Apex Matters November 2023 by Apex Matters

Apex Matters “Keeping You in the S’know”

Fresh snowfall at Nickel Plate Lake on November 7, 2023 ~ Photo by preservedlight.com

Volume 20 : Issue 3 Your FREE Local Snow Culture Newsletter!

November 2023

Getting Psyched For The Season By Myleen Mallach, Owner/Publisher of Apex Matters Welcome to the season opening countdown! The hype is in the air, the mountain is covered in white, the snow guns are fired up, and we’re all watching the weather in hopes of a great snow base for our winter playground. Soon, we’ll all be back for another season. In this issue, we have some great content to share. We start with a message from James Shalman, GM of Apex Mountain Resort, followed by Kevin Dyck, Communications & Marketing Manager for Nickel Plate Nordic Centre. Opening dates are set ... November 24 for Nickel Plate and December 9 for Apex, but as usual in the early season, our actual fate is in the hands of Mother Nature. So, keep up those “Ullr Snow Dances” and follow Snow-Forecast.com. In the meantime, enjoy hearing updates and absorb the pre-season energy building from our local clubs, non-profit groups, businesses and our nationally competing athletes, who are all eager to get this season underway. Our local politicians share their latest news, plus there are some great events coming up that you won’t want to miss. Getting psyched for the season is easy with Apex Matters, as we are committed to “Keeping You in the S‘know”! Published by Okanagan Matters Publications apexmatters@telus.net | 250.490.6951 | ApexMatters.com Quick Facts: Apex Matters is published monthly from September 2023 through March 2024. Distribution covers Okanagan Falls, Kaleden, Penticton, Summerland and around Apex Mountain. Full advertising options, read past issues online, and link to join our Apex Matters eNews are all at ApexMatters.com. We’re now celebrating our 20th season in print! Please Note: No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent 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, and retain the right to edit all copy. Every effort has been made to make this publication as accurate as possible. All authors and advertisers are provided with a proof of their submission and their final approval must be received to be published. © 2023 Okanagan Matters Publications.

Welcome To The Season Ahead By James Shalman, Apex Mountain Resort General Manager The first significant snowfall has blanketed the mountain, the temperatures are dropping and the excitement for another season ahead is growing daily. We have had a busy summer on the mountain, aside from the usual maintenance to our infrastructure, we purchased a new grooming machine (our second addition to our ﬂeet in the past two years), had a full time crew doing trail maintenance and village improvements. We would like to thank all of the residents who continued to keep their properties clear of fire fuel after the scare of the forest fire last summer that came close to the resort. If we continue to be FireSmart with not only the residents, but those visiting the area in the summer, we can reduce the risk of forest fires. You will notice a few changes on the mountain for this season. The hockey rink boards were beyond the state of repair, so we reevaluated the importance of the hockey rink in our prime parking area. We have leveled where the hockey rink used to be and created more parking. The new location of the hockey rink will be in the lower parking lot below the waste transfer station. The ice skating loop and light system suﬀered a significant amount of damage during the heavy rime snowfall event last season, which saw hundreds of trees snap in half throughout the resort and community last winter. We have put the electrical cables underground to protect them from future heavy snowfall events and ensure our skate loop amenity will not be damaged. We have spent the summer building a new website, which should be ready to be launched by December 1st. Check out our new look and don’t forget to follow us on our social media for mountain updates, news and everything Apex.

OPEN till 9pm when the lifts are running!

Get Your Edge Wear! T-shirts, Toques & Hoodies!

Sun - Thur 7am - 5pm Fri - Sat 7am - 9pm Holidays & Night Skiing

ow open!

nd Online ordering & take out wi Best Mountain Views! Open Daily Nov 24!

Specialty coffees, teas, amazing breakfasts, lunches with homemade soups, sandwiches & loads of treats.

“Artisan Take & Bake” Pizzas Made fresh to order with your favourite toppings on a delicious stone-baked crust. Gluten-free & vegan options now available.

Located next to at Greift The Mountain Shop in the G s! Apex Mountain Village Idea

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The Mountain Shop received a reno this summer, which has opened up more space and given it a great new more open look. There are new product lines in both soft and hard goods and new this year the Mountain Shop will be carrying cross country equipment. If there is something you would like and we don’t have it, let us know and we will see what we can do to get it for you. There are some beautiful new murals that were painted this summer. See if you can locate them and a big thanks to Elise for her artistic talent and creative winter ﬂair. We are excited to welcome Sheryl as our new General Store manager, who is bringing fresh ideas and products to the store. Come say ‘hi’ and if there are products you would like the store to carry, please let Sheryl know. The first day of operations for the season will be Saturday, December 9th, unless Mother Nature allows us to open earlier like last season. The final day of operations will be after the Easter long weekend on Monday, April 1st. We can’t wait to welcome all of you back to the mountain and look forward to seeing you all on the slopes.

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Movie Night at Slackwater Brewing on November 23, 2023 Raffle Prizes - Including a new pair of skis! See Freestyle Apex on pages 8-9.

Nickel Plate Nordic Centre Update By Kevin Dyck, Marketing & Communications Manager Embrace the Winter Magic: Nickel Plate Nordic Centre’s Upcoming Season ~ Winter is on the horizon, and the Nickel Plate Nordic Centre is gearing up for a season filled with snowy adventures and heartwarming moments. As we started packing snow October 24th (and hardy souls are already skiing!), we’re thrilled to announce what’s in store for the upcoming season. Opening Day - Friday, November 24th ~ Mark your calendars for our grand re-opening on November 24th. It’s a day we’ve all been eagerly waiting for as Nickel Plate returns to life. But that’s not all! This year, we’re adding an extra layer of excitement. From November 10th to 12th, we’re hosting a bonus weekend to let you dive into winter fun even earlier. It’s the perfect opportunity to savour the pristine snow, get your legs moving, and beat the rush. Don’t miss this extended weekend of snowy adventures. Early Season Masters Refresher Camps ~ Our new Masters Refresher Camps, scheduled during the early season, are designed just for you. Whether you’re a classic or skate skier, these camps are designed to help you kick the dust off your muscle memory, so you can start the season on the right ... ski. The perennial Rick Watson is running the camps, full of invaluable tips and focused training to refine your technique. To find out more about the Masters Refresher Camps and how to sign up, visit our website. Pricing for Everyone ~ We believe that winter fun should be accessible to all, and we strive to keep our prices as low as possible (to the chagrin of our GM!). Day Passes: Adults (19-64) are $18.50; Youth (6-18) are $10; and Children are Free. Please keep in mind that these prices may be subject to change, so be sure to visit our official website for the most up-to-date information. Youth Ski Development Program (SDP) ~ Is your child ready to embrace the magic of winter and learn to ski? Our Youth Ski Development Program (SDP) is the perfect way to introduce your young adventurer to the joys of snow sports. Whether your child is a beginner or aspires to become a skilled skier, our program offers something for everyone. The SDP is designed to build fundamental skiing techniques, endurance, and a deep love for the sport. Our expert coaches create a supportive environment where your child can thrive, make new friends, and develop lifelong skills. We offer various options, including group sessions, private coaching, and specialized training for those interested in competition. It’s a fantastic opportunity for your child to enjoy the outdoors and nurture their passion for skiing. A Shout-Out to Our Volunteers ~ As we prepare for the upcoming season, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible volunteers who have poured their time and effort into ensuring that the Nickel Plate Nordic Centre is ready for action. From cutting, splitting, and loading firewood to staining the entire day lodge exterior, their hard work has been truly exceptional. They’ve moved the wood stove in the old part of the day lodge to prevent chimney damage and built a safety railing around it for added security. Volunteers have also removed the wax trailer, scrubbed the day lodge floor, deep cleaned bathrooms, installed flooring in the rental shed, painted and repaired various areas, brushed the trails, and even rerouted the Bonanza snowshoe trail. In addition, Weyerhauser, via Lawrence’s logging crew, delivered a new load of wood for the next season. We cannot thank these dedicated volunteers enough for their invaluable contributions. Their passion and commitment to the

centre have been instrumental in ensuring a fantastic upcoming season. It’s their hard work and love for the centre that make our winter dreams come true. Social Events and Gatherings ~ The upcoming season is not just about skiing; it’s also about connecting with fellow snow sports enthusiasts and enjoying the camaraderie. We have a lineup of exciting social events and gatherings planned throughout the season. The second Sunday of each month we’ll be hosting a Speaker’s Series Lunch & Learn. Topics will range from fitness to social issues, and even a reading from one of our members who is a celebrated author! We’ll also be hosting a monthly Full Moon Potluck & Ski. The schedule is massaged so the events land on a weekend, so they aren’t always truly on the day of the full moon, but they’ll be fun regardless. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

Photo taken on October 28, 2023 courtesy of John Wilkie.

