Please register on Zone 4 for Ontario Masters 2024/ 2025 Season. The mandatory fees remain low at $30.00 with options through donations which are split 50-50 with Canadian Masters and the ski draw which goes to the Canadian Masters and to support the Bill Gairdner National championships and World Cup. The prize for the draw is Fischer Speed Max 3D skate or classic pair of skis with race NNN binding (Value $1400.00 ) .
Here is the link: https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=35595
These are our 62 members so far this season! Thank you for your support of Ontario Masters.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pass on this newsletter to your ski friends and encourage them to join and support Masters cross country ski racing. We are the voice of Masters cross country ski racing in Ontario, and have an influence in Canada and the World of Masters racing. To participate in our races- the points series, Ontario Championships, Canadian championships or the World Cup and our winter 2025 social events, you must be a member of Ontario Masters! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fall Training and Social
Our social was hosted by the Ontario Masters Association on October 19th at Hardwood Ski and Bike (Jane, Nancy, Wendy and Glenn Edwards being facilitators). We had the absolute perfect day with warm, sunny weather and beautiful fall foliage. Ski striding, mountain biking, road biking, yoga and elliptigo! Polished off with some refreshments.
,,
Silver Star/ Sovereign Lake Social-December 5
Mike Bell, Director of Canadian Masters is planning a social plus silent auction in Silver Star for all Canadian Masters training in Silver Star/ Sovereign Lake.
From Mike Bell: Thursday December 5th from 5 pm until 7 pm in lower lobby of Conference Center. There will also be an optional dinner afterwords at the Black Pine (same restaurant as last year). Please ask skiers to let me know (canadianmastersxcski@gmail.com ) if they would like to join in for dinner so can give correct numbers to restaurant manager. Planning to have a stand up area with cash bar and a small silent auction with some give aways.Also will have a few audio visual presentations for; Competition for Life - Masters Points series and update on next Masters National programs. Hopefully videos for Klosters WMC, Sappada WMC and Tromso WMC.
Sunday Training and Social – Highlands Nordic -Jan 5
By request from participants at the fall social, we are planning a winter social for Jan 5th at Highlands Nordic. Watch outfor details. We plan to add in some technique training and are looking for a coach at this time. Depending on interest and enrollment we will look at adding to other locations in the winter. Please reach out to Ontario Masters if you are interested in hosting a similar event in your region and can convince 15 Ontario Masters (existing or new) to attend. Ontario Masters membership is a requirement to participate in the event. Mastersnordic.on@gmail.com
Ontario Championships-North Bay Nordic- Feb 7-9
Mark your calendars!!!!
The Ontario Championships will be held in North Bay at North Bay Nordic February 7-9th, 2025.
Friday afternoon 10 Km classic followed by evening Social sponsored by Ontario Masters
Saturday morning 20 km classic
Saturday afternoon 10 km freestyle followed by evening banquet put on by North Bay Nordic
Sunday morning 20 km freestyle
Stay tuned to register on Zone 4
Ontario Masters Race Series 2025
Our dedicated group of volunteers is working hard to build the Race series for the 2025 winter season. Mark Orzel has put together the eligible races for points. Five races must be completed to be eligible for the fastest woman and man awards. Two of these races must come from the Ontario championships. The age adjusted winner for each race will receive 100 points and the other races will receive points based on their age adjusted times. If there are two distances in the same technique (for example Gatineau) a 10% increase will be added to the age adjusted time on the lower distance and then a proportional to distance amount will be added to come up with one 100 point winner by technique. In an Ocup event only one distance event (the best event) can be used in the point series.
Note 1: Please use your same name and birthdate that you registered for the Ontario Masters with, otherwise the computer program will not recognize you as the same person or calculate incorrectly.
Note 2: Canadian and World championships are not eligible for Ontario points.
Glenn Edwards, with help from Al White will be doing the calculations for the series winners to be announced at the end of March.
The list of races is included under a separate attachment and will be added to the website.
Please contact Mark Orzel Morzel@Rogers.com for any additional requests for races
Bill Gairdner National Championships-Whitehorse- Feb 19-23
The event has short evening races on February 19th and 20th and distance races on February 22nd and 23rd with the banquet after the final race. There will be discount codes available for airfare, accommodation and 'stay and play' options which will be sent out to registrants. However, coming from Ontario your best bet for airfare is the Air North Connector fare which is only $99 from your choice of Calgary, Edmonton, or Vancouver. The night races are short (5km) and will start at 6:00 followed by a hot meal. If you have never done a night race you will be surprised to feel how energized you get and yet how soundly you sleep afterward. On the Friday afternoon there will be mulled wine and cheese social served at one of the trail huts, which is about a 3.5 km ski.
The classic race will be 20km on Saturday morning followed by moose stew and bannock served by the Kwanlin Coyotes, a ski club of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation. The skate race will be 25k on Sunday morning also followed by a hot meal, with the banquet later.
Race notice will be set to you in the next few days when it becomes available.
