NORDIC SKI CLUB CARVES OUT A FOLLOWING

If you groom it, they will come. And come they did — from all across the province.

On Feb. 23, Kemptville Winter Trail (Kewi), a Nordic ski club, hosted a Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (CANSI) Level 1 Instructor Preparation Course, followed by a three-day Level 1 Instructor Course. These courses were the first of their kind to be hosted on Kemptville's public multi-use winter trails, which are located in Ferguson Forest Centre (FFC) and machinegroomed by Kewi volunteers throughout the ski season.

Karen Messenger, who grew up in Kemptville and learned how to ski at FFC with her family, was the lead course conductor. She was assisted by Paul Graner from North Gower.

Since her humble start on skis at the age of three,

Messenger has gone on to become a top-level instructor, coach, ski racer, biathlete and ambassador for the sport. She has instructed and raced all over the globe.

"It seemed pretty surreal, having all of these skiers from across the province on my home trails," she said. "My heart is so happy

that everything came together, and it was such a success! Thank you so much to my family for enabling me to do this, and to the Kemptville Winter Trail Nordic ski club who helped make it happen."

Messenger's motivation for helping develop the ski club comes from wanting

to make her late father, Donald Messenger, proud.

"He would have loved seeing all of these skiers out here, learning how to teach and inspire others to embrace winter and this awesome sport."

Kewi, established in 2021, is run entirely by volunteers. The efforts of the trail groomers during the course was phenomenal.

"These were the absolute best conditions I have ever seen on these trails," Messenger said. "The participants agreed that it was 'hero snow.'"

The one-day prep course drew eight participants, and the three-day Level 1 course attracted 14 participants. Throughout both courses, skiers worked on the own personal technique development in both classic and skate skiing, as well as developing their instructing skills. The three-day course culminated on Sunday, Feb. 26 with the course trainees teaching lessons to local volunteer participants. Members of the Kewi ski club were on site with a welcoming tent, warming fire, delicious baked goods and hot apple cider. It was one way of thanking the participants and volunteer students, as well as a fundraising effort for the club.

"I have my mom and three-year-old son to thank for the majority of the baking," Messenger noted. "While I was teaching the courses, they were at home baking."

Thanks goes out to the many club members who also donated baking to the event, and a big thank-you to Alyssa at Brewed Awakenings, who delivered hot lunches daily to the course participants.

Feedback from the courses was all positive, and there are already plans in the works to host similar events in the future. The club is now looking into offering ski lessons for kids and adults, in both classic and skate techniques.

Please contact the club at kemptville.winter.trail@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a member, volunteering, taking ski lessons or supporting the continued operation of the trail and development of the club through an e-transfer donation.