Why?

Why cross-country ski?

Cross country skiing is a great life-time, life-style sport offering something for everyone (families with young children, teen-agers, adults of all ages).

• It helps you actively enjoy our long winters.

• It improves your personal fitness and health.  Cross-country skiing is one of the best sports to develop your cardio-vascular system, leg and upper body strength.

• For recreational skiers and nature-lovers, it's beautiful, natural and peaceful.

• For many children and teenagers (not to mention a lot of adults!), the introduction of the Skate Skiing Technique adds a speed dimension that extends the appeal of the sport.       

Why pay money to cross-country ski at a ski club?

The Trails

• Cross-country skiing is most enjoyable on purpose-designed groomed trails.

• This is true whether you are doing the Classic Technique guided by a parallel ski track, or Skate Skiing on a wide, flat skating trail.

• Keeping trails well groomed requires purchasing and maintaining some expensive equipment (see article on our snow grooming history).

• Typically, most of your ski club membership or day pass fee goes towards funding trail maintenance and trail equipment purchase and maintenance.

The Programs

• Ski Clubs offer a lot of support.

• The secret of skiing is glide, and the secret of good glide is to take a lesson and/or to get out and ski lots.

• Our Club offers Lessons for Children (Ski League) as well as Lessons for Adults of all abilities.

• Children enjoy family ski outings, but they also thrive on the sport through the social opportunities of club-based Jackrabbit on-snow fun and skill acquisition programs.

• For many, racing, or simply entering recreational ski loppets and marathons also becomes a passion.

The Facilities

• For everyone, but especially those introducing young children to skiing, the ability to start and end your ski at a heated clubhouse is a practical boost to making every outing a positive one.

The People

• Club members provide a lot of other informal support and good company.

• You can learn so much more and enjoy yourself more by meeting and talking with other skiers at a club.

• Overlander also offers a variety of skiing-related social events.

Safety

• Cross country ski injuries are rare, but nonetheless, the Stake Lake staff (not to mention many skiers) are there when injuries do happen, and help is available.

Events

• Overlander Ski Club at Stake Lake is host to numerous events, both fun and competitive each winter.

• These events may include:  Spoke/Overlander Ski Marathon, Ski for Light Canada (skiing for the blind), Special Olympics, BC Sprint Championships, and Midget Championships to name a few.

• Check our event calendar.

Why cross-country ski at Stake Lake?

The Trails

• A full range (60 km) of thoughtfully designed, very scenic and varied ski trails, with routes suited to all ranges of skiing abilities.

• See our trail maps.  These maps are also located throughout the trail system. 

Shelters & Outhouses

• Shelters and outhouses are located throughout the trail system.

The environment

• The trail system at Stake Lake, and development that does take place such as our daylodge, is done keeping potentially negative environmental impact at a minimum.

• Careful thought, along with consultation with the BC forest service and others, takes place to ensure that the area will remain pristine and unblemished for future generations.

Grooming

• Stake Lake is known for the quality of its trails, which is a function of their grooming as well as their design.

• Our volunteer groomer's take pride in their grooming work and understand the technicalities involved in issues related to grooming such as snow temperature.  They have many years experience.

The People

• We welcome you to our club.

• If you have a large group of skiers travelling into the area, please contact us in advance so we can ensure your trip is as successful as it can be.  Discounts are available for larger groups.

The Region

• The Thompson region of BC has a lot to offer visitors.

• Take a few minutes to "virtually tour" the area.  Then take a few days, or longer, to tour it in person.

• Consider traveling to Stake Lake as one of several stops in the Thompson/Okanagan.

The Snow

• The quality of snow in the BC interior is well known.

• In particular, in the heart of our season (mid-December to mid March), snow is typically dry interior powder which makes for a great ski experience.

Join us as a member, on a day outing, or as a visitor from out of town.

We’d love to share our ski paradise with you.