Apex Matters “Keeping You in the S’know”
Published by Okanagan Matters Publications
www.ApexMatters.com
Apex Resort is Open until April 6th Nickel Plate is Open until March 29th
Volume 12 : Issue 8 Your FREE Local Snow Culture Newsletter!
Late March 2015
apexmatters@telus.net
250.490.6951
Quick Facts: 2000 copies are printed twice a month from December 2014 through March 2015. Distribution covers Oliver, Okanagan Falls, Kaleden, Penticton & Summerland. Full distribution details, advertising options, and link to join our Apex Matters eNewsletter all at www.ApexMatters.com
Alain enjoying the fresh powder on Monday, March 16th. Photo by James Shalman w
Visit us at www.southokanaganrealty.com
PAMELA JOHNSON
norm@southokanaganrealty.com
LYNDI CRUICKSHANK REALTOR®
REALTOR®
NORM DAVIES REALTOR®
JENNIFER CONNOLLY Interior Designer & Staging Consultant
For all your Apex Real Estate needs, including on-hill inquiries and viewings, contact Lyndi 250-809-1260 or Norm 250-809-1875.
APEX MOUNTAIN INN Newly Renovated Units
#101/102 - Walkout Patio. Sleeps 6. MLS® 150236
#107/108 - Walkout Patio. Sleeps 6.
$79,900
MLS® 149239 $79,900 #409/410 - Top floor, lofted adj. suites. Sleeps 10. MLS® 146930 $118,000
Thank you for helping make us the
Top Selling Real Estate Team
at Apex for the 2014-2015 Season! (as per MLS sales ends from Aug 1/14 - Mar 1/15)
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Thank You From Apex Matters
By Myleen Malllach, Owner & Publisher Well, here we are wrapping up the 12th season of Apex Matters. I am truly honoured and very grateful to have this opportunity to bring you Apex Matters each winter. However, it is you the reader, those who supply content, and most importantly, those businesses that purchase advertising that really make this all possible. For without your continued support each winter, Apex Matters simply would not exist. While I dedicate much time and effort to all aspects of this local snow culture newsletter, it is all the moving parts that make it what it is ... a way of “keeping us all in the s’know” here at Apex. So, a HUGE THANK YOU to all the advertisers, those who submit written content, the photographers, and the many distribution locations on board. Last but not least, I would to thank Okanagan Office Systems for their endless dedication to my print production. They are always there when needed to ensure my deadlines are met. It is great to know that this business stands behind their product and has believed in my small business from day one. Thank you!
p. 250.762.7722 | f. 250.762.2232 toll free 877.311.7722 service@okanaganofficesystems.com 523 Lawrence Avenue, Kelowna
“Serving all your Office Equipment and Stationary needs”
“Like us” on Facebook! All of our combined Facebook Friends qualify for a Free Day Pass Draw happening on March 26th. Like us both today & you could win! Winner TBA on Facebook & in Apex Matters. The March 12th winner was Luke Whitewick!
Apex Mountain Shop Located in the village of Apex Mountain Resort
End of Season Sales Event On Now! Thanks for your Patronage! Specializing in Boot Fitting & Equipment Tuning
www.ApexResort.com
1.877.777.2739
Thank You For a Great Season! You’re invited to our ...
End-Of-Season Party Saturday, March 21st ~ Join the Party 7-10pm LAST NIGHT for Rock Oven Grill! Help us empty the bar!
on our Last Night Open Saturday, March 21st 7-10 pm
Help us empty the bar!
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Season Wrap Up By James Shalman, Apex Mountain Resort General Manager What a strange season this has been weather wise. There were significant snowfalls early in the season, but they were followed by warm weather that even saw rainfall to the top of the mountain. This created some extreme avalanche conditions inbounds that our patrol have not previously witnessed. I must mention how fortunate we are to have such highly qualified and professional patrol looking out for our safety. Then in midJanuary, we went in to a dry spell where we didn’t see any precipitation for two months. A lot of mountains aren’t able to handle a drought like this, but Apex has some unique qualities that make it shine above others. One is that the aspect of Mt. Beaconsfield (the mountain we actually ski on) faces predominantly East and Northeast. This allows us to maintain our snow quality; the sun does not affect our snow for both melting in warmer weather and helps us to maintain our light dry powder for days after a snowfall. The other big factor is the experience of our grooming machine operators. Grooming is not as simple as going up and down the runs and making a perfect corduroy track. It takes years of acquired skill to be able to feel the current conditions and adapt to the terrain to be able to get the outcome we see every morning. A huge hats off to our very experienced grooming crew that helped keep this mountain alive! In a season where some mountains in BC didn’t open at all, opened for just a few weeks, or didn’t have very good conditions Apex has shined. Customers who have ski travelled around BC have been coming in to see us and report that we have the best conditions in BC. Over the past 4 or 5 years, we have had winter like conditions continue right until our closing day. This year we had over a month of ‘spring-like’ conditions with soft snow in the afternoons and temperatures well above freezing. It has been a long time since I have seen that many people with goggle tans and skiing in short sleeve shirts. Now it looks as though winter has returned with over 20 cm’s of snow falling recently and more snow in the forecast. We are keeping our closing date of April 6th, Easter Monday, so get in the last few weeks of beautiful spring riding. Thank you all for being a part of our winter, we hope you had a great time, and I hope to see you on the slopes in the next few weeks.
Emily rippin it up in "The Pit" on Monday, March 16th.
(Photo by James Shalman)
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Sunday March 22nd
World’s
$5 entry
Skier & Boarder who make it the furthest take all Come to Apex to try and beat the world record Rail Grind on skis or a snowboard!
Registration is at 12pm by the Rental Shop
*Unofficial record unless verified by Guinness World Record’s
Competition starts at 1pm at the top of the Magic Carpet
Apex Beach Party Weekend
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Welcome to the Nickel Plate Nordic Centre Office Open 9-3 Daily www.nickelplatenordic.org
56 kms of Groomed & Track Set Ski Trails / 25 kms of Marked Snowshoe Trails Day Lodge & Kitchen Facilities / Heated Washrooms / Change Rooms & Showers Ski & Snowshoe Rentals & Lessons Available
Nickel Plate Junior Racers Skiathon & New Waxing Facilities
The Nickel Plate Junior racers held a successful skiathon to raise money for a new waxing facility at Nickel Plate for use by all members. This project will be undertaken in the Fall of 2015 and completed in time for the 2015/2016 season. Many thanks to the donors, parent volunteers, and the Junior Racers and coaches who skied 130 laps of a 3.5 km loop for two hours. The total amount raised for the wax room was $7096. Thank you to the following sponsors, as well as those sponsors not listed below.
