August 5, 2004 – Hello everyone! Holy Smokes, it is August already. I hope you are all having a great
summer and that you have given at least some thought to winter and the XC
Camps (only three months to go). I know some people have as there have been
a good number of reservations already made. Welcome to the new comers and
the veterans. This is a good time to make your bookings both for hotel
reservations and airline reservations.

When I last wrote, I was heading for Northern Saskatchewan for a canoe
trip with 11 friends in our Voyageur Canoes. We survived in great style
and only had one visit in camp by a bear. We were in the middle of cooking
up dinner and I think he was scared off by the amount of garlic we were
using! Great weather and a great time had by all.

There have been a few changes over the past month that I need to pass
along. First of all, there is a new camp web site www.xccamps.ca The old
address will still connect for a short time but please put the new address
in your “Favorites” list and check with us often. All of the up-to-date
information is there regarding all of the camp options. You will also find
we have a number of new partners. You will already know that Atomic is the
camp headliner and Craft is also back again. Joining us for this year will
be: START waxes; Mission Hill Wineries; and, YOKO poles. Please hook on to our
new web site and visit them through the links on the page.

Silver Star Mountain continues to move along with their plans to upgrade
and extend the XC trail system. More about the specifics in future
updates. Glenn Bond, Nordic manager for SSM and Jen Milner were married on
top of the mountain two weeks ago. You will meet Glenn and see him around
a lot when you are here at the camps. Jen is a Massage Therapist and will
be dealing with aches and pains for the LSD folks and anyone else that may
need help.

The new camp brochure is in the final printing process. If you would like
some to pass around to your friends, let me know and send me your mailing
address. If you have a XC sports shop in your area and wouldn’t mind
leaving some off, also let me know. If I can help you promote a club
outing here at SSM as part of the camps, let me know how I can help.

Take care and enjoy summer training.

Norm