Grooming Update

Thanks to Doug who cleaned up the track last night!  The skate track was getting pretty hard-packed (well-used!).  It should ski nicely.

Grooming Update

Randy and Doug rolled the track then pulled the Ginsu around to groom it for skating. They also set the classic track. Skating may be a little punchy until it sets up, but then should be great skiing. Enjoy!

Grooming Report

Doug just texted that the track is all groomed, set up and looking great (thank you!). Get out early (if you can dig yourself out of your own driveway) before the next storm hits. It should be nice skiing.

Grooming Update

Many thanks to Doug and Randy who worked late last night/early this morning to roll and groom the skate track, and to set the classic track.

The inside skate loops aren't prepped yet, but the Perimeter and Cow Pasture are ready for skating and classic skiing.  Heads up: the skate track will likely be punchy until this new snow settles into itself.

It's an unusual position to be in - almost too much snow.  Somebody needs to hold off doing the snow dance, maybe save up for the next few winters?

Enjoy the day!

Grooming Update

Merry Christmas Eve Day!
Randy and Doug have already been out trying to get the track cleaned up after last night's snow.  They're working hard, but it's tough to keep ahead of all this snow.  

There is a short skate track groomed (about 2K) right now.  Start at the parking lot, (turn west/left) then directly north, follow the track as it heads up along the north edge of the golf course.  There is a short-cut after the bridge that will loop you back to the parking lot.

The classic track is set on the Perimeter but not the Cow Pasture.

Afternoon/evening Grooming Report

Randy just called with a great grooming update.  He groomed through the entire course, skate and classic both (including the inside skate loops).  He says it looks like it's going to be great skiing.  With the flat light and incoming fog, it'd be a good evening/night for headlamp skiing.

Enjoy!

Grooming Report

Doug was able to get the perimeter done last night(thank you, Doug!). Yippee! I'm not sure how it set up, but I bet it's great.  The inside loops might be taken care of later today.  Meanwhile, there's enough track to keep people skiing happy today.
Thanks again to our trail groomers!

How to Skate Ski: Using Your Legs

4 Tips for Beginner Diagonal Stride, Classic Skiing

Grooming Report

Despite the -17F temps (windchill is even colder!), Randy went out and groomed early this morning. (THANK YOU!).  He said he got everything buffed out nicely.  The skate track and the classic track are both set.  Randy did say to watch out for icy spots where the puddles have frozen over - they'll look like either depressions or bumps in the track.

Ski Club meets at 4:15-5:15 today - should be great skiing!  It's supposed to warm-up to the high teens by this afternoon.  We will take a break over Christmas then resume practices on Thursday, January 5th, 4:15-5:15.

Grooming Report

Randy just called.  After 6 hours of grooming, he was able to prep the south side of the course for skating and classic skiing.  The Cow Pasture (see map) is best for skating right now.  The area south of the Club House is good for both classic and skating.  From the parking lot, head down the sled hill and turn south to find your track.

Doug is out right now, rolling the rest of the track.  We had so much snow yesterday on top of a really warm day the day before, so we have big puddles covered in snow. The grooming equipment has been getting stuck quite a bit.  If you see wet snow patches, scoot around them.

As always, an enormous thank you to both Randy and Doug.  All their time and equipment are volunteered 100%.   That's one reason we are a little protective of our track - no snow bikes or walking on the track, please!  And we really prefer no dogs - they can tear up the track and leave messes.  Plus last year we had more than one scary dog/skier encounter.

Trying to set the track

Randy spent a lot of time trying to set the track during yesterday's blizzard.  Unfortunately there were too many puddles under the snow still, and the track setter kept getting stuck.  We might need to call on any of you who are available to come shovel in those puddle spots.  However, I'm hoping with this extreme cold (it's -17F right now) that the puddles will become ice thick enough to handle the weight of the grooming equipment.

Yesterday we had too much snow to ski (is that even possible?).  Today it might just be a bit too cold for most (not all, I know) of you to ski.  Be careful if you go out.  The windchill is -31F.  

So I wouldn't count on the track being set yet.  We had a ton of snow yesterday and it's going to take some time to settle it in.  

Classic Skins - Alternative Option

We love our classic skin skis - no need to wax the kick zone.  This week's SkiPost, which you can subscribe to here, introduced me to grip tape, which can turn your waxed Classic skis into no-wax skis.  Nice!


If you want an all-purpose kick wax alternative, turn your classic skis into a pair of Grip tape skis instead of having to purchase new skin skis.

Early Morning Grooming Report

Randy texted at 5:15am that he just finished grooming (just FYI, it takes a good 2-3, sometimes 4 hours to groom each time, so he pretty much spent the night out there.  Thank you, Randy!).

He says:
Everything is groomed, did it early this morning before it heated up.  Hopefully it will set up before the temperature heats up later today.  The classic track is in; not great, but it's a start.

Track Report and Nordic Kids Club Report

The skate track is fantastic (as long as you step around the bare patches and watch out for gravel in a few spots).  It's really holding up well.  Right now it's hard packed and getting a bit icy and a little rutted but it's still great skating for this time of the year in Rexburg.  I heard we might get rain tonight...oh, please no!  But then more snow is supposed to follow.  We'll see what happens.

Still not enough snow to set a classic track, sorry.

We have - so far - 20 kids registered for the 7th -12th Grades Nordic Club, with more kids saying they're coming.  It's so cool to see these kids get out and play in the winter months.  It's a great way to socialize, exercise, and happycize (couldn't think of any other great word).  Our never-ending difficulty is getting equipment, but somehow it all works out one way or another.

