About Us

In late 2021, Jeremy Giesinger, along with his wife and four young kids, moved his family to the Crowsnest Pass. Small town mountain living was the dream and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have found this little slice of paradise! We have been members of the Nordic club since moving to the area. Participating in the kids programs has been a great way to get outside and connect with other local families. We love to get outside and the Chinook lake area has become one of our favourite spots.

This club will continue inspiring people young and old to get outside. I look forward to helping maintain and enhance this trail network and the opportunities offered to the public.

Caleb Schulz has been an active member with the Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club since 2014, when his tongue in cheek comment, “I’ll join the board when you get an area I can ski with my dogs” landed him a surprise position with the formation of the dog friendly ski area.  Since that time he held the position of President for his maximum 6 year term from the 2015/16 – 2020/21 season, and currently sits as the Past President.  His enthusiasm and excitement for skiing is best channelled into coaching the children’s programs, as his definition of a beginner trail has been brought into question from friends he tries to introduce to the sport.

Caroline enjoys exploring the outdoors on two feet, two wheels and two skis. You are likely to see her with her husband, two kids or dog exploring the trails. She is passionate about encouraging outdoor activity at all ages and stages and has gone from towing kids behind her to trying to keep up with them. She joined the Crowsnest Nordic Club Board to be more involved in the community and meet other like minded people.

Darrell Archibald joined the Nordic Ski Club in 2015.

With a young family, and looking for an activity that everyone could participate in, while spending time in the outdoors, my wife and I felt very fortunate to be able to take up cross country skiing, an activity neither of us had done before.  After enjoying the fantastic trails, we felt the need to give back, and in 2021 I joined the Nordic Club Executive.  I was amazed with and even overwhelmed with the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the Nordic Club and it’s facilities in the fantastic condition that we all enjoy.

Kyle Saganiuk was born and raised in the Pincher Creek area. Throughout my life I have enjoyed most sports that involve sliding on snow. I was first introduced to cross country skiing during Christmas visits at my grandparents through stubble fields (where downhill was not an option). After I outgrew the gear at my grandparents, I took a hiatus from xc and focused more on alpine touring. With the pending arrival of my first daughter Teya, my wife and I opted for lower risk snow fun (AKA cross-country skiing). I invested in my own pair of cross-country skis at that time and haven’t looked back (Allison sure is a lot more fun than a wind-blown stubble field)! As communications coordinator I will do my best to keep you all well informed.

Claudia Blandford started cross country skiing last season and quickly came to love it when she finally figured out how to remain wax side down.

With her background in rowing and participation in club based programs from the recreational to elite levels, Claudia is hoping to show her appreciation for the Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club by coming on as the programs director. She is looking forward to contributing to the team that has built and maintained these amazing trails at the Allison Chinook site, and that has created a thriving and vibrant cross country ski community here in the Crowsnest Pass.

Georg Wendrich is an active volunteer within the community, mostly behind the scenes.  As a long-time contributor to the CNSC, he was finally persuaded to let his name stand for being on the board.  He is passionate about the trails, which makes him a natural fit for being the point person for all things Grooming and Trails related.  He is quickly getting up to speed, taking over for Larry who previously held this position.

Lacy Bertrand joined the Crowsnest Pass Nordic Club in 2018, enrolling my oldest daughter in the Bunny Rabbit program. As a parent of three and part of an active, outdoor-loving family, I’ve always been passionate about supporting our beautiful trails and fostering a love of outdoor pursuits in our community.

Since then, I’ve become a coach with Nordic Canada and now teach the Bunny Rabbits program for the local club. You’ll often find me skiing on the trails with a few kids in tow, sharing my love for the outdoors and Nordic skiing.

Kwan Lee was born and raised in South Korea until 40 years of age when he landed in Canada as an immigrant with his family. It was the first time in his life to cross country ski in Canada. He and his family suddenly fell in love with this winter activity. It wasn’t long before he converted from a recreational xc skier to a professional career as instructor, coach and management. Kwan is passionate about youth programs and supporting coaches.

When Larry Hennig retired in 2010, he needed something to keep him busy so he joined the local Nordic ski club and began learning Nordic ski trail grooming and maintenance.  In 2016 he and his wife Alix moved to the Crowsnest Pass and Larry joined the Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club grooming team.  Since then he has been instrumental in updating the club’s grooming equipment and building a dedicated team of volunteers who brave the cold and snow to bring you the fantastic ski conditions you enjoy.  You’ll see him at Allison doing trail or equipment maintenance, out on the groomer or skiing fresh tracks.  Stop by and say hi.

Ron moved to the Crowsnest Pass with his wife and family in 1989 to work in our local Health Care Centre.  The community of people, along with the natural beauty, have provided tremendous experiences that continue into retirement.  In 2016, Ron joined the Nordic board and helps with organizing social events like Moonlight Skiing and Flight of the Crows Loppet. He has joined the Grooming Team and is now organizing the switch over of new maps and signs on our trails.  Ron appreciates the Crowsnest Nordic board’s effort and commitment to provide a great outdoor experience on the Chinook trails.

Brad and his wife moved to the Crowsnest pass about 3 years ago.  He recently retired from the Calgary fire department and before that worked for the Alberta Government in Parks and recreation in various capacities such and winter trail grooming summer trail maintenance and as a Park Ranger. He and his wife are avid hikers, mountain bikers and cross country skiers. Brad joined the trail grooming team here in hopes of giving back a little to our new community.

You will see Hal Nummi working with the maintenance team clearing brush, grooming trails, repairing equipment or whatever he is asked to do. Hal and his family have been using the trails at Allison Chinook for over 40 years and in 2009 relocated to reside in the beautiful Crowsnest Pass. Hal retired in 2017 saying it was time give back to the community and now really appreciates the camaraderie of working with other volunteers. (Webguy note: He is not as fierce as he looks in the photo!)

Dave Whitten moved to Crowsnest Pass from Edmonton in 2008. Deb and Dave both joined the ski club board and helped put on the XC ski races for the 2009 Alberta Masters Games. 

Dave particularly enjoys designing, building, modifying, and repairing grooming equipment, such as the controls that allow the tracksettters to be adjusted from inside the cabs of the new mini-trucks.

Dave manages the infrared traffic counters on the trail system and analyses the data so that the club can demonstrate to funding organizations that the trails get a lot of use.

Dave also enjoys snowshoeing and fatbiking on narrow primitive trails and has established several of the new trails for these activities.