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Wet And Wild By Fred Albrechtson, Nickel Plate Junior Racer Alumni Here we are, one month closer to the race season. Tough to complain about the weather, equipment, training, or anything, really, when all the pieces seem to just be falling into place. In the last few weeks, we wrapped up our last major volume training blocks - from here on out, the load will decrease as we begin preparations for the season. My first races of the year are just under a month away. On December 2nd and 3rd, we will be racing the Nordiq Canada Western Cup in Vernon. This event is usually four races long, but there is an event being held in Anchorage, Alaska, shortly afterwards, meant to follow up on the Vernon races. December 9th, we ﬂy out of Calgary, and return on the 18th. It consists of two distance and two sprint races, whereas Vernon will have one of each. It’ll be cool to experience a whole new racing venue, as that is something I haven’t done in a while! On October 21st, Canmore Nordic Centre, rolled out “Frozen Thunder’, being the snow that is kept beneath sawdust throughout the summer. It is a great way to help developing athletes get ahead, and a nice change from rollerskiing, despite the loops getting quite repetitive. As always, the first few days adapting were tough, and the legs felt it; however, the skiing has gotten better, and my technique is beginning to feel natural again. In terms of weather, October was strange. The week leading up to Frozen Thunder, we were still training in shorts and T-shirts, then the snow was rolled out, and almost immediately, the temperature dropped, and we began getting snow almost daily. I’ve still been clunking away at a few tree jobs (I’m not the biggest fan of working in the snow), and let me tell you, it sucks to climb a frozen, dead pine, but I guess I would rather be on snow than rollerskiing yearround. Unfortunately, the weather has not completely held, and

much like Apex, we’ve received rain and warmer temperatures. Today (early November), it was 10˚C out! Slushy skiing. Everything else apart from the Frozen Thunder snow has melted, although the weather is supposed to cool down once again in the following weeks. Knowing the weather in the Rockies, we will be down to -30˚C by the weekend, and then back to 10˚C come Monday. There is absolutely no consistency here. Anyway, training has been going well. A few weekends ago, I was able to get out for a (not so short) long distance ski and cover about 60 kilometres. That number is somewhat arbitrary until you learn that it was done on a 3-kilometre loop (haha)! Otherwise, we have a few time-trial races coming up as a way to sort of test the waters. We are at the tail end of a very tough block, so these races are going to hurt quite a bit, but will be a great opportunity to gauge ourselves against the competition in a fun manner. As always, check out my blog, fredalbrechtson.ca, for future updates and other tidbits of information. I will get around to posting more on it in the following weeks, so stay tuned! Thanks again for the “Back on the Skinnies” by VR45 Photography support!

Carvers Corner By Lesley Evans

Hello Apex Community! Hopefully, our next update includes some time on snow, but in the meantime, we’ve had some great happenings in the club this past month. Recently, BC Alpine held its annual summit, AGM, and awards at Sun Peaks Resort. Coaches, volunteers, officials, staff members, and club executives gathered at the event where the BC Alpine “Goldies” for 2022-23 were handed out. Congratulations to Chuck Droppo who was named as the Volunteer/Official of the Year for the Okanagan Zone. Also, we were incredibly proud to see Wally James (shown below) receive the Moira Jaatteenmaki Officials’ Award for continued dedication to the Officials’ program and the sport of ski racing. We are so grateful for all of the work that Chuck and Wally do for our club and for ski racing in our area.

3-Day Christmas Camp

Apex Carver Program

December 28-30, 2023

Starts January 6 - Full Day Saturdays

March 22-24, 2024

Runs weekly though March 16 & 17

3-Day Spring Break Camp Starts January 7 - Half Day Sundays

By the time this issue is printed, Warren Miller night will have come and gone. These films have been made for 74 years and this event is always a fun way to bridge the gap to ski season. This evening is a big fundraiser for our club, so we thank everyone for coming out to join us at the Cleland Theatre. Also, thanks to everyone who came out to our BBQ at IGA and the Kettle Korn sale at Superstore. These two fundraisers would not have been possible without the support of Colin Powell from IGA and Mark Wilkie from Sun Valley Kettle Korn. Our race team is working hard to get prepared for the upcoming season, with dryland sessions continuing. We are all keeping our fingers crossed to be on snow as soon as possible before racing commences in January. We are excited to have our full compliment of coaches back for this program; however, we are currently looking to add some coaches to our Carver Program. The program runs for 11 weekends starting on January 6th. The Saturday schedule is a full day, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with an hour for lunch. The Sunday lessons are a half-day, running from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The Apex Ski Club will pay for an entry level training course that will take place at Apex in late November or early December. We encourage anyone with interest to contact Jason Alleyne at 778-531-5542 or jalleyne@gmail.com. Thanks again to the community for all of the support with our recent fundraisers. Also, much appreciation to the parents and racers who volunteered at all of these events. Finally, we’d like to highlight our current sponsors this season: Gold Sponsor - Interior Roofing; Silver Sponsors - Ritchie Custom Homes, Neighborhood Brewing, and Penticton Collision Centre; and our Bronze Sponsors - IGA Penticton, Betts Electric and B&L Electric. Please check out our website if you would like more information on sponsorship opportunities, our ski programs or employment opportunities. We are looking forward to seeing everyone out on the hill soon! Page 6 | November 2023 | ApexMatters.com

Training In Chile & World Cups Soon By Reece Howden, Canada Ski Cross & Apex Ski Club Alumni At the beginning of October, the Canadian Ski Cross team and I were still training in Chile. The snow conditions continued to hold up, although the snow line was receding rapidly up the volcano. Spring was really starting to take hold in the southern hemisphere. The trip home was not a short one. First, we had to load the cargo truck that was taking our gear to Santiago. Then, we drove 3 hours to Temuco and boarded a flight to Santiago. We stayed the night in Santiago, but had to get up early to get our gear from the cargo at the airport. When we got there, it was a different truck dropping off our gear ... weird. As we started unloading, we noticed the spin bikes were absolutely destroyed. Turned out our cargo truck got in a head on collision on it’s way to Santiago. Fortunately, the driver survived, but the real miracle is how they managed to still get our gear to the airport on time and that all our skis appeared damage free from the crash. We then flew north to Toronto, then headed west to Calgary. I crashed at my brothers place and drove home from Calgary the next day. The rest of October, I have been spending in the gym lifting heavy and enjoying fall in the Shuswap. Our next camp is 5 days of skiing in Panorama focusing on GS, SG and starts. Then, we depart for Europe for the long awaited start of the 2023/24 FIS World Cup Ski Cross Season.

Skaha Ski & Board Tuning By Sean Vaisler Winter is just around the corner, and we’re geared up and excited to help you make the most of it! At Skaha Ski & Board Tuning, we’re your one-stop destination for all your skiing and snowboarding tuning needs. Our staﬀ are ready to take on the winter and make sure your gear is in top-notch condition for the winter season Don’t miss out on the winter fun - make sure your gear is ready to tackle the slopes! Schedule your tune-up or visit our website at skahatuning.com for more information. Follow us on social media for exclusive oﬀers and updates on our winter services.

Reece Howden training GS in Chile.

Kevin Drury and Reece Howden (in back) training Ski Cross in Chile.

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Apex Freestyle Club For The Kids, The Club and The Community Moguls, Terrain Park, Big Air, All Mountain, and NOW Featuring SNOWBOARDING Competitive & Non-Competitive Programs For ages 6 and up www.freestyleapex.com

By The AFC Team From Head Coach Rob Kober ~ Terry Orlick was a great Canadian Sport Psychologist. He was a legend in the field, not just in Canada, but around the world. In the area of Sport Psychology, you can’t do any better than Terry in choosing a leader to follow. Terry passed away a couple of years ago and his iconic book, “In Pursuit of Excellence” was originally published in 1980, over 40 years ago, but is just as relevant today as it was in 1980 and should be on every young athlete’s reading list. “The most valuable lessons in life come through opening yourself to experiences that teach you about living, loving, coping, and pursuing your dreams.” Youth sport, at its best, can be one of the best mechanisms to provide these opportunities and kids that sharpen their mental game will be more prepared to take advantage of these lessons both in sport and in life. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Terry, I was very lucky to have had Dr. Dave Paskevich as a friend and colleague for 16 years with the Canadian Team. He helped us develop the mental skills and build an environment that produced more medals and put more athletes on World Cup podiums than any other country in the world during our time with the team. One of the most frustrating and ironic comments I have ever received as a National Team coach from a person in a leadership position was, ”Why would we continue to pay so much money for Dave. There’s no drama on the team; we’re winning. Why do we need a Sport Psychologist?” It’s the classic thinking, “we don’t need a doctor, because everyone’s healthy” mindset. Instead of having the insight to recognize that everyone is healthy, because we have a very good doctor. Dave spent his time with the team counseling athletes, introducing and practicing mental skills, but the greatest value he brought to the team (and where I learned the most from him) was his expertise in providing a structure for systematic daily and weekly evaluation of our training plan and observing both athletes and staﬀ and calling us out where our actions were not consistent with what we said our goals were. The importance of having someone fill the role of “caring but objective observer”; someone that we are accountable to cannot be overestimated. For our young skiers, in a perfect world, this will be a combination of parents, teachers and coaches. The time of year has arrived to plan and register for ski competitions for the upcoming season and many parents are asking coaches for advice in this regard. If we teach our kids some mental skills and frame competition correctly, then instead of being scary, anxiety inducing situations, competition can be one of the best ways to test ourselves, to enhance our performances, make new friends, to learn self-control, to reach our goals, and expand our horizons. Embrace competition, but be realistic and frame it correctly. In an individual sport there can only be one skier standing on the top of the podium on any given day, but everyone can be a “winner”. I know, I know ... super cheesy. But, still true! The Canadian Sport Institute provides some good resources for athletes, including on how to improve your mental game: www.csipacific.ca/athletes/athlete-resources/performancepoints/#mental-performance.

