The Nordic News

The turning from February to March signals a shift in the season for us. The days get longer, the sun gets hotter, and (fingers crossed) the snow gets snowier. One day spring is in the air, the next we’re buried in whiteout conditions. With winter’s snowiest month ahead of us, there’s still lots of time to get more out of winter with CB Nordic.

March is a great time to assess your winter goals and make some moves to be sure you’ve met them. Try something new by taking a lesson or going on a guided backcountry ski tour. Make that commitment you’ve been talking about and jump into our new 3-week Masters program. Or simply point your skis in a new direction and go explore Slate River, Mill Creek, or Hartman’s (the latter is groomed courtesy of our friends at Gunnison Nordic).

If you haven’t been skiing as much as you’d like, use the last few days of the Magic Meadows Community Ks Fundraiser or this weekend’s Gothic Mountain Tour to get you out the door. We find that one BIG day of skiing often erases 30 days of mostly-not-skiing.

Whatever you do with the next six weeks, make sure you do it with gusto so you finish the season feeling like you truly got the most out of winter!

If you’re having trouble registering your kilometers, send your total lap count to [email protected] and she’ll enter them for you!

People always say, “you come to CB for the winters, but you stay for the summers.” If you joined CB Nordic this winter and you’re thinking about staying for the summer . . . or for forever (it is pretty good here) . . .  we encourage you to check out our friends at LIV Sotheby’s Crested Butte. The team of agents at Crested Butte Sotheby’s has deep roots in the Gunnison Valley and world-class expertise. Plus, you’ll pretty regularly see a bunch of them on the Nordic Trails! Thank you to LIV Sotheby’s Crested Butte for your support of CB Nordic this winter and making our world-class trails possible.

Did you fall in love with nordic skiing this winter? It’s time to invest in yourself and your future by getting your own up-to-date Fischer skis for next year. We know those skis from your grandma’s garage “still work,” but we’re telling you: a new pair of skis can make a huge difference in how much fun you’re having out there. The outdoor industry has seen unprecedented demand this past year, and we anticipate this trend will continue into next winter. If you want new equipment, it’s critical to place your order now so that your skis, boots, and poles are ready for next fall. We know it seems far away, but if 2020 taught us anything, it’s that time flies . . . oh wait, no. That wasn’t it. It’s that . . . you have to wash your hands. Well, yes, but what it really taught us was to STOCK UP ON STUFF YOU LOVE. Like skis. Carpe SKIEM!

Registration for the 2021 Gothic Mountain Tour will close at the end of the day Friday. There will be NO walk-up registration this year. There are some COVID changes in place, so be sure you review the racer manual before toeing the start line. We do need volunteers to help pull off the GMT. If you’re interested in helping out, please contact [email protected].

While a lot of our local skiers enjoy participating in the Masters Community Clinics, lessons are great if you’re looking for more personalized instruction, a customized schedule, or if you have a group of friends/family with whom you’d like to learn. We offer lessons every day of the week, with 20% off on weekdays AND 20% off for season passholders (you can apply both discounts!). You must reserve lessons at least 24 hours in advance.

Do you want to get to know the area better? Then a guided ski or snowshoe tour is just the ticket. Our experienced guides can take you out into the National Forest around CB and help you familiarize yourself with more backcountry terrain. Tours are fully customizable to your goals, so whether you want to get out with your family or get a rigorous workout in, your guide will craft the day to fit your needs. Please remember to reserve your tour at least 24 hours in advance.

This year we’re offering 3-week, as well as 6-week, Masters Community clinics. A new round of 3-week clinics are starting March 7. These clinics meet twice a week to give you a concentrated dose of instruction to help you take your skiing to the next level. We’re offering Classic, Levels 2 and 3, and Skate, Levels 1, 2, and 3. It’s not too late to learn how to ski better and ski faster so that you have more fun out there!

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Crested Butte Nordic depends on your support to keep our trails world-class and our programs top-notch. Thank you for all the time, energy, and money you donate to make us a true community nordic center.