Ed Brockmeyer, of Humboldt – Dixon Saskatchewan has reached the age of 86, and has won gold! Ed marked his 50th year of cross country ski trail grooming this year (2022)!
Ed’s ski career began in 1972. At that time, the “new” sport and recreational activity called cross country skiing took north America by storm. People in the Humboldt area started buying skis and at first it was families and friends as they realized the fun and fitness factor. Trouble was, they really were not sure where they could ski at that point. Ed looked around and decided that his farm land was part of some of the best hills in the region. Later, with a bit of convincing, some of the adjacent “farmland” was also used and provided even better hills and a lot of “Wow” factor. In the beginning, it was just families and friends out for a ski. Someone was appointed the “lead” skier, and he/she decided where they were going to go that day. Didn’t go real fast but had a boatload of fun! The ski was interrupted along the way to partake of whatever was in those wineskins (did I mention that one of Ed’s passions is making amazing home-made wines—he has won several competitions). A bigger break was needed to have a wiener roast out on the trails. Everyone got home in great spirits, and with renewed passion for skiing. Ed is not one to be content with the “norm”, and so eventually, instead of bush-whacking through the snow for ski trails, Ed started to pack a trail with a snowmobile (yes, he often got stuck). This innovation added much to the enjoyment of skiing out at Dixon – and to the speed one attained going down the sizable hills. Now one could really fly! It wasn’t long before Ed discovered that people were actually using pull behind grooming devices. No such thing as going down to the local store to purchase a groomer. Ed carefully designed a pull behind groomer, and with a bit of welding and experimentation, came up with the first grooming device the ski group ever had – it cost 5 dollars! Later in the 1980’s Ed got a local entrepreneur into the game. Brockman’s Enterprises was a mining and agricultural equipment designer and manufacturer. They also began making a series of pull behind groomers that went from small and simple to much larger and full featured. The later models were capable of adjusting the depth of classic tracks, plowing and levelling snow on the trail as well as packing the trail. There are some of these groomers still in use in Saskatchewan, including the CTSC trails on the Humboldt Golf Course. Ed was involved at every stage from the design to the testing of these track setters. In 1976, the group of skiers in Humboldt and area took it to the next level and formed the Carlton Trail Ski Club. It became incorporated soon after and became a member of Cross Country Saskatchewan and Cross Country Canada. Ed was instrumental in the formation of the club and has been on the board of directors ever since it’s inception. Ed was also instrumental in getting landowners on board in terms of supporting cross country skiing, and allowing skiers to use and set trails on their land during the winter months. Most of the landowners became members of the CTSC and skied themselves. Soon, the members decided they needed a home base, and an old one room school house was located (built in the 1940’s). This sturdy building has been in use since then (1990). During the years, Ed continued to foster skiing in the Humboldt area, and when seeing the need, would help to fill it. Accordingly, Ed became a level one Cross Country ski instructor, took part in cross country ski official’s courses, taught countless numbers of people how to ski, and even taught his dog how to pull him on skis along the trail – we even have video! Ed has been listed as “chief of course” on many of the CTSC Sask Cup Races held at the Dixon Trails. One of Ed’s biggest achievements was his leadership in procuring one quarter of land (complete with large hills) which was paid for by many community and ski club members, and bears the title of the owners – the Carlton Trail Ski Club. All this time , Ed faithfully set cross country ski trails every year at the Dixon Trails. He continued to innovate, and experiment with different trail grooming equipment, and produced much of it in his own shop. He created drags, and levelers and even rollers (large culverts were perfect!). Ed continued to foster improvements encouraging signage on the trails(much of it containing wonderful positive messaging, the naming of large hills (Telephone man’s hill – complete with old phone on top, Eiger mountain, Big White, and Grouse Mountain). At one point in the early 1980’s, Ed (who was also a Scouts Canada leader at the time) brought a group of scouts and ski club members to the top of one of the larger hills —“Bald Butte” on the CTSC Trails. He organized the group, and a short while later, they had constructed a sturdy ski ramp and lookout tower. This extra elevation created a lot more momentum going down the hill, and provided many a thrill for skiers daring to use the ramp. While the ramp has been dismantled in recent times, the lookout tower still stands, and is a landmark for miles around the ski club. Ed was never a quitter, and never complained as he set trails snowfall after snowfall, in good weather and bad, and continued to get himself out of jam after jam – at one point suffering a heart attack getting himself unstuck with the snowmobile and trail groomer. He was almost always out on the trails by himself and never took a cell phone (“what would you want one of those for – they won’t get you unstuck”). He was often around the ski trails, especially on weekends when he would go out and get the heat on in the clubhouse, and feed the deer! He generally still had his wineskin around too -just in case! Don’t get the idea that Ed has slowed down. In 2019 Ed took part in instructing a grooming clinic held in Humboldt and sponsored in part by CCS. He provided wonderful insight into the world of grooming, and more importantly – how to groom excellent trails. Yes, he has retired this year from his position as head groomer out at Dixon Trails, but he still gets out and skis regularly. Just last year (2021) the CTSC renovated a new warm-up shack at the far end of trail 3. It has a great wood burning stove and hot chocolate in the tin. It is called Ed’s Inn. A fitting tribute. So Ed Brockmeyer has truly struck it rich, he has achieved gold. Fifty years of skiing, of innovation, of grooming , of fostering skiing in Saskatchewan, and especially in Humboldt. He is loved, and appreciated by all. He is hard working and loyal. Thank You Ed. |