Registration is open! Some programs are full. Questions about our programs or to be added to a Wait List: admin@freestyleapex.com APEX CLASSIC DECEMBER 14-17 ~ We are pleased to again host the Apex Classic Moguls and Dual Moguls event. It will take place as follows: •

Thursday, December 14 Unoﬃcial Training

•

Friday, December 15 Oﬃcial Training

•

Saturday, December 16 Single Moguls

•

Sunday, December 17 Dual Moguls

We hope that many spectators will come line the fence and watch these impressive athletes from across Canada and around the world challenge our diﬃcult course and throw down their best tricks! Be sure to cheer for Apex Freestyle athletes and alumni! VOLUNTEERS ~ The success of this event depends on volunteers. We need help with the following: •

Course prep/work/Choppers *MOST IMPORTANT (all days)

•

Knoll Masters

•

Food and coﬀee runners

•

Many jobs that help to run a seamless competition

If you can help us out volunteering, please contact the Event Secretary at admin@freestyleapex.com for a link to the live form.

Meet Our Coaches ~ Amanda Templeton - Girlstylerz Coach I hope everyone’s summer was absolutely amazing! Who else is beyond excited for this season? I thought I would take some time to introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me, and tell you a bit about how I started on my coaching journey. My name is Amanda, I started skiing at Apex when I was 3 years old and have been in love with the sport since. I started working at Apex at age 15 and started instructing when I was 16. I had always wanted to be a ski coach, so I made it one of my goals. When I turned 18, I was able to become a “coach” and started working with the Apex Ski Club (race club). I moved to Vancouver a couple years later and continued coaching at multiple diﬀerent mountains throughout 3 years of living there. When I finally moved back to the Okanagan, I received the opportunity to coach with the freestyle team, which had always been a dream of mine as I grew up in a family of competitive freestyle skiers. I am so excited to continue to grow in the sport and as a coach. I am forever grateful for the opportunities the freestyle club has given me and I am so excited for what the future brings. If you’re wondering what the Girlstylerz program is all about, it is an all girls ski team ages 8-12. We focus on becoming better skiers, as well as better people. We’re building the next generation of unstoppable women.

Volunteers working “the chop” as the sun is rising on Apex Mountain Resort. Apex Freestyle Snowboard Club Program Director Josh Shulman ~ The countdown to Fresh POW is on!! I would be willing to bet my last dollar that we are all counting down the days to opening day and plotting our first lap oﬀ the quad. I know I am! What’s your favourite “first freshie” lap of the season? Mine is an Okanagan Run. Hahahahaha yeah right! As if I’d let that little detail slip! I might tell you after I score first tracks! Quit procrastinating and sign your kid up for our program! Your young sideways slider will thank you for it and likely love you more. Wanna know more about our plans for the season and what our snowboard club is all about? Follow our Instagram page @ apexfreestylesnowboardclub and do yourself a favour by reading less and riding more!

Bursary ~ We know funds are tight for a lot of families these days and in light of that we are very happy to announce: Wayne & Freda has sponsored a $500 Ski Bursary Freeride Boardshop has sponsored a $500 Snowboard Bursary The deadline to apply is December 1, 2023. Contact: admin@ freestyleapex.com for application instructions. Movie Night At Slackwater Brewing ~ Join us on Thursday, November 23rd for the 2023 Matchstick Productions ski movie “The Land of Giants”. We will have some great prizes to raffle off, including a new pair of skis! Visit www.freestyleapex.com or Event Brite for tickets. “This movie features the best skiers in the world, riding unbelievable conditions and riding to the very edge and beyond. It’s a celebration of the natural world, and a reminder of the power of the human spirit. It’s a film that will leave you awestruck, inspired, and humbled.” Gear Swap ~ Have the kids outgrown their gear? Looking for good, used gear or have some you’d like to pass on to another family? Check out our Facebook Group, “Apex Freestyle Club Buy & Sell”. Sponsorship Opportunities ~ We are always looking for sponsors! Would you like to help to support the Apex Freestyle Club? Your sponsorship funds help to purchase equipment, maintain summer and winter facilities, provide quality coaching, and offset the costs of programming and competitions for our athletes. Your business will be acknowledged in a variety of ways. Contact admin@freestyleapex.com for more information on how you can join our sponsorship program.

Picture your Grom here!

Please support those who support us! Covert Farms, Nuﬂoors, Gunbarrel Saloon, Penticton Lakeside Resort, Slackwater Brewery, South Okanagan Kids Dental, Grizzly Excavating, Stay at Apex, Apex Lodge, Freeride Boardshop, Wayne & Freda, Wildstone, Penticton Towing, and South Okanagan Concrete Products.

KR Academy November Update By Kristi Richards The KR Academy has been building some great momentum with key pieces, partnerships, programs and skills going into our second year of operations. We are proud to be based out of Apex Mountain Resort again this winter season for our local and International winter programs, with additional camps at our partner resorts throughout BC. Thank you to this amazing community that supports this vision to grow and create this new Academy to support athletes in the disciplines of Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding with an integrated and holistic approach to the scholar-athlete needs. This structure and platform for SnowSports is the only one of its kind in the Okanagan, and there are very few models in Canada currently to support athletes from a young age in such a comprehensive way, so that their academics, fitness and specific sport targets are supported and the critical pathways are delivered to reach their goals in many areas of life. We have achieved the integral piece of supporting the scholarathlete profile by partnering with UNISUS School in Summerland, to co-develop a curriculum that meets the requirements of their academic needs, while scheduling crucial time and focus to their athletic goals at a young age. These students have blocks in their school day as well as after school hours that cater to functional fitness, movement and mobility, trampoline and acrobatic skills, and well as on snow time during the week. For more information, please visit www.unisus.ca/enrichment/scholar-athlete. Our Jr Performance Team has been busy with their weekly trampoline sessions with Jessie Broster at West Kelowna Gymnastics, while our Sr Performance Team has been in Austria finding some snow for some quality training before the North American competition season ensues. They put in between 300 and 500 jumps on the water ramps in Whistler over the summer, working on new tricks and dialing in their jump skills and volume. This fall is the time to put it all to snow, and to start developing their full competition run package. The sport of mogul skiing has so many elements to develop, making the off-season critical to continue to progress and stay on top of their game. They need many hours on water ramps and trampolines, as well as a continuous and adapting fitness plan, and time on snow to keep their timing and skills sharp and developing. The Performance Team bases their summer training in Whistler to access the glacier and the facilities there, and travels in the fall to find efficient training locations around the world to complete their on-snow training requirements. This fall took them to Hintertux, Austria, where they did a 13 day training camp, including participating in the International Ski Federation’s season opener, which is a high level event that they could earn FIS points for their ski resume. The weather and conditions on arrival were looking quite grim for snowpack, but a focused cycle on the technical flats and roller tanks allowed time for

Page 10 | November 2023 | ApexMatters.com

the fall storms to accumulate and provide the team with multiple ½ metre snowfalls, and an absolute epic course. We did need to do 3 full rebuilds of the course due to the major amount of snow, but our team was certainly not complaining about skiing mandatory powder in October! The coaches were busy digging out the jumps for hours after each snowfall, while the athletes skied in the course for each reset. Skiing in the Alps oﬀered an unforgettable experience for these young athletes, with the profound inspiration of the majestic mountains each day, and the cultural diﬀerences that will allow them to see the world with wider eyes, gratitude, and appreciation.

The FIS Open event in Hintertux was a huge success for the team, with all participating athletes coming home with top 10 results, and the stand out being Apex’s own budding mogul superstar, Quinn Patton (on left above). Quinn matched in his newly trained technical skiing skills with his mental preparation in the gate to put down two back to back podium runs, taking home a Silver in the first competition, and a Gold in his second. This was a HUGE benchmark in his career, as his first International podium, and a result that will propel him into the next level of his skiing career. We are incredibly proud and excited for Quinn, and for him to be representing Apex as the next generation of freestyle mogul skier to come out of our community. Notable results for our Performance Team include Alex Luca, who placed 7th in the first competition with a solid run, but narrowly missed the podium in his second event by going for a mega tweak on his back mute, pulling oﬀ his ski mid-air and having to navigate the landing with one ski at high speed and maximum height (on right above). It was an unfortunate finish to an amazing run, but he has some fire in his heart to come back strong for the next event, which is the Apex Classic on December 16-17. Rookie team member, Quinn Ridgeway of Ontario, who is our youngest Performance athlete at just 16 years old, came away with some career best results of 6th and 9th, and gained some valuable experience to find confidence and consistency in her competition runs. Makena Colenutt of Alberta found her gate presence and ability to face adversity and adapt to changes in conditions and weather and came home with a 9th and 7th place in each event. Michael Smith of Alberta had an amazing training camp as a newcomer to our Team, but battled a mishap on the bottom air and sustained a minor injury that took him out of the event. He will head back home for some rest and recovery, and we hope to see him back for the Apex Classic.

