Cross
Country Ski History in Manitoba |
This page contains items that describe and illustrate the history of cross
country skiing in Manitoba. It's a
"work in progress". Please contact Kevin
Miller if you have any questions or comments, or if you have any stories to
add.
- Ski Tracks: 100 Years of Skiing in Manitoba
(Adobe PDF)
Melanie Tooley writes in October 2006:
Contact me at REMOVE_THISmelanietooley@shaw.ca
for orders. The book will be in ski retail outlets and resorts in a
couple of weeks. This is a fantastic and very unique book. It will make
an excellent Christmas gift. There is a large chapter on cross country
skiing in this province, and the builders who made it happen.
Book cover
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame honoured members
for cross country skiing
The story of the
Jackrabbit Ski League (by Gordon Konantz, Vancouver BC, January 2004)
CCSAM's Awards history
My ski beginnings by Ed Innes
From CCSAM Chairperson Brent Bottomley's recollections:
- Brent started cross country skiing in 1968-1969 when he was 13. When CCSAM was formed in 1972,
he was a cross country ski instructor at Fresh Air
Experience, and he became a member of the original CCSAM Board
of Directors as the CANSI rep. Brent has been the Chairperson of
CCSAM for 13 of the last 15 years.
- Gord Konantz (see The Story of the Jackrabbit Ski League,
above) and Dave Wellard basically ran cross country skiing in Manitoba
in the 1960s. Dave really promoted skiing in Manitoba. He was a teacher
at St Johns Ravenscourt who started a great racing program. His graduates went on to race and instruct at the original Fresh Air
Experience where Pat McCarthy and Jack Sasseville also worked, along with Ted
Bigelow and Lyle Wilson (the store owner). This store was the genesis of the provincial team,
Jackrabbits, and the original cross country ski association that was affiliated with
downhill skiing.
- The Puffin Ski Club was active during the 1950s and early 1960s.
It was mainly a downhill ski club, but also had jumpers and cross
country skiers. There used to be three or four ski jumps in Manitoba, and
it was quite a big sport.
Cross Country Ski Museum
We've been approached by a 74 year-old avid skier who has artifacts from the
1940s that he'd like to donate. We're thinking of establishing a cross
country ski museum at the Windsor Park Nordic Centre. Stay tuned. If you
have items you'd like to donate, please contact Kevin
Miller.
This page was last
updated on April 7, 2007