Please Note: Nickel Plate’s last official day open is March 29th. Come out and enjoy fabulous Bronze >$50 Spring skiing conditions over Spring Break! • Dr. Steve Davis
A message from the Nickel Plate Board: We want to thank • Naomi Delury and Trevor Robinson all out members, volunteers and staff for all of their hard • Jane and Pierre Drapeau • Kathryn Golbeck and Francois Jacques work and support this season • Audrey Perry and Sean Dougherty If you have old aluminium ski poles you would like to • Troy Pinsonneault donate to the club, please drop them off at the ticket office. • Richard and Karen Tatham Thank you. • Jane Compardo and Steve Tolnai Looking for a great gift Idea? Nickel Plate has Gift Silver >$100 Certificates available! Please inquire at the Ticket Office. • Aarde Environmental The Elevator Race on March 28th will be the final event of • Jenny Albrechtson the season at Nickel Plate, hosting the cross-country ski leg • Anonymous of the relay race as it goes from the Nickel Plate Lodge to the • Alana and Colin Buckingham Gunbarrel Saloon. • Steve Hardwicke • David and Michelle Kinkade Skill Development Program Update • Diana Forte and Ryan Moseley March 7th was the final day of activities and fun racing for the • David and Sigrun Novak Skill Development Program. A BIG THANK YOU to the prize • Pro Physio sponsors: Peach City Runners, The Bike Barn, Penticton • Sue Severide Recreation and Cross Country Canada. • Kyle and Gillian Stevens Thank you to Audrey Perry and Murray Farbridge for coordinating • Mike Townley this program this year. Many thanks to the volunteer coaches • Tanya and Lloyd Westby and the children who participated! The new SDP Coordinator Gold >$250 for next year is Janelle Parchomchuk. Starting to think about next year, we are always looking for new coaches. The number • Brad Benson of kids we will be able to accommodate in the program next • Brent and Cathy Harrold season will be dependent on the number of coaches we have. • Rick and Karen Selles • White Kennedy Accountants
Platinum >$500 • • • • • •
Darke Creek Carpentry Tom and Leslie Evans T&B Medical Tim and Ingrid Musselman Bell Charlotte and Murali Venkataraman John and Melanie Wilke
CLASSIC / SKATE / BACKCOUNTRY SKIS
SNOWSHOES
214 Main Street, Penticton 250-490-3334 Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 - 5:00 www.PeachCityRunners.com Young skier at Nickel Plate Nordic Centre. (Photo by Kathryn Golbeck)
SALES
SERVICE
RENTALS
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Who is a Potential Nickel Plate Junior Racer? •
Anyone previously registered in the Junior Racer program, or who has been in or completed Level 4 or the Track Attack Level of the SDP program. • Skiers aged 10-17 years who want to ski stronger and faster, and who wish to begin racing. • Sufficiently skilled and motivated participants. This program is particularly suited to those kids who enjoy aerobic sports, who wish to attain a high degree of fitness, and who are fairly self-motivated. If you would like to find out more about the program, please visit the website at www.nickelplatenordic,org and click on “Junior Racers” or contact Sarah Broder: brodersarah@yahoo. ca or Kathryn Golbeck: kathryngolbeck@shaw.ca.
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Skill Development Program Final Day Ski Extravaganza
By Audrey Perry, Program Coordinator On Saturday March 7, 2015 the Skill Development Program at Nickel Plate Nordic Centre held our end of season Ski Extravaganza. This year our special events included a Ski-avenger Hunt and a Mad Dash. 65 kids showed up and were divided into four teams. Each team contained kids from each of the Jack Rabbit levels, as well as the Junior Racers, with 2 coaches and a number of parent volunteers. We had a lot more volunteer help running the Mad Dash and setting up the pot luck. The Mad Dash was made up of a 50m obstacle course and a 100m sprint. The 50m obstacle course consisted of hoops to ski through, stuffed animals to ski around, a rope to ski under and a soccer ball to kick into a goal at the end. Times ranged from 19 seconds for the fastest skier to over 60 seconds. The obstacles changed expectations in the competition. No, the Junior Racers did not have the fastest time! The 100m sprint was great fun to watch too, with some of the coaches sprinting down the track trying to keep up with the Track Attack and Junior Racer kids. Times ranged from 14.8 seconds to over 40 seconds. Not to be out done, some of our Level 1 kids raced both the obstacle and the sprint. For the Ski-avenger Hunt, a list was provided of items to take photos of. Extra points were given for originality and keeping the group together and present in the photos. Team Yellow used their imaginations and great photo skills to win the event, but there were some great photos taken by all the groups with a few crazy videos added in. Once all the sprints were complete and photos were taken, we held an award ceremony, which was followed by a dessert potluck and social for the families and kids. A great day was Nickel Plate Junior Racers ready to participate in the morning of activities with the had by all, and it was a great way to end a fun season. Skill Development Program skiers. (Photo by Lisa Singleton) We are very thankful to Cross Country Canada for providing some Racing Rocks buffs; to The Bike Barn for enough water bottles for all the kids; to Penticton Recreation for some swim tickets; and to Peach City Runners for some amazing door prizes!
Left - Paul Lytle preparing food for the St. Patrick’s Day BBQ at Nickel Plate. Right The Lodge during the St. Patrick’s Day BBQ. (Photos by Kathryn Golbeck)
Weather, Snow & Grooming Conditions Wondering about Snow and Weather conditions at Nickel Plate? For daily reports on grooming, snow, and real-time weather, please visit our website at www.nickelplatenordic.org and click on “Snow Report” and “Current Weather”.
Nickel Plate Nordic Centre is on Facebook (Nickel Plate Nordic Centre) and Twitter (@NickelPlateXC). Follow us for regular updates.
Fun was had by all the kids at the Ski Extravaganza. (Photos by Van Pratt)
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Apex Ski Club Update
with Jorgen Anderson, Head Coach & Program Director What a great season the Apex Ski Club just completed! CanAm U16 was a huge success for the mountain and local businesses. Special thanks for all the volunteers who helped out at the week long event. A Big Shout Out to the Resort for their continued support of Alpine Ski Racing. Special thanks to all the local skiers who let us use a large area of the mountain. Your patience helps build future Olympians! It was so nice to hear all the coaches and racers say how much they enjoy coming to Apex Resort. Our beautiful club cabin was a hit for all involved in the race. Coaches meetings and after race volunteer parties were all part of the action daily throughout the event. Make sure before the season ends that you go have a look at this building. A lot of hard volunteer work went into this project.
A Huge Thanks to Wally!
U12 Provincial ~ Our young racers took the track at Big White last weekend. What a weekend they had! Heming Sola was the racer of the week taking Four Gold. Heming has had quit the season this year. Noa Rogers also was visiting the podium all weekend taking Gold, Silver and Bronze. Ana Large had a solid event as well, taking a 4th place and a Silver. Blanka Gerloczy was able to make it into the top ten in the last slalom placing 8th. Jaras Grant, Jake Erickson and Conner Robinson were all just outside of top ten, but had a solid weekend. Carvers ~ We just completed our program last weekend and the kids finished off their program with a Scavenger Hunt around the mountain followed by the popular report cards at the end of the day. It was a very nice season for these kids and their coaches are all very proud of these little rippers. My favorite time of the day is watching “the snake� at the end of each day. So cool watching the group ski Okanagan Run together. The club is offering a 2nd 3 day camp for $99, which runs from March 21-23. See www.apexskiclub.com for details.
Netting getting installed by volunteers.
Racers in the starting area about to race.
Thank You ~ On behalf of the Apex Ski Club, thank you all for such a great season! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful playground to play in. We truly live in the best place on earth. Please thank those Apex staff members before you leave for the end of the season. Apex Staff make all this happen daily, so we can enjoy winter all season long.
Apex Ski Club was happy to host the CanAm U16 Race with their new club cabin.
ICBC Insurance Out-of-Province Insurance Claims Windshield Replacement ICBC Lifetime/Nation Wide Warranty Computerized Free Estimates
An Apex grooming machine loaded with safety netting to take up to the race course.
