10 Time Challenge
The problem. I have a problem. I ski. A lot. Mostly by myself. A lot of crazy ideas can be hatched when you ski alone. How many kilometres can I ski this year? Can I ski my age again this year? (Why does that get more difficult?) What are the logistics of skiing all of the groomed trails at Sleeping Giant, Kakabeka, and Kamview in a day?
The plan. During that escapade a few years ago, I dreamed up skiing the Lookout 10 times in one shot. Ten seemed like a good number. More on that later. Way, way more than you should ever want to ski and probably enough that you would never ever want to do it again.
The foil. Enter Peter Cameron stage right (at the lunch table)(yes, Cheryl makes his lunch). Somehow, as we talked about the upcoming ski season, a bigger plan evolved. A challenge. Ski each trail at Kamview 10 times in one day. Not a race to complete it. A Motivational Challenge, as we had to tell our students when they kept asking, “Who is winning?” Trail maps got posted on a classroom door, highlighted when completed.
The rules. Each trail 10 times in one day. You could do 5, have lunch, do the next 5. That was in our rules, not that we used that escape clause. The Uppercut had to be done 10 times, no 5 up and 5 down to equal 10. One concerned person asked me if I was OK as I regained my composure, gasping for air at the Uppercut top after my last climb. All shortcuts and connectors that are farther than we could throw a tennis ball had to be done as well: Tamarack, Beaver, Jackrabbit to Stadium, and the Dudley feeder.
The lead-up. Peter and I were both winning as we racked up kilometers of fitness in preparation for the big challenge, The Lookout. We didn’t ski any of the other trails together, although we did see each other a few times as one of us slogged out another lap. Ultimately, I think our dogs, Trapper and Drift, won as we skied with them twice a week as a form of “active rest.” Lis saw me when I was classic skiing my Roadway Ramble, Sun Down on a very very cold Wednesday. Her husband Thomas, did not recognize me at the time. I was covered in ice and wasn’t stopping for pleasantries. Is anyone who knows how I train surprised? Great grip that evening except for my grip on reality.
The day. March 14, 2026, became the day. Good temperature forecast, sunshine, and the Lookout freshly groomed. Thanks Dave. Thanks a lot. Maybe deep down, we hoped it wouldn’t be groomed and we would not have to face reality. Personally, I hoped my vehicle wouldn’t start that morning. We started at 9:30, threw on our backpacks of supplies, and headed out. Our lap rest point was at the top, at the bench. It made each lap psychologically easier since we had the major climb up done. Lap 1, way too fast. Peter set a much better pace on lap 2. Laps 4 and 5 were a sad reminder that I forgot to eat my two breakfasts. Longer break after 5 for some lunch. Hard to get going again, but the sun was out, and we began to believe that we would finish.
The law. Unfortunately, there is a law that when you ski with someone else, one of you has to have faster skis. Fortunately for me, it was me!! There is probably a Finn saying that it is always the other skier who has the faster skis. There is another apt saying: “wax for survival, not speed. “(credit K.S.). I give Peter a lot of credit for finishing. I might have quit after poking my eyes out with a pole tip. Did I mention that the reward was a hot tub at Cameron’s? I had to make sure he finished! Lap 10 motivation was a congratulatory beverage in the sunshine on the bench before skiing down.
The retrospect. This turned out to be a fantastic challenge. A little beyond our comfort zones, something different (it was a headspace challenge to repeat a trail 10 times), and finding motivation from how we each approached the task over the year.
The ask. Next season, I encourage everyone to set a goal for themselves and embrace the challenge. Ski every trail, ski 3 times a week, ski your age, try classic (still learning, although I hate it less), try skate, take your dog (take mine, the fitter he gets the more he needs), tin can challenge(still haven’t done that one), embrace winter for the change of season that it is.
The Number 10. Each digit of the number 10 had something to say: ”you make me 10 times greater” and ”without you, I am nothing”
Thanks to Cheryl and Jen for their support of the challenge. The chocolate medal and trail buff were unexpected surprises at the finish.
– Terry Cano