Long Start Wave Adjustments
If you are skiing the 31 or 55 km events starting at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, when you register, you will sign up for a wave: Wave 1 at 9 a.m., Wave 2 at 9:10 a.m., Wave 3 at 9:20 a.m., or Wave 4 at 9:30 a.m. To find out more about which wave start to choose, please check out this page!!
Long Course Profile Description for 31 km and 55 km events
Starting at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, the 31 and 55 km routes rise some 60 m before finishing at the Waskahegan Staging area in Cooking Lake Blackfoot. The Blackfoot trails are through knob and kettle post glacial terrain and the rise isn’t noticeable as it is spread out with ups and downs as opposed to a large hill or long steady climb.
There are some sections that are quite flat but most of the 31 and 55 routes are up and down through reasonably gentle hills. There are occasional steeper hills that – depending on your abilities – may require some herringboning or snowplowing. There is the odd hill, particularly on the 55 route, that can be tricky due to a curve part way down or at the bottom. CAUTION signs will be installed where needed. Ski as the conditions dictate and keep your head up!
The 55 has three hillier and more challenging sections. All are separate from the 31. We think you’ll enjoy them.
- The first is an additional loop branching off at Elk Push Station 1 and doing 5 km through the Islet Lake area. It is quite hilly and several hills have challenging curves particularly on a fast day. Use some caution and you will be fine. This is a pretty section;
- The second is for 3 km along the fenceline immediately after Elk Push 2 … some straightforward steep hills;
- The third is from the Wanisan Station back to Elk Push 3 along Wanisan, Siksika and Porcupine trails – a very beautiful stretch with smaller rolling hills and several ‘interesting’ steeper ones (up and down) that will test your technical skills…..particularly as your legs may be getting a bit tired. You’ll be fine with a bit of prudence.
The 31 has nothing that a reasonably skilled recreational skier can’t easily negotiate. The 55 is purposefully a bit more challenging through sections where it is separate from the 31 … though again nothing that can’t be negotiated by a reasonably skilled skier ( though with a bit more prudence in spots).