250.276.6257 1450 Clark Avenue in Penticton THE BODY SHOP NETWORK FIX AUTO PENTICTON www.pentictoncollisioncentre.com
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Thank You To The Apex Volunteer Patrol
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The 1st Edgestravaganza Event
The 1st Annual “Edgestravaganza” was held on Saturday, March 14th from 11-2 in the Apex Village. What a great way with Ian Bowen, Apex CSP President to kick off Spring Break with a BBQ and entertainment in the As the season is drawing to a close, I would like to express my village. Starring Manu - the fire breathing dragon boy, who thanks and appreciation to the many people who take the time also juggles and makes balloon animals. Thanks also to Steve and energy to become a member of the Canadian Ski Patrol “Scooby" Sheridan on the BBQ. Big Thanks to The Edge Bistro! (CSP). This group of 50 volunteers take a comprehensive first aid course every year. This course runs from September until the beginning of November and covers everything from medical conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes, to sprains and broken bones. Along the way in this two month period, we all have to fit in three hours of training in the use of the AED and CPR. The amount of time spent in class is upwards of 64 hours, and this does not include any time that the person spends studying. Patrollers who have three or more years of experience can take more advanced training on how to use a Sager Splint, as well as injections for various medical emergencies. Once the classroom time is done, new patrollers can expect more training on the mountain. This on-hill training takes another 64 hours to compete. The new patrollers learn everything that it takes to take the patient safely from where they are injured all the way to the infirmary. Some of this training consists of scene management, but most importantly, toboggan handling to the accident scene and then with the patient going from the scene to the infirmary in the village. Once the new patroller has competed all this training, they put it all together with the first aid, and become a CSP member. Each patroller is then assigned to a shift. We have three main Photos courtesy of Kim Anderson shifts (A, B and C), which rotate throughout the season on the weekends. We also have a midweek shift that enhances the Paid Patrol. Each Apex CSP member is expected to work 12 shifts a season. Our shift begins at 8:30 am and finishes at 4:30 pm. Along with our commitment to Apex, there are some local Check Out Sun - Thur 7am - 5pm events that we also provide first aid services for. Two of the For daily specials, Our Tasty Fri - Sat 7am - 9pm most recognizable are the Granfondo and Challenge Penticton. fresh updates & Pizza Menu! Holidays & current weather! These dedicated people spend over 125 hours a year each to Night Skiing become a CSP Patroller. I am proud to be a part of this group of people, so this is why I am saying to all 50 of you THANK YOU for making this commitment to being a CSP patroller.
Best Mountain Views!
Specialty coffees, teas, amazing breakfasts, lunches with homemade soups, sandwiches & loads of treats.
“Take & Bake” Pizzas made fresh to order with your favourite toppings on a delicious stone baked crust. Simply throw it in your oven and dinner is ready in 12 minutes.
Located next to The Mountain Shop in the Apex Mountain Village
To order “Take & Bake” Pizza, or book a Group Function: Colin: 250.488.2400 Chad: 250.490.6585
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Late March 2015
News From Apex Freestyle Club by ronda barzilay
AFC Kudos & Thank you Thank you Myleen of Apex Matters for helping the South Okanagan share in the Freestyle News! Thank you to James and the incredible Apex Mountain Resort Team for all you do in making Apex the best place in the world to train and compete – we would not have the fun and success without your support! Thank you to Chad and Colin and the amazing Edge Team for always being there to support freestyle! An enormous thank you to all the parents, grandparents and friends of freestyle for volunteering your time! We would not be where we are in the Freestyle world without you!
ApexMatters.com
Congratulations to all AFC who competed at Silver Star - Vernon - BC Timber Tour & Super Youth Finals this past weekend! BC Championships Timber Tour Results Slopestyle - March 13 F16 Female - 3rd Shaina Finlayson, 4th Chloe Kober, 5th Anna Spence U14 Male - 3rd Liam Collyer, 6th Brayden Kuroda, 11th Ethan Phillips U18 Male - 3rd Cameron Kapusty, 10th Sheldon Dekock Moguls - March 14 F16 Female - 1st Anna Spence, 3rd Shaina Finlayson, 4th Chloe Kober U18 Female - 2nd Sophia Diamonds U14 Male - 1st Brayden Kuroda, 2nd Ethan Phillips, 5th Liam Collyer, 6th Drew Waddle U16 Male - 5th Max Todd, 7th James Naude Slopestyle - March 15 U16 Female - 3rd Shaina Finlayson, 4th Chloe Kober U14 Male - 1st Brayden Kuroda, 3rd Liam Collyer, 12th Ethan Phillips U18 Male - 4th Cameron Kapusty, 6th Sheldon Dekock 2015 Grand Prix Awards for BC Freestyle Timber Tour 2015 U16 Female Mogul Champion - Anna Spence, 3rd Place Shaina Finlayson U18 Female Mogul Champion - Kassidy Todd, 3rd Place Sophia Diamonds U14 Male Mogul Champion - Brayden Kuroda U18 Male Mogul Champion - Koleton Phipps 2015 Female Overall Mogul Champion - Anna Spence
Hugs and big thank you to the amazing AFC coaching staff of 2015 - Kenni our amazing and always positive and fearless leader and the incredible team of Matt, Nathalie, Jay, Jessica, Jon, Mark, Shaun, Jeff, Debbie and Gary. A big shout out to our sponsors: Penticton Lakeside, IGA Penticton & Summerland, Kraft Canada, Covert Farms, The Edge Bistro, Gunbarrel Saloon, Apex Mountain Shop, ECM, Penticton Western, Penticton Herald, Global TV, and Pentagon. AFC will be offering extra sessions of Club Plus over Spring Break and those who are not in AFC Club Plus you are welcome to Drop In at $20 per day - please contact Coach Kenni to confirm your spot. There will be 3 coaches for sure and possibly more, so we will be able to train in a variety of disciplines. Please visit our club calendar! There will be six Club Plus days and the regular weekend days over Spring Break. Congratulations to AFC athletes who competed Le Massiff - Quebec - Canada Cup this past weekend: Koleton Phipps, Mackenzie Schwinghamer, Mason Barzilay, Hayden Person, Noah Spence, Kassidy Todd, Kyle and Madison Parker, and Josh Kober. Congratulations Cam Kapusty and Riley Culver on competing in the Difference Capital Canadian Open Tour Slopestyle at Canada Olympic Park! Big Competition Cam - outstanding performance!
2015 Male Overall Mogul Champion - Brayden Kuroda 2015 Spirit Award - Shaina Finlayson BC Championships Timber Tour Results for Super Youth U10 - Rhya Covert - 1st in Moguls, 1st in Slopestyle and 2nd in Medley U12 - Chad Collyer - 2nd in Moguls, 1st in Slopestyle and 9th in Medley Alex Collyer - 5th in Moguls, 35th in Slopestyle and 17th in Medley Alec Henderson - 1st in Moguls, 36th in Slopestyle and 30th in Medley Ethan Morf - 22nd in Moguls, 22nd in Slopestyle and 9th in Medley Harry Ward - 33rd in Moguls, 28th in Slopestyle and 36th in Medley U14 - Faolan Covert - 5th in Moguls, 4th in Slopestyle and 4th in Medley Nate Parsons - 4th in Moguls, 3rd in Slopestyle and 8th in Medley Medley - a special combination event which included Slopestyle, moguls and bit of almost forgotten freestyle discipline of ballet.