Remember to check the Lessons and Rentals tab (or the Nordic Club tab) above for information on contacting Forrest Southam for rentals or for the closest shops to purchase a ski package of your very own (Christmas is coming...).  

Practice is tomorrow and again Monday, then we'll take a break over the Christmas break and resume on Thursday, January 5th, 4:15-5:15.

Note: Redd's Grill (located in the Clubhouse) has hot chocolate and fries for the kids for I think $3 if they want an after-school or after-ski snack.  You can just get hot chocolate for $1.75 if you want.

See ya!

Grooming Update!

I spoke (wrote) too soon!  My earlier post today is now moot.  Randy just called to say he finished tidying up the track so it is skiable - skate able, anyway.  Still no classic track set (not enough snow).  He said to watch out for asphalt patches and grass.  It's another good day for rock skis.
He didn't have a lot of snow to work with, but he still worked a miracle (thank you!).

No Grooming Update; Nordic Club Starts

Just FYI, I haven't heard of any updates on the grooming.  I went to the golf course Saturday and it was pretty slushy.  It's cold enough now to keep the snow we do have, but I'm not sure we have enough to tidy up the track.  You're always welcome to scoot around on your skis - skate or classic - unless we just groomed.  If that's the case, it's best to let a recently groomed track set up a couple of hours before skiing on it.

The youth (grades 7-12) Nordic Club starts today.  We'll probably assign the skis and see how everyone is faring for equipment, then do some dry land training or maybe some on-snow stuff today.  See you at 4:15! Parents can pick-up at 5:15.
Thanks!

Saturday Morning Track Report

Randy just called.  He's been out trying to groom at the golf course, but the snow is too wet and clumpy - it's just getting pushed around. He'll try again tonight when it cools down.  Meanwhile, we expect more snow today.  As it settles in, we will have the makings for a really good skate and classic track.

Redd's Grill Restaurant on site

I was thrilled when I heard that we now have a year-round restaurant in the Club House at the Teton Lakes Golf Course.  There's nothing better than a good day of skiing - except maybe a good day of skiing and eating.  People coming to ski or sled can stop in for a meal or hot chocolate or whatever.  Check out the Redd's Grill website reddsgrill.com for the menu, hours, and other information.  Yippee!

Morning Grooming Report

Randy and Doug have been at it again - THANK YOU!! Thanks to them, the track was groomed last night and again this morning, setting the track after yesterday's afternoon/evening snow and again after last night's overnight snow.

Late Night Grooming:

Doug sent this at 1am (do these guys ever sleep?).
The trail is in fair condition, you can skate on most of it without scraping.  Beware of the asphalt cart paths and over the bridges.  It would be great to have some skiing to help set the base and hold the snow where it tends to blow off (south facing ridges).

Let the fun begin!

Early Morning Grooming:

Randy just called with a 7am grooming report (he's been out for a couple of hours).
The skate track is groomed and setting up nicely. We have a good cover of snow, but you might want to still use your rock skis if you have some.  There is still not enough snow to set a classic track.



Rock skis, by the way, are skis that can take a few extra nicks and scratches without making you cry. There are really only two kinds of skis, says fasterskier.com, rock skis and future rock skis.

Enjoy the day!

Trail Conditions

Randy and Doug are already hard at work to set the base for the skate track. There's currently enough snow to scoot around on classic skis (no classic track set yet), and there's enough snow to skate a bit (no groomed trail yet). It will only take a bit more snow before we will be at good skating and classic skiing!

2016-2017 Nordic Club Intro Letter

Dear Nordic Ski Club,

Wow!  This makes three years in a row, and we are growing!  Coaches Joel Simpson, Steve Barrus and Stephanie Hancock (you can call us Coach or our first names, or Coach [last name] or whatever you want) are returning this year for another wonderful winter season.  Most of you have already registered (thanks!), but I’m including others from last year who might still be interested in joining this year.  If you are interested, please register through the City Rec Dept.  ASAP so we can get a good head count.  Even if you aren’t using City Skis, we need to have you registered for liability reasons.  Also, some of you may be attending only once a week instead of twice; that’s totally fine.

We have some of the best grooming around (I’d say the very best, actually), with wonderful skiing when we have snow (thanks, Randy and Doug!).  We also have an on-site port-a-potty (thanks, Jeff C. and Rexburg City!).  The Nordic Community is growing quickly.  Welcome aboard!

Our first practice will be December 12th at 4:15 (the bus usually drops kids off by 4, then they have time to put on winter clothes).  We will hand out the few City Skis we have (they’ve all been loaned out, see below).  If you can track down skis before then, you can either have a parent bring them that day or drop them off at my house before 2pm Monday and I can bring them for you. 

PLEASE  READ THROUGH THIS WHOLE LETTER FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION (sorry it’s so long!).

By the way, no experience is needed.  Those who know a little more will help those who know a little less.  Getting out in the winter is a great way to maintain fitness and sanity!  :)  We’ll have a lot of fun.

The City only has 8 sets of ski equipment, which have all been loaned out.


Rentals
However, if you don’t have skis don’t panic.  We will try to get you on skis.  Forrest Southam has a supply of classic skis, boots and poles that can be rented at Sticks N Stones at 49 East Main Street.  For a season of rental skis, contact him directly at forrestglade at gmail dot com .  Forrest is super easy to work with.  He may have some skate skis, too (ask him about that).  Additionally, you can rent classic and skate ski packages at the BYU-I Outdoor Resource Center (208-496-7337).  I think that’s a daily rental, not a seasonal rental.  In the past, they’ve offered ski club members a discount - ask them about that.
Finally, I have a couple of my own skis that we can try to fit people into as a last resort, but very limited boot sizes.  We’ll do what we can -  we want everyone to get out and ski.

