The year is 1520.  All noblemen in Sweden have been executed, save one.  His name is Gustav Vasa and he is on the run from the Danish king, Christian the II. The mode of transportation:  two long slabs of pine, each weighing 12 pounds and one long pole.  The travel destination:  across the country to Norway, 90 Km away. Who will join the rebel forces and reclaim Sweden from the Danes? 

            The year is 1855.  An ad in the Sacramento Union newspaper reads:  People Lost to the World; Uncle Sam Needs a Mail Carrier.  The job benefits include a 300 kilometre and five-day round trip through the Sierra Mountains, crossing deep snow drifts, freezing winds, low flats and high passes.  As a bonus, add a 100-pound knapsack full of letters and packages addressed to gold miners living a state away. Many had gone before…and failed.  Would John Thompson on 10 foot; 25-pound ski-skates succeed where others had fallen?

            The year is 1965.  The place is Inuvik, Northwest Territories.  A ski troop veteran of WWII gives twin sisters, Shirley and Sharon Firth, a pair of cross-country skis. Two slight, Aboriginal girls fighting against prejudice and poverty become destined to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics.  Will they be able to overcome a twin’s sickness, the death of their mother, despair, rejection, and personal failures to take a medal at the Games?

            What unites these wildly different historical characters?  They are all cross-country skiers! 

            Cross-country skiing, also known as XC skiing, only experienced a renaissance as public sport in the last 30 years.  Before then, this type of skiing was purely functional and almost exclusively limited to the Scandinavian countries.  In fact, petroglyphs dating as far back as 2000 B.C. show Nordic people gliding ‘scooter style’ on top of a long plank of wood.  Of course, there have been some improvements since that time.

              Along with upgrading of basic equipment, skiing has adopted a terminology that makes a beginner cringe in fear.  But if you’re just starting out, don’t let terms like flex and binding, waxing and Telemark turns discourage you.  

            There is an age-old adage about skiing:  ‘If you can walk, you can ski’.  Lauzier suggests this may be misleading.  He adds to the saying, “Even disabled persons have the ability to ‘sit ski’ on the trails.”

            J.C. Lauzier is one of the Outdoor Centre’s experts at the University of Calgary.  A program coordinator for both river kayaking and XC skiing, Lauzier has been a XC skier for the last 25 years and an instructor for 16 of those years.    Although he won’t admit to being a ‘winter person,’ there is jubilation in the way he speaks about getting outdoors.  “I get such a release in getting out on skis and reconnecting with nature.  It helps me to leave all my city woes behind.”

            The U of C offers some of the most affordable prices around Calgary in programs for beginners and renting equipment.  Whether you want ‘just a taste’ with an introductory two-hour sampler course, or the ‘full meal deal’ with four hours of snow and ski activity in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, the instructors at the Outdoor Centre are more than willing to help you out.  The rates for renting ski equipment are also very reasonable and, of course, much less expensive than buying skis that will sit unused in the basement.  The Outdoor Centre carries all those little extras, too, like ‘pulks’ (tow sleds for toddlers), and ski racks for your car.

Whether you have your own equipment or are renting, dressing properly for winter weather is always crucial.  Lauzier recommends travelling in removable layers of light clothing, with the exclusion of cotton garments.  Cotton tends to retain moisture and the worst thing a skier can be (besides lost) is wet.  “You won’t need to spend any money on synthetic garments at this point as long as you pick ski areas that have warming huts or some kind of shelter,” Lauzier adds.  Sunglasses add protection against snow glare.  And, most importantly, don’t forget your hat!  40% of body heat is lost through the top of your head.

It’s time to hit the trails!  But where to go?  Local destinations abound.  “Shaganappi and Confederation Golf courses are groomed on a volunteer basis and offer easy to intermediate level trails,” says Lauzier.  “Also, almost any natural area within the city will have skier set trails.”  If, like Lauzier, you like to get away from the ‘city woes’ there are over 40 Km of easy to advanced trails at Bragg Creek and easy to moderate trails in Sandy McNabb near Turner Valley.  “Both are prone to Chinook winds, though, so you may have to travel a bit farther to Ribbon Creek in the Kananaskis Valley to find more consistent snow conditions,” advises Lauzier. 

Wherever you end up, skiing can be a time of solitude or social fun.  “I enjoy both the times I’m out for a solo experience or skiing with my family and friends,” says Lauzier,  “You can make it as sociable as you wish.  Usually a group of us will meet at a coffee shop for a quick brew and then head off to the mountains.  Lunch is a relaxing affair with everyone gathering along the way to build platform seating in the snow and then just kicking back.” 

Lauzier also enjoys the solitude of doing a fitness ski, as well he should.  XC skiing is the best sport to achieve toning for every major muscle group, according to the Canadian XC Ski Association.  As an added plus, XC skiing burns more calories per hour than any other sport.  Still need convincing?  “Physical fitness is only one of the health benefits of this sport.  Mental and spiritual aspects of our lives are also worked.  The beauty and symmetry of skiing is found in earning your elevation gain, in order to enjoy the rush of gravity,” theorizes Lauzier, “XC skiing can be used as a holistic means to increase our everyday health.”

But what ever happened to Vasa, Thompson and the Firths?

Only two men joined Gustav Vasa that night in Mora, Sweden when he made a plea for his country.  The three of them travelled to the Norwegian border to rally troops.  Those troops came back and eliminated the Danish rule.  The people were so impressed; they made Vasa their king. Presently, one of the most popular cross-country ski races is held in both Sweden and North America in King Vasa’s honour.  The Vasalopet, or literally ‘Vasa walks’, is attended by skiers from more than 20 countries worldwide.

            John “Snowshoe” Thompson became a legend to the people of Nevada and California.  He continued on making mail drops two to four times each month, for twenty winters.  People would leave their baking burning in the ovens just for the incredible sight of him rushing into town with their packages from loved ones and with Nevada’s first newspaper.  He did this all while dodging hungry wildlife, rescuing lost mountaineers, and despite appeals to U.S. legislature, never getting paid for his work.  Today, Thompson is considered the Father of Skiing in California.

            The twins, Shirley and Sharon Firth, overcame tragedy and prejudice to compete as Olympians but never did receive a medal.  They did make an unprecedented four consecutive appearances (from 1972 to 1984) at the Games, a total only equalled by Quebec’s speed skater, Gaetan Boucher.  They always knew when one twin finished racing; the other would also, but they have no regrets.  Sharon says, “I look back on the things I did through skiing and it’s always been happy moments, the positive things that carry through and make your life more exciting.” 

            Whether you a be a rebel king, an unpaid mail carrier, an Olympic contender, or just a novice looking for a fun winter activity, cross the gap of history and give skiing a try.  Tell J.C. Lauzier I sent you.

If you would like to find out more information on the University of Calgary’s XC Skiing Programs you can visit www.ucalgary.ca/opc or call 220-5038.  The Outdoor Centre also has brochures available at Safeway and Co-op stores.