A classic Canadian footwear is coming back to life in a Regina recreational event. With a low cost and the possibility to go anywhere, the Lost Lake Snowshoe Series is growing.
This is the second year for the Regina Multi Sport Club’s Lost Lake Snowshoe Series led by race director Paul Cutting.
“I’ve been snowshoeing for about 10 years,” Cutting said. “It’s an easy sport with a low cost of entry and anybody can do it.”
This year has three different events. The first, Deer Valley, was on Jan. 18. The second one, Destination Dogleg, was on Sunday Feb. 8. If you missed these, the last one is the Kona Crown on March 8.
Like other events by the Regina Multisport Club, the Snowshoe Series is non-profit. The minimal entrance fee goes back to cover the costs to run it.
Each event has three different courses: 3km Citizen Class, 5km Short Course and 10km Long Course. Thanks to some volunteers with extra snowshoes, I attempted the Citizen Class in the Destination Dogleg event out at Tor Hill Golf Course. I came home with tired legs, rosy cheeks and lots of smiles.
The snowshoes were easier to walk in than I expected. Basically you lift your legs up higher than normal, and almost flick your feet behind you. Don’t drag your feet though or you might be eating some cold snow.
Keely Whight participated in her first snowshoe event, the Destination Dogleg’s 5km Short Course.
“I think the best part was just being able to chat with other people who like doing the same thing,” Whight said. “I need a winter activity...so it’s a good reason to get out.”
Along with a friend, Whight loved her time snowshoeing and plans to return in March for the Kona Crown.
“You can just pick up and go, pretty much,” Whight said. “Just throw snowshoes in the back of the car and go find somewhere to get outside.”
Scott Kiefer also participated in the Destination Dogleg event. He completed the 10km course.
“This is [my] first time snowshoeing in a race,” Kiefer said. “We like doing things in the winter time and we thought why not, it’s more fun than riding our bikes indoors on a Sunday morning.”
Kiefer’s wife is the president of the Multi Sport Club. They help Cutting out with his races and decided to participate in one this year.
When asked what the long course was like, Kiefer said “Paul marked out a challenging but fun course.” There were times that they went off the golf course which made it a bit more difficult.
Cutting has been snowshoeing for several years so for him, it made sense to bring a fun winter sport to the club. The events have seen many volunteers coming out.
“Our club is a multi-sport club, not just a triathlon club, so expanding into winter sports just made sense,” Cutting said. He pitched the snowshoe events to the club last year and it took off.
“The first year was mostly people who were already involved in the triathlon scene and members of [the club],” Cutting said. Each event saw around 15 people.
This year the number doubled. More people dared the cold and went to see what the fun was all about. Cutting said more participants that were not connected to the club came out for the Destination Dogleg event, including myself.
What changed this year was the addition of fat bikes – bikes with extra large tires that allow people to bike in the snow.
“The fat bikes have been exploding on the scene,” Cutting said. He teamed up with the Regina Cycle Club and had a fat bike race after the snowshoers. “We’re seeing about 10-12 people per event this year.”
What many may not know is the history behind the name Lost Lake Snowshoe Series. The Tor Hill Golf Course is in the Kings Park area just northeast of Regina.
“[Kings Park] used to be Regina’s most vibrant park,” Cutting said. “There would be lots of people out here every single weekend; it was the jewel of Regina.”
But Kings Park has lost its way over the years and it’s no longer the jewel it used to be. Cutting hopes that by having his events out there, people will start to come back.
“I want to bring some of the history of Regina into my events,” Cutting said. “So it’s called the Lost Lake because of the little lake and the damn [over here].”
Go pick up a pair of snowshoes and explore the history of Regina.
