Whenever another parent tells me they’ve never been skiing, I recommend they try cross-country skiing. It’s easy to learn and relatively inexpensive. Also called Nordic skiing, it’s said that if you can walk, you can learn to cross-country ski.

The traditional classic style is easiest to learn and has a relaxed pace, making it best for beginners and families with varied fitness levels. Skate skiing is faster, more strenuous, and requires different gear and a different type of groomed trail.

You can become acquainted with the basic technique by watching the 13-minute video on REI’s YouTube channel called “Classic Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started,” created in collaboration with Professional Ski Instructors of America.

If your family is willing to give it a try, here are four steps to make that happen.

1. Ensure you have proper base layers and outerwear for winter weather.

Every family member needs waterproof outerwear and other winter clothing to stay warm, dry, and comfortable. Visit the Spokane Nordic Ski Association (SNSA) website for a list of essentials.

The key is to dress in layers—you’ll get warm while skiing, but get chilled when you stop and rest. Be fully prepared.

2. Make an easy plan for where to go.

The younger your children, the easier you need your first day to be—meaning less drivetime, maximum fun, and a way to warm-up and get dry. Cold, unhappy kids are an adventure joy-kill.

For max simplicity and ease, I recommend visiting a Nordic ski area that offers rentals on-site.

• 49 DEGREES NORTH NORDIC CENTER: rentals, lessons, and 25K (15 miles) of trails; pass required.
• MT. SPOKANE STATE PARK NORDIC SKI AREA: Fitness Fanatics rental trailer is located near the area’s Selkirk Lodge and trailhead for 60K (37 miles) of trails; Sno-Park Permit and special groomed-trail sticker required.
• SCHWEITZER: rentals from the Demo Center, located in the Village; 32K (20 miles) of trails; pass required.

3. Rent gear in town and ski at a local park.

If there is snow in town and you don’t want to drive to a mountain, rent gear at a local shop and visit a park with (or without) groomed trails. Shop employees can help figure out the sizes you need, and SpokaneNordic.org also has tips for fitting XC ski gear.

• SPOKANE: Daily rental packages are available from Fitness Fanatics and REI. Spokane Parks & Recreation groom trails at city parks (no fee required to use) as well as Riverside State Park—see my.spokanecity.org/recreation/outdoor/groomed-trails. Or head to any local snow-covered field in a park and break your own trail.
• NORTH IDAHO: Ski Shack in Hayden and the Tri-State Outfitters and Vertical Earth stores in Coeur d’Alene rent XC gear. Groomed trails are available at 4^th of July Recreation Area, Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes (start at trailheads in Heyburn State Park or in the cities of Kellogg or Wallace), and Priest Lake.
• PERMITS REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC LANDS: Find out the requirements to park at your chosen trailhead.
• For Washington public lands, in most cases you will need a state parks Discover Pass or Sno-Park Permit and Groomed-Trail Sticker.
• For Idaho, a Park N’ Ski permit is required for the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, Priest Lake State Park, Priest Lake Golf Course, 4th of July Pass Recreation Area, and Palouse Divide (permit also valid in Oregon).

4. Before you leave home…

Prepare a backpack with a stash of hand-warmers, snacks, water bottles, and extra, dry clothes for the trail. Bring a thermos of hot water to make hot cocoa on the go, whether you drink during a rest-stop along the trail or leave in your vehicle to enjoy upon return.

Nordic Ski Lessons

If your family enjoys Nordic skiing and wants more, then consider taking lessons. Spokane Nordic Ski Association (SNSA) offers private and group lessons, a Nordic Kids program, and also partners with City of Spokane Parks & Recreation and Fitness Fanatics to offer weekday evening lessons in town. SNSA also hosts an annual Winterfest, every January, offering inexpensive lessons.

Additionally, Schweitzer and 49 Degrees North offer Nordic ski lessons.

Find more stories about cross-country skiing in the OTO archives.

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By Robin Redman

Ski for Light Inc., a non-profit founded in 1975 by a group of Norwegian-Americans, promotes skiing for individuals with vision and mobility-impairments.

Five members of Spokane Nordic Ski Association had planned to join skiers from across the globe at the 47th annual Ski for Light international event. However, the event was canceled “due to changing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Ski for Light website.

The event was to take place at Snow Mountain Ranch, Colorado, January 30-February 6, 2022. Organized entirely by volunteers, the week-long winter adventure is held in different geographic regions each year.

The word “Light” in the organization’s name reflects the metaphorical human struggle to challenge perceptions of personal capability and achieve the unimaginable through perseverance.

Two cornerstone beliefs led to the creation of Ski for Light. First, is the principle that individuals with vision or mobility impairments can successfully learn to cross-country ski and have fun if they are given proper equipment and are paired with a sighted and experienced Nordic skier to act as instructor and guide.

In addition is the belief that experienced sighted skiers will also find it fun and rewarding to share their love of Nordic skiing by being an instructor and guide for someone who can’t easily experience the sport independently.

Volunteer guides are paired at the start of the week with a participant to assist with activities like skiing, biathlon, sledding, and mechanical bull-riding. This all culminates with a 5 and 10K race celebration at the end of the week.

Guides adapt for the unique needs of their ski partner and, more importantly, can carry the “light” back here to the Inland Northwest by assisting local vision- and mobility-impaired skiers in Spokane’s Nordic community.

