YORKTON – After a five-year hiatus, the Yorkton Cross Country Ski Club revived the Sundog Challenge on March 1 at the Deer Park Golf Course.
JoAnne Maloff, Program Coordinator for the club, shared her excitement about the event's return.
"Five years ago we had to discontinue the Sundog Challenge due to COVID and the clubhouse being torn down," said Maloff in an interview with Â鶹´«Ã½AV.ca
"We had the Sundog for many, many years and we just weren't able to do it. So we've been trying to virtual-op where it was very informal. There was no food or door prizes—very informal—people just came out and skied for their year-end."
"They're going to go out. They're going to have a fun ski. It's very social-oriented," said Maloff in regards to this year's event.
Participants had the option to ski distances of two, four or six kilometres. To conclude the day's events, they gathered at the Owl's Nest for a buffet, mingling with fellow ski enthusiasts, and prize draws. Maloff noted that the goal was to "bring a sense of community together in our ski club."
The Sundog Challenge was not limited to experienced skiers. Maloff highlighted that several first-time cross-country skiers registered for the event, and impromptu lessons were provided to help them get started.
The last Sundog Challenge took place in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into lockdown. The club, which has a history spanning over 40 years, faced challenges in maintaining its community during the pandemic.
This year's event had 53 registrations before March 1, and more participants signed up on the day itself. Maloff expressed hope that they would reach 75 registrations by the end of the event.
"It's nice to have an event like this that brings everyone back together and promotes the social part of cross-country skiing," she said.
Maloff also expressed gratitude for the support from the Owl's Nest and the City of Yorkton.
"We're really thankful for our partnership with the Owl's Nest and the City of Yorkton for working with us and enabling us to use the Green Room (space in Owl's Nest) on Sundays and being able to do a rental shop."
The club experienced a resurgence in membership during the 2024-25 season, reaching 100 members. Maloff noted that the last time the club had this many members was six years ago.
"We hit a height during COVID," said Maloff, explaining that membership dropped when the Deer Park clubhouse was being rebuilt, and the club had no base of operations.
Reflecting on the season, Maloff concluded, "this has been a really successful season."
