January 2025 happenings...

This message has been sent to you {Organization_Name}
If you no longer want to receive these letters, you can unsubscribe at any time 

{Organization_URL}
 

CONC January 2025 Newsletter

President's Corner

CONC in the Media Spotlight

We're thrilled to be featured in several local news outlets recently! The Great Outdoors covered both our beginner ski clinics and our snowshoe trail maintenance efforts. The Bend Bulletin also highlighted the new snowshoe trail at Vista Butte thanks to Board Member Kelly Cleman. And thanks to Damian Fagan for his contribution to The Source Weekly's article about the Edison Sno-Park closure.

Shop Visits and Social Gatherings

A big thank you to our social committee led by Treasurer Eileen Woodward for organizing fantastic after-hours visits to local ski shops! In the past few months, we enjoyed evenings at Powder House, Pine Mountain Sports, and WebCyclery & WebSkis. These events were a great opportunity to learn from the knowledgeable staff and connect with fellow club members. Please show your appreciation to these shops for opening their doors to us.

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for our next social gathering on Wednesday, February 5th, at Crux Fermentation Project! This is a casual event open to everyone, so come out, bring a friend, and enjoy socializing with fellow ski and snowshoe enthusiasts.

Stay Connected and Informed

Don't miss out! With over 600 active members, our events fill quickly. If an event is full, join the waitlist - spots often open as plans change. Keep an eye on your inbox for waitlist updates and event registrations. And remember, if you can't attend an event you registered for, please cancel your registration to allow someone else to participate.

Survey Postponed

Previously in this column, I reported that we would be sending out a membership survey. Those plans have changed, and the survey will be administered sometime after the winter season.

Stay Up to Date on All Things CONC! 

Ensure you receive club emails by checking your Wild Apricot profile settings and adding conordicclub@wildapricot.org to your contacts. I encourage you to reach out with any questions, comments, or suggestions at wppreston@yahoo.com. 

Happy Trails!

Warren Preston

President

Upcoming Events

News and Announcements

Newsletter Archive

Some of you may not have been receiving recent newsletters.  Sorry about that!  We have fixed the problem, but if you want to see what you may have missed, we now have a Newsletter Archive.  Check it out!

Member Directory Coming Soon!

We've heard your requests for a member directory and are getting ready to roll it out!

There's nothing you need to do to prepare.  The directory will be available to members ONLY and will not include your physical address, just email and phone.  Privacy levels can be adjusted in your member profile.

There will be another email to all members when we are ready to go live with the directory.  If all goes as planned, the member directory will be available to use by the end of January.

Use the App!

What's the easiest way to renew your membership?

What's the easiest way to register for an event?

What's the easiest way to cancel from an event?

Use the App!

CONordicClub.org is powered by software called Wild Apricot, and the Wild Apricot for members app is the easiest way to manage your membership and events.

The app is available for both Android and iOS.  Click below for guides to each.

Android app: A Guide for Members

iOS app: A Guide for Members

Give it a try!  There's an event scheduled for April 1, 20205 called Practice Event that exists solely for you to practice registering for and cancelling from.

No Iron Ski Waxing

A couple of years ago I was on our club trip to Methow Valley and was skiing with Michel Bayard.  Before we went out, he wanted to wax his skis, so I asked if the Inn at Mazama had a waxing setup with iron.  But Michel replied that he doesn’t use an iron.  So he showed me his method of “crayoning” or rubbing the wax directly on the ski base, dripping a few drops of citrus solvent on top, then spreading it out uniformly with a cork.  After that, he just let it dry a few minutes, and without any scraping because there is no excess wax, he was ready to go. 

Since then, I’ve also stopped using the iron and the scraper, and find his technique is very satisfactory with the CH8X wax I use on my skate skis (and now on my 78’s, 88’s, and 108’s)!  I asked Michel if he’d be open to do a video on his technique, and he instantly said “Yes.  Let’s do it!”. 

I recruited Mark Waters who has experience with producing videos, and was very interested since my glide the weekend before was significantly better than his.  Michel knew what he wanted to say and the points he wanted to make, so Mark and Michel did this video in one take in Michel’s waxing room.  Check it out on our website under Resources/Helpful Videos/Gear and Gadgets: here’s a link to No Iron Ski Waxing.

The John Craig Event needs your help 

Note: This is not a CONC event, although CONC members often volunteer and participate. It is sponsored by the Oregon Nordic Club, of which CONC is a chapter. If you are interested in volunteering, you can find more information here: John Craig Event

CONC appreciates anything submitted to our account and we use all proceeds for our trail development and maintenance program. The CONC account number is 12958. Many thanks to all who have donated over the years!

Recent Events

"What fire could ever equal the sunshine of a winter’s day?"

    --Henry David Thoreau