Buy your own
Go ahead and look around on Craig’s List and local stores if you’re interested in purchasing skis (which I recommend if possible).  They do NOT have to be high-end expensive skis.  As you get into the sport more, you may want to upgrade eventually.  Feel free to start on either classic skis (cheaper, and a good way to start) or skate skis (more pricey, but fun).
The closest ski shop is probably Idaho Mountain Trading in Idaho Falls.  The closest specialty shops (which have a bigger selection) are in Driggs (Peaked Sports, Yostmark), West Yellowstone (Free Heel and Wheel), and Jackson (Skinny Skis).  There’s also shop in Pocatello (Barrie’s Ski & Sports).  

There used to be - and maybe still are - some consignment shops that might be a good spot to check:
Victor Outdoor Seconds in Victor, Idaho
Headwall Recycle Sports in Jackson,Wyoming

Also, I've been told that Play it Again Sports in Idaho Falls sometimes has good nordic ski equipment.  

GENERAL INFO & SCHEDULE

Ages: 

Grades 7-12

Days: 

M & Th Practice, excluding Holidays and school closure days.  No practices over Christmas Break.

Time:  

4:15-5:15. Once we have more daylight, we may extend to 5:30 (probably mid-January).

Dates:  

December 12 through approximately February 27, as weather permits (if there's no snow, we can still do dry-land training.  If it's a blizzard, we may cancel that day.  Check the blog for updates, and I will send emails.  If we run out of snow before Feb 27, we may end our season a little earlier than the 27th). 

DRESS WARMLY AND IN LAYERS.  Fingers need to be covered - please!  Wear good gloves, hats, warm socks, warm layers of snow clothes.  You may get too warm, so be prepared to shed layers.

SKIS can be stored on-site at our Ski Club Shed.  I will show up early each practice to unlock the shed.  You can leave your backpack and stuff in there during practice.  

BUS: Check with the Madison School District Transportation Department (208)359-3265 to find out which Jr. High or which High School Bus takes kids to the TETON LAKES GOLF COURSE (not the Municipal Golf Course).  You’ll likely need to send a note.  NO SKIS ALLOWED ON BUSES.

I hope that’s everything for now.  Please contact me if you have any questions.

Remember to check the blog regularly.

Many thanks,

Stephanie

2016-2017 Winter Season

Practice for the Nordic Ski Club, for grades 7-12, will begin December 12 and meet on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:15-5:15 through mid-February (no ski club on days when school is out).  The Club meets at the Teton Lakes Golf Course, snow or no snow.   

Kids can take buses from school - please contact the Madison School District Transportation Department at 208-359-3265 or visit their website for information on which bus to take from the Junior High or from the High School.  Once we get snow, kids can store ski equipment on site.  

Coaches Steve Barrus, Joel Simpson and Stephanie Hancock will teach both classic and skate skiing techniques, so bring whichever type of Nordic ski (skate or classic) you have.  (In an ideal world, it'd be great if everyone had both a skate and a classic set, but we're just happy to have you come on whatever skis you have.)  

No prior cross-country ski experience necessary, all levels welcome.  

Start looking for skis, bindings, boots, and poles - there are only a limited number of City skis for rent.  Check out the rental tab for more information on ski rental options.

 Contact stephanie_hancock@mac.com with any questions.

Classic or traditional technique in XC

Last Grooming

Wow! Doug has a section groomed

to ski.

Thank you, Doug! Here's his report:

Ski in March

Today will likely be our last ski possibility at Teton Lakes this season.  A short section was groomed last night from the club house to Smiths and back by way of the cut off.  The boot was groomed also.  The track is smooth with only two or three near bare spots.  It skied very fast and for a last day it's not bad.  Get out before it softens.   Have a great summer season the golfers are taking our trail back!

Grooming and Grass report

Doug cleaned up the track again last night (yippee! And thank you, Doug!).  Doug says the track looks good, but the warm sun is hurting the trail in places.  He was hoping to ski to the first of March, but doubts we will make it with all the grass beginning to show.  Get out early and skiing should be good.

Watch for grass on the south side of hills. Just make sure you don't speed down any hills without checking for ski-tripping patches of grass.

Also, please be aware the the golf course people are starting to prep for the spring and summer. The greens have been sprayed to speed up melting and combat snow mold (I presume). You may run into snowmobile tracks left from them - these are not our grooming tracks. There are also lines of dark graphite or something in the snow from the golf course guys. Just take it all in stride and be grateful we have had such a good ski season. Although it's a great place to ski, it's first and foremost a golf course (and a great place to golf!). Thanks so much to Duffy for supporting our skiers and giving us the thumbs up for grooming on the golf course.

Grooming update

Doug cleaned up the track again late last night and says it should be good at least until 3pm this afternoon (when it may soften as it warms). Thank you, Doug!

Track conditions

Beautiful day, skate & classic both set. Enjoy!

Grooming report

7am. Doug just texted. He cleaned up the skate track, I'm not sure if he could set the classic track (this old snow isn't very cooperative). He said he hasn't skied on it yet, but there are skiers out there right now and they are flying (I wish I was there!).

It is 10F right now, so our track isn't going anywhere for a while, at least. Thanks, Doug! 

Track report

Joel reported on the conditions today:

Skiable. The classic skiers persist in skiing on the skate track making death defying linear sharp edged ruts.  Someone thought the atv track rut was just right for classic skiing and skied it all the way around.  It froze and went from a soft track rut you could ski through to one that would grab your ski.  Classic skiers on the skate track can leave ruts as bad an snow bikes.  

