The Humboldt Golf Course was bustling on Jan. 21, but this time not with golfers.
The course featured 51 cross country skiers from seven ski clubs including Humboldt, Regina, Saskatoon, Flin Flon, Prince Albert, Sturgeon River, and Yorkton, for the fifth Sask Cup Ski race of the year.
The race featured skiers ranging in age from under seven to over 60.
Being able to host one of the Sask Cup ski races is great, notes Chief of Competition Dave Martinuk.
“(It) allows us to showcase Humboldt and the Humboldt trails with the Carlton Trail Ski Club to the rest of Saskatchewan.”
Of course, in addition to showcasing Humboldt to the racers, Martinuk notes that hosting the event is also great way of showcasing racing to his Humboldt skiers.
“It’s important to be able to have the kids and also the older racers to be able to come to your home club to race because you know the trails. When you know the trails you can push it as hard as you can and that’s what racing’s about.”
Racers were sent out at different intervals based on age group, with races ranging in distance from 1 km for the seven and under group, up to 11km for the racers 16 and older.
Weather was of big concern to the club coming into the weekend, as they had already had to cancel the race once, due to the cold, and Martinuk says it was nice to see the weather hold off this week, noting that there is a very small window for getting the race in.
“You only have maybe another week or two during the race year because everybody else has the other time slots filled. So if you postpone a race you may or may not get a chance to host it again,” he said.
“We’ve been really fortunate to have everybody come together so we could host it this weekend and the weather cooperated.
Despite the poor weather, Martinuk noted the trails were still in great shape, and says everyone seemed pretty pleased with them.
“Everybody is just loving them.”
A big part of the reason for the great shape of the trails is in the new piece of grooming equipment, noted Martinuk, who said without it they would have had a hard time getting ready for the race.
“In the past you’re basically waiting for snow to fall and then cut it and shape it but now we can actually gather snow, we can renovate snow, we can get the ice out of it and we can make it into trails it’s just huge.”
The race was supported by a number of volunteers who graciously gave their time to help out in any way they could, which was great to see, says Martinuk.
“We have a wonderful club and most of them you’ll phone them up and say sure when do you want me… it means a lot. It means everything.”
Overall, Martinuk was pleased with how the day went.
“Everybody comes up to you and said it’s been a good event, so what else can you ask?”
With the club needing to apply to host the race each year, Martinuk notes plans will get under way shortly to prepare an application.
“First I’m going to get a couple of good nights sleep,” he laughed.
