From Almonte’s Missisippi River
to the XC World Cup trials
Reflecting on the journey taken
BY PERIANNE jONES
I Don’T rememBer much from my lake, further up the ottawa Valley towards
early days on skis, but something must arnprior. our family was a part of this lowny
have resonated with me. now I can’t lake nordic Club for many years before
take the things off my feet, even in the being sucked into the epicentre of cross-
summer! I grew up along the mississippi country skiing in ottawa: the nakkertok Ski
river in almonte, a great little town in the Club. I had such an amazing group of friends
ottawa Valley. that the training was easy, and racing was
with a river outside the door, my parents awesome (road trips every weekend)!
slapped a pair of skis on my feet shortly after eventually this whole training and
V
I took my first steps – it was either that or racing thing consumed my life – and still
O
Y
SK
carry me in a backpack. my mom cleverly does – except now I am doing it with the
B
T
ON
encouraged me to keep skiing with Smarties national Ski Team. The only difference is
OR
and licorice during the Canadian Ski the road trips aren’t to Duntroon and Deep

B
Y
M
marathon when I was five. I also remember river, but to Dusseldorf, germany, and
T
O
building snow forts with my friends in the Davos, Switzerland. Summer training
P
HO
gatineau Park while we waited for our camps aren’t at the hostel in old Chelsea, of the nakkertok Ski Club, as well as the
parents to finish their ski. Food and friends but rather in new Zealand, California, national Ski Team.
aside, I just don’t have many fond memories and on glaciers. There isn’t anything else I’d rather be doing.
of my earliest years of skiing. Come fall, I do ski striding (running uphill I’m making the most of the opportunity
until I started racing, it was hard to get me with ski poles) intensity intervals on the hills I’ve been given. The ski community in the
out in the cold to enjoy the outdoors with at the Canmore nordic Centre, which ottawa area helped get me this far, and it’s a
my family on a Saturday morning. once hot ironically pales in comparison to the famous pretty amazing community to be part of, so
chocolate, cookies, friends and competition Penguin climb! I spent my earlier years on get out there and join in, you won’t regret it.
were added — all-important components that (it ascends for about a kilometre up I promise.
of a racing program — I was in! I started from the Penguin Picnic area in the gatineau National Team member Perianne Jones
racing as a Jackrabbit, the program designed Park). my training partners are still some of added the red and white National Team
by Cross Country Canada for young skiers my closest friends, but we have all come uniform to her collection of green and
between four and 12, with the mississippi from different parts of the country to live in gold Nakkertok gear seven years ago.
Valley Ski Club. Then Heinz neiderhauser Canmore, alberta, and train together to be She documents her experiences at
started a club in his backyard near white the best that we can be. I am still a member www.peri.freshairexp.com.
XC Ski lessons at
Mooney’s Bay this winter!
• Many lessons available; weekend
packages, weekly lessons after work,
and many other workshops including
guided outings to gatineau Park etc...
• Free parking, heated change rooms and
washrooms.
• Ski for $2.50 day or all season for $29!
• Groomed for both skate and classic ski.
• Trails lit until 9:00pm
• The biggest ski school in the region Mooney’s Bay Cross Country Ski Centre
with more than 650 students through
2960 Riverside Dr. (between Hog’s Back and
lessons (mostly adults, youth & children)
Walkley Roads, along the Rideau River)
Email: terryfoxathletic@ottawa.ca
• New! On-site ski and snowshoe rentals!
Tel: 613-247-4883
• Enjoy beautiful trails adjacent to
Web: go to www.ottawa.ca and then residents
Hog’s Back and Vincent massey Parks!
– Parks & recreation – Seasonal activities – Fall
& winter activities – Cross-country skiing at
mooney’s Bay Park.
16 OTTAWA >> WINTER 2008/2009 www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48