s prime fall training ground. Some small hills, some soccer fields, and the occasional sketchbag walking the path from residence buildings/campus over to Beringer Rd are pretty much all North Campus has to offer in the fall. In the winter, there is no change, except the sketchbags are colder and more miserable. The location is close to campus, most 1st year residences and quite a lot of residential housing, so is easily accessible without a car to most students.
Trail Conditions: Some old old guy was out skiing back and forth across one of the soccer fields, so I guess there is a little bit of a trail. Other than that, it’s whatever you make it.
Trail KM without loops: Maybe 2, if you’re creative.
Skating: Only if there is a crust. Currently there is not.
Classic: Not track set, but if you’re just going out for a hack, it’ll do the job.
Rock Skis: Highly recommended.
Rating: 1.5 Jaervahinin’s out of 3
The UWNN’s sickest pair of Jarvinen’s ever.
Westmount Golf Course
The Skinny: A small golf course set in town with plenty of fun rolling bits, some T-boxes, and if you get there early enough in the season, greens not fenced off. Used by overage alcohol fuelled sliders, you’re often able to find beer cans and broken sleds in the early season.
Trail Conditions: Beautiful powder. Sunny. Deep snow baskets required, as well as weight shift (at least it was this Saturday).
Trail KM without loops: At least 4, but if you investigate the holes in the middle instead of just circling the outside, easily more.
Skating: Do-able, but is going to be a lot of work.
Classic: If you’re lucky, someone will have arrived before you and skied the entire 18 holes doing a nice job. If not, then you’re stuck grooming your own trail, which will probably suck and end with a lot of fresh snow in your boots.
Rock Skis: Probably, those paved cart paths with the goofy rock retaining walls tend to jump out of nowhere, especially on the down hills.
Rating: A pair of tights, some warm up pants and 3 sweaty smelly Craft’s out of 6
The recommended type of baskets for West G&CC.
Bechtel Park
The Skinny: A large park, with several soccer fields both in and out door. The Bridge St. and University Av. location overlooks Highway 85, borders a cemetery, and has a massive parking lot which is ideal for the up-and-coming rally driver. A place of pain and suffering during UW Nordic fall intervals, and the best ski location per travel time in the Waterloo region.
Trail Conditions: Snowmobile rolled, somewhat grassy and icy. On the one large uphill, gravel pokes through the snow. Roughly 5 cm of rolled cover on all trails.
Trail KM without loops: At this point 5, depending on your definition of ‘loop’.
Skating: Absolutely.
Classic: No tracks set yet, but could be good.
Rock Skis: In places, but if you stick to the fields and the right areas, race skis are a go. On the back hill, and if you suck at technical, tight corners in the woods, rock skis.
Rating: A John Kristian Dahl, Erik Brandsdal, Ola Vigen Hattestad, and Petter Northug Jr. out of the Norwegian Sprint Team.
Northug (Bib 20) and Hattestad (Red Leaders Bib) kicking ass in a World Cup Free Sprint.
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