Ross Williams from Winter Park Competition Center said it well.

The Winter Park Competition Center Nordic Team along with Snow Mountain Ranch, Devils Thumb Ranch, Grand County Nordic Race Series, and Grand Nordic Gliders “have concluded a remarkable season that showcased resilience and community spirit despite one of the most challenging snow years in recent memory … Our athletes learned that conditions don’t determine outcomes — preparation and perseverance do.”  

Key athlete accomplishments from a low-snow season included freshman Ben Kaune qualifying for Junior Nationals, multiple podium finishes in Colorado Cup Races upping the team ranking, and the successful hosting of a Junior National Qualifier with over 200 participants at Snow Mountain Ranch.

Jeff Paulson, Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic director, called it “the winter that never happened, but it turned out alright … It was another busy season with solid participation from the general public and special groups like Ski for Light and UK-based Armed Forces Para Snowsports Team … local school teams and clubs were able to train consistently, have fun and perform well throughout the season.”  

Citizen races, school races, collegiate races, biathlons and the Grand Nordic Ranch2Ranch which this year did not cross U.S. Highway 40 happened successfully all season. Professional Ski Instructors of America certified instructors became the professional norm, and everyone who skied at Snow Mountain Ranch offered a huge thanks to the “hard-working, professional and creative grooming team to produce a phenomenal product this season. They worked with so little, until there wasn’t anything left at all.”

Marie-Ange Anderson, Devils Thumb, scheduled and rescheduled traditional races, but successfully pulled them off sometimes offering cash prizes. Most of the staff were spotted outside with snow shovels to connect the ribbons of snow for Tommelfest free lessons and keg tosses and the trail laps that were the hallmark of every race this year.

Greg Finnoff, Grand County Nordic Race Series coordinator and his awesome race committee members like Cheryl Allen and Lisa Bornfriend and his group of timers moved race dates around, as well as start and finish areas, but got the promotional word out statewide and beyond to draw well over 700 racers this season to Grand County completing in seven out of eight planned races.

Those racers stayed overnight and spent money at local shops and businesses, a fact not lost on the Grand County Tourism Board who is the primary sponsor of Ski Grand Nordic. Bornfriend promotes events as webmaster of that marketing website and assists Terri Rylander to maintain the Facebook page, Instagram and Grand Nordic Community Bulletin Board.

Al Rothenbach is webmaster for the club website GrandNordic.org, sends out information blasts to our email list and manages club membership. Sue French-Smith creates Signup Genius to recruit race and event volunteers and recruits announcers for the KFFR morning Nordic grooming reports.

These and other Grand Nordic Board members were always there helping set up, register people and make events happen like the Nordic Swap or Ranch2Ranch fundraiser. Chris and Stephen Lee were always teaching free lessons, volunteering themselves and organizing volunteers.

Without Tony Heisler keeping our finances straight, it would be tough to channel our funds and grants into our youth programs and scholarships programs that allow local kids to pursue Nordic skiing. Grand Nordic’s primary focus is assisting youth through scholarships and inexpensive skiing opportunities.

“Jamo” Jamison, who represents school teams on our board, combines with scholarship chairman Kathy Jamison to assist awarding scholarships for youth programs and purchasing equipment. New Board member Chris Michalowski  identified the need for a program for talented but bored older elementary school kids and, with the help of volunteer coaches Ed Kimm, Katie Genadek, Erin Austin, Jim Howe. Maggie Michalowski, created and got funded the Grand Nordic Gliders program and a need for better seasonal rental equipment.  

So another new program evolved — affordable seasonal rentals of high-quality gear for both gliders and Middle Park High School and Winter Park Competition Center’s new team members. Then the Michalowskis and crew pulled off a fun day of Red Barn Relays complete with two-person teams of every combination possible, plus costumes and all with a cheese sponsor theme. It was a real feat to have that much fun in the middle of the worst snow year in my memory.

The partnership of all these organizations is led by Grand Nordic, Winter Park Compeittion Center, Colorado Nordic Masters and our fabulous local Nordic centers – Snow Mountain Ranch and Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Together they are all things Nordic in Grand County.  

“Nordic skiing runs deep in Grand County’s DNA,” noted Williams. “What started as a grassroots program has evolved into a vital part of our youth athletics landscape — one that values outdoor adventure and personal growth as much as competitive success.”

Backcountry skiing is still flourishing if you can get out in the earlier part of the day. But get advice on snow stability and don’t become a statistic.

With very little accessible snow except in higher terrain, the Nordic Center trails are closed with shops open for end of season sales only.  Devil’s Thumb will close out the ski season in style on April 4 at 11 a.m to 3 p.m. Celebrate with a high-energy day packed with games, beer tastings, delicious food and live music. It’s a great chance to kick back, raise a glass, and toast to another great season with friends and community. Don’t miss their spring break apparel sale where you can get 50% off full-priced apparel.

Snow Mountain Ranch is going to finish the season on April 5 with a last day sale from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with up to 50% off select soft goods and equipment, and a celebration with food and beverages from 12-4 p.m.

Thank you, one and all, for sticking with us this season. Some of us have been a part of the whole thing since the beginning and we’re tired. This season was a lot of hard work for many people, but it’s time to sign off. Tell these folks thank you. Now it’s time to head to the beach.

Diana Lynn Rau is the president of Grand Nordic. Reach here at dianalrau@cs.com.