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
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On The World Cup Mogul Circuit
with Andi Naude And that’s a wrap! The 2014/15 World Cup Season has already come to an end, and I am extremely excited to have finished on such a high note! I managed to achieve a personal best in dual moguls (4th place) at the World Cup Finals, and ended up ranked 5th overall in the World Cup standings! The World Cup Finals were held last weekend (March 15th) in beautiful Apex’s Andi Naude, Megève, France. The weather was 2014 Canadian National beautiful, the course was fun, and Above photos courtesy of Kim Anderson Mogul Champion the event ran very smoothly. It was a special event for me because exactly three years ago, at the Other Upcoming Competitions & AFC Events same venue, I participated in my first ever World Cup. It was Val St Com, Quebec - Senior Nationals - March 19th - 22nd great to be back! Final Weekend for Jumps & Bumps - March 21st This season has been filled with many challenges, but also Silver Star, Vernon - Throwdown Hoedown - March 27th - 29th triumphs. With that being said, I believe that I have had my best season so far. I achieved and surpassed all of the goals I Silver Star, Vernon - Junior Nationals - April 2nd - 5th set for myself at the beginning of the competition season, and Media - Ronda Barzilay - 250.878.4252 - rondabarzilay@shaw.ca I am really happy with the improvements I made. Additionally, my teammates and I managed to rank 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and apexfreestyleclub.com 6th in the overall female World Cup standings. To top it all off, Canada won the Nations Cup, which is awarded to the top freestyle ski nation in the world. I am truly honoured and proud to be a part of this team. S L JIBBIN I G HITTING RA Now it is time for a month of rest, school, and conditioning G IN we start the off-season in May. It is always very nice to D I MOGULS before SL have some time to recover after a long season of competing, yet I can hardly wait to get back at it! TALLY JOIN AFC FOR A SICK T O T I want to say a huge thank you to my coaches, my family, my IME W apexfeestyleclub.com NO teammates, and all of you for the unbelievable help, support, and love. I seriously could not have done it without you! Have a great summer and see you all soon!
AFC NEW SCHOOL SKIING
JUMPS
"Snow Road" ~ Photo by Leigh Trussler
Andi Naude with the two Nations Cup Globes. (Photo by Audrey Robichaud)
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Late March 2015
Quality Snow Grooming At Apex
By Myleen Mallach What is the next best thing to riding untouched champagne powder? A full run of untracked perfectly groomed corduroy! The first scenario is completely weather dependent and doesn’t last long at all. However, the second scenario happens every single night at Apex! In fact, Apex has won awards over the years for their fantastic grooming. The Apex Grooming Team of 6 members has an impressive combined 93 years of experience, so they know exactly how to create a perfect snow product that keeps the riders coming back for more. Each night between 4pm-8am, there are 2-3 groomers working at once, covering the entire mountain. One of the snowcats has over 1km of winch cable, so entire runs like “The Ridge” are groomed by winch, allowing for a better product in the end. It takes about one hour per run to groom, using a pattern where the overlap makes the corduroy seamless. Certain conditions are ideal, like 10cm of fresh snow, while too much fresh snow or melt-freeze can make grooming a real challenge. Just like anything that is man-made and created for the simple pleasure of others to enjoy, there are countless hours spent, science and art combined, and pride taken in a job well done. Knowing the terrain, snow conditions and machine’s capabilities, all allow for these snowcat drivers to create the perfect snow surface that riders love to carve. A HUGE THANK YOU for all your amazing grooming work this season!
From left to right - Neil, Pat and Mike all have well over 20 years of experience each.
Check out the “Daily Grooming Report” at apexresort.com. You can also find the list of “Today’s Groomed Runs” posted at the top of both chairlifts, as well as in the village. Enjoy the corduroy!
ApexMatters.com
The True Story Behind "Ben's" Run Below is a recent email received by Apex Mountain Resort Good Morning Apex Mountain! I was showing my girlfriend, who’s yet to ski in Canada, the website and talking her through some of my favourite parts of the hill when she happened upon the ‘what does Apex mean to you’ part of the site. She asked me, I told her, and she suggested I tell you, too, what the mountain means to my family and I. In 1997 we came to Apex with my terminally ill brother, Ben, for what would be our last holiday together. He was aged nine at the time and had been battling an inoperable brain tumour since the age of five. Late 1996 we knew he wouldn’t survive the coming year, but had a window in which his cancer could be managed, his pain controlled and some quality of life maintained. Neither he nor I had skied and, on advice of a friend of theirs, my parents took us to Apex. At Apex we laughed - we smiled and we laughed - and we played like a family without a care, in a magical wonderland, that seemed a million miles away from the grim realities of life. Ben had no hair, as a result of heavy chemotherapy, which in England people would stare at. At Apex nobody noticed. Some days he’d adopt his very ‘distinctive’ tucked position, head down the Grandfathers Trail and shoot off onto what was then Derringer. Some days he wouldn’t - he’d drift past and head down to the corner. Some days a cookie might be eaten in the Billy Goat Hut, and others not. But it was his choice, which was why it was so important. So, what does Apex mean to me? Apex was where I learned to ski. It was where I learned to hit powder, tackle the steep, blast through trees, race and throw myself from edge to edge with an aggressive enthusiasm that makes me smile every time, anywhere in the world I ski. But, all of that is irrelevant. Apex gave my brother his dignity back, and it gave him control of his decisions. It took away his pain for a short while and gave our family the opportunity to remember what life was like without the darkness of cancer hanging over us. Apex allowed me to have memories of my brother smiling and happy, and memories of being a family without the pain of knowing what the future held. It allowed me to learn something new with a brother, and explore somewhere exciting with him, just one last time. We were incredibly humbled when, later, the then operations manager, Gary Gierlich, told us the mountain wanted to rename Derringer in Ben’s memory. Apex, and the fantastic people there, have given us somewhere on the other side of the world to permanently come back to. A small stretch of mountain in Canada on which a British family was able to, temporarily, stop time. But most importantly of all, for those two weeks, Apex gave a dying child the opportunity to live. And, that is what Apex means to me. Thank you , Apex, and all the best to the team there. Hopefully see you all at some point in the future. It’s been far too long! From James McMillan of Somerset, England
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
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Elevator Race ~ Saturday, March 28th With LIVE BAND “UNCORKED” at the GB! The Ladies Day Snowshoe Group of 23 off to the Moose Hut. (Photo by Julia Valenti)
We look forward to welcoming you back next December. Enjoy your summer! Check our Facebook Page for information on The 3rd Annual
GUNBARREL BLOW OUT BUFFET! Our Last Day Open - Sunday, April 5th
Good Food. Good Service. Good Times. gunbarrel@shaw.ca
250.292.8515
Powder Day in Apex Back Country! (Photo by Johnny Smoke)
Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) members at Apex Resort. On left - Owen Nichols and his dog Chino. On right - Steve Ritchey and his dog Charlie. Owen and Steve are paid members of the Apex Ski Patrol and are also volunteer members with Penticton Search & Rescue. Thanks for always being ready to help us!
Snow formations found at Apex. Left - On Grandfathers Trail. Right - At Stock's Chair.
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Late March 2015
ApexMatters.com
Another Alpine Snowboard World Cup Season is a Wrap By Shandia Cordingley, BScPT, CAFCI, CGIMS, COMT(Aus) Registered Physiotherapist at the Sports Clinic The 2014-2015 FIS Alpine Snowboard World Cup Tour has come to a close. This was my 5th season working with the Canadian National Alpine Snowboard Team as their lead physiotherapist and once again, I thought I would provide some highlights from the past season. After the craziness that was the Olympics last year, the team had an extended off-season and was not back on snow until October when we had two 10 day camps at Copper Mountain in Colorado. As all of us at Apex know, we have had some very inclement weather all over the globe this winter. Our season was to begin with most of the world cup field competing in four Nor-Am Cup races at Copper. Unfortunately, due to a lack of snow, these races were cancelled and we had to make the best of some difficult training conditions. Next up was to be a December training camp in Europe ahead of the first World Cup in Carezza, Italy. Once again, due to lack of snow the World Cup was postponed and the women’s team moved their training camp to right here at Apex Mountain Resort. As many of you know, Apex’s own Ray Keetch was the technician for the team while they trained at Apex and Ray did not fail to impress the coach and athletes with his skills. The girls stayed at my house and the team had an incredible week of training at Apex and headed into Carezza well prepared. We were in Italy for a whole four days for that first World Cup and the Canadian team got off to a strong start with two podiums. On the women’s side Caroline Calve had a 2nd place finish and on the men’s side Jasey-Jay Anderson (Gold medalist in Vancouver) took 3rd place. (It is so fun having athletes on the podium!!)