Snowboard Camps ~ The Snowboard side of our Academy is new this season, with some incredible camp based oﬀerings led by the accredited and talented, Jessie Broster, and joined by our very own Olympic Gold medallist, Ross Rebagliati. Camps will be on average 2 days each, and be hosted in various resorts throughout BC. These camps are open to any snowboard athlete (open to all clubs and individual athletes), ages 11+, that are looking for an extra focus on either slope or speed. Jessie is known for assisting athletes on their pathway within the Snowboard BC and Snowboard Canada systems, ensuring they are on the right track by building relevant skills and experience, connecting them to the Snowboard BC pathways, and targeting specific camps and competitions that will give them the opportunities needed to reach their goals. (We also oﬀer freestyle ski camps that match similar dates - see our website for registration) Snowboard Camps: • Camp 1 - November 25, 26 ~ Apex or SilverStar (TBD) • Camp 2 - December 29, 30 ~ Apex • Camp 3 - January 27, 28 ~ Apex or Big White (TBD) • Camp 4 - February 17, 18 ~ Apex or Baldy (TBD) • Camp 5 - March 19, 20 ~ SilverStar • Camp 6 - April (3-6 day camp) ~ Mt Washington - (TBD by Snowboard BC) • Camp 7 - May ~ Sunshine Village - Snowboard BC - The Gathering (dates TBD)

CARVING SESSIONS AT APEX with Olympic Gold Medallist - Ross Rebagliati Friday Nights 7-9 pm on January 5, 12, 19 & 26 Ages 11+ | 4 sessions - $299

Hello Apex Family! By Alec Henderson, Canada Ski Team Member & AFC Alumni Hey everybody, November is here and we are starting to see some snow hit the ground! I’m sure we are all getting stoked for the opening of our mountains in BC. I would like to thank everyone who came to support me at my fundraiser on November 2nd. It was an incredible turnout. Amazing to see our community come together. I truly feel loved and inspired. Thank you! As for what’s coming up, I am travelling to Austria on the 10th of November for a training camp on the Stubai Glacier, followed up by the first slopestyle contest of the season. I will be competing in Stubai on the 24th. After 16 days in Austria, I will be heading straight to Beijing, China with the team for a Big Air contest. You may have seen where I am going if you tuned in to the 2022 Olympic Ski Big Air. The venue is pretty awesome ... a big scaﬀolding structure with an enormous jump, in front of a nuclear power plant looking backdrop. I will be returning home after China for 5 days before going to Denver, Colorado for my 2nd Big Air competition of the 23/24 season. I am so excited for what’s coming and the places I will be going before the end of 2023. Having the confidence of so many people believing in me is amazing before I get back in the start gate a couple weeks from now. Have a good November, and enjoy the opening of our beautiful mountain, Apex! I will be back to update you again in December. Thanks again for all your support!

For more information and registration, head to www.kracademy.club/programs We are so grateful for the dedication and passion of our athletes in all levels and programs, our parents who get them to training everyday, our sport partners - Apex Mountain Resort, Snowboard BC, Snowboard Canada, Freestyle BC, Freestyle Canada, Freestyle Ontario and Freestyle Alberta. Thank you to our partners that oﬀer our athletes great access to products and equipment Apex Mountain Shop and Stoko. Thank you to our Title Sponsors - Business Finders Canada and Elevated Beverages (Big White Water). We have secured our Clubhouse in the front space of the Apex Mountain Inn, with incredible exposure opportunities for any interested sponsors or partners. You can receive high visibility logo placement on our Clubhouse and/or our Performance Team and Coach Jackets. Come and be a part of this magical experience of building this unprecedented platform for high level programs for the next generation of athletes. For more information, please send an email to sponsorships@kracademy.club.

ApexMatters.com | November 2023 | Page 11

Penticton Sno-Trackers Club By Simone Wyles, Director at Large Why Should I Join a Snowmobile Club? You bought your snowmobile, you have all your gear, but you don’t know where to go. It’s time to join a club. Here are a few of the many reasons why you should. First, a little history lesson ... In 1922, J. Armand Bombardier designed a wind driven sleigh with a Model T engine. In the 1940’s, he opened his Bombardier snowmobile manufacturing company. Polaris was founded in 1954, in Ruseau, MN by brothers Edgar and Allen Heteen, along with David Johnson. In 1960, Ed Heteen left Polaris and formed Arctic Enterprises that would become Arctic Cat. In 1968, Yamaha enters the snowmobile game with its twostroke, twin-cylinder SL350. This was the first snowmobile with slide valve carburetors. Not to leave our Snowbike enthusiasts out ... in 1926, the first example of a tracked bike (Snowbike) was the three-wheeled R.A.S.K Triumph 500 cc. Although Snowbike popularity went though the roof in 2010, you could say that the first snow-bike was created in 2001 with the Snowhawk. With rising popularity, like minded individuals joined together for the love of the sport and Snowmobile Clubs were formed. When you join a club, there is a collective of individuals who bring their experience and knowledge to the table. Without snowmobile clubs, there would be no trails, no grooming and no stewardship. Snowmobile clubs are the reason there are stop signs, directional arrows and hazard notifications. Snowmobile club members tend to be more conscientious and knowledgeable about safe riding practices. Belonging to a snowmobile club provides a great social outlet as well. You can attend club rides or trips, go to club meetings, take part in club fundraisers or partake in off-season fun. Belonging to a club gives you opportunities to ride with different people, experience different areas and hang out with people who have similar interests. The Penticton Sno-Trackers have strived to tick all these boxes. Just a few years ago, the Penticton Sno-Trackers had only a handful of memberships. Last year, we had over 70 memberships. The Penticton Sno-Trackers hosted club rides to Greystokes, Whipsaw and trail rides to remote cabins. We also had a club trip to Trout Lake. As well, we showcased our own trail system on Apex Mountain. The Penticton Sno-Trackers also held events such as Family Days, Ladies Rides, BBQ’s at the warming shelter, and Convergent Volunteer Training with PENSAR. The Penticton Sno-Trackers like to give back to the community and we have also made charitable donations to OSNS at their yearly telethon. The Penticton SnoTrackers also host an AST1 course that is so popular, we usually need to add a second date. When you join a Snowmobile Club in BC, there are a variety of benefits that you are entitled to from the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation. So, what are you waiting for? The Penticton Sno-Trackers have their meetings every 2nd Tuesday of the month (except December) upstairs at Salty’s Restaurant in Penticton. Visit our website, pentictonsnotrackers.ca/membership, for more information. Early bird memberships on sale until November 15th. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any questions, please contact us at pentictonsnotrackers@gmail.ca and we will be happy to assist you. Keep the shiny side up and come check us out! Page 12 | November 2023 | ApexMatters.com

The Artisan Winter Market Returns To Apex Mountain Saturday, December 16 By Ash Dunsford This year the Winter Market will be hosted in the Gunbarrel Dining Room from 10 am - 7 pm on Saturday, December 16th. With a larger venue this year, this will allow us to host more vendors, thus more variety in shopping just in time for the holiday season! There will be an array of local vendors showcasing their handmade goods, crafts, and skills. Treasures such as pottery, jewellery, cabin art, self-care products, treats, spices, and sauces and so much more will be featured at this year’s market. Come browse and support local artisans and crafters just in time for the holidays. Find those one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones ... and yourself. The Gunbarrel Dining Room will have beverages available for purchase and plus you’re a short step away to one of their tasty meals! If you are interested in vending, please contact Erica before December 10th at im_sure@hotmail.com for more details. We can’t wait for you to join us in our favourite festive event at Apex! See you there!

A Glance At Our Night Sky

Do you look up at the night sky and question more than the snow conditions the next day? In this issue, we share a thought provoking article by Ken Tapping, an astronomer with NRC’s Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in Kaleden.

