Vera and Phil Froese have enjoyed over 40 years of marriage, which is rather remarkable in and of itself. What makes their union a little more unique is that a large part of their time together has been spent on skis.
The founders of Boundary Trails Nordic Club met at a ski program in 1983, and as Vera Froese suggested, it was love at first sight.
Sort of.
“Phil and I met on cross-country skis. The Manitoba Naturalist Society had an outdoor program to ski into a wilderness cabin, and lo and behold, Phil was in the parking lot. It was skiing at first sight. Skiing has very much been our life, so I guess that’s how things have developed.”
Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
A family affair
Over the years, that love of skiing has extended throughout their entire family
“Our kids are very much into skiing. They’re all grown up now, but they’re very active in skiing as well.” Phil said.
“Our grandkids also sort-of live and breathe cross-country skiing in the winter around here.” Vera added.
Phil explained the beginnings of what grew to become Boundary Trails Nordic Club.
“I started here on my own property, just cutting some simple trails in the woods. We had very simple grooming equipment. Originally, we were just skiing the trails in. Then we just gradually expanded the trail system.” Froese said.
“It’s not just on our property. We must have about four or five different neighbours’ properties that we go on to. It’s expanded from a little two kilometre classic trail to about 15 kilometres of classic trail and about nine kilometres of skate ski trail as well. We don’t have as much usage on the skate ski trail, but they’re pretty good trails, mostly sheltered in the woods, winding along Dead Horse Creek.”
Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
Humble beginnings
It was a small start getting a community ski club off (or on) the ground.
“Phil had a lovely farm that he got from his grandma and grandpa, and he had a few ski trails on there with another friend.” Vera said. “Since then, we’ve been protecting our woods and providing community access to skiing here.”
Not just access has been provided. The ski community has grown and benefitted by the tracks laid down in the snow over the past four decades.
“Before we organized the club, it was just casual trails. We organized the club because that way we’re affiliated with a national program and we can get all the benefits of that for programming and coaching and all that kind of thing.” Phil shared.
“The Nordic Centre that’s beside the creek, behind the barn is owned by Boundary Trails Nordic Club,” Vera continued. “We really wanted it to be a community place. Once they’re done skiing, they can go in there to visit and meet other skiers.
“We had a really neat chili fundraiser on Saturday. The junior team was raising money so they could travel to races and it just felt so special to have that whole Nordic center full of people eating chili and talking about skiing and so that’s sort of, that’s been our goal is more of a community than just somebody coming here, putting on their skis, skiing and leaving.”
Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
A snowy wonderland for the younger set
The club is a big draw for kids.
“An important part of our club is our ski program for kids that we run on Saturday. That was actually part of the reason we organized the club back in the 90’s. And that’s still going on. We have kids that were in the original program that are in it now.” Phil shared.
“They’re coaching the second generation, coaching their own little ones now.” Vera explained. “The other really neat thing is that from our tiny little woods, and also from Shannondale at Thornhill, our junior development team is just amazing.”
It is to be noted: Shannondale is a separate ski hill that skiers enjoy on David Lumgair’s land in Thornhill.
“They go out of province, even out of country sometimes, and we have had the medal in national races. It’s just crazy. We have the most dedicated coaches for a junior team. So yeah, from a tiny little 2 km trail in the 80s to putting out racers for Canada is pretty cool.”
For adults wanting to learn how to ski, there are some obstacles to regular clinics.
“We have done that occasionally in the past.” Phil said. “The problem always is to get people to run some clinics, I would hope in the future we might have some, but there’s nothing organized right now.”
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Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
The future is secure
The Froeses have put plans into place to protect the outdoors that they both love so much.
“In 2011 Phil and I got a conservation lien on the woods through Manitoba Heritage, it’s part of our land title.” Vera said. “So in perpetuity, the woods can stay the woods. A big part of me is nature and preserving nature and being in nature. I think it’s good for your body and your mind.”
That love of nature is especially strong in the winter.
“I like the changes of season, but definitely skiing makes winter quite a highlight.” Phil shared. “This winter is seemingly shaping up to be a fairly positive year for skiing and snow because we don’t get as nice a snow cover as this every year, that’s for sure. We’ve had some good quality snow.”
The snow may be the draw, but being prepared makes the experience safer and much more enjoyable.
“The wind is always a problem. It tends to blow it where you don’t want it.” Phil said. “Yesterday was a treat to have sort-of mild weather and skiing. Today is a little colder, but like I say, most of the trails are quite sheltered. So even on a cold day, it’s pretty pleasant as long as you’re dressed properly for it.”
“There’s just something about it that if the conditions are right, it’s almost like weightlessness, really.” Vera added. “One of my friends say she had a revelation that you could actually be warm on a Manitoba winter by being out skiing – but you have to know how to dress.
“You have to dress in layers, and there’s plenty of ways you can learn how to do that. But then you’re not really cold, you’re just moving through the woods and yeah it’s just beautiful.”
Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
Cross-country versus skate skiing
You can choose between cross-country skiing and skate skiing at the Burwalde Trails.
“Cross-country skiing is both.” Phil explained. “It’s sort of been divided up a little bit into what they call classic skiing, which is the old-style skiing where you’re in a track. Usually in a track or making your own track. And you have some sort of grip on the bottom of your ski base that allows you to step forward.
“Whereas skate skiing, you just have live wax on your skis, you ski on a flat surface without a track, and it is a skating motion. It is a bit like ice skating. It’s a little bit more like speed skating, but it does have its own technique for sure. It tends to be a little faster, it gets the heart rate up a little quicker. A lot of people try it and then drop it too soon because they think it’s just hard work but it involves getting a little more technique and then it’s just fast and harder.”
Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
You’re never too old to give skiing a try
Age is not a barrier to enjoying skiing.
“I got into citizen racing two three decades ago I guess, and that’s something you can keep right on.” Phil shared. “Cross-country skiing is a sport. You can start when you’re five and just go as long as your legs will allow you to go. There’s a lot of skiers out there in their 80s and 90s, and some of them even still competing at citizen races. So, you know, it’s a good sport for life.”
Despite a start on Froese’s own property, as well as his cooperative neighbours’ lands, there’s no need for a secret handshake or waiting for your phone to ring.
“Oh no, it’s not by invite only.” Vera explained. “You just bring your skis as you drive on to our yard. Be sure to park tight because there’s a lot of people here. And then we have a signboard, a donation box to drop your donation for, you know, paying for the gas for the snowmobile and the whole thing. Then off you go, there’s signage all over so you don’t get lost. You do need to sign the register, part of insurance requirements, like any place.
“We have a couple of yellow signs right at the parking lot, hat put the onus on the person coming to read them and follow those instructions. No dogs, no walking on the trail, all that kind of stuff – it’s strictly skiing.”
Burwalde Trails – photo supplied
Hills for the littles
Froese pointed out one fun aspect of the club.
“One other cute little thing we have, it’s sort of a little terrain park.” Vera said. “We call it Hopping Hollow because Jackrabbits is the National Kids Club named after Jackrabbit Johansson, who was a Norwegian that supposedly got cross-country skiing going a hundred some years ago.
“It’s a bit of a terrain park for all the little school-age kids. There’s a lot of up and down in a very small area, and that is really fun when we’re out there to just hear the whoops and hollers. Yeah. So yeah, there’s something for everybody. A lot of the little ones, they get out on the trails, they might get a hill once in a while, but if you go over there, you get lots of hills. They’re not big, but they’re fun.”
Get out and catch the ski bug yourself.
with files from Robyn Wiebe