JANUARY 2016 GRAND MESA NORDIC COUNCIL WWW.GMNC.ORG

GROOMING YOUTH ADULT GRAND MESA NORDIC OPERATIONS PROGRAMS PROGRAMS RACE SERIES PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 5 PAGE 7

Stay tuned for more details. You can pick up Membership Update your pin and member sticker in the Skyway BY KRISTINA KITTELSON warming hut or at upcoming Membership Table The 2015-2016 Nordic events at Skyway on long-weekend Saturdays season is underway! 10:30am-1:30pm. Both parking lots at Skyway and County Line have been filled Message to capacity most weekends, which from the means you are getting up on the Grand Mesa President to enjoy the fabulous BY DAVE KNUTSON Nordic and snowshoeing! We celebrated Wow, what a start to the season with fantastic our 25th anniversary at the first Grand Mesa almost everywhere! In the North Fork, we Nordic Race Series race, WinterStart. Thank are skiing right out our front doors onto the you to all who joined in the festivities including irrigation ditches with over a foot of base. Our hot soup and cake. grooming crew is working hard to keep the trails open on the Grand Mesa with the regular Despite raising our membership fees for the onslaught of snow. We have a new member on first time since 2007 to help cover increasing the Grooming Operations team, Matt Gallob, operations costs, memberships have been who comes to us with Powderhorn grooming coming in at a steady pace but we still need experience. You should see those hills on your support! To further the value Skyway perfect this year! Please thank our of your membership, we now have groomers when you see them: Kenton, John, membership pins, which will Kevin, Ron, and Matt. provide you member benefits such as discounts at local businesses.

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We are really excited to see the kids 2 kilometer course added to our Grand Mesa Nordic Race Grooming Operations Series. I plan my typical race surging on to take first place in the bottom 25% of racers. Who Hug a Groomer cares about where you finish in our Citizens’ Day? Race series? Just get out there and have fun! BY WINSLOW ROBERTSON Tom Ela’s courses are fun to and sometimes During the holiday season, you even get to see the top finishers lap you. the Grand Mesa received Our second Grand Mesa Nordic (GMN) Loppet over 50" of snow, leaving 21/42k Nordic freestyle ski race is coming up at the trails covered in deep the end of February and it’s not too late to start powder and creating a lot of work for our training. grooming crew. We prefer to send the snowcat Glider ski lesson registrations are coming in out daily during these storms to keep our trails strong this year for our Youth Programs, and if packed out and skiable for our members, but you are inclined to help out, please give Annie a sometimes it isn't possible (like when Highway shout. We still need three more coaches and can 65 is closed). On these rare occasions, the crew always use helpers. I’m back coaching again this has to work extra hard to get our trails in shape, year because it’s so much fun to see our Gliders which may take a few days. develop a love of winter and . We are happy to report the Summit trail, our In preparation for the GMN Loppet, I’m signing one and only 'expert' trail, is open for business. up for lessons again this year with Callie’s team The crew worked many hours to open it due to of professional Adult Programs instructors. Ski the amount of blowdown on the trail. It has lessons are the best “anti-aging” remedy I’ve been packed and graded multiple times, and the found. They teach me to be more efficient and skiing is great. smooth, remediating the effects of this aging Our equipment issues continue to vex us as we body. have two in the shop (again). One Our biggest project in 2016 will be preparation of these days we'll have the entire fleet in the for submitting a Colorado Parks & Wildlife field, and when that happens, it will be a good Non-Motorized Recreational Trail Grant to day. Maybe we could declare it 'Hug a Groomer' support our CERF fund. We’ve presented to the day! Delta County Commissioners asking for support and Mesa County is next on our list. We’ll put The following link directs you out a call for member letters of support later in to our SPOT tracking results 2016. The grant would fund 70% of the cost of a new PistenBully snow grooming machine. for the past 24 hrs. These units send a “ping” every ten We are looking forward to more active trail minutes when grooming is in progress. The hosting this month- you just might run across GMNC Board Members wearing a white GMNC results are applied to Google maps, and trail patrol vest. We’ll have stickers, maps, and although our trails are not noted at Google friendly tips to help you enjoy the trails. (yet), the loops depicted give you reasonable Onward! graphic representation of what’s been groomed or in the progress of. Click here.

