Close to 300 skiers hit the 42nd Saskaloppet trail beginning Friday March 6 with 18 skiing the kupesewin (the Cree for overnight).
Alex Bernardin shared his adventure with the kupesewin.
“It went well the first day,” he said.
The sleep was a bit cold, but he didn’t expect to wake up to white-out conditions. He appreciated he had sunglasses in his backpack as he hit the trail back to La Ronge.
The weather was “windy and blizzard” and fighting his way through the whiteout conditions, he came to a cliff, which, according to fellow skier, Rob Howse, “went over the top and fell 4-5 ft.”
He got back to the trail through waist-high snow and carried on.
There was no stopping, he said.
The day got better and the snow stopped and he started to meet people on the trail and he got to the finish line.
“Gave it my all and got it done,” he said recounting experience at the celebration and awards banquet held Saturday, March to celebrate the completion of the 42nd Saskaloppet.
The Saskaloppet is an opportunity for skiers of all ages to take part in a varied race, which offer choices of different lengths for skiers.
The Saskaloppet encompasses varied races, camaraderie. Friendships are created that last a lifetime.
It is hosted by the La Ronge Nordic Ski Club, which offers a host of opportunity to encourage the sport of cross-country skiing for all ages. The very young and somewhat older.
Sid Robinson always active with the La Ronge Nordic Ski Club, has skied in every Saskaloppet and Rob Howse, of Saskatoon, has missed only two.