Searching For Life On Venus

In mediaeval Europe, there was a nasty fairy known as “Will-o’the-wisp”, who tempted unwise travellers to a watery doom in swamps. He manifested himself as flickering, greenish flames. Of course there is a more prosaic explanation; phosphine gas was being generated by rotting material in the oxygen-free mud at the bottom of the swamp. This bubbled to the surface and burned in the air, producing greenish flames. As far as we know, the only natural sources of phosphine are biological, such as rotting vegetation and unwise travellers. It would therefore be one of the last things we would expect to detect in the atmosphere of Venus. Venus is probably the least likely place in the Solar System to invest in expensive space missions to seek life. The surface temperature is high enough to melt lead and tin, and the atmospheric pressure is around 90 times as high as it is at sea level on Earth. Apart from containing little or no oxygen, there are also corrosive drops of sulphuric acid blowing around in the Venusian atmosphere. Spacecraft have been landed on the planet’s surface. They lasted less than 30 minutes. How therefore could astronomers have detected phosphine in that planet’s atmosphere? One possibility is that the phosphine is produced by life forms high in Venus’ atmosphere. Maybe paradoxically, the pressure and temperature around 50 km above the surface are nearly the same as they are on the surface of the Earth. However, the atmosphere is different, being mainly carbon dioxide, nitrogen and a mixture of other chemicals, including hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride and sulphur dioxide, along with droplets of sulphuric acid. It is true

that we could not survive in it, but there are creatures here on Earth that live in environments that are even more hostile, such as almost boiling, acidic pools of volcanically-heated water, and around the black smokers on the ﬂoors of our deep oceans. The question is whether there is some sort of workable biological chemistry that can evolve to use the available ingredients and energy supplies possibly. This actually makes Venus’s atmosphere a more suitable place for life than anywhere else we know of in the Solar System, including the surface of Mars. The “signal” from Venus’s phosphine is weak, and there is an animated discussion going on as to whether it is real. Examination of older data from spacecraft shows evidence of phosphine, but not much of it. However, this possibility is the strongest suggestion of the presence of life beyond the Earth that we have got so far, which is why two space missions are being planned to have a much closer look. One of them would involve sending a probe that would, under a parachute, drop slowly through the atmosphere, making measurements as it falls, and transmitting back to us what it is finding. It would end up frying on the surface, hopefully mission accomplished. The second is more ambitious. It would involve deploying an instrument package supported by a balloon, hanging in Venus’s atmosphere at the height of greatest interest, recording data about its surroundings and linking it back to us. One version of this project involves taking samples of the atmosphere and then, using a rocket attached to the package, sending those samples back to us on Earth so that we can study them directly. Venus is one of the places in the Solar System where manned missions are highly unlikely for the foreseeable future. The conditions are too hostile. No doubt we could develop technologies to make a visit possible, but would the challenge be worth the cost and risk? The first footprints we make beyond the Moon will probably be on Mars. Hopefully, we won’t tread on something alive. New Moon ~ November 13. Full Moon ~ November 27.

Richard Cannings

Member of Parliament South Okanagan - West Kootenay

Richard.Cannings@parl.gc.ca 250.770.4480

#202 - 301 Main Street Penticton, BC V2A 5B7

From The Hill By Richard Cannings, MP South Okanagan-West Kootenay

Freshwater Issues One important aspect of parliamentary proceedings that doesn’t get too much publicity is committee work. House of Commons standing committees offer parliamentarians the opportunity to investigate important issues facing our country, put forward suggestions and concerns, and get real answers from the government. In late October, I took part in the House of Commons Environment Committee hearings in Canada’s freshwater resources. Appearing before us were representatives from Health Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Global Affairs Canada. As you can imagine, the issue of freshwater resources is an immense and complicated - but extraordinarily important - subject, so the conversation was lively and illuminating. Indigenous Services were of course asked why there were still 28 First Nations communities with boil-water advisories eight years after the Liberal government promised to fix the huge problem of neglect they found when taking office. Most of these problems go back much further than eight years - for example the Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario has been on a boil water advisory since 1995. While some of these situations face jurisdictional and engineering challenges, we can all agree that they would have been fixed much more quickly in non-indigenous communities. One of the big water policy issues facing the South OkanaganWest Kootenay riding is the renegotiation of the Columbia River Treaty. The original treaty, signed in 1964, focused only on hydro power optimization and flood control in the United States, but much has changed since then. Climate change, ecosystem function, indigenous rights, agriculture and industrial water supply are among the new priorities facing negotiators.

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I asked Global Affairs about the status of these negotiations, highlighting the fact that this year’s drought conditions have clearly shown the need for new decision rules around water flow controls on the Canadian portion of the Columbia. The treaty requirement to send water south to Washington to fill the reservoirs behind dams there has essentially drained the Arrow Lakes this year, stranding residents of Nakusp and other communities far from their normal access points to swimming and boating opportunities, while their American neighbours enjoy a full pool behind Grand Coulee Dam. Longer, hotter summers are also affecting the water supply in the Okanagan Valley. The Okanagan has the smallest watershed supply per capita than any similar sized area of Canada, as it has a very dry climate combined with a small watershed confined to the hills on either side of the valley. The orchards and vineyards of the Okanagan are an integral and iconic part of the local economy, but they rely entirely on an adequate water supply to irrigate their crops. As summers become longer and drier, the irrigation season expands as well, requiring more and more water with every passing decade. I asked Agriculture Canada about what they are doing to try to mitigate this coming impasse between domestic and agricultural water needs. The Summerland Research Station has been studying both water conservation techniques and climate change for years. Hopefully, they’ll provide guidance to farmers and water policy makers in the valley with the information they need to navigate this difficult issue. The new Canada Environmental Protection Act passed last June introduced the concept of the right of Canadians to live in a clean and healthy environment. Unfortunately, in that Act that right is confined to the protections of that bill alone and lacks accountability measures. I’ve introduced a private members bill - the Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights - that would extend that right across all federal legislation and provide powers to hold the government to account for protecting that right. I asked Health Canada in committee about the other pieces of federal legislation that protect our water resources, including the Pest Control Products Act, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Food and Drugs Act, and the Fisheries Act. It is clear that without this broader approach and stronger accountability the right to a healthy environment would simply be nice words rather than a meaningful protection for all Canadians.

From The Director For RDOS Area ‘I’ It won’t be long before it’s opening day of the ski season at the community of Apex. Another great season of winter recreation at Apex is about to begin. If you have a rental property or use the waste transfer station yourself, please follow the signs to sort and properly dispose of waste or recycling. Subrina Monteith I hear from community members that Director of not everyone is following the signage, RDOS Area “I” which can create a mess in the building. Ultimately, it will cost the taxpayers of the waste transfer station service more if the maintenance continues to cost more in staff time to manage. Ongoing concerns about off leash dogs and owners not cleaning up after their fur babies can make outdoor recreation a challenge. Remember that all dogs off private property are required to be on leash and licensed through RDOS, as bylaw can patrol or respond to reports of off leash dogs. Please be a courteous pet owner. Subrina Monteith, Director of RDOS Area ‘I’ Direct: 250.460.0723 | smonteith@rdos.bc.ca | www.rdos.bc.ca

Monthly MLA Report By Roly Russell, MLA Boundary-Similkameen So many of the challenges we face, and the ferment of hate and anger in our world, stems from a lack of community, an erosion of sense of community, and growing disconnect from friends and family. Our modern world feels designed to pull us away from those interactions that fill our proverbial cups in a lasting way - social media, every ad we see on the streets and screens around us. All of this is designed to draw us into an imaginary world of people that aren’t real, to make us feel insufficient, or inappropriate, or ugly, or alone, or angry. A few weeks ago I had a powerful visit to the home of someone that I had met two years ago on the streets of Keremeos. The first time I met Albert McCormick he was driving his mobility scooter (far faster than some would deem safe), along the backstreets of town, with not only an overloaded cart towed behind his scooter but also a wheelbarrow perched precariously off the front of his scooter, overflowing with flowers and vegetables from the community garden. Albert’s home is one of forty three within the Ambrosia building: a building of new affordable rental homes in Keremeos for families, seniors and people living with disabilities that opened last year (the result of a partnership between local, provincial, federal governments and the Lower Similkameen Community Services Society). I had the opportunity last month to bring our Premier, David Eby, to visit Albert in his home, to meet with the staff and volunteer team that helps keep the Community Services Society running, and to see the impact of Albert’s leadership in the adjacent inclusive and accessible community garden, as well as the volunteer team involved with the garden.

support services they need, they provide a safe place for youth, they connect seniors to community, and so much more. And, they do all of this while typically operating under a constantly shifting patchwork of grants and soft-money funding that inevitably brings both uncertainty and challenges. This month, I just want to pay full gratitude to those organizations, and especially the people behind them. I have a huge amount of respect and appreciation for what you do, and I know I’m not alone in that.

Taking time to snap a selfie while visiting Albert McCormick’s home at the Ambrosia building - 43 new units of affordable housing in the riding. People like Albert are helping resist that encroaching darkness around us, building that connection to place and people, and they’re supported and enabled in that work by those community organizations that work to support people in our communities. To those community and family services societies, supported by volunteers and many, many staﬀ that do what they do as a labour of love of place and people: thank you.

A quick visit to meet with the volunteers and supporters of the inclusive and accessible community garden. These organizations - which look different, operate differently, and provide a different suite of services in every community they exist in - are so enormously important for our community and individual well-being, even for those people who don’t directly and personally experience that connection. They provide the support services for new moms (and dads!), they connect vulnerable people to the

Premier David Eby was visiting in part to share our commitment to rural communities, and celebrate the release of our “StrongBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities” document focused on supporting rural communities. ApexMatters.com | November 2023 | Page 15

ACA November Update

The APOA ...

