Strathcona Nordic Ski Club

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Strathcona Nordic Ski Club

Welcome! Strathcona Nordic Ski Club (SNSC), Vancouver Island’s cross-country ski club, based at t SNSC is Vancouver Island’s cross-country ski club.

Welcome to the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club (SNSC) facebook site.. We are based in the beautiful nordic ski area of Mount Washington Alpine Resort near Courtenay, BC. Mount Washington has over 55 km of groomed trails that cover a variety of terrain — everything to satisfy the beginner, the advanced nordic skier, and everyone in between. We are a not-for-profit society dedicated to skier development

and the promotion of nordic skiing for fun, fitness, recreation, and health. We are also working to improve the infrastructure and facilities for nordic skiers on Vancouver Island.

05/12/2026

☀️SNSC May Camp Recap ☀️
Our traditional May Camp took place May 8–10 at Mount Washington, and while we couldn’t be on snow like usual, it was still an amazing way to kick off the dryland season together!

This camp is always a special opportunity to reconnect as a team after the race season and welcome our new Juniors into the group. It gives younger athletes a chance to train alongside their new teammates, learn from older skiers, and start building those strong team connections that make SNSC so special.

Over the weekend, athletes explored the downhill ski trails from a whole new perspective—on foot—searching for treasures revealed by the melting snow, ran through beautiful Strathcona Provincial Park, and got back on roller skis with a strong focus on technique to start the season on the right foot.

Off the trails, evenings were filled with games, activities, and plenty of laughs that helped strengthen the team bond even more.

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteer coaches, parents, and helpers who helped make this camp such a success. SNSC truly is a year-round community, and it’s exciting to see the energy and motivation already building for next season! 💙💛

04/27/2026

Huge weekend for our SNSC athletes at the iconic Snow to Surf Race 🙌

Two teams hit the course this year, Glide and Tide and Fast and Flurious, with a mix of junior athletes, biathletes, and some great SNSC connections across the lineup.

The day kicked off with a sibling showdown on the alpine leg, where Cameron Meldrum charged to an incredible 2nd overall 🔥

From there it was game on. Glide and Tide stretched their lead thanks to a dominant run leg from Tarran, while Fast and Flurious kept things tight by matching splits on the bike and clawing back time wherever they could.

Tobin opened things up again on the surf ski with a strong push, while former SNSC junior skier Gray Tunnah held his own on the kayak. On the road bike, Owen Racher jumped in last minute for a sick Eli and, as a former Jackrabbit, kept things incredibly tight with only seconds separating the teams. The final canoe leg was another battle, with Fast and Flurious making up time and finishing strong 💪

Final Results Glide and Tide finished 14th overall to a huge SNSC cheer section Fast and Flurious finished 21st overall, earning silver in their category and 3rd overall junior team 🥉

Honourable mention to SNSC’s Reed MacInnis and the Goon Squad for keeping the pressure on right to the line

So great to see our athletes, past and present, take on one of the most unique races out there, pushing limits, racing as a team, and representing SNSC every step of the way 💙

One of the best parts of SNSC is that it does not stop when the snow melts. The team stays close, friendships carry on, and athletes continue to train, race, and take on fun adventures together all year long. It really is a year round community and family

04/22/2026

Strong leadership and an incredible volunteer community behind the scenes 🙌

At the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club, so much of what happens on snow is made possible by the people working quietly in the background planning, organizing, and making things happen.

👏 Thank you to our Board of Directors:
Danielle Froese
Debbie Wright
Jim Meldrum
Carolyn Harmatiuk
Paul Chatterton
Beth Pechter
From governance and planning to finances and fundraising, this group plays a vital role in supporting our athletes, coaches, and programs.

👏 Thank you to our Race & Loppet Committees:
Marilyn Atkinson (Lead), Nicole Muchowski, Len Apedaile, Val Wooton, Chris Bowlby (Loppet Lead), Mike Tunnah, Dan Lemay, Danielle Froese, Glenn Overhoff, Paul Chatterton, Freya Wasteneys (Loppet Communications), Laurianne Peu (Volunteer Coordinator)

⭐ And to those in key supporting roles:
Laurianne Peu (Volunteer Coordinator)
Matthew Foster (Website Coordinator)
John Andres (Lantern Ski)
Andrew MacInnis (Lead Waxing)
Rick Morson (School Program Supporter)

So many people wearing multiple hats, contributing countless hours, and helping create opportunities for our athletes and community.
We couldn’t do it without you 💙

04/21/2026

It takes a team 🙌

At the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club, our coaches are the heart of everything we do. From first-time skiers to competitive racers, this group shows up day after day to support, challenge, and inspire our athletes.