After the Christmas break the team headed back to Europe for the next block of races with a new addition to the team! After the strong impression he had on the team at Apex, Ray was asked to join the women’s team as their tech for two World Cup races and the World Championships in Austria. I joined the team for World Champs in Lachtal and Ray was fitting right in on tour forging new relationships with our athletes and staff, as well as with the techs from all of the other countries. I’m glad Ray was able to join our team and get a little glimpse into life on tour!
Carezza Podium - Shandia celebrating the podium finishes with Jasey-Jay and Caro.
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Ray in Lachtal, Austria at World Championships with Ariane, Marianne and Caroline.
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Unfortunately, Canada had no podiums at Worlds, but the effort was there. Our top finishes were in parallel GS with JaseyJay in 5th; on the women’s side Marianne Leeson was 8th and Caroline was 10th. Due to some changes in funding, the entire team was not able to attend every World Cup race this season. Recently though, I was lucky enough to be able to join the team again in Japan, a stop that has not been on the tour for a few years. It is always exciting getting to visit a new place and experience a new culture!
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Japan did not disappoint, what an amazing country with even more amazing people, oh and the food, amazing as well! We were in Asahikawa, Hokkaido (North Island), about a 2 hour drive north of Sapporo. We had two World Cup races as well as an International Cup ‘Friendship’ Race, which was a blast. The team had some top 8 finishes in Japan, as well as some personal bests for a few of our younger riders. After Japan some of the athletes continued on to Moscow and then Germany for World Cup Finals.
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Japan was the last race of the season for me with the team and I couldn’t have asked for a better trip to finish off with! From a physiotherapy stand point, this season went very smooth as my athletes stayed healthy; therefore, I was mostly doing maintenance work or dealing with smaller acute injuries. After the intensity of the 2 years leading in to Sochi and Sochi itself, for me this year was a chance to take in the broader experience of being on tour. I love being a part of the Canadian Team who I consider family, but I was also able to grow the friendships I’ve formed with athletes, staff and other therapists from all over the world! Watching closely as athletes struggle, persevere and accomplish their goals, no matter what country they represent, is a pretty special experience. There were a lot of changes after the Olympics, with staffing and athletes retiring and there will be more this year. There were some emotional ‘goodbyes’ in Japan, but no matter the changes, next to the lifetime of memories, the thing I treasure the most from the past 5 seasons are the lifelong friendships that have formed! It is because of my career as a physiotherapist that I have been able to have this incredible opportunity. I have worked hard, but mostly I have always been, and continue to be, surrounded by incredible colleagues and mentors. Thank you to all the amazing staff and clients at Dale Charles and Sports Clinic Physiotherapy who have continued to support me while I come and go from one adventure to the next. Until next season ... 1
Shandia posing with some enthusiastic Japanese kids.
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S P O I 6 L E V E R A G 8 E L 9 I Q U I 12 B U D I 15 16 C A P I T O Y S 18 D E B T O R I N G
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The answer key to the left is for the Crossword Puzzle on page 23. The answer key below is for the Sudoku Puzzle on page 22.
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Linda Larson, MLA
~ Boundary-Similkameen 6369 Main Street, Box 998, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 Tel: 250.498.5122 Toll-free: 1.855.498.5122 “Your Voice in Victoria!” Linda.Larson.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Monthly Update From MLA Larson
By Linda Larson, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen With spring comes road construction and I’m pleased to see the walkway on Lakehill Road in Kaleden underway. While many great people in the community have supported the project, I want to personally thank volunteer Kim Dennis for all her help and collaboration in getting this project to the top of the list for the Ministry of Transportation, and thanks also to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and rural director Tom Siddon. This budget is again a balanced one and again not particularly exciting, so I will only mention the continuing support for agriculture. There is another $2 million to support Buy Local programs and $1 million to support the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program, which benefits close to half a million school children including First Nations Schools. I know many of our local organic farmers supply produce for these programs. The Canada Winter Games have concluded in Prince George and while we didn’t have any local young people in Prince George, we did have a Special Olympics Team from the Boundary that won a Gold medal in Floor Hockey at the BC Special Olympics in Kamloops. Congratulations to the seven team members from Grand Forks and their coach for bringing home a medal. The Small Business BC Awards were held recently in Vancouver and several local businesses were nominated. Congratulations to Karoleena Homes in Okanagan Falls, Jane Long, who was nominated in three categories, and Firehall Brewery which finished in the top five for the Premier’s Award. Small business is alive and well in the South Okanagan/Boundary/Similkameen. A Community to Community Forum was held in Keremeos which brought together the entire board of the regional district and First Nations communities. I was able to attend for part of the day and noted the spirit of co-operation shown by all the participants. There is a desire to become better at talking - government to government - on issues of mutual importance and working more collaboratively in the future. Tourism got a boost with the announcement of the next steps in moving forward with Area 27. This is just another example of the partnerships possible with First Nations that benefit all who live in the South Okanagan. Thanks to the OIB and Chief Clarence Louie for creating another great opportunity to attract an untraditional tourist attraction to our area. While wine tourists traditionally think of the Okanagan for excellence in wines, the Keremeos/Cawston area continues to hit the world scene with its wonderful wines. Most recently, Clos de Soleil was recognized for its 2013 Capella by having it served at Canada House in London. Congratulations! In closing, I want to recognize the Open Door Agency in Oliver and the work it does connecting people with all kinds of challenges to meaningful employment. I recently attended Untapped 2015 in Vancouver put on by Open Door BC where individuals and large and small businesses were recognized for their hiring and helping practices. There were 32 nominees this year and the numbers continue to grow. March 11th also marked the 5th Anniversary of Canada’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Canada was one of the first countries to sign the convention and BC has launched Accessibility 2024 to make this province the most accessible in the country. We have a long way to go, but we have many wonderful organizations who every day make the lives of people with disabilities better and businesses that recognize the value of these individuals as employees. Thank you.
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New items from “The Rustic Barrel” on display now in the Accent Fireplace Gallery.
