The Hinton Nordic Skiers Club in Alberta is celebrating its 50th anniversary, reflecting on decades of volunteer efforts that built world-class cross-country skiing trails and hosted international events. Despite recent snow challenges, the club continues to thrive with growing youth programs and new facilities. Community members highlight the lasting legacy of the trails in William A. Switzer Park.
Hinton Nordic Skiers reflect on 50 years of dedication and growth The Hinton Nordic Skiers Club, located 270 kilometres west of Edmonton at the gateway to the Rockies, has reached its 50th anniversary. Founded through the vision of early pioneers, the club developed cross-country skiing trails starting near Pedley Reservoir, Camp 29, and Gregg Cabin, before establishing the main system in the mid-1980s at the Hinton Nordic Centre. These 35 kilometres of trails in William A. Switzer Park now serve as a community hub. A highlight came in 1994 when the club hosted the Biathlon World Cup, shortly after Canadian athlete Myriam Bédard won two Olympic gold medals in biathlon. Nearly 20 countries participated in the event, which Rick Zroback, former club president, described as running 'with no glitches, with perfect track, with perfect everything.' Zroback credited volunteers: 'The key thing for us at that time and continues is volunteers — people stepped up.' The club even reassembled a main lodge from a 1960s Columbia Icefields cabin for $1, piecing it together like a jigsaw puzzle using 'funny blueprints.' Over the years, the club endured challenges, including times with no funds and only eight participants in the children's Jackrabbit program. Yet, it hosted memorable events like marathons from Hinton to Robb in 1980 and 1982, and New Year's Eve parties. Bob Udell, involved since the club's inception, noted: 'The foresight of those early pioneers... has really borne a lot of fruit.' This season, with 64 Jackrabbits, the club looks forward despite poor snow conditions that cancelled the annual Chili Loppet. Current president Christian Weik said early snow was favourable, but cold followed by warm spells made trails 'nearly unskiable.' Still, dozens of skiers gathered after fresh overnight snow, as Jailin Bertolin observed. To commemorate the milestone, the club used Yellowhead County grants to build a new log cabin on the K-9 ski loop by Mark Deagle, who called it 'a nice place to escape from the elements.' Artist Madison Sharman added two murals to the main lodge, and Zroback installed 'legacy signs' along trails with the local museum. Weik emphasized: 'The most important thing is just sustaining that momentum and that history moving forward,' focusing on youth and biathlon programs. Udell hoped for 'another good 50 years,' adding wryly, 'I won't be around to celebrate.'