That said, if there is another grooming to get the ruts out we'll have pretty fine late season snow [Steph's interjection: I'm not sure if we will get another grooming in - might not be worth it, but who knows].  As it is, it's difficult to ski on.  The swamps are currently frozen. There is grass emerging for sure but easily avoidable.

Grooming Report

Doug just texted this report (9am Saturday). I'm very happy :)

The track has been groomed to the best it can be.  We still have snow all around and we must skirt around a few ponds but skiing isn't too bad.

Addendum: I skate skied at Teton Lakes around 1pm today and it was great. The track was fast but not icy. Today's grooming really helped clean it up. The snow is behaving like it is Spring Skiing, with lots of fast skating, especially in the shade, and a few rough spots from sun melt and ski ruts. Just for kicks, I also found quite a bit of skiable crust, even in the middle of the day at 35F and sunny, although I punched through any south facing hillsides. Mostly I stayed on the nicely groomed track. Everything except the Clover Leaf is groomed for skating. Super fun & fast. Jeff put HF8 wax on my skis last week, worked great for today.

Track report

The kids in the ski club convinced me to at least try skiing this afternoon. I was pretty skeptical since the last time I tried (2 days ago) it was miserable. Today I was pleasantly surprised. Although it's still pretty tough skiing, it was much better than I had expected. Randy showed up around 5:30pm and we agreed that the track is actually holding up and we should get some more skiing out of it yet. We have cold nights coming, which will help a ton. The track may be rough, or icy, or super soft all in a single day, depending on when you get out, but it's better than nothing! And if we get any more snow, we could still get some really good ski days this winter.

Soggy parking lot.

Still lots of snow.

The ski club kids had a fun ski today, followed by some time watching ski videos and eating snacks inside the Rexburg Cycling trailer. Thanks to Kellen for bringing it out - it was great to get out of the wind!

Revised Woman's 10K Skate Finishers

Well, we had an absolutely wonderful Cupid Cup race but we had a few glitches.  The top women skate finishers were reported incorrectly.  I don't have exact times right now, but the order should read:

First - Karen Appleby-Krieg  (finished up there with the men, just after Ken Newhouse.  Nice job, Karen!)

Second - Jodi Bragassa

Third - Debbie Newhouse


Congratulations, ladies!  

Weather Report

We're pretty warm and windy.  The temps this morning were around 40F and we had some rain.  Winds are about 30mph.  Friday night it should get to a low of 28, and from then on the nighttime temps will be below freezing for a week or so.  If any of the snow sticks around during the day, then crust cruising up on Lyon's Creek Road where there are snow machine trails may be a viable option early mornings.  Heading out to check the track conditions this afternoon and I'll post after that.  I wouldn't hold my breath - I bet it's fading away.

Grooming Report

Doug texted just now (7am) after spending about 2 ½ hours grooming early this morning.

Track Condition

It is not beautiful but not bad skiing.  Very fast but rough.  Go out early before the temperature raises.  At 40 plus temperatures it will soften quickly.  Enjoy.

Track Conditions

So there is plenty of snow still, but...well it's really soft, especially in the middle of the day.

Here's the track:

And here's what happens on a soft track when you slide ski tips under the snow. Notice the knee and hand marks, the body imprint and two pole lines flaring out from the top. 

What a difference a couple of days make. So glad we had good conditions for the Cupid Cup! Looks like it might be time for early morning crust cruising, if it gets cold enough overnight. 

Cupid Cup 2016 Video

Cupid Cup Photos from Heather

Post Register Cupid Cup Coverage

Thanks to Pat Sutphin for coming out and writing up a great article here:

Cupid Cup ski race saw dozens of attendees

2016 Cupid Cup Results (Unofficial)

Cupid Cup (Unofficial) Results

Kids Race

1. C Hancock
2. E Lacy
3. R Barrus
4. E Hurst
5. K Medvedev
6. J Barrus
7. G Wood
8. C Williams
9. L Lacy
10. J Wood

2.5K Teen Race

1	McCall Dewey	F	18	Rexburg,	7:31.22
2	Morgan Hurst	F	18	Rexburg,	7:36.33
3	Victoria Medvedeva	F	18	Idaho Falls,	7:38.93
4	Savannah Lacy	F	18	Rexburg,	8:58.07
5	Emma Hurst	F	18	Rexburg,	9:15.51
6	Isaac Wood	M	18	Rexburg,	11:24.20
7	Michael Zenger	M	18	Rexburg,	11:25.01
8	Kai Dewey	M	18	Rexburg,	11:35.69
9	Eleanor Hancock	F	18	Rexburg,	12:01.10
10	Spencer Olsen	M	18	Rexburg,	13:31.10
11	Tanner Dupree	M	18	St Anthony,	13:52.30
12	Parker Dupree	M	18	St Anthony,	14:02.68
13	Lander Bragassa	M	18	Ririe,	17:19.27
14	Zander Dupree	M	18	St Anthony,	21:54.00

10K Classic Race

1	Randy Anderson	M	Pocatello,	35:22.03
2	Bethany Given	F	Hibbing,	53:04.21
3	Adam Luke	M	Rexburg,	59:39.00
4	Lindsey Dewey	F	Rexburg,	1:05:51.0
5	Mandie Dupree	F	St Anthony,	1:07:50.0
6	Thor Godar	M	West Yellowstone	1:08:18.0
7	Jen Moseley	F	Rexburg,	1:23:32.0

10K Freestyle Race

The top women skate finishers are reported incorrectly.  I don't have exact times right now, but the order should read:

