Firstly I must apologise for having left it so late to produce this end of season Newsletter. I had been hoping for some contributions but alas none were forthcoming. Maybe you will come to my assistance for next season. Despite the lack of snow at times in January and February it has not been too bad a season. I have checked my diary and found that I managed to ski in the Clash on 33 days between the 20^th Nov 1999 and 5^th Apr 2000. For the second year running the snow gods smiled on us and we were able to hold our Club races.

After postponing the Club races the previous weekend, last minute snowfall enabled the event to go ahead. Things were still touch and go with a thaw forecast for the Sunday, but we were in luck with the snow only starting to melt as we left the forest when the races were over. Keeping the organisation low key allows us to quickly re-arrange race day: we did not finally decide the race was going ahead until the Friday. This means that it is more difficult to attract skiers from further afield but Brian Adams still made the long journey from Glasgow.

Strong winds had blown the snow clear of the trails in places making it difficult to set a safe course. However the Club has its own method of checking the trails. Dick Sowden is pulled by his dog, Inuk, around the trails at frightening speeds. If they negotiate the hills with no serious injury then the course is considered feasible! Chris Barton and Andy Cot from Gordonstoun School gave a final touch to the preparations by erecting a start/finish banner thus giving the illusion there was some organisation behind the chaos.

I would like to thank all participants and most importantly the numerous helpers on the day. Carol Buist and Olwen Thorn did some tremendous work with race registration and timekeeping.

PT

Our planned Ski Orienteering event in January was cancelled, like most Scottish Nordic ski races this season. There was distinct lack of snow in January and February when most events are scheduled. A squad of Huntly skiers were set to make the long journey to the West of Scotland Time Trial at Glencoe but, despite plenty of snow this was cancelled at the last minute due to logistical problems.

Roy, Eileen, Sarah & Andrew Young all attended this years Telefest at Glenshee. Andrew was the youngest participant. This second annual festival of telemark skiing attracted hundred of nordic skiers from all over the UK & overseas. A whole range of activities kept people busy for the weekend ranging from tuition & demonstrations to a telemark race. Roy said despite the limited areas of snow they all really enjoyed the excellent quality of skiing & highly recommends next years event.

Olwen Thorn headed to Italy in February to represent Britain in the Lowlanders Championships. Ian Fairweather had also been selected but he had to decline the place due to imminent exams. Olwen managed 5^th place in both 2.5km classic and freestyle races. She then travelled to Bavaria to take part in the 25km Konig Ludwig skate race. Olwen had never raced that distance before and started at a steady pace. With 5km to go she found that she has plenty of gas left, and to use her words "I didn’t want to get beaten by these old men" increased her pace to finish 76^th lady and 1^st under 16 girl home.

Emily Skitmore a newcomer to the Huntly Junior Development Squad has impressed us with her skiing this season and will be joining Ian & Olwen in the British Squad training camps this summer.

Work starts this summer on improvements on the Clashindarroch Trails. Primarily being done to allow sled dog access it will help skiers by making it easier to get the snowmobile around. A toilet will be going in near the Biathlon Hut, I am sure this will be welcomed by the ladies & those of you with small children. But what are all the trees for I ask?! Hopefully some grass/heather cutting will be done on some of the more overgrown trails so as to improve the skiing.

Sled dogs have made use of the trails both on and off snow. The dedication of the mushers to travel from all over the country with their dog teams is very impressive.

Gillian Sowden joined up with the British Biathlon Squad this winter and also competed in the World Junior Championships. Unfortunately she was hit by flu bug which seriously affected her performances at the World Juniors. Although disappointed with these results she returned to Norway where she saw an improvement in her form & won several medals at various Norwegian races.

Those of you who read the Huntly Express will have seen front page features on the proposed development of a go-kart track at the Ski Centre. The articles were quite negative about the Centre & nordic skiing in general. I wrote a letter to the paper expressing an alternative viewpoint regarding the Centre, emphasising its successes & benefits to Aberdeenshire & the people of Huntly. Other letters of support were also published. It would now seem that the Centre is safe from this development & that Aberdeenshire Council view it as an asset they wish to preserve, as long as it does not incur costs for the authority.

Those of you who mountain bike may be interested to hear that some challenging bike trails are being set up in the Bin Forest. Further information on these trails will be available from the Ski Centre.

All in all I think the Club has made a lot progress over the past year, particularly with our support of the Junior Development Squad. We have also maintained close contact with Aberdeenshire Council & the Foretry Commission over improvments on the Clashindarroch Trails. Both organisations have shown a lot support & practical help. The Club has possibly not shown enough interest in its adult membership who do not have children that ski, I hope to address this next season. We have not looked at the more social aspects of a club, does any body have ideas on this?

Before next season I would like to run some ski maintenance & waxing clinics. Also if there are any members who wish to enjoy the perils of roller skiing, I am quite willing to give you some basic tuition, let me know if you are interested.

I have received newsletters from Inverness Nordic Ski Club. Ask if you want a copy to read.

Correspondence to: Peter Thorn

West Craigton Cottage

Kennethmont

Huntly Tel: 01464 831429