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PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY MARKET Youth Programs COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM! All you have to do is enroll in Grand Mesa Gliders the program, select GMNC as Youth Programs are the organization of your dedicated to instructing choice, and then shop at City kids in the various Market and swipe your value disciplines of Nordic card! Cash rewards on most skiing and backcountry items you purchase are donated to GMNC by City safety as well as fostering Market. Go the the City Market website and click on a life-long enjoyment of the “Enroll Now” button. When specifying the skiing. The Gliders’ organization name, use “Grand Mesa Nordic Council” mission is to make Nordic or our organization number, 10302. skiing available to ALL and FUN! You must enroll annually in December.

Little Gliders Program Gliders Nordic Program

The Little Gliders cross-country ski program is The Gliders Nordic Program is for youth ages 9 for children ages 4-8. The program’s emphasis to 16 years old. The program is designed for any is on having fun, playing games, and socializing level skier – from young skiers who want to with other children while developing the classic learn how to cross-country ski to skiers who skiing technique. Children will be grouped by have the basic fundamentals and want to get age and/or ability level. We recommend all ready for racing. Getting out on and having children use waxless classic ski equipment. a good time will be the emphasis for all groups. Beginners will learn the classic skiing technique. 2016 SCHEDULE Intermediate and advanced skiers will practice Saturdays in January (Jan. 9th, 16th, 23rd, basic cross-country ski skills as well as skate 3oth and Saturday, Feb. 6th) skiing skills. Gliders will tour, train, play games, 11:00-12:00 at Skyway Trail System perform drills, race, and improve. All skiers are required to have their own classic equipment $40.00 ($55.00/non-members) (either waxable or waxless). Intermediate and Ski rental available from GMNC’s Skis for Kids advanced skiers may rent skate skis through Program for $12.00 GMNC’s Skis for Kids Program.

To register, click HERE 2016 SCHEDULE Saturdays in January (Jan. 9th, 16th, 23rd, 3oth and Saturday, Feb. 6th) 10:30-12:00 at Skyway Trail System Gliders Race and Game Day, $50.00 ($65.00/non-members) Saturday, February 6th at 11:00 am! Skate ski rental available for Gliders for $12.00 For more information on Youth Programs, e-mail [email protected] or call 970-623-4424 To register, click HERE

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THE SKIS FOR KIDS PROGRAM MAKES CROSS- COUNTRY SKIING AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE 4. Contact us with your date, alternate dates, TO ALL YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY BY and skier information at PROVIDING CROSS-COUNTRY SKI EQUIPMENT [email protected] or 970-872-1168. FOR GROUPS OF KIDS. 5. We will get back to you as soon as possible to let you know how we can help you and make Skis For Kids arrangements to get your gear. BY ANITA EVANS We are on schedule for 6.We will send you a “rental another record year for Skis agreement”, which you need For Kids users and are close to copy and require all to being booked for the participants to complete. season! If you still want to Collect these and bring get your group on skis, here them with you when you are some things to obtain the gear. remember. We serve only 7.Note: We charge a groups of youth, not nominal $2.00 per pair of individuals, as we are not a skis, boots, and poles as our rental shop. There is a rental fee (additional continuing demand for gear, donations accepted) to make it which makes it doubly important for you to affordable for all. The rental fee goes make arrangements as early as possible for your towards replacement, repair, and delivery of youth group. It is still our goal to provide equipment, and the “agreement” helps keep quality gear at a low cost to as many youth as us insured. An additional charge may be possible. added if transportation of gear is required to Here is what we need from you to make places other than Grand Mesa trails. everything work: Let it snow! 1. Choose a date and at least one alternate date Anita Evans – Skis For Kids Coordinator for your ski outing. Engaged Learning LLC 2. Have a list of your skiers’ first names, heights, weights, and shoe sizes on a Word, [email protected] Excel or PDF document ready to email to us. 970-901-1459 It is helpful if you indicate girl or boy next to each Grand Mesa Nordic skier’s name. Junior Race Team BY CHRISTINA STARK 3. Make sure you have enough experienced adults Ski season is well underway to accompany your group for the Grand Mesa Nordic and include size (GMN) Junior Race Team. We information if gear is traveled to Crested Butte with needed. We have been two young athletes for our able, on occasion, to first Rocky Mountain Nordic provide instructors. (RMN) Race held Saturday, December 20th and Sunday, 21st. Saturday was a sunny day filled