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
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APOA AGM Update
By Julia Valenti, APOA President The APOA Board has had a productive and interesting year. We accomplished a lot in our 5 meetings from April to February and used email to conduct Board business as well. To keep the membership informed of our work, newsletters and information is sent to paid up members via our gmail account and Board members also write in each issue of this publication. The most important issue we are working on at present is maintaining our recreational and tourism values in the face of extensive logging that threatens to impact more and more of our trail systems and the enjoyment of our Apex lifestyle. Please go to our website, apexpropertyowners.com, and read the extensive and well researched articles by our forestry committee and also learn how you can help us in our desire to create logging policy changes at the political level. Come to the AGM if you are a member and if not, also attend and become one. Looking at the agenda, you can see we have a wide scope of information of interest to all who recreate at Apex:
Annual General Meeting March 21st at 3:30pm Apex Mountain Inn
The APOA Board extends best wishes to and gratitude for all the volunteers of organizations at Apex that keep our community vibrant, fun and unique. Much appreciation to Myleen Mallach, publisher of Apex Matters, for keeping us all connected and being the main conduit of information exchange amongst us all. As the season winds down, go into the spring and summer with those fond memories of your Apex winter close to your heart, recalled with warmth, laughter and anticipation for the adventures to begin again in December 2015. Membership: Property Owner - $30 yr / Non-property Owner (Friend of APOA) - $15 yr Mail cheque to: APOA P.O. Box 23016 Penticton V2A 8L7
ww.ApexPropertyOwners.com
APOA Annual General Meeting Agenda Saturday, March 21st at 3:30pm
Apex Mountain Inn Games Room Call to order Approval of March 22, 2014 AGM Agenda minutes Approval of this Agenda - Call for additions/deletions Board Reports: • President - Julia Valenti • Treasurer & Membership - Barry Leigh • Argo Road Maintenance - Phyllis Matthews • Council of Strata Councils - Jeff Brown • Forestry Advisory Committee - Jeff Brown 5. Plaque from APOA in memory of Louise Burgart Announcement - Suzie Anderson 6. Donation from APOA to Apex Fire Brigade Society - $500 7. Fire Brigade Update - Chief Mike Polwykan - 3 min. 8. RDOS Citizens Committee Report - Andrew Allin - 3 min. 9. Argo Road Maintenance Update - Mark Stahl - 3 min 10. Motion: To expand last year’s authorization to spend some of our “rainy day fund” on developing a recreation plan. We will now include the potential hiring of a professional communications person to assist us in driving the regulatory and policy changes needed to protect the recreation and tourism values of our area. The ultimate need for, and the amount to spend, will be at the discretion of the Forestry Advisory Committee and the APOA Board. 11. Call for candidates to stand for Board election 12. Election of Board members 13. Apex Resort Update - James Shalman -10-12 min 14. Questions & Answers for James - 10-12 min 15. Adjourn The Board members are volunteers who join the ranks of all the other great volunteers for organizations on the mountain. There is satisfaction in serving the community of which one is a part. Consider joining our ranks and put YOUR name forth for election to the Board. You will be joining a group of returning Board members who are a strong working team with skill sets that get the work done in a timely and organized fashion. Bring your skill sets to the table and keep the APOA vital and healthy so it can continue to protect and improve our alpine community. 1. 2. 3. 4.
ONYX Castings at the Home Show
By Leann Robbins and the ONYX Team On March 7 & 8, ONYX Castings participated in the Penticton Home & Renovation Show. It was a fantastic show, with even more vendors than the previous year! We love attending trade shows, as it gives us a chance to engage with home owners and find out more about other local businesses. It’s also the perfect venue to showcase the natural beauty of concrete. Thank you to those who took the time to stop by and say hello. We appreciate the support and look forward to working with you! For information or to discuss ideas you might have about working with decorative concrete, call 250.488.2798 or email info@onyxcastings.com Welcome the natural beauty and texture of concrete into your home.
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Late March 2015
Apex Fire Brigade Update with Mike Polywkan, Apex Fire Brigade Chief
ApexMatters.com
would also suggest that we make it clear to the residents of Apex, what our capabilities are and what we would do in the event of a fire and ... be very clear, we are just volunteers with minimal training. Regarding the “Playbook“... we have nothing to worry about. A big “Thank You” is in order to the Rock Oven Grill for the successful LumberJill BrewHaHa event, as they were able to raise enough funds to make a substantial donation to the fire department. I attended this function in my turnout gear and helped sell the raffle tickets for the carvings. Thanks to the community for the great support. We all had a lot of fun. Don’t forget the APOA AGM on Saturday, March 21st. I will be giving a short update on our status and what sort of vision we have for the future of the department. The APOA will also be making a donation to the department. We will have shirts and hats for sale if anyone is interested, and we can take orders for the address signs at this time as well. Have a safe and fun ski season!
We have an update from the Fire Commissioner’s Office. The following was communication through letters and phone calls to Mark Rufiange, our Treasurer. I have decided to include it as I have received it, so that the community is as informed as the department: “I received a telephone call today from, Bob Cooper, who is from the Office of the Fire Commissioner. I originally sent a letter asking for clarifications about how the new regulations would effect a small volunteer department, such as ourselves. (See the attached letter below). I did not receive a response, so I sent another email asking him to give me a call. 1. He has sent out letter to, I believe, the Fire Chiefs Association asking for assistance and clarification as well. So, I believe we will eventually get a formal reply. 2. He told me the playbook has been around for quite some time, like 30 years. Most recently, it was revised to make it easier to understand and comply with. For example, he told me at one time all fire-fighters had to have training at the JI (Justice Institute), which was expensive. Now one person can be trained and then train others. 3. The playbook has been essentially created to protect the fire departments from injury (under WorkSafe BC) and liability. 4. He understands our situation and says we don’t really fall into a category that requires compliance to the playbook. We would fall under the “Good Samaritan Act”, because we are only here to assist, have no formal training, and are not professionals. The residents of Apex chose not to have a professional, certified department when they voted it down in a referendum. 5. He said the OFC (Office of the Fire Commissioner), would never come after us if anything happened or if we do not comply with the new playbook. 6. He did, however, suggest that we get an opinion from a lawyer to see where we stand. 7. He said if an injury was to occur in the line of fire-fighting, Get your AFBS Ball Cap & T-Shirt, as well as your reflective address number sign at he is not sure WorkSafe BC would cover us; however, it the APOA AGM on Saturday, March 21st. Help support AFBS with your purchase! should be covered under our normal BC Medical coverage. 8. He talked about the recent fires (3 chalets, side-by-side), at Mt. Washington Ski Resort. Their community also voted down a volunteer department (too costly), and also refused to be covered by a neighbouring department, because it was going to cost the residents an annual fee. The result was 3 fires with no one there to fight them. There were, however, 2 fire hydrants right out front of the chalets, but no one knew where to find fire hoses or equipment. (See link for article: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/ with-no-firefighters-to-call-mt-Washington-chalets-burn-toground-1.1770367) 9. He said Apex is fortunate to have a volunteer group, such as ourselves, even if we are not fully trained or certified.” So, in conclusion, it would probably be a good idea to get a legal opinion of our status as “Good Samaritans”; however, I am sure there would be many opinions if we asked different lawyers. I Recent fire at Mt. Washington claimed 3 chalets, due to no one there to fight them.
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
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Dino’s Snowshoe Diaries - Epilogue
By Dino Giurissevich, Snowshoe Tour Guide It’s hard to believe, but another season is drawing to a close. The weather and snowfall has been weird and wacky to say the least. This year has been the least amount of snowshoeing I have ever done, or not done. This is partly due to the lack of powder snow, which I thoroughly enjoy, and partly to the valley having such amazingly warm weather enabling me to pursue my first passion of mountain biking. So, I sheepishly admit that I have not been out snowshoeing since my last article, which was about my February 18th outing. Therefore, I have no snowshoe adventure to write about. I do want to take this opportunity to thank Myleen for her hard work, dedication and long hours that she puts into every issue of Apex Matters, and for allowing me some extra time now and again when I have not quite met my deadline. I would also like to thank anyone who has read my articles and those that have given me some feedback. I sincerely hope that through reading my Diaries you have been entertained and perhaps learned a thing or two. The accompanying photos are a partial recap of my snowshoe season and a look into the phenomenal scenery and recreation that the Apex area has to offer. We are all so very lucky! Till next season ... Shoe you later!