By Erica Fletcher Hello Apex! We are all so excited to see the snow back again for another year! Looks like it’s going to stick now. Winter’s here to stay and we’re stoked about it! We were all sad to have to cancel our annual Halloween event this year. All of our volunteers schedules were so full that it just wasn’t going to work out. But, we should be back up and running for next year. I hope everyone enjoyed trick-or-treating. I love that we can do trick or treating in our own community with the kids. Thanks everyone for participating and giving out candy. It’s really special! Coming up next we have our Annual General Meeting on Saturday, November 18th from 2-4 pm in the Apex Village Cafeteria. For the first half hour or so, we’ll host a meet and greet with snacks and warm drinks. The oﬃcial meeting will start at 2:30 pm. If you have any interest in joining as a member of the board, or as a volunteer, please join us! We’d love to welcome new people and ideas to the group. We’ll be discussing future initiatives that we’d like to accomplish as a community and group, mainly the construction of a park, as well as some future events. We’ll also be nominating a new board of directors. If you’re unable to attend in person, but still wish to participate, we will have a zoom link available. Email us and we’ll get that set up. Well, enjoy the beginning of our favorite season everyone!

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Apex Mountain Resort would like to remind local residents and visitors alike that water conservation is extremely important all year round! It is integral to the well-being of this beautiful mountain that we love so much. We all need to make a conscious eﬀort to conserve water when you can.

1.877.777.2739 | ApexResort.com Page 16 | November 2023 | ApexMatters.com

The Heart of the Apex Community!

APOA membership is open to all Apex property and condo owners. Love your Apex playground? Want to keep it pristine? Love to use the snowshoe & cross country trails? Like to drive on safe roads to get to Apex? Concerned about the status of logging?

Many voices make a strong community. Add your voice and become an APOA member.

Annual Membership ~ $30/year www.apexpropertyowners.com

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APOA November Update By the APOA Board The APOA’s Mission Statement is as follows: “The Apex Property Owners Association is dedicated and committed to: a) supporting it’s members interests in the planning and development of an attractive and sustainable resort community; and b) preserving and enhancing its surrounding natural resources.” From it’s beginning, the APOA has been guided by this mission statement. We have tried to ensure the preservation and enhancement of the natural landscape of the area and the recreational opportunities that it offers. Our current efforts in this regard continue to be our representation with government and industry with regard to forest harvesting. With respect to community support, we have done what we can to support Apex families in their efforts to improve school access. As we have done previously, with the support of our members, we will continue to be guided by our mission statement and we will continue to focus our efforts on issues that affect the community and which impact it’s surrounding landscape. For any further information, please email apoaexec@gmail.com.

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Fall Firefighter Recruitment Drive By Molly Raine, AVFR Fire Prevention Officer Our annual recruitment drive is underway and we are asking residents to step forward and join the team to ensure our services remain strong. “Becoming a volunteer firefighter allows you to give back to your community, in their time of need,” said Graeme Lindsay, Deputy Chief with AVFR. Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of our community and help keep us safe in many other ways than just putting out fires. There are a ton of benefits to joining the volunteer department. This includes personal and leadership development, lifesaving first aid skills, and the reward of knowing you are helping out your community. In addition, our firefighters also receive on-call pay and are eligible for extended benefits. We are hiring for the following positions - Firefighter 1 Exterior and Firefighter 1 Exterior Auxiliary. Firefighter 1 Exterior is for those who live at Apex full-time/year round and Fire Fighter 1 Exterior Auxiliary is for those who live seasonally at Apex, and can still attend training and callouts during their off-season. No experience required. We provide the training and help new recruits through every step of the way. You just need to agree to undertaking the following general expectations of a firefighter: • Always maintain safety, personal accountability and situational awareness as top priorities. • Work cohesively in a team oriented environment • Maintain a willingness to learn new concepts and ideas • Maintain a willingness to participate in progressive (theory and practical) education. • Know, understand and follow the fire department operational bylaw, directives, policies and standard operating guidelines • Follow direction from supervisors • Maintain mental and physical fitness and capability to perform the physically demanding tasks of a firefighter • Maintain a valid BC class 5 driver’s license and provide a current drivers abstract upon request. • Successfully complete a criminal record (vulnerable sector) check on request • Maintain availability and preparedness to respond to emergency calls • Respond to fire, rescue, medical, non-medical and miscellaneous emergency incidents when requested. • Attend fire department trainings, meetings and events • Volunteer to help support community events when requested and available • Attend 100% Firefighter 1 training sessions (first year; or until completion), and 70% of the total available practices and 40% callouts annually for subsequent years. Application forms are available on our website, or you can email info@apexfirerescue.ca with any questions. We will follow up if you are a permanent or seasonal resident at Apex and are interested AVFR members during our annual auto-extrication training early November 2023. in joining a group of dedicated individuals. We would love to hear Deadline is Shop Local. Buy Local. from you! always 10 am Support Your Apex Neighbours. We accept applications year round; however, the annual on the 8th of Advertise Your Business Here. recruit training program will begin on January 3, 2024, so each month. apexmatters@telus.net 250.490.6951 apply now to join!

Slushy Thoughts From The Snow Bank By Brad Nunes Welcome to the eve of winter everyone! When next we chat, the hills will be alive with the sound of swooshing ... or at least, the early season grinding of rocks on skis. We love our mountain, but we know she can be a little shaley for the first weekend or two. So far, there has been a decent amount of rain in the valley. Here is hoping that we end up with a good base, so we can stop fishing for bass and turn up the bass in our headphones (while we be skiin’). To that point, it is actually ill advised to ski with headphones in. Your hearing is one of your senses and without it, your situational awareness is diminished. I know, I know. You just want to vibe hard. You want to shake your booty and booty skoot down the Window. But while you are boppin’ along to “MMMBop”, you might get ‘mmmbashed’ into by a snowboard who was not leashed to its owner’s leg. You would not be able to hear the whimpering cries of “Oh no dude! My sweet ride has taken leave and launched himself down the corduroy!” On a lighter note, you may miss the approving cat calls of all the lady skiers, as you awkwardly try to slide along the Lil’ Nugget box jib. If you have “Time of your Life” from the Dirty Dancing sound track screaming in your ears, you may miss out on the time of your life from some hotties on the bunny hill. So yeah. Hello Apex Community! Next time, think twice about stuffing your ears and just experience By Karolina Sobus the sounds of our majestic mountain. But like, don’t take this as I am excited to announce that SunSage Vacation Rentals and permission to fire up your Bluetooth speaker. I think we can all SunSage Management is expanding to Apex starting this season! agree the only thing worse than headphones is to have to listen to Vacation Rentals ~ SunSage Vacation Rentals is a boutique someone else’s choice of ... “music” blasting up the chair lift. You property management company offering vacation rentals in know who you are Bluetooth speaker people and you know what Penticton, Summerland, Naramata and Apex Mountain Resort. the rest of us think of your life choices ... ewww. Our properties are available year-round for short term and mid So, by the time this issue reaches you, I think the 11th will term stays. have passed. I do like to take a little time to shift focus back to SunSage is a full service property management company and Remembrance Day and the significance of it. My Dad was telling we pride ourselves in providing guests with top notch quality me about a book he was reading set in the First World War. What accommodations and exceptional guest service. From crisp white was so impactful was the descriptions of life in the trenches and hotel style linens and towels to welcome packages showcasing the completely deplorable conditions. I won’t go into detail, but local fare, there is a reason why we are Air Bnb Superhosts and I recognize and honour the 11th, because that is as close as I consistently receive 5 star reviews. We love to host and are so will ever come to experiencing those conditions. I have to read proud of what the South Okanagan has to offer. We know you will a book or see it in a movie. I will never have to ‘go over the wall’ or suffer from trench foot. This is not a celebration of war. It isn’t love it here as much as we do! All of our units allow for self check-in and are professionally about justifying the actions of leaders. It is about recognizing those cleaned and quality inspected at every turnover. We provide all souls who were in those trenches, cold and scared. They didn’t get consumable guest toiletries to ensure guests have a comfortable to sit back and debate the ethics of the greater situation through the lens of time. They just had to pray and go. And for that, for stay and we are available for guests 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. them, I Remember. Check out our website at www.sunsagevacations.com or Air Bnb Host website at www.airbnb.ca/p/sunsagevacations for all the Take care everyone. See you in December! vacation rentals we offer. We look forward to hosting you! Property Management ~ SunSage Management offers full service vacation rental property management services. Our services Promote Your include: Listing creation with professional photography; business Business Here! license assistance; multi-platform listing; guest communication; Reach those who personalized property guidebook; guest welcome packages; love all things ‘Apex’ cleaning and maintenance contracting; hotel quality linens and and recreating towels; restocking consumable items; 24-Hour emergency service; outdoors. and electronic owner payouts. Check out our website at www.sunsagemanagement.com for more Shop Local. information or call Karolina at 778-387-0603. We look forward to Buy Local. managing your vacation rental! Neighbours Helping Neighbours.

