This past Friday and Saturday was the 11th annual Boundary Trails Distance Challenge, and 119 skiers of varying generations participated to cover a combined 4716 kilometres.

That's all the way from Vancouver to Newfoundland, and an event record for the club.

"We called it 'Canada 150', because we've been trying to ski across Canada," said volunteer Vera Froese.

For 10 years, the cross country skiing club based outside of Winkler has been trying to ski the length of Canada, shore to shore. This year the goal was realized thanks in part to a number of skiers who racked up 100 kilometres each.

Tessa Warkentin set an individual record as she recorded 168 kilometres, and there were 16 skiers who all logged 100 kilometres or more

"We were amazed," she said. "Three teenagers skied 150 kilometres to commemorate [Canada's 150th birthday]. That just blew me away."

The event is only partially about cross country skiing. When asked why hold they distance challenge every year, the first thing Froese brought up was "community."

"It's to get the feeling of community and the joy of skiing together," said Froese. "It's just a really fun time."

"Being out in nature has been shown to be so healthy for people. It's very good for mental health [and] for physical health."

Froese started skiing in the 70's and her husband Phil has been creating trails on their property ever since the early 80's.

Aaron Warkentin and Mattias Klassen