First - Karen Appleby-Krieg  (finished up there with the men, just after Ken Newhouse)

Second - Jodi Bragassa

Third - Debbie Newhouse

1	Sam Krieg	M		Pocatello,	25:40.69
2	Eric Balog	M		Wilson,	25:49.91
3	Pat Bragassa	M		Ririe,	26:16.23
4	Jack Hart	M		West Yellowstone	28:13.97
5	Joel Braden	M		Pocatello,	30:06.55
6	Scott Horn	M		Jackson,	30:06.89
7	Adam Meyer	M		Jackson,	30:07.17
8	Troy Neu	M		Pocatello,	30:09.11
9	Ryan Shirley	M		Rexburg,	TBD
10	Kellen Birch	M		Rexburg,	30:26.03
11	Philip Leavitt	M		Pocatello,	30:35.55
12	Debbie Newhouse	F		Pocatello,	30:51.60
13	Ken Newhouse	M		Pocatello,	30:55.25
14	Karen Appleby-Krieg	F		Pocatello,	31:27.70
15	Andre Kohler	M		Pocatello,	31:29.44
16	John Zarling	M		Idaho Falls,	31:30.97
17	Brian Williams	M		Rexburg,	32:17.58
18	Todd Moseley	M		Rexburg,	32:39.02
19	Joel Simpson	M		Minneapolis,	36:04.58
20	Joel Case	M		Idaho Falls,	36:40.09
21	Kevin Dupree	M		St Anthony,	36:50.37
22	Jodi Bragassa	F		Ririe,	37:05.30
23	Andre Kohler	M		Pocatello,	38:10.62
24	John Zenger	M	18	Rexburg,	38:58.92
25	Debbie Newhouse	F		Pocatello,	39:24.04
26	Keri Ostergaard	F		Wellsville,	39:38.65
27	Steve Wasden	M		Rexburg,	40:58.38
28	Erika Nordfelt	F		Rexburg,	42:27.70

Standard Journal Coverage

The picture pretty much sums it up! Thanks to Matt Johnson for coming out and covering the race.

Check out Matt Johnson's article here.

Groomed to race

Randy texted me at 1:30am (does he ever sleep? Thank you, Randy!). He said:

28* at 1:30, (groomed for the race). It should set ok by morning. Everything is marked out except the start and finish, which we will do in the morning.

Heads up, we expect a 6mph SW wind during the race. Also, although the track is just fine with plenty of cold trapped in it, the forecast is bit warmer than we thought it would be. Air temperature (they say) should be around 30*F around race time. Right now at 7am, it is 20*F.

Course Closed Saturday Morning for Race

Most of the cross-country ski trails at Teton Lakes Golf Course will be closed until about 1pm in order to accommodate the Cupid Cup race Saturday morning, February 13.  The exception is the "Cow Pasture" which will be open for non-racers to skate ski and classic ski during the race hours.  There is a new access trail from the south end of the parking lot which will take you down to the maintenance shed and up to the bridge that leads to the Cow Pasture loop.  Please be courteous and stay clear of all other trails until after the race.
Many thanks!

Cupid Cup TOKO Wax Recommendation

A huge thank you to Randy Anderson for this!

TOKO WAX RECOMMENDATION 

Cupid Cup

Teton Lakes Golf Course, Rexburg, ID

Saturday, February 13

• 10 A.M. Kids, 
• 10:30 A.M. Adults 
• 10K Skate or Classic, 2.5K Teen Race, Little Kids Loop

Mass start
2 laps for 10K

Forecast/Conditions: Overnight low of 17, start temperature 25. Partially transformed snow, 60 percent cloud cover, no precipitation forecasted.

Glidewax: Apply LF Black, scrape and brush, then apply HF Red, scrape and brush. Finish by crayoning JetStream Red, iron hot (320F) with a layer of fiberlene under the iron, traveling slowly (20 seconds) tip to tail. Brush with a dedicated nylon polishing brush and polish with a thermopad.

Gripwax: Roughen base with 150 grit sandpaper, iron in Nordic Base Wax Green, cork smooth, let cool. Then apply 3 layers of Nordic GripWax Red, corking between layers.

Structure: A universal grind covered by one pass with the Red Structurite tool before JetStream application will best suit these conditions.

Created by Randy Anderson, Toko Tech Team member since 2015. Highbasin@gmail.com

Check the WaxTip page at www.TokoUS.com before all of your races for the latest waxing information. The Toko Race Wax Tips offer racers precise waxing advice on how to make your skis perform optimally for a given event. For racers who don’t have top end waxes, skip the Fluorocarbon (JetStream) and substitute the LF or NF wax of the same color (Yellow, Red or Blue). To see optimal application procedures for both Glidewax and Gripwax, go to www.TokoVideos.com.

Keys found on trail

Doug found a set of Jeep keys and a house key on the trail yesterday.  We have a grocery bag hanging on the sign at the trail head for Lost & Found.  The keys will be in there.

Grooming Update

Randy cleaned up the course yesterday afternoon when the snow was soft enough to let the tines of the Ginzu comb through the snow without tearing it up.  It will have set overnight and should be good, fast skiing today.  The classic track walls are holding up, although there may be a few spots that are starting to fall apart a bit.  We will hold on to the track as long as we can - I expect it to last a couple of weeks still, but you never know.

Usually when the track disappears, we still have a couple of weeks of crust cruising on the bench southeast of Rexburg.  And of course the snow stays longer up north and in the mountains, so the season is by no means ending.  Enjoy the winter.