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Late March 2015
ApexMatters.com
New Zealand
“I’ve always wanted to go there!” Windex blue water, white sand beaches, island hopping and beach bum bach’n on the South Pacific one day, black sand beaches, rugged coastline, stunning treks on the Tasman Sea the next. Experience the adventure capital of the world and a culture like no other! Let our knowledgeable and experienced guides shorten your 2015/16 Winter with this safe and fun adventure; filled with history, culture, flora and fauna of Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. Day 1-5: Arrive in Auckland and make our way 45 minutes north. Stay in a traditional Kiwi batch right on the beach. Spend 7 days relaxing and island hopping on day long sea kayaking trips, return to the bach at the end of the day and relax on the beach or site see with your guide. Snorkel at Goat Island and check out the fish from a glass bottom boat. Your guide will assure the week is packed full of fun and exciting things to do, it’s your choice to go along or just relax back at the beach. Day 5-8: Head to coastal town of Hahei on the Cormandel Peninsula and spend 3 days paddling to beaches rated amongst the most beautiful in the world! Visit Hot Water Beach and lounge in your own personal beach hot spring, all while staying at a traditional NZ beach house.
Day 8-11 Head to the rugged West coast for a day of trekking and a day of canyoning! Spending 2 days at a surf bach at the popular Piha surf beach; experience some true kiwi culture, as you enjoy the stunning views and day hikes from your front door. Day 11-12 Take a harbor ferry or paddle to the islands, hike to the top of the Rangitoto Volcano, wine tour Waiheke Island and site see around Auckland; including Kelly Tarltons Underwater World, the Auckland Museum and more. This trip cost will include: * Flight - Direct Vancouver to Auckland * Transportation while in New Zealand (including ferry tickets) * Accommodation at Beach House Rentals * Meals (if you decide to go out for any meals, it will be at your own cost) * Guided Tours " The trip to NZ Fall of 2014 was well planned and offered an excellent blend of kayaking, hiking and sight-seeing. Lyndie, our guide, was very familiar with the area and local operations and offered a wealth of information throughout the trip. Lyndie was acutely aware of the participants abilities and comfort levels and provided a safe trip. Her creativity was evident with a number of ad hoc adventures and she was very receptive to her guests requirements. The group was small and very like-minded, making for a seamless and smooth trip. Highly recommend this trip or any package put together by Hoodoo Adventures." Debbie Edge - 2014 NZ Adventurer
Trip Leader: Lyndie Hill Lyndie was a resident of New Zealand for 7 years and was guiding and instructing in the outdoors there for 6 years. She has family there and knows the area, its history, flora and fauna very well and has guided there in both sea kayaking, rock climbing and trekking expeditions Lyndie holds multiple qualifications in the New Zealand outdoor recreation industry. Her network there allows her to some of the best equipment, local knowledge and “hook-ups” for the perfect Kiwi experience.
Date: November 2014 Contact us at team@hoodooadventures.ca for more information on pricing and tour options - tours are catered to the group - mountain biking also avail.
ApexMatters.com
A Message From Weyerhaeuser
Late March 2015
By Brian Drobe, Planning Forester - Okanagan Falls/Princeton Weyerhaeuser Company Limited At the recent public forum to discuss logging in the Apex area, there was interest from those in attendance to receive more information on Weyerhaeuser’s operations in the area. In this article we would like to share both our planning initiatives that have been discussed with the APOA Forestry Committee, as well as provide information on our silviculture practices. Planning Initiatives As mentioned during the public forum, a number of items have been discussed with the Forestry Committee at recent meetings with the goal of reducing impacts to recreation values in the area, assisting with minimizing conflicts between motorized and non-motorized recreation uses, and improving the general understanding of our longer term plans for the area. Within the Intensive Recreation Area that is part of the broader Apex landscape, we have discussed with the Forestry Committee a possible option of establishing a limited amount of areas reserved from harvesting onto areas of high density trails systems. We are still looking at whether this option is feasible. The Intensive Recreation Area (IRA) described in the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) is sub-divided into smaller areas, each with restrictions how harvesting is to be done. We have had preliminary discussions as to how, where, and when harvesting will occur in these specific areas using feedback from the Forestry Committee. We have not arrived at any firm plans. Just as a longer term view of forest development is necessary, we have suggested that a longer term plan for recreation trails be developed. We have suggested possibly establishing as least some recreation trails within areas that were reforested many years ago and will not be harvested again for a considerable period of time. As Weyerhaeuser has done in the past, we will endeavor to have our hauling completed by approximately the middle of December to avoid the increased traffic on the Apex road during the holidays and the main ski season. Weyerhaeuser proposed to create a better unloading area for snowmobiles at the Strayhorse Road junction and has worked with the snowmobile club to promote road systems in the Strayhorse Road area for snowmobiling. The intent was to move some of the snowmobiling activity away from areas that have established snowshoeing and cross country ski trails. Most recently, discussion occurred with the Forestry Committee regarding developing a designated snowmobile route from the village out to the Strayhorse area. The intent as per the above initiative is to reduce the overlapping recreation uses of trails. Weyerhaeuser does meet occasionally with other licensees who have harvest plans both in the Apex area and in other parts of our operating area in the Southern Okanagan. Efforts to coordinate the development planning with other licensees will continue. Given the concerns regarding how much of the Apex landscape will be affected by operations, our mapping department is preparing a map which better defines areas in which no harvesting will occur, as well as classifying older cutblocks by their state in becoming new forests (age and height). We hope this map will help to depict that mosaic of forest cover that will
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exist rather than perceptions of continuous cleared areas. It is our intention to continue to provide the APOA and its membership updated information on these planning initiatives on a regular basis. Silviculture Program When Weyerhaeuser operates in the Apex area, the harvesting season is approximately from August through to the middle of December. The harvested areas are prescribed for mechanical site preparation, which occurs the following year with planting being done the next year in the months of May and June. One year old seedlings are planted and have a better than 95% survival rate. Site preparation is done to improve both the survival and growth of seedlings by increasing soil temperature and reducing competition from other vegetation. In 2014, 260,000 trees were planted and 99% of the areas followed the above harvesting, site prep, and planting cycle. As no harvesting occurred in the Apex area in 2013, the planting numbers for 2015 are 13,500 seedlings to deal with prior harvesting. The forecast planting program for 2016 is nearly 300,000 trees to be planted on areas 92% of which were logged last year. Performance surveys are done four years after planting and across our operations it is not uncommon to find almost double the number of trees that were planted. Numbers increase as new trees establish naturally and trees that were left at the time of harvest are also counted. For more information, please contact Brian Drobe directly by email to brian.drobe@weyerhaeuser.com.
