Even with a record snowfall amount this winter, a spokesperson for the Sandilands Ski Club says the trails have been groomed and are ready for use by skiers. Laurie Silversides says many hours have gone into grooming the trails in Sandilands, at Quarry Oaks and at the Steinbach Fly-In Golf Course.

"The trails have to be packed with a firm base, then they need to be tracked. Most of our groomers have full time jobs so it's difficult to get things up and running." The trails are free to use if you have a membership with the ski club, but if not, Silversides says there is a fee of $5.00 that can be paid when you sign in at one of the golf courses or at the Marchand Store.

She says cross country skiing is a great family event that can be continued throughout a person's life. This year, Silversides says they have a brand new warming shelter at the trails in Saindilands. "After the roof flew off our old warming shelter, we were in dire straights."

Silversides says students from the SRSS building class started the construction of the timber frame structure that includes a changing room, table, and stove, as well as a new bathroom next to the warming shelter. "The warming hut is approximately 30 ft x 24 ft. Our plan was to have a warming hut big enough, that if we held a ski event we'd be able to fit inside."

The Sandilands Ski Club has been around since 1992, making 2017 their 25th anniversary.