The snow drought continues but Nordic ski resorts are making the best of what they have. The home meet for Middle Park High School and East Grand Middle School was a great success with hundreds of kids on the Snow Mountain trails Friday. Colorado Biathlon had a sprint race Saturday followed by the Pursuit on Sunday for over 50 gun-toting Nordic racers each day. All serious top-quality racing…something fun was needed…
So on Saturday, the Red Barn Relays hosted 50 teams of parents and kids, some in costumes, with each part of the duo skiing a leg of a 5k or 10k race and all just having a wonderful silly time. The team names were the best part – Griz and Moma Bear, Spontaneous Combustion, Double Trouble, Wax On Wax Gone to name a few! With a cheese sponsor for the Relays, all category winners got a prize of cheese! The lunch offered was grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs. Perfect for a great day of fun!
This weekend the Devils Thumb Stagecoach Classic Race on Saturday January 24 has been postponed until February 8 hoping to have better snow to set the classic tracks. The Devils Thumb Governor Cup 30K/15K Skate race is still scheduled for Sunday January 25 since skating requires only a flat track that racers push off with the edge of their ski for propulsion. Check out the list of prizes offered on the Race Series page and Register today! They are also looking for volunteers – sign up to help out for the race.
Snow Mountain Ranch is hosting the Grand Nordic Free Community Lessons with instructors from Grand Nordic, Winter Park Comp Center, Colorado Nordic Masters, and more. Free lessons are offered morning and afternoon but Grand Nordic members also receive free trail pass and equipment rentals. Most of the classes are pretty full since everyone from the postponed December class was automatically moved to the January class but you might get a cancellation! The free lessons have been offered for over 30 years and have greatly increased the proficiency level of Nordic skiing in the Fraser Valley.
The Ranch2Ranch ski Trek is ON for February 7. Snow conditions on the Fraser to Granby Trail west of Tim’s Tunnel to Val Moritz are deplorable, showing only a faint ribbon of snow climbing the hills into Granby Ranch. So trekkers can’t get there from Snow Mountain Ranch this year! But groomers at Snow Mountain Ranch say they will create a fun tour of the historic Ranch houses on property that will still be enjoyable and relaxing and good skiing for all. Grand Nordic will still have aid stations, patrollers, door prizes etc.. Park at Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center. Bring your friends and enjoy this annual fund-raiser for Youth programs and scholarships.
Everyone wants to push themselves to do their best in all the races, but even seasoned racers know that the key to good performance is knowing when to kick back and enjoy themselves. This kind of pulling back means better recovery and giving yourself time to bring down your nervous system. So kick back with Grand Nordic on the Ranch2Ranch February 7 and get some good down time! Register for the Ranch2Ranch before February 6th for the best deal.
For more information or to register for all of the above, go to www.skigrandnordic.org or call 970.887.0547.