PO BOX 4034 GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81502 4 JANUARY 2016 GRAND MESA NORDIC COUNCIL WWW.GMNC.ORG with freestyle sprint races that progressed from race will be held Sunday, January 31st to qualifying rounds in the morning to finals in the coincide with the Skyway Skuffle. See course afternoon. The weather shifted for the classic map. races on Sunday with increased wind and fresh snow. Our athletes were well-prepared for the Please visit our page on the GMNC website for wintery conditions, and one of them achieved a more information about the team, or contact podium finish with third place in the classic Christina Stark at race. The next RMN race will be held in [email protected]. Steamboat over the fourth weekend of January. Remaining RMN Race Schedule: Adult • Steamboat – January 23 - 24, 2016 Programs • Soldier Hollow – January 29 - 30, 2016 BY CALLIE WEST • Minturn/Vail – February 20 - 21, 2016 GMNC’s Ski Instructor Training • Aspen – February 27 - 28, 2016 (U14 On Sunday December 6th, GMNC’s team of Championships) professional ski instructors met on the snow for a full day of training with Emily Lovett, a The GMN Junior Race Team will be competing premier at Soldier Hollow in the Junior National Super “Teacher’s Qualifier races on Friday, January 29th and Trainer” from Saturday January 30th. The Soldier Hollow Steamboat Nordic Center was home to the 2002 Olympic Springs. Emily Games and is a great race course. The Nordic is a certified trails are also located close to the Olympic Park USSA Level and full size ski jump hill, which makes this 100XC coach, really fun race venue. Non-team members are has a PSIA welcome to join us at Soldier Hollow races and Level III the Aspen races. Nordic We are happy to announce we are offering a 2k certification and is a member of the PSIA-Rocky race for Mountain Education staff. She manages the ski younger school at Lake Catamount Touring Center and racers at the coaches the Steamboat Springs High School and Grand Mesa Middle School Nordic teams. She also co- Nordic Race directs the West Yellowstone Thanksgiving Ski Series races. Camp each year. All young Our coaches are now ready to provide you with skiers world-class Nordic ski instruction. Read about interested in our upcoming classes and clinics below. We also trying out offer private lessons for 1 skier or semi-private racing are lessons for 1 – 3 skiers anytime during the encouraged to participate. The first race was season with at least 7 days notice. Cost: $65 for held Saturday, January 2nd during the Grand one skier and $20 for each additional skier for Mesa Classic with two participants. The next

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GMNC members. Non-member $85 for one Register Now! GMNC’s popular skier plus $25 for each additional skier. Click here for more info. Women’s Ski Clinic Series February 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th Remember – GIFT CERTIFICATES for private The Women’s Ski Clinic Series will take place lessons make a GREAT GIFT. every Friday in February from 12:00 – 1:00 at County Line. The final clinic will include a video Small Group Ski Lessons analysis of all skiers and an “Après-Ski Ladies Saturdays in January Tea” in the Skyway warming hut. Small one-hour group ski lessons will be offered in both classic cross-country and skate ski These clinics focus on practicing and improving techniques this month. These classes are very ski skills in an informative and fun learning successful for new skiers who want to start atmosphere with other women. Skiers will be learning basic skills correctly and for ‘self grouped according to ability and the small taught’ skiers who need to eliminate bad habits, groups (maximum 6 skiers per instructor) allow gain efficiency, and experience more enjoyment for plenty of one-on-one feedback and while skiing. They are also great for experienced discussion. There will also be one skate ski skiers who want to learn the latest techniques to group for experienced skate skiers. practice during the season.

Skiers will be grouped according to ability level “I really liked how each instructor in small groups of 3 – 6 skiers per instructor. asked us what we wanted to work Sign up for one lesson or take advantage of on, demonstrated skills and gave us several lessons to advance your skiing to the feedback on what we could work on. next level! Very high quality instruction! It really boosted my skills.”

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING GMNC’s professional ski instructors will also CLASSES provide information and recommendations regarding equipment, clothing, ski waxing and Jan. 9, 16 and 23, 11 am – 12 pm how to prepare for winter outdoor activity.

SKATE SKIING CLASSES Cost: $95 for GMNC members, $115 for non- Jan. 9, 16 and 23, 1 pm – 2 pm members. Space is limited and fills fast!

Cost: $40 per class for GMNC members, PRE-REGISTRATION required. $50 per class for non-members. Intro to Cross-Country Skiing & Ski Waxing Workshop at REI! Space is limited and advanced registration is Thursday, January 21, 5:30 – 7:30 pm required. For more information and to register, click on the links above or visit www.gmnc.org Join us for this class introducing the sport of under ‘Adult Programs’. cross-country skiing and a hands-on Nordic ski- waxing workshop at the REI store in Grand Junction!