This season brought its share of challenges but our coaching team kept things positive, adaptable, and athlete-focused every step of the way.

👏 A huge thank you to our incredible coaches:
Head Coach
Bertrand Hamoumraoui

Junior + Devo Team
Fil Bohac, Rick Smith, Nick Holyome, Scott McGregor, Sophia Sauter, Ramona Gregory, Jaymie McGowan, Lindsay Warder, Jay Havelaar, Jim Bratrud, Sarah Malan

Learn to Loppet
Richard Blanchet, Len Apedaile, Cathy Lund, Chris Bowlby, Liza Grant, Laura Battison, Glenn Overhoff, Neil Smith, Bridget Walshe, Neil Holm

SDP (Skill Development Program)
Ryan Forsyth (Coordinator), Jessica Rathlef (Materials), Kristin Weinzierl, Phillip Parkes, Neil Dumville, Sarah Stewart Grantham, Allana Hearn, Gemma Rigoni, Rebecca Bruser, Amelia Gwen, Natasha Letchford, Derek Vinge, Erin Drebert, Gordon Clayton, Sarah Falloon, Rob Boeckh, Andrew Pape-Salmon, Marilyn Atkinson, Meg Ramshaw, Adam Spiegel, Cole Mackinson, Heather Taddy, Carey Wright, Eric Forsyth, Dean Percy

School Program
Jamie Purves, Paul Brown, Pat Grappolini, Patty Simpson, Lorraine Aitken, Wanda McMillan, Catherine Ullstrom, Elaine Kerr, Stephen Tanaka, Wendy Sutton, Ken Kemper

SNAP & FIT
Andrew Pape-Salmon, Cole Mackinson, Marilyn Atkinson

VISAS
Lorraine Aitken, Elaine Kerr

Your time, energy, and passion make this club what it is 💙

04/16/2026

What a great way to wrap up the season 🙌

Last weekend, the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club community came together for our Year End Celebration and Awards, celebrating the hard work, resilience, and growth shown throughout a challenging winter.

A highlight was hearing from SNSC alumna and Team Canada Olympian Amelia Wells, sharing her journey and experience from the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics 💫

👏 Award Winners:
Devo
Lakey Ward (GRIP)
Oskar Poynton, Emilia Holyome (Most Improved)
Aiden Kapalka, Saskia Malan-Chapman (Marilyn Atkinson)

Junior
Cameron Meldrum (King/Queen of the Mtn)
Elliot Warder (Kaizen)
Reed MacInnis (Leadership)
Clara Harmatiuk (Most Improved)
Annika Bohac (Grit/Sisu)

🍫 Candy Awards (fan favourites!):
Zainab El Amiri (Aero)
Max Sauter, Finn Jakobsen (Coffee Crisp)
Eli Pechter (Crunchie)
Quill Sloan (Kit Kat)
Josephine Smith (Mars)
Piper MacInnis (Smarties)
Owen Meldrum, Ben Pechter (Butterfinger)
Bjorn Bohac (M&Ms)
Lexi Kapalka (+ Max Sauter, Everett Wells, Owen Meldrum) (Caramilk)
Ben Pechter, Jack Taddy (Big Turk)
Beatrice Payton (+ Cameron Meldrum, Owen Racicot) (Reese’s)
Owen Racicot, Annika Bohac (Snickers)
Reed MacInnis, Aspen Malan-Chapman (Twix)
Leila El Amiri (O’Henry)
Everett Wells, Louis De Bruin (+ Max Sauter, Gardiner Smith) (Bounty)
Louis De Bruin (Milky Way)
Caleb Rushforth (Oh Henry!)
Tarran Sloan (+ Tilia) (Wonderbar)
Sutton Johns, Gardiner Smith, Jack Taddy (Book Club)

This season asked a lot but the perseverance, positivity, and team spirit stood out most.
👏 Huge thanks to our coaches, volunteers, families & supporters.
Already looking forward to next season 💙

04/14/2026

🔥 SNSC Athletes Take on RBC Training Ground 🔥

Huge shoutout to four of our athletes who recently stepped into a different kind of challenge and tested themselves at RBC Training Ground 👏
💥 Tobin Kerr
💥 Angus Preston
💥 Cameron Meldrum
💥 Ben Pechter

RBC Training Ground is all about discovering and developing future Olympic talent, putting athletes through a series of physical and skill-based tests designed to identify potential across a wide range of sports.

