Still need snow… and holy ski team, Batman!

We’re still waiting on that nice first big dump of snow for the year. (I’m not counting those Oct. snows!) About 6″ of nice heavy, wet snow would be ideal for a base that can get packed down and provide good edging for the rest of the winter. I certainly won’t complain about this fluffy stuff, but it doesn’t pack as nicely and it’s hard to get a good edge on it, or set solid tracks.

That being said… I think the high school/middle school numbers this year on the ski team are upwards of 55- closer to 58! Holy skiers, Batman! This year’s philosophy is a little more structured (with that many kids it has to be) but the coaching staff is also hoping to really start pushing the kids to gel into a solid team and emerge as the new section leaders. (Detroit Lakes is the team to beat…. has a nice ring, doesn’t it?) There is an amazing amount of talent on the team this year, so it will be fun to see what they can do. Of course, that is, if they can get over that ski practice is no longer a free-for-all.

We also desperately need equipment for the kids- do you have any race equipment you’re interested in selling? Gently used skis/boots/poles that you’re wanting to get rid of would help a lot of kids out! (NNN binding style preferred, though if you have a set of all SNS that is OK too.) Please contact coach Dan Josephson at 844-7352 if you’ve got equipment.

Now go outside and do a snow dance!!

Come on, SNOW!

I’m sitting here at the moment looking out the window (or at least I was a second ago before typing) at the little tiny flakes coming down. At least the ground has an initial coating of white now, and we’ll take whatever we can get! Hopefully some of this will start to accumulate and we can get the skis out for the first time this year.

A few updates on upcoming events:

- The high school ski team is now practicing (and has been most of November). Meets will start as soon as there is enough snow to ski.

- Youth Ski League will meet for the first time on Sunday, Dec. 20th for anyone with questions who wants to learn a little more about the program or see if their kids like skiing! Please note, if you are thinking of renting skis there are only 12 pairs that we have, so you may want to check around to see if there are skis available for your kids to use in case we don’t have enough.

- The candlelight ski event has been set for Sunday, Feb. 14th from 7:00-9:00 PM. It will be advertised in the community ed events/classes booklet so hopefully there will be a lot of local skiers out!

Now, go outside and do a snow dance…. let’s get some more white stuff falling down!

Counting Down The Days

With a little snow on the ground we’re counting down the days until the ski season starts. One week for the high school and middle school kids and two months for the little kids!! Wow- crazy how fast that has come up!

The Youth Ski League is in dire need of at least one other adult coach. No skiing experience necessary, just the committment to be at practice every Sunday for seven weeks. There will be two levels of skiers this year and I can’t do them both! MYSL is great for coaches- it lays out a complete curriculum for each session and is really easy to follow.

Otherwise… just  hoping the snow gods smile on us this year and we get a good ski season!!

Snow!! Snow! More snow!!

It’s ok, you can laugh at this next bit: I took out the skis last Friday and skied a single lap around the backyard. It was a little sticky due to the wet snow and the grass… but I still SKIED!! In October!

Rumor has it on noaa.gov that there’s about 5 more inches possible in the next 24 hours… here’s hoping that’s the beginning of a great ski seaon!!!

Bike Season

So I’ve realized lately just how many skiers bike in the summer, and how many bikers (as in pedal bikes, not vroom vroom motorbikes) ski. Crazy. I guess I’m a little late to the scene, but trying to get out on the (new!) bike on a regular basis now. Starting it about two weeks after the Norwegian Birkie I didn’t realize A) how sore I still was and B) how many of the same muscles feel like they’re getting used.

Anyone doing much distance biking around here this summer?

New Contributors Wanted!!

Want to write for this blog??? I’m looking for a handful of people to help contribute with just basic posts of where they skied, how the snow was and what a great time they had!.

Email me at nikki@detroitlakesxcski.com if you’re interested!
~Nikki

The skiing blog…

Well, a website optmizer thing said I needed to have a blog on the XC ski site so here it is! (www.detroitlakesxcski.com if you haven’t seen it)

I’m more than a little sad to see the snow go. Right when I hit the best part of the ski season the snow seems to vanish. Oh well, it’s on to the easy spring training and start getting ramped up for next year. Yep- already thinking about Birkie 2010! Dan and I both missed moving up another wave by barely a few minutes so can’t let that happen again next year!

This year was a good season overall- great snow with a nice little treat at the end. The Youth Ski League was pretty fun to get started too. The little kids were an absoulte blast. (You get a bunch of little kids on skis and I don’t think there is anything cuter in the world!)

Well, I’m all written out for the night…