The SFNSC Race Organizing Committee would like to invite Soo Finnish Club members to participate in a "practice race".

It will be an individual sprint (one skier is released at a time) in free technique at 15 second intervals . The purpose of this event is to give our skiers a chance to race locally, learn more about racing, and to help our volunteers prepare for hosting the Ontario Cup #3 on Jan 16-18.

Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026, first start at 11:00am

Trails affected:

• Crystal Trail System, more specifically the ball field, 1 km cut off, and park loop (500 m)
• Fat bike riders are asked to ride with extreme caution. Please fully stop at each crossing, and adjust tire pressure if sinking in order to minimize race disruption and uphold course conditions. If possible, please consider avoiding the particular trail area at 10:30 to 12:00.

Eligibility:

• 2025-2026 SFNSC Club members only ( Registration )
• Participation is not limited to the following groups; however, skiers in these groups are strongly encouraged to take part: Jackrabbit Levels 3, 4, Racing Rabbits, Track Attack, Ski Teams, Algoma U Nordic Ski Team members. SKIERS MUST REGISTER ON ZONE4 IN ADVANCE. NO SAME DAY REGISTRATIONS.
• If a skier is unsure about participation, we recommend signing up on Zone4. If the skier chooses not to participate in the morning, the bib may be returned to the Race Office and the skier will be listed as a DNS (Did Not Start).

Registration and Fees:

• To participate, athletes must register by Saturday, January 10 at 2:00pm on Zone4
• There is no fee to participate in this practice race if you are a 2025-2026 SFNSC Club member.
• Final start lists will be posted on Zone4 and onsite Sunday morning.
• Please report any Did Not Starts (DNS) to Race Office on Sunday morning.

Race Course Information:

• 15 second intervals
• Start and finish on ball field (behind Kinsmen Centre)
• Trail is 500 m for U10-14 or 800 m for U16+, all in reverse direction

Post-Race Refreshments: Donuts, hot grape, and water will be available for participants at the finish line.

Wax Protocols:

• Waxing products with fluoro are not permitted.
• Please wax on your own (no team waxing available).

Bib Pick Up and Return:

• Bib pickup is in the Kinsmen Centre starting at 10 am.
• Bib Return: please ensure bibs are returned at the finish line. There is a $75 fee for unreturned bibs.

Results:

Results will be posted on Zone4 and soofinnishnordic.com.