Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau competes during men's freestyle skiing moguls qualifying on Cypress Mountain at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, February 14, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Mike Blake
Family Day unofficially was extended across the country Monday as millions of proud Canadians continue to come together to celebrate the athletic achievement of moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau.
The country remains abuzz after the 22-year-old captured an Olympic gold medal on Sunday night in Vancouver, the first by a Canuck in a Games hosted by Canada in 34 years.
“Bravo Alex Bravo!” speedskater Charles Hamelin, a medal favourite at these Games, said of his Canadian teammate on Twitter. “He is my hero, I am so happy for him! I’m eager to congratulate him in person!”
That could happen Monday as Bilodeau will receive his gold medal at a ceremony in downtown Vancouver.
Also “pumped” for Bilodeau is Brian McKeever, a visually impaired cross-country skier who soon will make history himself as the first Paralympian to compete at a Winter Olympics.
“What a performance to give us the first gold on home soil,” the 30-year-old native of Canmore, Alta., tweeted. “Now maybe the media will focus on something else.”
Proud Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was among the crowd of 60,000-plus at Friday’s opening ceremony under the roof at BC Place Stadium, phoned Bilodeau after his victory and said: “Canadian families across the country are proud of you, Alex.”
A medal contender, Bilodeau nailed his last run, blazing through the slushy moguls to a 23.17-second finish and a score of 26.75 to best defending Olympic champion Dale Begg-Smith, a Vancouver native who now competes for Australia.
SOURCE: National Post
Congrats to Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau on breaking the 34-year Olympic gold-on-home-soil (snow?) drought.
Despite all the noise from the usual suspects about who should have won (ironically, the Australians are saying that the gold should’ve gone to a former Canadian, now Aussie competitor) this a morale boost for all Canadian competitors. The pressure is off all of them in that Alex Bilodeau has “broken the curse.”
And though some are spouting the old, tired complaint that since Alex is a native of Quebec (which last time I googled, was a province in CANADA! Has there ever been a time when both Quebec and the rest of the provinces existed that they did not feud about what constitutes the “real” Canada?!), Canada has not truly won the gold yet, Alexandre Bilodeau will go down in history as the winner of the of Olympic gold medal on Sunday night in Vancouver. Bravo to Alex and to the Canadians who are not nit-picking his victory–just reveling in his wondrous win and the pride felt seeing the gold bestowed upon this phenomenal Canadian athlete.
Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort
Weekend Weather - Short Term, Haliburton, Ontario 02.13.10
The weather for West Guilford/Haliburton Highlands Saturday morning will consist of scattered flurries with a temperature of 11°F. Scattered flurries continue into Saturday afternoon with temperatures rising to 18°F. Flurries continue into Saturday evening with a temperature of 17°F. Overnight Saturday, look for clouds with clear breaks and a low temp of 11°F.
Variable cloudiness is expected Sunday with a high temperature of 20°F. Sunday evening temperatures are expected to be about 17°F with scattered flurries developing . Overnight, expect variable cloudiness with a low temperature of 13°F.
Haliburton Highlands – Maple Lake Long Term Weather 02.14–02.19.10 (below)
Haliburton Highlands – Maple Lake Long Term Weather 02.14--02.19.10
Looking at the traditional workweek on Monday, you can again expect scattered flurries with a high of 22°F and a low temperature of 17°F.
Scattered flurries continue on Tuesday with a high temperature of 22°F. The low temperature overnight will again be 17°F.
Wednesday expect a cloudy day with sunny breaks and a high of 20°F. The overnight low will be 13°F.
Thursday, the scattered flurries return with a high temperature of 24°F. The low overnight will be 18°F.
Friday will again bring scattered flurries with a high of 24°F and an overnight low of 18°F.
Have a great week!
Update/ Didn’t get a chance to post these webcam shots before–there are a couple of really nice ones. Enjoy!
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Photo Credit: http://skihaliburton.com
Haliburton County Winter Trail Report – February 12-15, 2010
Updated: February 11, 2010 7 am
All HCSA Top trails are being groomed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights along with some of the other main club trails.
Snow is thin in some areas and that combined with extremely heavy traffic can quickly make the trails seem like they weren’t groomed. Please use care and caution when out riding, there are a lot of sleds out there and the trails get beat up in some of the main areas. The groomer operators are doing commendable work.
Moose and Eagle Lakes are now staked and Open.