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FREE: Limited to 20 participants. Currently Butte Nordic Center; Stagecoach Classic at FULL but you can add your name to wait-list. Devils Thumb Ranch; and the Frisco Gold Rush Register at Grand Junction REI. at Frisco Nordic Center - just to name a few.

The GMN Loppet is a ‘freestyle’ type race, which means you can use classic or skate skis. You can Grand Mesa Nordic even start with skate skis and then switch over Race Series to classic skis, if you desire. The course will be one (21km/13 miles) or two laps (42km/ 26 miles) on a 21km loop of rolling terrain (663 2nd Annual Grand Mesa Nordic feet of climbing per 21km loop). The course Loppet: 21/42K Freestyle Nordic circumnavigates the entire Skyway and County Ski Race Line Trail Systems. Starting at BY KYLE STONE Skyway, the course will follow Lions Loop to Scales Lake Road The new year is here then Tower to Dog Loop. Aid and the snow continues Station #1 will be located at the to fly on the Grand Country Line Trailhead Mesa making for a great approximately 8.5km/5.3 miles race season. The Grand from the start. From here, the Mesa Nordic Race course will continue via Overlook Series began in to Tower to Kannah Crossing back December with two to Vista Valley, Lions Loop to races already Sunset and finish at the Skyway completed. If you’re parking area. Aid Station #2 (21km/13 miles) is looking to test your abilities in a longer race this located at the Start/Finish line and the 42km season, the Grand Mesa Nordic Loppet (aka racers will repeat the course in the opposite GMN Loppet) on February 27th is the race for direction. The 42km racers will encounter Aid you! Station #3 at County Line Trailhead at 33.3 km/ This will be the second annual GMN Loppet 20.7 miles, which is 8.5km/5.3 miles from the with the same format as last year; however, this finish at Skyway. year, the race is earlier in the season to coincide This is a great opportunity to explore all the with other races on the Western Slope and now trails at these two trail systems with other has the option for online registration (see race racers in a supported fashion with aid stations details below) throughout the course. The quality of snow and You may be wondering what a “Loppet” is and high altitude (lowest elevation is 10,611ft, why you should be interested in participating in highest is 10,854 feet) of our Nordic trails this event? Loppet is a Norwegian word typically offer great skiing well into April. meaning “a large, long distance (approximately While no one can predict race day conditions, it 35+ kilometer) cross-country skiing event.” In a is likely that you’ll experience great skiing in a nod to Nordic skiing’s Norwegian heritage, it stunning alpine environment. seemed fitting to name our longest race of the We are excited to have a number of awesome season honoring its lineage. There are a number sponsors this year. Our title sponsor is of great Loppet-length Nordic races throughout Mountain West Dermatology and GMNC Board Colorado such as the Alley Loop race at Crested

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Member Dr. Lew Kirkegaard. They are Highway 65 through Mesa and past the providing a number of Powderhorn Ski area. Continue on Highway 65 unique GMN Loppet for 10 miles; the Skyway parking area will be on hats, which will be the left. From Highway 50: At Delta, take raffled at the end of the Highway 92 to Cedaredge then take Highway 65 race. Our Aid Stations North to the top of Grand Mesa, continue past will be offering VFuel the County Line trailhead to Skyway. gels and Acli-Mate hydration with Evo WINTERSTART RACE RECAP Hemp and Kind Bars for SKYWAY, DEC 6, 2015 after-race refueling. Staying true to the BY TOM ELA legendary GMNC Nordic races, hot soup will be Winter has started and so has the GMNC race available and prizes will be awarded donated by season with excellent snow and enthusiastic a variety of local businesses. racers. With better snow this year and taking advantage of some summer trail work, we were The GMN Loppet will provide a high-quality able to ski a fun looping course instead of being racing event, which could possibly become our stuck on Scales Lake Road. Chief groomer, signature race for Western Colorado as it Kenton Shaw, had everything in great shape highlights many of the amazing trails and that was reflected in some very fast times. maintained by GMNC on the Grand Mesa. We Nate Maddox is still the hope to see you there! man to beat winning For more information or questions, feel free to both the Classic and the contact Kyle Stone (970) 488-0057 or email Freestyle races. Brooke [email protected]. Bosman was the fastest female Classic skier RACE DETAILS while long-time stalwart Christie Aschwanden Date: February 27th, 2016 topped the Freestyle Location: Skyway Trail System ladies. There were lots of great battles out there Time: 10:00 AM Freestyle Mass Start 21K & and also lots just having a good time enjoying 42K the fresh air and sociable challenge. Racers had Cost: the chance to sample new EXO Bars with quality protein from sustainable cricket flour 21K: $25 GMNC members, $30 non-members and, once again, Justin’s provided their handy and tasty packets of Nut Butters. Good stuff! 42K $30 GMNC members, $35 non-members The winners each got a box of Enstrom’s Toffee Registration: and everyone loaded up on split pea soup and GMNC 25th Anniversary cake. Wow, we’ve • Online doing this for a long time! It has taken a ton of volunteers to create and sustain this wonderful • Race day: 9:00am Skyway parking lot (cash member-funded amenity over the years, and on or checks only) race day, that crucial need was filled admirably Directions: From I-70: Take Exit 49 - by Danielle Burritt, Kyle Stone, Trish Rothwell, Powderhorn/Grand Mesa exit. Travel south on

