A Dying Sport

 

Our family adventure today took us to Port Elgin today. My ulterior motive for the location was 50% off bikinis at Beachin, but the added bonus was new to us ski trails.

Evers lack of glide skis and Mayas inability to focus allows us to move along at approximately 1.5k/hr. I am not exaggerating we move that slow. Yes walking would be faster.

 

There was fresh snow, fresh tracks, the temperature was just right, and the forest was lovely. Amazing good family time. Then I saw dogs, then i saw the owners were on foot. And I signed loudly, and skied along not uttering a single word. At this point the track set remained with foot prints here and there, but there was still glide. Then i heard voices and a couple appeared smiling enjoying their day and also wearing snowshoes. My shoulders slumped and dejectedly i admitted defeat.

 

Initially, I was angry, why would anybody ruin the track set? Don't they know it is like destroying a child's fort, or an art creation? And then I remembered a conversation I had had with some non skiing folk about their ignorance of all that is skiing.

I also realized that apart from a couple clearly in their 70's, active and in good shape but still can be defined as elderly, we were the only people on the trails using skis.

 

I am happy that there are people out and being active, using snowshoes, walking etc. However, I feel conflicted. I want the nice ski trails in every small community as opposed to having to drive 40min so I know the track will not will have been obviated by snowshoes. I see the ski club bursting, and think cross country skiing is thriving but in reality perhaps we have been marginalized and thus the only place to go is the fancy club where you have to pay only to belong.

 

I was recently told that there used to be a ski club in Hanover that gave badges to kids developing their ski skills. What happened to it? Was it lack of funds, lack of volunteers, the insurance scare, or did hockey overtake it? The single sport phenomenon? Snowshoeing seems cheaper, more accessible, is that the outdoor sport that people want to do now? Or are people just doing nothing?

 

Just my thoughts.