And by the way, preparations for the Cupid Cup on Saturday are coming along nicely.  It's going to be a great day!

Grooming update

Randy sent this at midnight last night (thanks for spending your night grooming for us, Randy!).

Just finished tuning up the skate lanes, might have to leave the classic tracks alone, it is hard to rebuild them with only hard snow to work with. I'll experiment tomorrow when it is a little warmer and the snow is a little softer. 

Cupid Cup Details Finalized

When:  February 13, 2016

• Registration from 9 AM 
• Start Times
• Teen 10:00 AM
• Little Kids 10:10 AM 
• 10K Skate 10:30 AM 
• 10K Classic 10:32 AM

Where:  Teton Lakes Course

What:

• Little Cupid Race - Kids Loop
• Teen Race ~2.5K
• 10 K Classic, timed (2 laps on the Perimeter; optional 5K by finishing one lap only)
• 10 Freestyle, timed
• Cocoa, Cider, Tunes and Party Atmosphere

Why: Because Nordic Skiing is literally COOL!

Actually, the 2016 Cupid Cup is a fundraiser for the Rexburg Youth XC Club. Although donations are welcome, there is no required entry fee to participate.

Online registration can be completed by clicking here.
We will be closing online registration at 5PM on Friday Feb 12th
Same Day Registration will open at 9AM at Teton Lakes

We will also accept registrations and cash donations on the day of the race.

Those who would like to donate may do so by clicking on the button below*.

Our first 40 registered entrants who donate $10 or more will be given a nifty Cupid Cup beanie.

Nifty Beanie

*Please note: If we do not have enough snow to safely run the race we will not be able to refund your donation.  However, we will be more than happy to figure out some way to get you your nifty beanie.

Now We're Groomin'

After a couple of weeks of negotiations, anxiety and overnight deliveries from British Columbia we're finally up and running.  Check out Doug tearing it up and then laying it down smooth with the Ginzu behind our brand-new Trackmobile.  Suggestions for an appropriate name can be left in the comments below.  I'm going with "Silver" for now. ;)

Groomed and ready to go

The course looks great! Come ski on the freshly groomed trail (thank you, Doug!).

4 Track (almost) Good to Go

Hooray! Just got word that the braces for the 4 track (which will pull the grooming equipment) just came in this evening.  It should be delivered to the golf course tomorrow morning.  Grooming will start hopefully by mid-morning.  It's always nice to let a track set up a couple of hours after grooming and before skiing, so I would suggest waiting until mid-afternoon if you can.

I'll post if I hear anything else.

No Grooming yet

The new snow today was beautiful, and it completely covered all tracks at the golf course.  Good luck snowshoeing on your skis until it's groomed.  We're hoping to hook up a smaller snow machine to the roller since the big snow machine we've been borrowing is no longer available.  Our 4 Track is practically ready, except for a part that got shipped accidentally to Louisville (pretty sure that's where it went) instead of Idaho.  Hmm. I doubt they'll need it in Louisville.  Word is, however, that the part will be here tomorrow.  I hope.  I'll post as soon as I know anything else.

Track Conditions and Moose Alert

The skate and classic tracks are holding up really nicely. With the skiff of new snow, it wasn't super icy on the hard skate track.  It was fun and fast skating this morning, although I did trip up on some old bike ruts that were hard to see in the flat light.  Our local Classic expert, Bethany, reports that the classic track was a little sticky today because of the fresh powder, but it was a good grip for poles.

Watch out for the moose. Bethany and I each saw them at different times of the day today in the same spot (see map below).

Sorry to sound like a broken record, but here we go again: 

Please only ski on the skate track if you're skating.  No bikes.  If you're on classic skis, please use the classic track or if you need to be on the skate track, please stay to the side of the skate track.  If you're pulling a chariot or some kind of sled for kiddos (which we love! Get the whole family out!), please stay to the far sides of the skate track.

The V-shape that skate skiers use when skiing make it so the skis can get caught in straight line ruts.  And if a skate skier is moving really fast, catching a ski in non-V-shaped tracks can lead to a painful crash and even cause serious injuries.  Please be careful and considerate.  Thanks!

Moose Alert

The mama moose and her baby like to bed down in the willows near the Cow Pasture.  I saw them in time to skirt around without getting too close, although Mom did get up and walk towards me a bit.  I spent the next few minutes eyeing the trees, figuring out which one I could hop into with skis on if she charged.  I skied really fast for a while.  :) They may be anywhere around the ski tracks, of course, but this does seem to be a favorite spot.  Just keep your eyes open, be respectful, and use good judgment.

Mom and Baby Moose like to bed down here in the willows.

If the moose are in the willows, avoid getting too close by taking a short cut here.

If you'd like to get on and off the Cow Pasture without getting too close to the Moose, take this bridge both ways.

Kids Club Photo

Matt Johnson from the Rexburg Standard Journal took the club picture yesterday.  We are missing a few of our skiers from the picture :( but they are very much a part of the Nordic Ski Club!

Ski and Moose Tracks Report

Bethany reports that for classic skiing this morning the track is FAST (and very cold). Yesterday the skate track was getting pretty icy.  We're hoping to get our new 4 Track out today or tomorrow to clean up the skate track.  Heads up, watch for the moose (and moose tracks)!  Bethany saw her through the fog this morning and avoided running into her.

Moose through the fog

Moose Tracks.  Bethany said she saw the moose while on the trail and from the parking lot.

Regarding Dogs and Snow Bikes

We love dogs.  And we really love snow bikes.  The folks who maintain the trails own both.  However, we've had the unfortunate report of dogs harassing and now **biting** other visitors on the trail.  Likewise we've had those with snow bikes out digging into the skate lanes recently.

