Vision

The Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club is a community of enthusiastic, engaged and supportive people who are advocates for Nordic Skiing.

We provide year round programs, activities and events that are fun, well organized and of benefit to our members and the community.

We provide a ‘home’ for skiing in Saskatoon that is comfortable and welcoming to all members and the community. Our ‘home’ has multi-purpose trails and terrain that accommodates all levels of ability.

We collaborate with stakeholders in providing a wilderness skiing experience for all levels of ability at Eb’s trails. Our trails in the Nisbet Forest are fun, safe and welcoming to our members and the skiing public within the Province of Saskatchewan.’

In striving to achieve our vision, the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club considers the following principles:

  • Are we inclusive and easily accessible?
  • Are our programs, activities and events fun and do they promote health and fitness?
  • Are we respectful of the needs of our members and volunteers?
  • Do we strive for excellence in everything we do?
  • Do we respect and appreciate the environment?
  • Are our decisions transparent and accountable?
  • Are we aligned with and supportive of Cross Country Canada and Cross Country Saskatchewan?

Who we are

The Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club is a community of enthusiastic, engaged and supportive people who are advocates for cross country skiing in Saskatoon..For members of all ages and fitness levels we provide cross country ski lessons in Saskatoon, cross country ski competition training, recreational cross country ski events in Saskatoon and area, cross country ski tours in central Saskatchewan, a wilderness hiking program in central Saskatchewan, and groomed cross country ski trails in Saskatoon and area. Groomed cross country ski trails for skate and classic cross country skiing are provided in Saskatoon at Kinsmen Park; Wildwood Golf Course, and an inner hilly loop at Holiday Park Golf Course (the City grooms an outer loop).. Eb’s Trails feature groomed classic wilderness cross country ski trails north of Saskatoon in the Nisbet Provincial Forest.

The Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club is a member club in Cross Country Saskatchewan and Nordiq Canada; this allows us to offer nationally recognized programs that are led by our certified coaches, instructors and officials. We host provincial cross country ski events and several SaskCup races, and are one of the leading cross country ski member clubs in Cross Country Saskatchewan.

The Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club is a volunteer run organization; leadership consists of an annually elected executive, with committees and projects accomplished by enthusiastic and dedicated members. An Annual General Meeting is held in October each year that members are invited to attend. In addition to communication through the website, the club also publishes a newsletter – Kivilski – from September to April of each year.

History

The Nordic Ski Club of Saskatoon was established in 1968 when the Saskatoon Ski Club (established in 1928) split into Nordic and Alpine disciplines. When established, the club boasted approximately 30 to 40 members, and focused on both traditional aspects of Nordic Skiing: cross country skiing, and ski jumping. A focal point for cross country skiing and ski jumping in the late 1960s to early 1970s was on lands owned by the City of Saskatoon on the edge of the South Saskatchewan River just north of the University of Saskatchewan. At this site (the Varsity site) the club maintained and operated a cabin and ski jump (the John-Ingvald jump). Cross country ski trails at that time extended from the Varsity site through Sutherland Beach to the Forestry Farm, and also south towards the Broadway Bridge. In 1976, due to vandalism and a decline in skiing activity, the Club took down the cabin. The ski jump was last used in 1974, and was removed by the City of Saskatoon in 1978. A remnant remains on the Meewasin Trail behind the University of Saskatchewan and is referenced in the posted trail information.

In the early to late 1970s, there was a flurry of activity that shaped the current state of the Club. An increased interest in cross country skiing in Saskatoon resulted in more members and the initiation of cross country ski lessons, and cross country ski touring programs. In 1973, a monthly newsletter, the Kivilski, was introduced. Also in 1973, the Nordic Ski Club built a tracksetter and began to provide groomed cross country ski trails in Kinsmen Park, Cosmopolitan Park, Holiday Park Golf Course, and the Forestry Farm.

In 1975, the Club constructed a ski trail at Beaver Creek, which was heavily used by Club members and the public until permission for its use was withdrawn in 1975. In 1977, the Nordic Ski Club was granted permission to cut a trail in the Nisbet Provincial Forest. These trails are now called Eb’s Trails because they were first explored and marked by Eb Fass of Saskatoon. In 2011, the Club officially changed its name to the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club. The decision to retain the reference to Nordic skiing despite the lack of ski jumping facilities in Saskatoon is due to the long history of our club.