Vancouver's cross-country skiers get back to nature

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      New Westminster native Eda Kadar took up skiing as a teen, then switched to backcountry skiing in her 20s, but she never gave much thought to cross-country skiing. She finally took it up about 20 years ago, when her kids were still little, and she has since become enraptured by the sport that is said to have gotten its start in Scandinavia thousands of years ago.

      “It’s wonderful; it’s just a lovely, lovely experience being out there,” Kadar says by phone. “It’s so different from downhill. You get into this zone….You’re outside in the crisp, fresh air and you get into a wonderful rhythm, which, as far as I’m concerned, only classic skiing has. You’re looking at the snow, the scenery, and it’s stunning; you’re feeling the fresh air and you feel just fit and happy.

      “Even after many years of backcountry skiing, which is amazing, I just love cross-country,” she adds. “I love poking around in the snow and going off-track and going in the bush and being part of the trees and the snow. It’s the most amazing experience.”

      Kadar is copresident of the Vancouver Skiers, a club of classic skiers, skate skiers, and snowshoers. It was formed in 1972 by Sigge Bjorklund, an avid skier who, 15 years earlier, moved to Vancouver from Finland and who went on to start Sigge’s Sports Villa after he couldn’t find any cross-country skis for sale in Canada.

      The group meets regularly and travels via bus tours to ski destinations throughout the province. This season alone, the members will visit Sun Peaks Resort, McCulloch Lake Resort, Callaghan Lake Provincial Park, Silver Star Mountain Resort, Apex Mountain Resort, Dakota Ridge, and other areas. The group’s emphasis on discovering B.C. via skis is part of what drew Kadar to it.

      “I’ve gone to almost every cross-country ski area in British Columbia,” she says. “Stake Lake near Merritt is one of my favourites. You get out on some of the backcountry trails and there’s no one around. I’ll go out on a trail called Homestead and do a two-hour and a four-hour ski and I’ll see maybe five people. Sometimes I see no one.

      “China Ridge in Princeton is very similar: it’s very, very quiet. It’s an example of just a little heavenly spot,” she adds. “It’s got a cabin. It’s run by really keen volunteers. Larch Hills out of Salmon Arm has a wonderful group of volunteers too. There’s a trail called Treebeard’s; there’s always snow hanging from the trees. You can go and hang out in this gorgeous cabin with a fire and talk to the locals. Even if you only ski for two hours, it’s heavenly. I don’t think people understand how amazing cross-country skiing is.”

      It’s also fantastic exercise. Cross-country is a low-impact, full-body workout for all ages that requires endurance, coordination, balance, and muscular strength, and recent research has shown it to be especially beneficial. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology looked at two groups of healthy men in their 80s. One group consisted of men who didn’t do any exercise other than the tasks of daily living, while the other was made up of men who skied cross-country throughout their lives. Researchers found that the skiers were about 40 percent more fit overall than their nonexercising counterparts and had double the cardiovascular and muscular fitness.

      Even cross-country skiing at a slow speed or with light effort can burn about 400 calories per hour, according to Calorie Lab. Take that up to a brisk pace and you’re looking at around 545 calories, while racing will burn more than 880.

      Another benefit of the sport? It’s more reasonably priced than other winter activities. An adult Nordic day ticket at Cypress goes for $20, compared to $38.99 for downhill.

      Kadar says she’s also seen her skills improve as a result of joining the club, which has saved her money on lessons.

      “The more I cross-country-ski, the better technique I get,” she says. “You learn so much just by following people. People will ski with you for an hour or two and give you tips. You learn a lot.

      “You can have a lovely, enjoyable day even if you’re just stomping around in the bush,” she adds. “And there are no lineups.”

      The Vancouver Skiers host their annual coaching days open to the public at Cypress Mountain on December 6 and 7.

      Follow Gail Johnson on Twitter at @gailjohnsonwork.

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