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Page 18 | November 2023 | ApexMatters.com

Full details at ApexMatters.com. “Pow Day” ~ Photo by Johnny Smoke

How To Not Let Injuries Take Their Toll By Dr. Deirdre O’Neill, Naturopathic Doctor You may have heard how inflammation can be bad for the body. There are many diseases linked to inflammation - cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, autoimmune disease, diabetes, to name a few. But it is not the case that all inflammation is bad ... What it comes down to is the timing of inflammation and its overall purpose. Acute inflammation is the type that occurs after an injury. It appears during the early days when you are nursing yourself after a sprain or strain. This is the redness, warmth and swelling that surrounds the tissues and joints that were injured. And is critical for the overall healing process. Your immune system begins to release white blood cells into the area - particularly platelets that begin to signal a full on healing response. Followed by troops of fibroblasts to lay down new tissue. Chronic inflammation is the type that persists. The low grade inflammatory state that wreaks havoc on the body. Chronic inflammation can continue on well after the trigger is gone. When it isn’t quelled, healthy cells get damaged and leads to chronic, disabling illnesses. And you can have Subacute inflammation. The type where chronic inflammation supersedes acute. Wherein if you are already suffering from a chronic disease like diabetes - a new onset injury may be more painful for you and more difficult to recover from than if you did not have diabetes. With an acute injury there are a few things to remember. It is a good thing to have inflammation. That’s where it is important to encourage the body to do its thing and not squelch its wisdom.

Dr. Deirdre O’Neill

Natural Pain Solutions

Naturopathic Physician & Prolotherapist 250.770.1079 3373 Skaha Lake Road Penticton, BC

www.alpinenaturalhealth.ca admin@alpinenaturalhealth.ca

This is where the acronym of RICE should be switched with MEAT. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. RICE stops the body from doing what it is intending to do in its tracks. Wherein MEAT is Movement, Elevation, Analgesic and Early Treatment. The later supports the inflammatory response. Making lifestyle changes continually can help drop chronic inflammation patterns to help support your body’s acute healing responses. Some lifestyle changes to consider include: Eating An Anti-inflammatory Diet ~ This is that type of diet that your great grandmother would have eaten. Rich in veggies, fish, healthy meat, and deficient in sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats. Quitting Smoking And Reducing Alcohol ~ Both of these habits are detrimental to cells and cellular recovery. Maintaining A Healthy Weight ~ Being overweight makes it more difficult to be active. Fat cells release inflammatory markers. Chronic inflammation and obesity both worsen chronic disease factors, especially where it pertains to the heart. Exercising Regularly ~ Just 20 minutes of movement is enough to boost your immune system to have an anti-inflammatory impact. Building muscle combats inflammation. And, getting the heart moving through brisk walking will help you to reduce weight. Practicing Stress Management ~ Mindfulness mediation can be effective in relieving inflammatory symptoms. Mind-body practices can improve the immune system and drop the inflammatory response. Getting outside in nature for even just 20 minutes per day can have a large impact in your pain response and inflammatory condition. I have recently put together a Masterclass on The [3] Massive Mistakes That Most People Make After an ACL Injury. The tips in this Masterclass can apply to many injuries that are sustained on the hill. Head over to my website to dive into this Masterclass. Visit alpinenaturalhealth.ca/masterclass Dr. Deirdre O’Neill, Naturopathic Physician, has an expertise in Prolotherapy and Platelet Rich Plasma using Ultrasound Guidance. She practices in Penticton at Alpine Natural Health. You can also find her on the hill as part of the Volunteer Canadian Ski Patrol. Handyman & Custom Finish Carpentry

Helping the Do-It-Yourself Homeowner

Jay Mallach 250.490.6343

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LetsFinishIt.ca

ApexMatters.com | November 2023 | Page 19

Winter Driving Tips By Myleen Mallach

Snow and ice push our driving skills to the limit. Do you know how to drive properly in winter conditions? Did you know you need driving skills beyond what a good set of winter tires can provide? Here are a few tips to help you drive better on the road this winter: • Maintain a safe following distance ~ It takes longer to stop on a slippery road. Keep a 4 second distance between cars. • Drop your speed to match road conditions ~ No matter how much experience you have, the way your car will move on snow or ice always has an element of unpredictability. • Watch for ice ~ Slow down when approaching possible icy spots, such as shaded areas and bridges, as these sections of road freeze sooner than others in cold weather. • Accelerate and brake slowly ~ When starting from a stop on slick roads, start slowly and accelerate gradually to maintain traction and avoid spinning your wheels. When stopping, plan well in advance, apply the brakes gently and slowly. • Know how to handle a skid ~ If you start to skid, ease oﬀ the brake or accelerator, look and steer smoothly in the direction you want to go. If you are on ice, step on the clutch or shift to neutral. • Be cautious near highway maintenance vehicles ~ Keep a safe following distance behind snow plows and salt/sand trucks. These vehicles throw up snow, imparing visibility. • Pull over whenever traﬃc is lined up behind you ~ If you are traveling at slower speeds and see a number of vehicles on your bumper, simply pull over and let them pass. This may only need to be an indicator light and a slight deceleration. • Practice ~ Get out and drive in the snow and ice. Know what your vehicle is capable of and what you are comfortable with.

Lifeskills By Jim Ongena, Life Coach in Summerland Change ... The Only Constant. Change is the only constant. This has been true since the beginning of time, only the rate has changed. Many of us are afraid of change, or at least not very good at it. Anyone who can adapt or change faster than others has a clear advantage in sports, business, or just regular life. Consider these three examples: 1. Most people will take a wilderness first aid course AFTER a buddy gets hurt. 2. Most couples see a marriage counsellor AFTER separation. 3. Most will see a cardiologist AFTER a heart attack. We Change Too Slow People!

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It might also help to know there are three types of change: 1. Natural - leaves change colours, people age, day changes to night, etc. 2. Imposed - your company downsizes you, you get cancer, your spouse decides to leave. This is the worst kind of change, as you never asked for it and it can be painful. 3. Elective - you decide to change your diet, take up a cool new sport, or stop smoking. This is the best kind of change and the one to get good at! Don’t wait until you have to change, be proactive and start sooner. Better yet, plan the changes to ensure you’re always changing for the better. “We generally change for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation.” To contact the author directly, email jimongena1@gmail.com.

Adventure Racing World Championships By Lyndie Hill, CEO of Hoodoo Adventure Company Last month, my teammate and the Race Director of our event Expedition Canada, John Ford, and I traveled through South Africa for 2 weeks. We were attending the Adventure Racing World Championships in the Eastern Cape. The event hosts close to 450 racers, plus their media teams, supporters, and families over a 2-week period, and showcases some of the best adventure terrain the country has to oﬀer. The goal for our time there was to learn as much as we could. Why? Because, we will be bringing this prestigious event to Canada in 2025! The oﬃcial announcement was made by the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) global organization, live in South Africa at the Awards Ceremony, about the new Expedition Canada World Championship in just 2 years time. What does this mean for Canadians? And more importantly, BC and the Okanagan region? The Adventure Racing World Championship 2025 will take place in Western Canada in British Columbia, with the host City in the interior of the province in Penticton, BC. The course promises to cover the most stunning, diverse, and challenging areas of the province. We cannot be more thrilled to bring this event to Canada. The spirit of adventure, the awareness, and the opportunity that an event of this scale can create in our communities is immeasurable. Taking part in this year’s World Championship in South Africa opened my eyes to the endless potential of this race. It’s not only the huge economic benefit that will come with it, but also the way it inspires youth, and people of all ages, to connect with each other and the earth, to embrace their potential, to push themselves. If we think Ironman is inspiring, wait until you experience this event. It is teeming in culture and community. I firmly believe it’s exactly what we as a country need right now, something positive to focus on, something to make us proud to be Canadian. That is our goal with this event. That is exactly what we will strive for. Adventure racing, and particularly the World Championships, is no small feat for the racers or for the organizers. This year’s Adventure Racing World Championships covered over 800 kms of South Africa’s mountains, farms and waterways and the course was open for racers, day, and night for 9 days. This means small communities throughout the region saw hundreds of additional visitors each day over the last few weeks. A huge media crew of photographers and videographers from around the world also follows the race. Live tracking shows the world where the racers are always on course. The images are stunning, and millions of people watch online as the event moves through the country. This is the exposure that BC can look forward to in 2025.

