Wostawea is ONE OF THE LARGEST Cross-country ski clubS EAST OF QUEBEC!

WHY JOIN OUR CLUB TODAY? PUT SIMPLY, YOUR MEMBERSHIP MATTERS.

Whether you ski classic or skate style or both, whether you’re a recreational or competitive skier, and whether you’re 4 or 94, we encourage you to join Wostawea.

Registration will launch in November and is available online at zone4.ca.

DID YOU KNOW THAT our COMMITTED volunteers …

  • Maintain and groom 25 km of trails at the UNB Woodlot and Kingswood.

  • Design and build trails, including 24 kms of trails at Killarney Lake Park in partnership with the City of Fredericton.

  • Teach over 200 children and adults to ski through our Jackrabbit, Track Attack, and adult lessons programs on Saturday mornings.

  • Coach a competitive ski team with racers of all ages who compete in provincial, regional and national competitions.

  • Organize two NB Cup races, one Loppet event, and one Sprint event every year at Killarney Lake Park.

  • Lead group ski excursions on Sunday afternoons.

  • Lead weekly senior ski outings at Killarney Lake Park.

  • Host Frosted Bites twice a year, an engaging social event that fosters friendships among skiers of all levels.

  • Promote the many benefits of cross-country skiing and advocate for the sport with provincial and city government officials.

  • Participate actively in the governance of both Cross-Country New Brunswick and Cross-Country Ski Canada

  • Ensure sound governance of Wostawea through its executive board of directors.

A GLIMPSE AT OUR HISTORY

The Fredericton Ski Club, which began around 1965, promoted both downhill and cross-country skiing, like many clubs at that time. In the fall of 1973, the Wostawea Cross-Country Ski Club was founded with a paid advertisement calling for members in The Daily Gleaner. Toby Graham was listed as the contact person, and Ski Total, a sports store then located on King Street, was a partner. In December 1973 the club’s first newsletter appeared and included the following explanation for the club’s name: "WOSTAWEA is a Micmac word meaning ‘snowy’ or ‘snow covered,’ and an appropriate name for the Cross-country Ski Club of Fredericton."

The club’s first ten years were focused on making trails available for skiing and on the promotion and skill development of adult racers and recreational skiers. Instruction clinics, both indoors and on snow, were organized. The club was also involved in organizing the Maritime Marathon, a two-day event in which skiers covered the approximately 100 kilometers from Woodstock to Fredericton. One year this event attracted over 500 skiers. In the fall of 1982 Wostawea announced the beginning of its Jackrabbit program for children, which began in January 1983 and focused on teaching children the fundamentals of cross-country skiing and encouraging fitness in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. The Jackrabbit program continues today, shifting operations from Odell Park to Killarney Lake Park in 2013.