October 13, 2006 – Another short update here as we are all busy getting ready for the upcoming ski season. The weather has been absolutely stunning at the Mountain with clear skies and very cool nights. The few times there were any clouds around, we got a bit of snow. The leaves are in full color and the cows from the other side of the mountain are making their yearly trek through Silver Star Mountian Resort. They do this just before winter starts but man, do they need to do something about their diets! Click on to the Silver Star web cam on www.skisilverstar.com. You may see one.

Magnar Dalen, our man in Sweden, has taken the job of head coach for the Finnish National Ski Team. He will be living in Sweden and commuting to Finnland. He was recently in Austria at a glacier ski camp with the Finns and had a bit of a mishap. He managed to fall off a farmers bridge with his arms full of gear and break a bone in his shoulder and also a few ribs. He is not laughing or sneezing at the moment. However, he is hard at work helping us out at the XC Camps. He has arranged for two of his former students and skiers to come and be part of the camps this year.

Jerry Ahrlin-is a full time racer and in the past three years has placed 11th, 5th and 2nd in the 90 KM Vasaloppet. Jerry will be coming over to do some early season training and try and get the victory this year. He will be available to ski with the serious LSD gang as well as share his experiences with training for long distance races. I met jerry when I was in Sweden last year for the Vasaloppet. I think I skied about two strides with him.

Henrik Mattson-is a former full time racer and top 10 Vasaloppet veteran. He is a former coach in the special state sports school and is a national team wax tech and a registered massage therapist. Henrik will also be here to help out all the campers with his knowledge but especially the LSD folks getting ready for their racing season.

Dr. Joe Bouscarren, a coach with the LSD camps, has added some new items to the News and Views page. Click on the camp web page to catch up with the new items. www.xccamps.ca

Registrations are coming in on a regular basis. If you are thinking of coming to the camps, please register as soon as possible using the online registration form on the XC Camp web site. This helps me in making commitments to our staff of instructors and coaches and Heidi at the hotel can have more time to get things ready for your arrival. (Izzy in the kitchen can order in a few more potatoes)!

Ski Expo is a new event for the Nordic Festival this year. It will be held in the NATC and will feature all of the equipment suppliers to the Nordic Industry. This will be held the evening of Saturday, November 25. As well, the National Team Banquet and fundraiser will be held the evening of November 25. If you are booked into a camp November 25, you will get a ticket to the banquet.

Opening Day for Nordic is planned for November 4. The next XC Update will be in a week. There are only about 72 shopping days until Xmas and only 35 days until the first camp starts. Book Now!!

Please pass this update on to all your XC friends. They can log onto the www.xccamps.ca web site and click on to the Update List to get their own updates.