Do you know where to find information on Nordic conditions at resorts? Events that are happening? Who has lessons on Ski Joring? Where can you take your dog? Who’s having a sale on skis? Where can I buy simple equipment to start or even try Nordic skiing? What other areas besides Grand County have events? How can I try racing? Where can I learn how to ski in the backcountry and where to go?
There are so many questions around any sport, especially one as far reaching as Nordic skiing. Of course, there are How To books. There are articles in newspapers like SkyHi and magazines like Cross Country Skier. With so much information on the internet, our phones and computers are the best source but who do you trust. So here are a few places to go that you trust. Just remember to take everything with a grain of salt and use your own judgement if that advise is the best for you.
Skigrandnordic.org is a marketing website that addresses a HUGE topic – All Things Nordic in Grand County by simply clicking on a logo that takes you directly to a trusted website. It is geared toward anyone wanting to know local Events including an event calendar; where to ski (Nordic centers like Devils Thumb Ranch-Snow Mtn Ranch with real time grooming on Nordic Pulse-the intimate Grand Lake Nordic Center, free skiing trails with grooming reports, ranches, backcountry); local shops (you can click and go directly to their website or Facebook page); News on back-country and local Nordic columns and special needs by local organizations; and Competitive and Masters programs like Winter Park Competition Center for the more elite younger skier or Biathlon or Colorado Nordic Masters for the older more elite skier. Then Grand Nordic concentrates on young people – the Sports Center for the Disabled Adaptive Nordic Programs at Devils Thumb, Snow Mtn Ranch and Winter Park Resort for beginner to competitive levels; School and youth programs with info on East Grand Middle School Nordic team, Midde Park High School Nordic team, Classes offered at Fraser Valley Metro Rec District and Granby Recreation Department, Grand Nordic Free Friday Kids Program at Snow Mtn Ranch, Grand Lake kids program, and Winter Park Competition Center Nordic program featuring a one-day weekly Fun program through Competitive Race team and full-time Nordic Academy team year-round. Backcountry Avalanche education courses and even huts and other trip information are for the family plus where to get destination information at each of the towns and chambers in Grand County. We can’t forget that it’s the second Annual Grand County Nordic Race Series (www.gcnrs.org) of 6 major family fun races in Grand County with special pricing for kids 18 and under and even free races for the youngsters. Whew! That’s one stop shopping! And then there’s info on the Grand Nordic Club. That’s another whole website!
Grandnordic.org is a Club website that has local partners offering member benefits with discounts for retail, trail passes, free lessons, volunteer opportunities, an event calendar, links to trail conditions at the resorts and their Facebook pages, scholarship information for the school and youth programs, social events like the Ranch2Ranch Trek and Moonlight skiing and more. Click on the logo to go directly to that partner website. Members get regular information “blasts” to keep them posted of Nordic events and volunteer opportunities. Grand Nordic and Winter Park Competition Center sponsor the Annual Nordic Ski Swap and Expo in October and 2-3 free lessons each year with Grand Nordic, WP Comp Center, Colorado Nordic Masters and Resort instructors. The Ranch2Ranch Trek is a leisurely trek (not a race) fundraiser between Snow Mtn Ranch and Granby Ranch in February for the Scholarships given to youth skiers. All this for $30 individual or $50 for your entire family! And that just the local Nordic scene.
Grand County’s Tourist board site www.visitgrandcounty.com has information on all the towns, Rocky Mtn National Park, local events, places to go, things to do (like Cross Country skiing!) and how to plan your trip. Individual communities have dynamic chambers of Commerce like www.playwinterpark.com, www.destinationgranby.com, www.gograndlake.com, www.hsschamber.com, and www.kremmlingchamber.com to check out.
Headwaters Trails Alliance is dedicated to preserving, promoting and enhancing trails in Grand County. With dedicated volunteers, they actually build trails, maintain trails summer and winter, provide Ambassadors to promote trail etiquette and awareness, and much more. Visit www.headwaterstrails.org for maps, volunteer opportunities, Adopt-a-trail program, Public Lands Day, and more. They have grooming reports for the extensive system they maintain in winter in towns, nearby forests, Fraser-to-Granby Trail, and more.
I keep saying and more because it is hard to cover all the info you can get from these trusted sources. WE have a great information system in Grand County – you just need to know where to go. The Colorado Cross Country Ski Association (CCCSA) has information on most of the resorts in the State and events worth looking at if you like to travel – https://coloradocrosscountry.com. But we love it here in Grand County with More K’s and More Days of Nordic skiing! Happy Holidays!
