Snowshoe Demo

Saturday, January 21st

Here is your chance to try out a variety of the best snowshoes available.

As snow conditions vary so much we will anounce the location for this demo closer to the day of the event. Rest assured we will try to keep it close to town.

Please preregister. Cost is $5.

Events:

For information on any event, please contact Wild Rock at 745-9133

Jan. 11 at 6 pm
Snowboard Tune Up Clinic
Learn basic waxing and sharpening techniques to help keep your board riding like new all season.

Cost is $5 when you sign up.

Jan 14th
Kawartha Nordic Ski Demo. Join Wild Rock at the trails to try the latest classic and skate skis, boots and poles.

10 am until 2 pm. Although the demo is free, if you are not a member of KNSC day use fees are $10 per person or $30/car

Jan. 18 at 6 pm
X-Country Ski Waxing Clinic
Whether classic or skate skiing, using the proper technique for applying gliding and grip waxes is essential. In this clinic you will learn how to apply waxes according to weather conditions as well as how to protect your base and make your skis last longer and perform better.

Cost is $5 when you sign up.

Jan 25th-Feb 16th. Wednesdays at 6-8 pm
Advanced Bike Maintenance Clinic. This clinic will leave you with the skills and confidence to do almost all bike repairs without relying on a bike shop. In four weeks the course will cover the overhaul of hubs, headset, bottom brackets as well as wheel truing. Call Zac at Wild Rock for details and cost. 745-9133

Feb. 4
Mount St. Louis Moonstone
Snowboard – Downhill Ski Trip
Once again we are offering this snowboard / downhill ski day-trip to Mount St. Louis Moonstone. We will meet at Wild Rock at 7:30am, where a luxury bus will be waiting to take us to the hills. We are planning to be back by 7:30pm. Cost is $70 when you sign up.

Kayak Pool sessions are starting in February. For more info, contact rodney@wildrock.net

Cycling training DVD's are available at Have You Seen for rent. Try before you buy!
Winter Hours are listed at http://wildrock.net/ on the right hand side below the survey 

MSR Snowshoes

Last month, as I raved about the mattress of my dreams (the Exped Downmat, for those of you who missed it), it brought me to thinking of other recent product releases in our industry that have really impressed me. As I mentioned last month, I am pretty hard to lure into the new-gizmo trap. I have been in the outdoor industry for 20 years (??) and have seen many good ideas go bad. But now and then items like the Downmat come along and blow my socks off. Although I can think of a few goodies that stand out for mention the one making me put pen to paper right now is the MSR Lightning series of snowshoes. Now, the modern snowshoe, although pretty nifty next to it’s traditional counterparts, is not something I usually get too excited about. They are to me a utilitarian item of very little aesthetic appeal; something to ease the misery of trail-breaking. But…wait for it… then comes along a bit of a groundbreaker. Most of you will be aware of the merits of a modern snowshoe; crampons for grip, fancy hug-the-boot style bindings, etc. The beauty of the MSR Lightning’s is that they are so simple. In keeping with the roots of their company they have paired down the over-complications of a typical shoe by doubling up on some of the key components. Every snowshoe has a frame and crampons, right? Well the clever buggers at MSR turned the frame into the crampon. Not only is the grip on these shoes the best in the business but they are also some of the lightest shoes you can buy. Also gone are the high-tech buckled bindings that most shoes in this category come with. The MSR shoes have a super-simple (indescribably simple so I won’t bother) strap binding system that would take Herculean efforts to break and is easy to use at –25C with mitts on. If you do manage to break the bindings they are held together with little keyrings (all be it, pretty slick ones) so they are easy to fix in the field with anything from a bit of wire to, yes, the keyring off your ever-present Swiss Army knife.

Not unlike the Exped matt, I got a chance to use these shoes on a 10day trip in the Adirondacks last winter. I was so impressed that I got myself a pair as soon as I could. That is coming from a guy who, since the invention of the “modern” snowshoe, has been so unimpressed as to have just taken out rentals or whatever was kicking around the shop when it came time for a winter trip.

Although these two items got my vigorous nod of approval over two months it is not my intention to do a monthly gear review. I often find that the periodic-style review can leave one searching for something redeeming to write about. I prefer to wait until I am truly wowed by a product that I can bring to your attention.

Until then,
Kieran

Find out more about MSR snowshoes at www.msrcorp.com/snow/

Kicking it Old School in Utah

Another article by Scott...

Every year a few of the Wild Rock crew make the pilgrimage to Utah in late January- early February. This migration has been a tradition for over a decade. The excuse is a trade show that we attend in Salt Lake City. The reason is the snow and the mountains.

To read the rest of the article, go to http://wildrock.net/newsletter/utah.asp

Kawartha Nordic Ski Lessons

Adult ski lessons are available at Kawartha Nordic Ski Club. The cost is $20 per hour and proceeds go to the Nordic Legacy Campaign. The first is January 7th, check the website(address below) for further dates as they become available.

If you do not have equipment to use during your course, rentals are half price at at Adventure Fitness in Lakefield or here at Wild Rock.

PS The picture isn't at Kawartha Nordic, dogs aren't allowed there!
For maps, membership and other info, go to www.kawarthanordic.ca 

Boxing Week Specials

Get ahead of the game and find out what is on sale this week.

Go to http://wildrock.net/newsletter/boxing_day_specials.asp to find out details.