Corner Brook -
A festival of skiers is how Judy May describes this weekend's provincial cross-country ski marathon being at Blow Me Down Trails.
May is the event co-chairperson for the Colemans 40th annual Newfoundland and Labrador Cross-country Ski Marathon.
"It's a competitive race, but there will be plenty of people out there who are just skiing at a leisurely pace to participate in the event, to be part of a social group outing, there will be fluid-replacement stations on the course where you can get cookies and drinks and pieces of fruit," May said Thursday.
No doubt, she said there will be racers who will be eager to cross the line first, but there will also be skiers of all ages and walks of life just as eager to participate and enjoy a day on the trails.
The competitive racers who will tackle a 42-kilometre course will be vying for bragging rights to the Arthur Baker Trophy for the club who has the three fastest skiers on the course, male or female. Also, the Percy Pieroway Trophy for the top three female skiers from a club will be presented at the end of the 42-km trek through the scenic trail system.
For those interested in just having a fun day on the trail, they can help their club claim the Ernie Langins Trophy for most participants. Every participant counts, whether it's a two-year-old toddling along a recreational course with his mom or a competitive skier tackling the 42-km course with gusto.
"There's a formula that applies so that it kind of equalizes the home club versus ones that are at the other end of the province, so you can win the trophy with fewer people if you live farther away," said May, who noted there are a number of different distances for the various participants in the marathon, including 2-km and 5-km recreational course for youngsters and a competitive 21-km race for teenagers.
May encouraged all members of nordic ski clubs in the area to help their club hoist the Ernie Langins Trophy. She knows all too well there really isn't anything stopping skiers from supporting their respective clubs because she skied in a marathon held in Stephenville a few years back with a cast on her leg.
"I just got a large boot to fit over my cast," she said with a chuckle.
The marathon gets underway at 11 a.m., but the start time for those participating in the shorter recreational races will hit the trails five minutes later. May isn't sure how many skiers will participate this year because registration is ongoing and people could very well wait until the last minute to register.
"I don't know what the impact will be of having just hosted the (Canadian) Masters races," she said. "There may be some people who participated in that and might not make the effort, but I do know Stephenville has a large contingent planning to come. We've been getting emails from Graham Oliver (of Whaleback Nordic in Stephenville) because it's always a friendly rivalry for this participation trophy."
The marathon is a free technique event, which means skiers can decide between skate or classic.
"The competitive skiers will do skate technique because that's faster, but there will be a track set and there will be recreational participants who will classic ski," she said.
For more information or to register, call Blow Me Down Trails at 639-2754.
