Nordic News

by Drew Holbrook

SKI free through Sunday, November 22

We are offering free skiing on Ruthie’s Run on the Bench until Sunday, November 22. Ruthie’s Run leaves right from the Nordic Center, in town at Second and Whiterock. The trail is a 5-kilometer loop that is homologated by the International Ski Federation (FIS), meaning that it meets width, profile, and other standard requirements. What it means for you: The trail can be groomed with very little snow and is wide and flat cambered with many rolling climbs and descents, offering exceptional early season ski terrain.

Grooming update

Right now we are playing musical ski venues between Lily Lake and Ruthie’s Run on the Bench. We need a significant dump in order to leave Lily Lake and focus all of our energy on Ruthie’s and the other trails around town. For daily updates, see the trail report at cbnordic.org.

Lily Lake parking notice

Thank you for listening! It seems that most, if not all skiers are parking in the right place! Due to safety concerns, the county is requesting that all Lily Lake users park at the Irwin Y and not on Kebler Road. Crested Butte Nordic is providing a groomed trail heading out from the Y to access the climb to the Lily Lake trail system. Please remember that Irwin residents also use the parking area at the Y, so please park accordingly. Lily Lake is located on Kebler Pass, six miles west of town in national forest. The venue is groomed by Crested Butte Nordic for cross country skiing and snowshoeing and is free for the public to use. Lily Lake is across the road from Irwin, Colo., which receives as much snow as anywhere in the state, with an average of 600 inches of annual snowfall.

Events:

Grand Traverse Triple Crown registration opens December 1

Registration for the Grand Traverse Triple Crown opens at midnight on Tuesday, December 1. The Triple Crown includes three separate races: Ski, Bike, and Run. Register for the entire Triple Crown or just for an event or two. Remember, the Ski tends to sell out within hours.

The Grand Traverse Skimo Academy, December 18-20

The Grand Traverse is partnering with Griggs Orthopedics–gO Performance to present the Grand Traverse SkiMo Academy in Crested Butte, December 18-20, 2015.

This three-day training camp will include instruction from elite Grand Traverse winners, U.S. National Skimo Team members, in addition to Dynafit Ambassadors and Griggs Orthopedics-gO athletes. Each day will provide a variety of skills and techniques, including race training programs, nutrition and injury prevention education, and an introduction to the newest cutting-edge gear in ski mountaineering. Add in a weekend of touring in the breathtaking surroundings of the Elk Mountains and you’ve got a recipe for kicking off an incredible winter of fitness and fun!

The Crested Butte Nordic Thanksgiving Camp, November 26-29, 2015

Enjoy some of the best early season Nordic skiing in the country at our Thanksgiving Camp. Featuring ski clinics for all ability levels, wax clinics, a free kids camp, transportation to and from the venues, yoga, Pilates, the first Alley Loop Points Series Race, our Winter Kick Off Party, and more. Sign up for activities or just come out and enjoy some of the best early season skiing in the country.

The Magic Meadows Yurt Dinner Experience

This year, Yurt Dinners will be transformed into an all-inclusive backcountry dining experience. The Magic Meadows Yurt Dinner Experience will include trail passes, equipment rentals, guides, a five-course meal, live music, and libations. Discounted Yurt Dinner Experiences are available to Crested Butte Nordic pass-holders. Dinners are already filling up, so book yours soon.

Programs:

The Master’s Training Group is back at it

It’s always easier to do the fast technical workouts when others are doing them with us! Join coaches Murray Banks and Molly Susla and other ski racing enthusiasts for speed and endurance skiing twice weekly throughout the winter.

Each session will have two groups for you to choose from—a faster, more technically advanced group and a more moderate group. Once a week there will be a third group doing only fast intervals. All abilities are welcome, but the emphasis will be on improving technique and fitness to ski faster. We meet Tuesday and Thursday, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. with a few “bonus” workouts on weekends. Trailhead meeting spot changes each session for variety and best conditions. Weekly updates are emailed Sunday evenings. To be included on the Masters Training Group list, email murray@murraybanks.com.

Location and technique style will vary each week contingent on weather, snow conditions and upcoming events. We’ll check the weather and grooming forecast each Sunday to create the workouts: colder days will be classic to make waxing easier; warmer days skate for speed; windy, cold days will be on the bench to stay in the trees; downhill focus on the Rec path; transition and long intervals in the Magic Meadows area; if there is an Alley Loop Points Race that week, we’ll ski on the course. More endurance and technique skiing in December, more hills and speed in January, harder skiing as we approach the Alley Loop.

Every session will have options to accommodate various abilities and fitness. Emphasis on “coaching lite”—a few tips, a couple of drills, mostly intervals and continuous skiing.

Tip of the week: For the first couple of weeks on snow—“Get your fitness on foot and go easy on skis.” If you try to go hard when first on skis it will magnify any technique weaknesses—do harder workouts running or hiking.

Hot box special

As promised, the hot box special is back. $35 gets you a hot scrape and two eight-hour wax sessions. The hot scrape will pull the dirt and grime from your skis. Then the skis will be baked twice, once with a soft wax, and then with Swix LF6 for the top and final coat. Hot boxing is used for two purposes: getting deep wax penetration, and applying longer lasting, faster race wax, especially for colder conditions. The more wax you can get to penetrate into your bases, the faster your skis will be, the longer it will last, and the better it will protect against oxidation and damage. Bring in your skis from November 21 to December 5. Expect a three-day turnaround time.

The Crested Butte Nordic Team

The Crested Butte Nordic Team offers affordable after-school programming for children in the Gunnison Valley. The mission of the CBNT is to provide young Nordic skiers and biathletes with exceptional coaching, training opportunities, and a healthy approach to sport. Our philosophy is that a fun, healthy, outdoor lifestyle is a great foundation for growth. To this end, our organization strives to provide programming that will appeal to recreational and competitive skiers alike.

Visit cbnordic.org for more information and to sign up for programs and events.