No snow is in the forecast for Sunday and that should earn the approval of a group of about 30 Prince George skiers.
Usually skiers are crying for snow, even in mid-October, but not this weekend.
Sunday at 10 a.m., the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club is staging its first-ever roller ski time trial in the BCR Industrial Site on Willow Cale Forest Road.
Skiers aged nine to 18 will race 2.5-kilometre, four-kilometre or eight-kilometre distances, depending on their age. There is a 40 per cent chance of showers Sunday with a high of 16 C expected, but the race will go ahead rain or shine.
"It's nice for the athletes to have a base line to find out where they are at this time of year," said Cynthia Andal, Caledonia Nordics team manager. "They roller ski all summer. It's the only sport-specific thing they do in the summer."
The club is still seeking a replacement for head coach Andrew Casey, who moved to Winnipeg with his wife while she completes her doctorate in medicine. Casey was hired two years ago as the first full-time coach in the history of the club.
"Andrew Casey did such fantastic work with them last year and we had a lot of momentum going so it's nice to keep that going this year," said Andal. "He's still involved and talks to the athletes and writes out their [training] plans."
Former Olympic biathlete Tony Fiala and his wife Wendy have stepped forward to coach the junior racers (cross-country and biathlon) program. Several volunteers, including Erik Jensen, Alex Douglas, Willard Andal and Cory Williamson and some of the parents have also been contributing their volunteer efforts to the club's racing program.
The Caledonia club's annual ski swap is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m.-noon. Equipment and clothing for sale must be dropped off at the Rotary Lodge by next Friday before 5:30 p.m. next Friday. The club office is open from 11-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
Caledonia is hosting its annual open house on the 25th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. That will be the last day to buy club memberships at early-bird rates. Last year's club membership reached more than 1,800, an all-time high.
The club's annual general meeting is set for next Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Rotary Lodge.
