The Lacombe Cross Country Ski Club is getting some help in their grooming efforts, thanks to the ECHO Lacombe Association.

The ECHO Lacombe Association presented the cross-country ski club a cheque worth $2,300 on Saturday, (Oct. 21) which will be used to help purchase grooming equipment.

A wide-track snowmobile and a renovator groomer will provide major improvements to the trails.

President of the Lacombe Cross Country Ski Club Brent Bouwsema explains how it will benefit skiers.

“The previous two years we’ve had to wait for at least four to five inches of snow to be able to put new trails down."

"For people who don’t have a lot of experience skiing, it’s scary to go down a hill that’s icy, but with this we’ll be able to cut that ice and create a new trail that will be much easier for a broader range of skiers.”

The money received by the ski club was made available through ECHO Energy proceeds, in the form a grant.

President of ECHO Lacombe Association Drayton Bussiere explains how it works.

“We’re working really hard to get as many people in the community of Lacombe signed up with ECHO energy, gas and power."

"That enables us to do more of these types of projects and really what we are looking for is local projects that are a benefit to the community.”

The $2,300 cheque covered half the cost of the grooming equipment, while the other was raised by the Lacombe Cross Country Ski Club.