Hello everyone
I am just wanting to add this infromation for all to refer to in regards to practices and air quality. These are the scales that myself and Coach Chris have been following currently.
Some info on our club policy regarding practice cancellations.
Both the biathlon and cross country programs have been following this cancellation matrix below:
https://telemarknordic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/TNC-pol-56-Biathlon-Practice-Cancellation-Policy.pdf we’ve been following it with our cross country programs.
For poor air quality: “Air Quality Health Index of 6 or higher: practice will be cancelled – (e.g: smoke from forest fires. Reading from Air – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)).
Summer heat (35C and hotter) an hour prior to practice time: practice will be cancelled.”
A local physiotherapist developed similar recommendations https://crosscountrybc.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Exercising%20in%20smoke%20PRS.pdf
Some useful resources include the
• Kelowna AHQI: https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/data/aqhi.html?id=AQHI-CENTRAL_OKANAGAN – the monitor is at Okanagan college, so it doesn’t always give a good reading for air quality at Telemark/Rose valley etc. Webcams are a good way to check what the air quality is like.
• Fire smoke app that projects smoke/wind patterns: https://firesmoke.ca
If we run into an extrended period of time where air quality is sub par then we will begin to adjust training sessions. Our athletes, parents and coaches health and safety is our priority above all else.
We have been very lucky so far this summer training season so far. Here is to hoping the smoke blows through and the local fires are put out.