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Angela Johnson, Rick Peterson and Ernie and Autumn Ela. If today is any sign of things to Langelier. Thanks! Let’s keep it going! come, then 2016 is going to be a great year! GRAND MESA CLASSIC RACE Click HERE for full list of race results. RECAP SKYWAY, JAN 2, 2016 BY TOM ELA 2016 SCHEDULE Ski racers ages 6 to 80 came to Skyway to compete in the Grand Mesa Classic and were SATURDAY JAN. 30, 2016 treated to gorgeous sunshine and fabulous COLORADO MESA SPRINTS tracks. The snow temp remained a little cold 1K CLASSIC (COLLEGIATE & CITIZEN after a chilly night so DIVISIONS) skiing was a little ELIMINATION HEATS START 11AM slow. That is, until they took the plunge SATURDAY, JAN. 31, 2016 down Will’s Hill SKYWAY SKUFFLE when most got all the 10K FREESTYLE 11AM speed they could wish for plus! Nate SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 2016 Maddox once again GRAND MESA NORDIC LOPPET cruised to a win 21K/42K FREESTYLE ahead of his CMU 10AM, PRE-REGISTRATION AND RACE teammates Kimmo DAY REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE Lajunen and Connor Timms. More remarkable, though, was Jordan BARNELOPET FOR KIDS! Miner who was the fastest woman of the day at SATURDAY, MAR. 5, 2016 the ripe old age of 13. Great skiing, Jordan! REGISTRATION 10-11AM, LESSONS 11AM, RACES NOON We held a Kids 2k race as well for younger racers not not as SATURDAY, MAR. 19, 2016 ambitious as Jordan. Asher MESA MELTDOWN Livingston rocked it at age 6 5K/20K FREESTYLE chasing his big sister Aurora. 11AM (SIMULTANEOUS MASS START Look for more kids races FOR BOTH RACES) coming in conjunction with each citizens race.

EVO Hemp Bars and Justin’s Nut Butters were the energy source for the day and REI provided door prizes. We really appreciate these race sponsors! And we really appreciate the critical cog in the machine, our volunteers Danielle Burritt

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GMNC Awarded $5000 Junior Grooming for our Programs funded in Service League Community part by: Giving Grant! Thanks JSL!

Give the Gift of Nordic Skiing!

Great for friends and family who are passionate about Stay up-to-date with the information that Nordic sports and enjoy using the groomed GMNC trails matters to you most! on the Grand Mesa. Certificates are available for GMNC Memberships and Nordic Skiing Lessons. Visit gmnc.org/ If you would like to receive e-mail gift-certificates/ for all the details and how to purchase. notifications when GMNC posts new grooming or community trail condition reports, news,

volunteer opportunities, etc., click HERE and enter your e-mail address. Grand Mesa Nordic Council Join or Renew Today!

Grand Mesa Nordic Council (GMNC) is a member-supported, nonprofit organization of people who love to participate in Nordic sports on the Grand Mesa in Western Colorado. GMNC is funded by membership fees, donations, business sponsors, fundraising events, and grants. Monies are used for trail grooming; staff; equipment purchases and maintenance; trail maps and signs; maintenance of the Skyway warming hut; and outreach including youth and adult programs and races. Please click here and join or renew today!

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