“We are very excited to be organizing a World Championship event in North America. It’s time. It has been many years since we have had a World Championship in that part of the World. The Adventure Racing World Championship has taken place in Europe, Africa, and South America in recent years, and to take it to Canada and have an all-Canadian team of race organizers, we couldn’t be happier. ARWS is ecstatic about the new team Expedition Canada have built, and we are confident that they will put on an amazing event with us, and it will be executed professionally. In 2 years time, with the advancement in technology and media, we can really take adventure racing to the next level. We know that this Canadian organizing team is very driven towards media, and awareness and growth of the sport. It’s fitting and it’s time for Canada to shine on this world stage. I wish them all the best as they get ready for 2025 and know that they will help this sport excel into the future.” ~ Heidi Muller, owner of the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS). With some of the most stunning terrain on earth, Canada is a mecca for adventure racing. It will have been 20 years since the last world championship was hosted in the country. According to the ARWS organizers, there is a lot of excitement amongst the international athletes who have always wanted to race through the vast wilderness of Canada’s backyard. “I am incredibly honoured and humbled to take the lead in Canada, and to be supported by the exceptional team we have with professional course designers Brian Finestone, Alex Man and Kevin Hodder, the risk management expertise of Brad Baumber, and Lyndie’s amazing team at Hoodoo Adventures. While each brings their individual knowledge, personal achievements, and passion for the sport of adventure racing, their collective experience is unparalleled. The course will bring together our Canadian culture and our diverse landscapes, encompassing majestic alpine terrain, lush forest, and pristine waterways. We want to create a truly memorable and exhilarating experience for racers.” ~ John Ford, Race Director of Expedition Canada. The Adventure Racing World Championship race is tentatively scheduled for September 22 to October 6, 2025. In the coming months, Expedition Canada will also be supporting other Canadian adventure races as part of the ARWS North American Series. The Series will highlight races of diﬀerent durations, from across the country, throughout 2024 and 2025. The goal of this series will be to help Canadian teams build towards an Expedition length race, to assist in the long-term growth of the sport and to ensure a good representation of Canadian teams at the World Championship in 2025 and beyond. For more information on Expedition Canada and to express your team’s interest in signing up, visit expeditionracecanada.ca. For more information about the Adventure Racing World Series, visit www.arworldseries.com. ApexMatters.com | November 2023 | Page 21

South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre Update

Zoe’s Tunes To Turn To

Artist ~ Europe | Song ~ “The Final Countdown”

The season is about to begin! We are all counting down the days until we can glide through the snow with a huge grin from ear to The other day several friends and I were discussing our most ear. Let’s face it ... some things never fade away. The anticipation memorable volunteers we knew. I heard about a 94-year-old of opening day and listening to the 80’s classics. I’m sure everyone woman who has been committed to the Kidney Foundation since can join in singing this chorus with their ‘air instrument’ and flinging its beginning in 1964 and today phones several times each week their ‘long curly locks’. Likely, many of you ‘break into song’ when to members of that organization. Apparently, she can no longer do you hear those three words of this song title. So, crank up this tune the office work she previously so enjoyed. However, she felt that while you’re doing your pre-season work out. Get those reps of she would like to maintain contact with the friends she had made, so squats, planks, mountain climbers and burpees in now, because makes regular phone visits to the donors of the Kidney Foundation. “the final countdown” is on! The first day of riding will be hard on I also heard about a gentleman who wrote letters for a blind woman those muscles, regardless of whether or not you’ve been working who lives in an assisted living facility. What is significant about this out in preparation for the season ahead. Get inspired and go for man is he uses a wheelchair for mobility. He takes the Handy Dart it! It’s the beginning of the season and you don’t want to miss it! to make his weekly visits. He has been visiting this woman for over Zoe is a life-long skier and daughter of Jay and Myleen Mallach. 12 years on a weekly basis. The two have become good friends Jay was the former writer of this column for many years. The time and the letters have become an important link in their relationship. has come to pass the torch to the eldest child. Join Zoe this season I was introduced to a candy striper at the local hospital who in “Zoe’s Tunes To Turn To”. Look up her tunes and join in the fun. volunteers twice a week for three hours bringing delight and mail to the patients in hospital. With a ready smile and a story to tell, this teenager has been a valued volunteer for the past 4 years. I heard several other stories of active volunteers, but I told one about a friend of mine who coordinates the annual UNICEF appeal at Halloween in her home community (in another province). She donates countless hours rounding up the untold number of helpers needed to distribute the boxes to the schools, work with the school staff, assist the children in understanding the program, count the money collected, and the list goes on. She is a dedicated volunteer! If any of these stories have sparked an interest in volunteering, please contact the South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre at 1-888-576-5661, email the Centre at info@volunteercentre.info or drop into its new location in The Cannery at 110 - 1475 Fairview Road. Office hours are generally 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. Calling ahead first is suggested. By Laura Turnbull, Chairperson

Blood Donor Clinics November 20, 21 & 22

Aerial View of Apex Mountain Resort ~ Photo by Leigh Trusler Photography

1:30-5:30pm - Penticton Seniors Drop-in Centre, 2965 South Main St Call 1-888-2DONATE or www.blood.ca It’s in you to give!

Great Cabin Recipes

This space could be yours ... Either go heli skiing or book an ad!

Calzone with Marinara Sauce By Dee Milton Fall is here! It’s time to jump out of the summer dieting fads such as salads, fish and finger sandwiches and into more heartier, heart-warming dishes. Can you tell that I am excited, or what? Now, I know what you’re thinking ... that along with these dieting changes, weight changes seem to be on the horizon. Know what I say? Feed your tummy something yummy and ask it in 5 minutes how it feels about the ‘summer fresh’ to ‘fall comfort’ diet changes. With that in mind, it’s time for me to reveal my secret Calzone recipe! The best part about fill-able dishes, like this Italian delicacy, is that you can personalize them to your liking. If you prefer more vegetable based pizzas, throw more in. If it’s cheesy, gooey pizza pie that catches your eye, why not add some ricotta, cheddar or feta to this dish?

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before adding it to the dough. Once completed, I added 4 fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces to each Calzone before closing it. To close the Calzone, simply pull the side of the dough with no sauce over top of your veggie mixture and twist the edges together to create a crust. For a crispy, golden look, brush an egg wash (one egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp of water) generously over your Calzone before cutting 2-3 slits in the top. We are going to begin by creating a pizza dough; if you have a Place the two Cazlones side-by-side on a lightly floured baking fool-proof recipe, feel free to use it. If not, the following recipe is an sheet, (you can use corn meal too) or pizza stone. Cook on the easy-to-use recipe that I tend to choose when I am making pizza bottom rack of your preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until the in a time crunch. Begin by dissolving 2 1/4 tsp of instant rising Calzones are golden in colour. yeast (or one package) into 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Next, add Serve with Ranch or Marinara for an extra flare in flavour. 1 tsp of raw sugar (or brown sugar) and one tsp of salt. Mix with a fork quickly to disperse solids and let sit for 8-10 minutes, until frothy. Next, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 1/2 tsp of Italian seasoning (or a mixture of parsley and oregano) * this seasoning is optional, but I love the addition of flavour that it adds to any pizza dish! Once this is mixed, add in 3 1/2 cups of flour and stir until all flour is incorporated. Turn dough out onto a clean, dry counter top and knead in more flour until dough is elastic and not tacky (about 20-25 folds). Once this is done, place dough ball in a bowl that has been lightly coated with oil and place a moist tea towel on top. Let the dough rise for 1 hour before removing it from the bowl, kneading it 5 times and returning it to the bowl, covered, for 30 minutes of rising. When this process is done, separate the dough into two balls and set aside until ready to fill. You can make this dough the night before and put it in cling-wrap in the fridge over night - just allow for the dough to return to room temperature before cooking. Like I said earlier, the vegetables that go into a pizza dish, like this Calzone, are almost entirely based on personal preference. I do enjoy a lot of veggies and meat on my pizzas, so here’s what I came up with for this particular dish: Begin by dicing 1 large onion, 6 cloves of garlic and 1 large bell pepper - saute these in 2 Tbsp of butter, on medium heat until onions begin to turn translucent. Next, add 2 cups of mushrooms, or a mixture of mushrooms (I used a mixture of cremini, shiitake and portabello) and two handfuls of cherry tomatoes and cook these for 1-2 minutes, until they just begin to turn soft on the outside. Once soft, add 2 Tbsp of chili flakes to the mixture. Finish the veggie filling by adding one more tablespoon of butter, chop the tops off one bunch of spinach and add it to the pan to wilt slightly. Remove the pan from heat and set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll both dough balls into 1/4 inch thick pizza shapes. To begin assembling, spread tomato paste on half of the dough, leaving 1 inch around the edges (if the edges get wet, they have a difficult time sticking while cooking). Next, layer a mixture of meat and veggies and cheese generously on the half of the dough. I chose to grab one package of prosciutto and one package of capicola salami and simply cut these meats into thick strips and bocconcini cheese (warning: I used one 250 ml container, with the liquid drained, for each Calzone). I find that it is easiest to mix the cheese and the meat into the veggie mixture,

CatMatch Meet Terry & Shelley AlleyCATS Alliance is dedicated to the feral and abandoned cats of the Okanagan. We work hard to rescue those that most turn away from. Our volunteers have been bitten and scratched and bear the scars from some of those who do not understand that we are actually giving them a better life. Cats like Terry who bit his caretaker 3 times, but now all he gives are purrs and head butts! Help us help cats like Terry, who really DON’T KNOW what is best for them! www.alleycatsalliance.org.

Jardin Estate Jewelry & Antiques Recycling the Elegance of the Past 5221 Hwy 97 Okanagan Falls

250.497.6733

www.jardinantiques.com ApexMatters.com | November 2023 | Page 23