World Masters 2025 - March 8-15
The World Masters at Klosters planning is underway. The allocated accommodation has been spoken for and there is a growing wait list which you can join by reaching out to Mike Bell at canadianmastersxcski@gmail.com
The link to the 2025 World Masters site is here:
https://www.mwc2025.com/en/anmeldung
Update from Mike Bell is as follows:
Klosters OC chair - Dominique reported to National Directors that the organizing committee is working full time now organizing the event. New stadium area being set up and courses on mwc2025.com web site. Registration is open and working well. Alternate stadiums and courses good to go if snow conditions change but adding more snow guns to the main area and good snow last few seasons organizers feel snow will be fine for early March events.
Registration is open for Masters World Cup events and the Engadin Ski Marathon is also on registration link of MWC2025 website. Skiers need to register for the Masters World Cup to access the Engadine World Loppet registration with the special discount.
Skiers must complete their registration for the Masters World Cup and the Engadine World Loppet before November 15th to access the special discount
(includes event transfers, transportation to and from event and Engadine loppet entry).
I would like to recommend you register well before the deadline for the Engadine as you will be receiving a follow up email from Klosters OC with special code for Engadine. Details on the registration link and if you have any questions contact info@mwc2025.com.
Team Canada has approximately sixty plus skiers holding accommodations and with few more more requesting accommodations. Fortunately we have some Team discount rooms and half board available but about 3 km from the ski area. Contact Mike canadianmastersxcski@gmail.com asap if interested in Team discounted accommodations.
Few suggestions - Zurich airport is the best airport for connections to Klosters. Train is easiest for travel from Zurich airport to Klosters (book ahead on-line to save money and suggest you select full day ticket option). Shuttles may be possible but expect to pay much more per person if one can be arranged.
Look forward to seeing everyone in Klosters and skiing in the Swiss Alps!
World Masters 2026
Sappada, Italy 2026 - January 29 - Feb. 6th 2026. Mike Bell attended the MWA meetings and preview in Sappada in October 2024. Here is his report:
Directors toured Sappada MWC 2026 event facilities, stadiums, courses, and some of the hotels directly above the main stadium(Most hotels were closed as summer season ended). There will be two ski areas used for Sappada MWC 2026. Main stadium and courses for all individual events in Sappada and a separate stadium and facilities for the relays about 8 km west down the valley. Both areas are close and shuttles are provided for skiers to access either area. Both areas have hosted World Cups and are home to multiple nordic and biathlon Olympic gold medalists and World Champions! The OC has two organizers who have won multiple Olympic golds and World Champions in Nordic and Biathlon. They are excited to welcome you to their home and valley.
Discussions with the OC regarding Italy winter Olympics 2026 right after World Masters. OC has been looking into add on options from Sappada to Cortina etc and will offer more details later this year. Mike is also working with World Masters president and USA President John Downing to put together an option to stay at a village closer to Val de Femme host of all Nordic events for Olympics 2026. More info to come.
Sappada is located in the North eastern region of Italy approximately 2/12 hours drive from Venice’s Marco Polo airport. The main ski courses are at 1250 meters in a stunning valley surrounded by the Dolomites. The courses sit on the valley floor surrounded by some of the most beautiful peaks I have ever seen. Sappada is a classic Italian alpine village as well as a unique Italian cultural center about 5 km long with multiple accommodation options with 3 and 4 star Hotels as well as apartments and VRBOs. Incredible food options and yes the local wines are very good!
Accommodations request – Mike Bell has asked to send him all expressions of interest so he can have a more accurate idea of numbers for accommodations for 2026 World Cup and the add-on tour for Winter Olympics.
Sappada is a small community in the northeastern Italian Alps with a limited selection of accommodations. Mike hopes to have a more accurate number for selecting accommodations during the WMA meetings coming up in October. Mike would like these expressions of interest by November 15. There is no financial requirement, only an expression of interest to be part of Team Canada in Sappada Italy 2026. FYI - Currently an event website is under construction.
Contact Mike Bell at canadianmastersxcski@gmail.com
World Masters 2027 and Beyond
a) 2027. The National Directors unanimously supported the bid for MWC 2027 for Tromso, Norway.
Tromso OC presented an outstanding bid to the World Masters Association and its directors who were present in Sappada. Located just above the Arctic Circle in Norway with moderate winter temperatures due to being surrounded by the gulf stream. Average temperatures for this event are -10C. Their Host ski club looks over the city and is located less than 10 km from the city center with lots of snow and incredible views of hills and surrounding islands. More information will be sent as it becomes available. Wait until you see this beautiful region! Some skiers tell me it is one of the most beautiful areas in Norway!
b. 2028 . Currently, the WMA is working with Germany and its national Director for a bid from potentially two regions. More details within the next few months.
c.2029 - Currently WMA is discussing a possible bid with Lake Placid USA. However if Lake Placid cannot make the schedule work for their facilities Canada will be offered the chance to bid for the Masters World Cup 2029.
Mike is currently reaching out to two candidates who have expressed interest if Canada was a possible site. The Gatineau Group and Canmore World Cup group may wish to be considered however very early conversations at this point.
We hope this helps you plan this season and beyond.
From your Ontario Masters organization Mastersnordic.on@gmail.com
Jane Ravenshaw- Communications
Nancy Chong- Finance and Membership
Glenn Edwards-Points system
Glenn Meeuwisse- Web and zone 4 Support
Mark Orzel- Race and club Liaison
Wendy Grater- Past President
