The Pagosa Nordic Club hosts the Pagosa Nordic Season Opener X-C Ski challenge, this weekend, Friday, December 13 – Sunday December 15th, featuring Masters X-C Ski Champion and inspirational speaker, Murray Banks.
On Friday, December 13th from 6-8pm, Murray will teach a X-C Ski waxing clinic to be held at the Alpen Haus Ski Center, located at 2800 Cornerstone Drive in the Plaza at Aspen Village shopping center, 970-731-7547. Murray is on the Toko Wax Tech Team and will use anecdotes, examples and demonstrations to demystify the nuances of waxing Classic X-C skis and Skate skis. He will start at the very beginning with cleaning off dirt and old wax, then take you through layering both kick and glide waxes, why you would choose hydrocarbon, low or high flouro waxes, how to heat in the binder, which brushes work best for different waxes and finally, the application of Jet Stream. An added bonus, Murray will give away Toko Wax product prizes for those who can answer bonus questions. Like many of us, Murray has limited time for ski prep, so he will help us streamline our time and reduce our stress while getting the fastest skis possible. Murray is a two time masters X-C skiing world champion, so he will be sharing some hilarious and inspiring race stories from the Masters world championship in Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Canada and the U.S.A. Toko Wax and tools will be offered at special discounted prices if you order at the wax clinic. A small donation of $5.00 will be requested at the door. Please email your RSVP to PagoaNordic@Gmail.com.
On Saturday, December 14th, Murray will teach two of his inspirational Skate Ski Clinics. An Advanced skate skier clinic will be conducted 9am-11am and an intermediate clinic will be held 1pm-3pm. This is a must clinic for aspiring intermediate and advanced skate skiers. With 3 world championships under his belt, Murray will share many new techniques that have been developed over the last 5 years or so, that will change the way you skate ski by making more efficient use of your energy and increasing your skate skiing enjoyment. The $30 per clinic fee ($25 for Pagosa Nordic members) will be the best money you spend all winter. Please email your RSVP to PagosaNordic@gmail.com if you would like to reserve your spot for a clinic, indicating your ability level as intermediate or advanced, and you will receive a response with more detailed information. The clinic will be held in Alberta Park at the Wolf Creek Ski Area. Park your vehicles at the end of the Tranquility Parking lot and follow the signs down to Alberta Park.
Later on Saturday afternoon, December 14th between 4pm – 7pm, Pagosa Nordic will host the season’s first FREE Moonrise/Sunset soup and chili X-C Ski Social, to be held at the Alberta Park Nordic trail at Wolf Creek Ski Area. All ages and all ability X-C skiers are invited to come join in the fun. You will enjoy an easy X-C ski under the colorful skies and meet back at the trail head for soup, chili and hot cocoa around a warm campfire. A great family friendly activity. You may bring something to share, though not required. Dress warm and +bring your headlamp or flashlight and chair if desired.
On Sunday, December 15th, Murray will join Pagosa Nordic for a Biathlon X-C Ski Race. Using Red Ryder BB Guns, skiers will compete in either a 12km competitive, 6km citizens or 3km kids race with three opportunities to shoot at targets in between course laps. The secret to this race is to slow down your heart rate between laps to ensure an accurate target shoot. The event is a freestyle ski event in which participants can either classic X-C ski or skate ski. Prizes for top finishers as well as participant drawing giveaways. The Red Ryder BB gun Biathlon has been Pagosa Nordic’s most popular race during the winter. Registration fee is $20 for PNC members, $30 for nonmembers and $10 for kids under 16. The event will be held in Alberta Park at the Wolf Creek Ski Area. RSVP at PagosaNordic@gamil.com, and you will receive a response with more details.
Current Pagosa Springs area Groomed X-C Ski Trails open for your skiing enjoyment include: 10km at Alberta Park compliments of the Wolf Ski Area, accessed from the end of the tranquility parking lot at the ski area. Trail use is compliments of the ski area. Also, with all of the recent fresh snow, Pagosa Nordic has been able to groom 8km at the West Fork, which is located 15 miles east on Hwy 160, Look for the West Fork sign and be prepared to make a left hand turn. If the road is not plowed, you should park along Hwy 160 on the north side of the road, but off of the pavement. The Pagosa Ranger District has groomed 14km at Coyote Hill. Conditions at these locations are excellent and all trails are groomed wide for Skate Skiing with set tracks for classic X-C skiing. Additional area trails will be groomed as snow conditions permit.
Pagosa Nordic is a non profit, 100% volunteer organization with a mission “To enhance winter recreational opportunities in Pagosa Springs by maintaining accessible groomed winter trails for skate skiing, classic cross country skiing & snowshoeing for all ability levels and to encourage and promote the use of these winter trails through education, marketing and events”.