If you're a dog owner, be absolutely sure of your dog's ability to behave around others.  Being able to call your dog to you after a negative interaction with others is too late. Nordic skiers range from those on slow touring skis to very fast racers.  If you can't be sure of your dog's temperament and ability to avoid even playfully chasing others moving quickly, please keep your dog on a leash or leave them home.

Also please remember that to avoid fouling the hard work of the groomers you keep your dog on the outside edge of all groomed trails.  Even small dogs can leave problematic paw prints in the groomed lanes.  And if your dog needs to relieve itself on the trail, please bring a bag to clean up after it.  No one wants to ski over dog droppings.

Snow bikes are not allowed on the Teton Lakes trails.  Perhaps at some future date we'll have enough time and resources to groom a track for snow bikes, but until then there are many excellent trails locally that will accommodate snow bikes.  See our sister blog for details.

Your good example in both not biking on the trails and controlling and cleaning up after your pet will encourage others to do the same.  We hope that those who read this blog will serve as ambassadors to other dog owners and cyclists.  When you see others who may be ignorant of our policies, please kindly direct them to this blog for instructions and policies.  We try to keep plenty of flyers and business cards with the web address stocked at the trail kiosk.

Grooming update

The track has been groomed! I'm not sure how much of it, but it looks like there's plenty of good skiing. 

Morning track report

Last I heard, Doug was planning on grooming yesterday afternoon. However, we got a bunch of new snow overnight so everything is fresh powder again. I don't know if there will be any grooming today. Our new ATV with tracks should be ready for use at the beginning of next week.  That means we won't have to borrow and return (and borrow & return) the snow machine we've been using the past two weeks (yippee!). I'm amazed how Doug & Randy have continued keeping the track up since the original snow machine died. 

I'll post anything I hear about grooming as soon as I know.

Someone has been out skating through the powder this morning already. I also see classic tracks out. One skier texted me that she saw the mama moose out there this morning. Wildlife, fresh snow, and a winter wonderland. Gotta love it, groomed or ungroomed.

This is the track at 10:30 am:

Cupid Cup Reminder

Don't forget to come to the Cupid Cup fundraiser!  Click on the Cupid Cup tab above for more information.

Wednesday Track Report & Trail Etiquette Reminder

The track is really great right now.  It hasn't been over-skied since grooming (Doug was out on Monday, not sure if he went out yesterday) and the base is firm but not icy.  Like a kid's favorite stuffed animal, the first kilometer of the track is well-loved and pretty ragged.   I'm delighted that people are using it.  Beyond that, the track settles down and there's even still corduroy to enjoy for skaters.  Like the Perimeter, the Cow Pasture has had some good grooming attention this week.

The inside skate tracks are all skiable, and the Boot is very nice.  However, it looks like the Clover Leaf hasn't been groomed in about a week.  It has a good layer of powdery snow on top, and you won't break any speed records, but you can definitely still skate on it.

Have a nice time out there.  Please read the notices on the Sign Board next to the Port-a-Potty regarding Trail Etiquette and Dogs.  We've had some trouble with people not understanding that the track is not for walking on.  Footprints ruin the track and trip up skiers.  Also, if you bring a dog, it needs to stay clear to the side especially if the track is soft, and should always be under control and never allowed to run around other skiers.

Thank you, as always, to the many hours our groomers put in to make this a great place for skiing!

Nove Mesto Relay Women

Races from this weekend.  Classic races first, then skate.  The women went first when the snow was cooler, so they use diagonal stride more than double poling in the classic race.  Men went later, used mostly double poling (and I'm just reporting what the announcers said - I'm no expert).

Nove Mesto Relay Men

Classic races are first, then skate later.  Watch how they classic skiers primarily use double pole.  They announcers said these guys went waxless - just using glide, not kick wax, so they're relying on their arms for speed.

January 25 Grooming Report

We had to return the borrowed snow machine over the weekend, but we got it back today and Doug was on it with the Ginzu Groomer this afternoon.  The snow is fast, but not so fast that you ski out from underneath yourself.  CH6 worked great.

Friends of Harriman State Park: Feathers 'n' Fins Skiathon Postponed to 2017

Friends of Harriman State Park: Feathers 'n' Fins Skiathon Postponed to 2017: "Golden Lake Dam Breech - Harriman State Park of Idaho As many may have already heard, the Golden Lake Dam collapsed at Harriman State Park Wednesday January 13.... After examination of the alternate options available it was determined that the best strategy would be to postpone the event until we are able to provide an adequate course to the event participants."

Ski Lessons

Check the Ski Lessons tab up above for information on Cross Country ski lessons.  Joel is offering to coach individuals or groups for free this winter.  It's a fantastic opportunity for newbies and experienced skiers alike to get some great instruction.

Jan 22 Grooming Report

Just heard from Doug this morning (many thanks as always to Doug & Randy!). He reports:

The trail has been groomed, Randy and I spent time and by last night late it was in the best condition of the season. All the bare spots are covered and the base is very firm, yet not rock hard.

Grooming update

We were able to borrow a good, strong sled (thank you for tracking it down, Randy! And thanks so much for helping us get it, Scott!) and Doug is out rolling the perimeter of the skate track plus the Cow Pasture (see the trail map tab up above) right now. He's been working on it since 6am. Thank you, Doug! So many people pitch in to make this work. 

Skating looks great, albeit soft. The track setter isn't hooked up yet, so no classic ski tracks yet.

