Corner Brook -
An electronic notice board inside the lodge at Blow Me Down Trails allowed participants in the 2010 Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships an opportunity to check out race results immediately.
That will be one of the legacy items left over from the national event as a result of funding provided to the host club through provincial and federal sources to the tune of $30,000. The funding also helped provide labour and materials to ensure a smooth-sailing event for masters from across the country. Also, a new snowmobile to help in the grooming operation at the club was partially covered by government funding.
The electronic notice board, which included two flat-screen televisions, laptop computers and a variety of software programs, not only allows quick access to results during major events. The club can promote its programs through it and, more importantly, major television events such as the Olympics could be viewed on the two flat screens in the lodge.
"We were watching it (the Olympics) on the flat screens up here. That went over very well," club president Kathy Cormier said earlier this week. "People came up to watch it sure. Some people came up on their lunch break, went for a ski and stayed for the afternoon."
A new machine to help out in the grooming operation was desperately needed, according to Cormier, so life at Blow Me Down Trails can only get better for the membership.
"It allowed us to groom the trails effectively this year in a season where we had low snow and difficult grooming conditions," she said. "It really helped save the trails with the limited snow that we had, which made it overall excellent for the members."
When the host began preparing for the nationals they knew members would be somewhat inconvenienced because they wouldn't be able to have full access to their favourite trails while races were being staged. However, area manager Shawn Leamon said the membership wasn't long coming on board to support the races when they understood the benefits that come to the membership for putting out the welcome mat for the country.
"Once we explained the benefits of hosting this event and the legacy for the club everybody sort of said it's worth it," Leamon said.
For Cormier, being able to make life cozier for members at Blow Me Down Trails is what the club has always strived to do and she feels hosting another major event will only create a tighter-knit group.
"We have people who volunteered this year who never volunteered before, and I think it really brings everybody together," she said. "It improves the spirit in here because once you become actively involved in something other than just the skiing and you're contributing to the club and benefiting the club you take ownership and you take additional pride in the fact you are contributing to the success of the club up there."
Anything that improves the quality of life at Blow Me Down will always be something Cormier will entertain.
"The bottom line is that we're a cross-country ski club and the members are the most important component, and the service that the members get is the most important part of our mission statement in terms of the cross-country ski club," she said.
The 2010 Canadian Masters Cross-Country Ski Championships wrap up today with a long distance free technique race getting underway 11 a.m. at Blow Me Down Trails.