Even if unseen, the transformational experience of gliding through forests and meadows can still be fully appreciated—in a totally unique way—through smell, hearing, touch, and taste.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Washington State Parks, City of Spokane Parks and Recreation, Spokane Nordic Ski Association, and community volunteers, user-friendly trail systems are easily accessible at both Mount Spokane State Park and Dwight Merkel Athletic Complex each winter.

For information on how to support, participate, or volunteer, visit Spokanenordic.org/adaptive or email info@spokanenordic.org.

Originally published in the January-February 2022 issue before this event was canceled.

Find more stories about Nordic skiing or local adaptive skiing and snowboarding programs in the Inland Northwest in the OTO archives.

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After a two-year hibernation, Spokane Nordic Ski Association’s cross-country skiing celebration, Winterfest, is finally returning to the Mount Spokane State Park Nordic Ski Area on Sunday, January 16, 2022.

This annual event is the only day all year that Spokane Nordic offers its cross-country ski lessons to non-members, so it’s a great opportunity for new skiers to get a taste of what SNSA has to offer while learning a few of the basics. 45-minute lessons for kids and adults are only $10 and a 2-hour skijoring clinic is available for $25.

The event’s title sponsor, Rambleraven Gear Trader, will be on-site offering free waxing to all participants. There will also be a treasure hunt that encourages kids and families to get out on the trails on their own.

To learn more about the event or reserve your spot in a class, visit Spokanenordic.org/Winterfest.

Find stories about Nordic skiing in the OTO archives.

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Spokane, Wash.

Things were quieter than normal in Mt. Spokane State Park’s Nordic Ski Area last year. The trails were still full of skiers seeking a cure for cabin fever, but Spokane Nordic Ski Association’s (SNSA) lessons, races, and gatherings were mostly canceled. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the organization, however, as a year without events gave SNSA time to plan for the future and expand their offerings to members and the Spokane community.

The pandemic presented two pressing needs: the ability to learn virtually and schedule flexibly.

That’s why, for the first time ever, parents will be able to decide if they’d like to enroll their children in the full seven-week Nordic Kids program or select individual lessons a la carte. SNSA has also started building out a virtual learning center for their members, complete with how-to videos, articles, weekly wax advice, and more.

Last year brought on another big change when beloved coach George Bryant retired. SNSA knew it had big shoes to fill, so the group brought in Jason Jablonski.

Jablonski’s background is diverse and impressive. After getting his Bachelor’s degree in Education from Central Washington, he spent three years as a professional triathlete and another five years as a professional mountain biker before starting his coaching career. He’s spent the last 18 years coaching cross-country skiing, in addition to serving 8 years as the coach of team USA’s Junior Mountain Bike Team.

If you or your family are interested in learning more about the programs and teams that Jablonski coaches, or any of SNSA’s other Nordic ski related events, you can learn more at SpokaneNordic.org.

An SNSA Membership ($40 for individuals, $60 for families) is required to sign up for any of the SNSA lessons and teams, including Nordic Kids, Transition Team, Junior Race Team, Adult Lessons, and Master’s Ski Club.

Spokane Nordic Ski Association, Transition Team (left) // Photo: Chris Sharman; Adult Nordic ski lessons (top right) // Photo: Barbara Jackson; Nordic ski race (bottom right) // All photos courtesy Spokane Nordic Ski Association

Find more stories about the Spokane Nordic Ski Association in the OTO archives.

Read “Cross-Country Skiing For Kids” from the Family Winter Sports Guide (Nov.-Dec. 2020 issue).

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By Trevor Finchamp

As many winter sports continue to get cancelled around the Inland Northwest, the Spokane Nordic Ski Association (SNSA) is gearing up for a busy, but different, 2021 XC ski season. Despite the outdoor nature of the sport, SNSA has had to cancel several events, while adjusting its lessons to accommodate smaller groups.

This left organizers looking for a new, socially-distanced way to fundraise and compete. The solution? A month-long Ski-A-Thon competition.

Participants simply need to visit Go.rallyup.com/spokanenordic, create an account, and gather sponsors (per mile or flat donation) throughout January.

Then, starting February 1, participants will record how many kilometers they ski throughout the month, self-reporting their distance on RallyUp as they go.

SNSA will offer a variety of prizes for reaching various fundraising milestones, including t-shirts, beanies, gaiters, winter jackets, and more. There will also be special prizes for the person wo raises the most money and the person who skis the furthest distance.

After committing their 2020 donations to a new snowmobile for Nordic trail grooming, SNSA hopes that the funds raised from this event will cover its normal operating costs, trail maintenance, and future classes.

Anyone interested in participating should visit SpokaneNordic.org/ski-a-thon to learn more.

Learn more about Nordic skiing in the Inland Northwest and family and youth cross-country ski programs.

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This winter, SNSA’s traditional Nordic Kids program isn’t available because Selkirk Lodge is unavailable as a warm refuge for groups. There are two alternative options, however, and Halloran encourages Nordic families to sign-up for both at SpokaneNordic.org.

• Option 1: SNSA-generated weekly emails on how to get your child out on snow, includes videos and tips and recommendations for you as a parent ($15).
• Option 2: Scheduled 2-hour lessons, with one instructor, for groups of 5 or fewer; available every Saturday in January and February ($10 per person).

Though lessons begin outside of Selkirk Lodge, Halloran says, “Plan to have zero access to the lodge.” Be prepared to warm-up in your vehicle, bring your own hot cocoa in a thermos, and use the state park’s vault toilets. The lodge will be mainly available for the Nordic ski patrol.

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