Update: as I finished skating at 2pm, Randy was on the snow machine, rolling out the inside skate tracks - the Boot and the Clover Leaf. Randy also told me he has a "Farmer's Fix" that will connect the classic track setter to the snow machine, so hopefully we will have classic tracks later today.

The track is still pretty soft, but it'll set up very nicely. Enjoy!

Morning Grooming Report January 20

Wow. Doug rolled the course this morning by tying the roller to a smaller sled. Thank you, Doug! Grooming came sooner than I had anticipated (hooray!). 

Heads up, we are getting lots of new snow and lots of wind, so the track may be wind blown.

No Grooming Update yet

Still no word on the condition of the broken snow machine.  We are exploring a few options, which unfortunately do take a little time.  Keep your fingers crossed. Meanwhile, you can break your own trail at the golf course or try out Kelly Canyon, Teton Canyon, Alta (Teton Valley in general), Targhee, Jackson, Pocatello, Harriman, West Yellowstone (and someone mentioned they'd heard of a groomed course in Idaho Falls?).  I don't know what the trail etiquette for skiing on snowmobile trails is, but we do have some of those up on the dry farms if you're careful not to get run over...  If the weather keeps warming and cooling enough, we might get some crust cruising up there.

Keep checking back.  I'll post any progress we make.  I don't think it'll be too much longer (maybe a day or so?) until we're up and rolling again.

Planica Sprints

(Pronounced Plah-neet-zah).

Just for kicks, since I posted a classic race last time, I'm posting the Freestyle (Skate) Sprints from a couple of days ago.

Track Conditions Update

I stopped by the course around 2pm and saw probably 10 cars parked there.  In addition to the kids sledding on the sled hill, there are plenty of adventurous people out cross-country skiing.  If you go out, you'll likely need to break your own trail.  It's a good day for classic and compact touring skis.  Actually, it's a good day for snowshoes!

One of our Ski Club kids reported that he saw the roller on the east side of the course, but that the snow machine was gone.  Getting the snow machine unstuck is good news, although I'm afraid it may need some repairs before it is serviceable again.  It's probably safe to say there will be no grooming today, and I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I'll post an update as soon as I hear anything.

Live Moose and Dead Snow Machine

Joel shared the Teton Lakes course today with a mother moose and her calf.  Pretty amazing.  This is probably the same Mom that visits every year or so.  Like any good mom, she'll defend her baby if you get too close.  Please give her plenty of space if you see her.  What a beautiful picture!  

Joel also reports that the snow is pretty deep and the groomer was abandoned on the perimeter.  After talking with the groomers about it, it looks like the snow machine might be dead.  Darn. 

Thankfully, we have a Plan B.  And a Plan C. And maybe a Plan D.  Each of the options may take a couple of days to figure out, so heads up - you'll be skiing in nice, new powder (which some non-skating people really like!).  I'll update the blog when I have more information.  

And yes, the Cupid Cup is still on.  Click on the tab on the far right up above for info.  

Grooming Update January 13

Randy cleaned up the skate & classic tracks this morning with one pass on the groomer. He says it looks like a good ski day. Thanks, as always, to both Doug and Randy for their volunteer time, fuel, expertise and equipment that make the course such a fun place to ski for so many people!

Grooming update

Just got word that Doug groomed late last night, with two passes on the perimeter and one in the inside skate tracks. Thank you, Doug! The course should be great for skiing. This new snow is just what we needed!

Cupid Cup

Click on the Cupid Cup tab above (far right tab) for more information.

It's back!  

If you'd like to help us advertise contact

stephanie_hancock at mac.com

Grooming Update

Doug and Randy both worked on the track last night while the rest of us slept (thank you!!). It cleaned up nicely, although we do need more snow. Watch out for a few grassy spots. Should be nice skiing today.

Tour de Ski Stage 4

Ryan pointed this out to us. If you get a chance, watch the whole thing.  If you don't have time, skip through to 1:18 to watch the women's final.  Spoiler alert:  American Sophie Caldwell has a fantastic race.

Track Conditions

It looks like there's been  at least one grooming pass on the skate lane (I love seeing corduroy).  I didn't check if the Boot was done, but it looked like the skate tracks on the Clover Leaf and the Cow Pasture (as well as the Perimeter) got some much-needed attention.  Thanks so much to the Groomers!  The track cleaned up nicely.  Although right now it's pretty soft, we have a good base so it is holding up.  According to Randy and Brian both, this is where the right wax and a structure tool could come in handy.  I was on CH7 yesterday and started out fine (this was mid-day) but by the half-way mark I was really sticking.  I'm no wax expert, but I wonder if this would be a good time to pull out the Fluoro waxes. 
Taking a suggestion from Randy, today I hopped on my fish scaled touring skis for the first time in a few years. (Scaled bases are a great alternative to sticky yellow wax, or even worse: klister.)  The Classic Track at the course was very nice, although my skiing wasn't.  Might be time to focus on honing some classic skills...
Happy Trails, and think cooler thoughts!

Nordic Kids Club

We will see you all out at the golf course today. Randy has set a perfect practice loop for us to work out on. Should be a great day to ski.

Reminder: Practice starts at 4:15, and we start wrapping up around 5, finish by 5:10-ish. Bring your skis, boots & poles. We can store your skis & poles in the ski shed. 

If you ride the bus out, you'll need someone to bring the skis & poles since they aren't allowed on the bus. 

Please contact me if you need info or help: stephanie_hancock@mac.com or text 2083171365 (please let me know who you are). Thanks!

Grooming Update

Just got great news from Randy:

All skate tracks buffed out and cow pasture cleaned up. The practice loop is done, also.

Thanks again to our fantastic volunteer groomers!