The floating bridge is now installed. Signage is in place and the reroute of the trail through Minden north to the #2 and #4 trails has been done as well.
As you probably know, there must be a minimum of 10 inches of ice on any lake crossing before we will stake it. Please be careful and stay off lakes even though they look safe. Warmer conditions may have changed the status of the ice, so please be careful.
OPEN - Trails are groomed and open for snowmobiling
LIMITED- Trails may or may not be groomed. Expect marginal conditions and use extra caution.
CLOSED – Trails are Closed. Please remain off them.
Click to enlarge the Trail Report.
Thanks to the County of Haliburton Tourism Department for this report!
Miss Canada International 2010 - Canadian Ambassador to the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign
(February 12, 2010, Haliburton, ON) The County of Haliburton is excited to announce that Bridget Nickerson, Miss Canada International 2010 will be in the Haliburton Highlands this Family Day Weekend!
A native of Nova Scotia, Miss Nickerson is currently touring across Canada. Miss Canada is strong supporter of giving back to her community and as such, she is the Canadian Ambassador to the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign.
The Teddy Bears of Hope bring smiles and hope to children all over the globe who are lonely, underprivileged and caught in a web of poverty and despair.
Miss Canada International will attend the Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby at the Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre on Sunday, February 14 where she will be available for media interviews and photos between 10 am and noon. She will also attend the Blue Line Charity Auction at McKeck’s on Sunday from 4 to 6pm. On Monday, she will enjoy some of the great winter activities the Haliburton Highlands has to offer before continuing her journey across Canada.
Thanks to the County of Haliburton, Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing!
This is a non-paid post in support of the County of Haliburton and the Haliburton Highlands.
Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby – February 13th & 14th, 2010
$10,000 Purse, minimum guaranteed!!!
The 2010 Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby will be held at the Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2010. The race trail will be very much like last years with the 8 dog teams running a 6 mile course.
There are both Purebred & Alaskan Classes, Kid & Mutt and a Youth Race.
This race is IFSS & ISDRA Sanctioned, part of OFSS Triple Crown Race Series.
Spectator Info
If you have never watched a dogsled race it is definitely a sight to behold. With the dogs lunging, howling and barking to get the races started, flying out of the start gate at speeds reaching up to 30km/hr and racing for the richest purse in Ontario, there is lots of action going on.
This year the races will take place at the Delta Pinestone Resort, located 5 minutes south of the village of Haliburton on County Road #21 (formerly #121). Races will be going on all day Saturday and Sunday with teams going out at 2 minute intervals, so you don’t need to worry about missing them! It is anticipated that over 70 teams from across Ontario, Quebec and the Northern United States will take part. The most popular race every year is the Kid & Mutt race but just as fun (and also unique) to watch is the Skijoring class, with mushers on cross country skis, being pulled by 1 or 2 dogs. The large 8 dog race class also offers lots of excitement.
The races are free for spectators to attend, and there are several vantage points for watching the action, both at the start/finish and out on the trail. Programs will be available at the races.
Note: If you have a pet dog please leave him or her at home as your pet can distract the race dogs. Thanks!
For more information contact:
Tanya McCready & Hank DeBruin, Winterdance Dogsled Tours
Box 631, Haliburton, Ontario, Canada K0M 1S0
Phone: (705) 457-5281
email: info@winterdance.com
Race Schedule (tentative)
All events will take place at the Pinestone Resort, 5 km south of Haliburton on Hwy #21.
Friday February 12th, 2010
7:00 pm Registration (outside Highlanders – Pinestone Resort)
8:00 pm Welcome & Bib Draw (Highlanders Bar)
Saturday February 13th, 2010
7:30 am Late Registration (Kinmount Room – Pinestone Resort)
8:00 am Drivers Meeting (Kinmount Room – Pinestone Resort)
9:00 am 4 dog race start
10:45 am Skijoring
12:00 am Kid & Mutt
12:30 pm 6 dog race followed immediately by Recreational race
2:00 pm Youth Race
3:00 pm 8 Dog Race
Sunday February 14th, 2010 7:30 am
Drivers Meeting (Kinmount Room – Pinestone Resort) 8:30 am
4 dog race start 10:15 am
Skijor Race 11:45 pm
6 dog race followed immediately by Recreational race 1:15 pm
Youth Race 2:30 pm
8 dog race start 4:00 pm
Award Ceremony & Volunteer & Sponsor Party (Pinestone Resort)
This is an unpaid post done as a community service for the Haliburton Highlands area.