For these athletes, it was an awesome opportunity to step outside of Nordic skiing, push their limits, and see how their fitness and athleticism stack up on a national stage.
Experiences like this build confidence, resilience, and a broader athletic foundation, all things that translate right back into ski racing 💪

04/02/2026

🚨 SNSC May Camp is Coming! 🚨
Kick off the new season with an awesome weekend of training, skill development, and FUN at our Teck Regional

Spring Snow Camp!
📍 Mount Washington
📅 May 8–10, 2026
Led by Head Coach Bertrand Hamoumraoui, this camp is open to current Devo and Junior athletes and welcomes new athletes looking to join our programs!
✔️ On-snow (conditions permitting) or roller ski training
✔️ Age-appropriate sessions based on LTAD
✔️ Team environment + great energy
✔️ Overnight option for Juniors

Whether you’re building skills, getting fitter, or just excited to be back with the team, this is the perfect way to start the season 🙌

🗓 Registration opens April 20 at noon
⏰ Closes May 4 at noon
👉 Learn more & register:
https://www.strathconanordics.com/ski-club-events

Let’s get back to training 💪❄️

03/27/2026

✨ Strathcona Nordic Ski Club at Mount Washington Clubs Day! ✨

Interested in cross-country skiing or getting involved next season? Come say hi!

Join us Saturday, March 28 from 10:00am–2:00pm in the main courtyard (between the lodge entrance and Whiskey Jack Chair) for Clubs Day at Mount Washington.

👋 Meet our Head Coach Bertrand and some of our athletes
💬 Ask questions and learn about our programs
📋 Explore opportunities for all ages and abilities

From youth programs and racing teams to adult Learn to Loppet and masters training, there’s something for everyone.

You’ll also find all the other great clubs based out of Mount Washington including alpine, freestyle, and more all in one place!

➡️ Come check it out, connect with the community, and see what the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club is all about.

03/21/2026

🙌FIT Program in Action🙌
What an incredible day for our FIT! (Fun • Improvement • Team) crew!

Our athletes took part in a Paralympic Challenge Day, inspired by our amazing Canadian Paralympic Team 🇨🇦 and it was eye-opening in the best possible way.

From trying out a sit-ski, to skiing with visual impairment, to navigating upper limb challenges, this group fully embraced the experience.

➡️ It didn’t take long to realize just how challenging sit-skiing is 💪
➡️ Huge teamwork moments as Skylar and Brechin guided each other brilliantly 👏
➡️ And yes… even Coach Marilyn took a tumble 😄

This is what the FIT program is all about:
✔️ Having fun
✔️ Building fitness
✔️ Developing skills
✔️ Trying something new & building confidence

A massive THANK YOU to VISAS for lending us the sit-ski and helping make this experience possible 🙏 And big shoutout to Coach Marilyn Atkinson for leading such a creative and meaningful session 💥

If you’re looking for a fun, social, and active way to keep skiing, our FIT program is the perfect fit!

03/20/2026

*Vancouver Island Loppet Update*
After assessing course conditions on Mount Washington, the Loppet organizing committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 Vancouver Island Loppet. We have been monitoring conditions daily, and continued rain and warm temperatures have significantly deteriorated the course.

Despite a challenging snow year, we were very encouraged by the number of people who registered and volunteered this year, as well as the incredible support from our sponsors, donors, the broader ski community and Mount Washington Alpine Resort for doing everything in their power to maintain the trails. We know many of you have been training and looking forward to race day. Our organizing team, groomers, and volunteers have also put tremendous effort into preparing for the event, which makes this decision especially disappointing.

If you were registered for the event, please contact [email protected] and let us know whether you would prefer a refund or a credit towards next years event.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and continued support of the Vancouver Island Loppet and the Strathcona Nordic community.

We hope to see you next year!

Address

Nordic Drive
Courtenay, BC
V0R

Website

https://strathconanordics.com/

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