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
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Seeds of Love, Joy & Happiness
Handicapped Skiers
By Vince Rabbitte, Ski School Emeritus These ideas might have been better promulgated earlier in the season. One school day at Apex, I noticed a mother with her young son who was having trouble getting into his skis and moving around on them. She resorted to letting the little boy slide on his seat or back into a pile of soft snow. He was having fun, so I complimented her on what she was doing. I then suggested that once he got bored with sliding, he should try getting on to his skis and moving around a little. He would also learn to get on and off his skis. This element of getting on and off his skis is most important. It is also very important for any young person to learn to get up from a fall. Then the question arose about the use of poles. I reasoned that the use of poles was important to a youngster with motor problems. The poles would help him with his balance, improve his shoulder and arm muscles, help him get on and off his skis and improve his over all movement and coordination, as he learns to propel himself around on a flat surface. On the flat even surface, he should learn to make patterns on the snow such as circles and figures of eight. These movements are very difficult for some one who is handicapped, but a good teacher who is very patient and inventive will get results. A thoughtful dedicated instructor would then move on to a slope no greater than a metre high that slopes to a flat snowy surface. Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time ... ~ Voltaire Human movement, is from within; outward ... ~ Freud Confidence is a plant of slow growth ... ~ The New Testament
By Lilou, from Rippin’ Rascals Daycare As the southern breeze is blowing on our beloved playground, it’s now time to say goodbye and think about what seeds we’re going to plant in our gardens. Even if I learned “long” ago that the only constant thing in life is change, I always feel a little nostalgic when the wind blows. “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”, said Winnie the Pooh ... And, he’s so right! I feel so incredibly grateful right now. I’m thankful for the lucky star who lightened my path to Apex, and to those adventures that taught me to listen to my inner voice, even when it seems to be talking non-sense. Non-sense because, as a snowbird, spending winter on a ski hill was a pretty silly idea. But, the compelling was so strong that I came without questioning. The first few weeks were particularly challenging ... Then, I got on the slopes and discovered a brand new world, fell in love with a mountain, and a community. I need to give thanks to all of you who welcomed me so nicely here, to parents who brought their precious little ones to me, and to every child who came to visit. Some brought me great challenges, some shared precious, magic time with me, gave me new eyes to see ... Each child who crossed my path was a blessing, because they are the greatest teachers! Playing to work, working to play ... I discovered new faces of the word ‘Joy’, and deeper meanings to the word ‘Flow’. Thanks to each of you for inspiring my journey in Winter Wonderland. I can honestly say I had the winter of my life! Then, what’s next? Most of you already know my love for the Naramata community. I came last summer with the feeling that something special was going to happen here, that the key to the “Rainbow Kids Yoga Magic Bus” was somewhere around, waiting for me. Well, let’s plant seeds of love, joy, and happiness, and see how it grows. It’s in the stars, let it flow!
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Jardin Estate Jewelry & Antiques Recycling the Elegance of the Past 5221 Hwy 97 Okanagan Falls
250.497.6733
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Fresh BC Talent Quest - Season 3 SPECIAL THANK YOU to all of our Workshop Presenters and our Workshop Sponsors for a very successful Performers/Adults Workshop weekend at Even Dance on March 1st and 7th. Online Registration continues at www.cmeliveproductions. com until both Group B & C are completely booked up. Group A ~ All 15 spots BOOKED UP for 9-13 year olds. Group B ~ 14-18 year olds - Only 5 more acts to register! Group C ~ Duo’s, Trio’s, or Bands, Dancers, etc., up to six members per group. Looking for 4 acts to complete this group. Limited performer spaces available. Bookings accepted on a ‘first come’ basis. Preliminary round starts Saturday, April 11th. Full details on website. Denis Chaykowski, Fresh BC Talent Quest, SEASON 3 - 2015 www.cmeliveproductions.com // 250 460 2221
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Tunes to Turn to ... Jay’s Pick This Issue: Artist: Hothouse Flowers Album: The Best of ... Track: “Don’t Go”
Sadly, another season is coming to a end. When you listen to some of the first lines of this song, you now some of this has already started to happen in the valley. This season was challenging for every mountain, but we prevailed! Sure conditions weren’t like past seasons; however, we were still riding! Also, Ullr gave us faith that we will ride to the end. So, “don’t go” yet. Enjoy the spring snow and sun up here at Apex! Thanks for listening and we will ski you next year! Jay is a life-long skier, who has skied this great country from coast to coast. Join him this season in “Tunes To Turn To” with whatever he finds to share. YouTube his tunes and join in.
SALES & SERVICE Your Complete Bike Store The South Okanagan’s Family Bike Shop Mountain, Triathlon & Road Bike Specialists
bikebarn.ca
300 W. Westminster Ave.
250-492-4140
Thank You from the GROOV-A-MATICS
Swingin, Melodic Rocker Pop, Shaken with Rhythm and Blues, Stirred with Torch and Twang By Julia Valenti, Groov-A-Matics Band Member The Groove-A-Matics are saddened to announce the death of the father of our lead guitar player Marco. As a result, the gig at the Gunbarrel scheduled for March 29th is thus CANCELLED. Thank you to the hillbillies for your fantastic support coming to our gigs this season, to the Rock Oven Grill for hosting us and to the Gunbarrel for offering us the March 29th aprés ski slot. Many of you are on our email list for further upcoming gigs and if you would like to get on the list, please email rjvalenti@ nethop.net to be added. See you all on the hill as this wonderful season winds down. Keep the jukebox playin’ ... “The Groov-A-Matics”
24 Hour Emergency Service Water & Fire Damage Restoration Wind Damage Odour Control
Insurance Work Handled Promptly Asbestos/Mold Remediation
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Available at Apex Trading Post
From the Heart For the Heart 989 Cellar Road, Oliver, BC 250.498.2211
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We handle residential and commercial disasters with expertise and exceptional customer service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Serving APEX Mountain and Area for over 24 years!
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ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
Quick, Affordable Massage During Tourist Season
By Ryan Oickle, Peach City Massage Living in the Okanagan, you know that tourism season is fast approaching. In Penticton, I’ve been told the population triples in the summer. Not sure the exact increase, but it’s definitely busy here. Here’s how to find affordable massage when you need it: Okanagan & Skaha Lake Beaches ~ Starting in mid-May, we’ll be returning to the beaches of Penticton. With no appointment needed, you can come for at least ten minutes, but why not make it 90! Mobile Massage ~ If you prefer a massage in the comfort of your own home (or your hotel room if visiting), give me a call. At the same cost of going into a spa or clinic, this convenient service is great for either personal care or corporate events. In-Studio Massage ~ I will continue to offer in-studio massage during the summer. It’s best to book at least 24 hours ahead of time to ensure a spot. Sign up for the mailing list at www.PeachCityMassage.com to hear about special offers, like the new membership plan: Buy 5 and get the 6th massage free! You can even sign up from your phone! And finally, take the guesswork out of your diet and work with a Registered Holistic Nutritionist in Penticton or online. Visit www.HolisticHealthInBalance.com, or call 250.462.9786.
Rural Agency Liquor Store and Grocery Store
Come Help Us Get Rid Of Our Stock!! Thanks for all the support this season. Michael, Joe, Darlene, Jen, Julia & Charlotte. Sunday - Thursday ~ 8am - 7pm Friday & Saturday ~ 8am - 10pm
250.486.0354 www.ApexTradingPost.com
At the end of the day, leave the hill with no regrets. Wear a helmet!
Peach City Massage
In-Room: APEX, Penticton & surrounding areas. - Studio sessions available in Penticton -
Book Now! 250.870.0868
www.
PeachCityMassage.com
South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society #2 - 996 Main Street, Penticton, BC V2A 5E4 Ph: 250-490-0613 Fax: 250-490-3912 Email: info@sosbis.com Website: www.sosbis.com
John Davis Contracting Apex Matters Sudoku Puzzle Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically and without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square. Answer on page 13.
Premier Apex Builder ~ Since 1994
Strata Maintenance & All Repairs
Skidsteer Service ~ Excavation, Backfill, Site Prep & Driveway Grading
John (Diesel) Davis ~ 250.490.7952 johndaviscontracting@gmail.com
ApexMatters.com
Late March 2015
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Answer Key on Page 13.
Over 50 years in Business!
Jeff & Jennifer Van Os
250-492-8315 apexskishop@yahoo.ca 1055 Westminster Ave. W.
Looking To BUiLD A CUSToM HoME?
Contact Nicola Nuttgens for your free consultation. 800-663-2558 x116 • 250-488-9541 nnuttgens@linwoodhomes.com
Please Note: No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage resulting from the use of this publication. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement. All authors/advertisers are provided with a proof of their submission and their final approval must be in place in order to be published. Š 2015 Okanagan Matters Publications.
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Late March 2015
ApexMatters.com
Apex Matters Photo Gallery - Full page each issue Courtesy of Shaun Kennedy ~ 250.487.1368 ~ www.MomentsUnderFrame.com