SWNSC Trail Update 1/8/2014

Trail is still mostly covered, but has taken a beating with a lot of foot traffic and the very warm days earlier in the week.  There is now a big bare spot where the fencing stops on the front hill, so be careful above and below it.

Lots of debris on the trails have left things in sort of a mess, so keep that in mind if you go ski, and pick some up and toss it off the trail if you can.

Trail may be bladed to preserve the base until we get more snow.  That cold front with the fog didn't quite reach the higher elevations, so it may not be as icy up there as it is down here in town, but the snow did transform a lot during the warm spell, so it'll be icy unless it's groomed.

The UNM-LA ski class is this weekend, so new track will be set on the Camp May Rd.

Hope for snow next week!

Remember, the SWNSC kids' clinic will be this Sunday at 10:30 A.M. at Enchanted Forest.  The clinic (games, relays, obstacle course, etc.) is free, but regular trail pass and rental fees are still in effect.

Crested Butte Thanksgiving Camp Nov 24-26

Well! Its getting close to ski season and as usual a group of SWNSC members will be headed to Crested Butte for their awesome Thanksgiving Camp!

This will be their 11th year holding it and some subset of SWNSC members has been to most of these. Everyone who has been to one of these will agree that you cant have more xc ski fun than at this event for all levels of skiers, not to mention that there is definitely no more affordable way to have such consistenly high quality instruction.

The entire event is a fundraiser for the Crested Butte Nordic Center, so all the amazing instructors and olympians who teach there are doing it for free as a donation and because they love it so much (that means you should probably tip them if you enjoyed your lesson - took us a few years to figure that out...).

All details (as well as online registration!) are at link below including a schedule of events - they have something during each day and this year that includes Thanksgiving day morning as well. There is also the dinner and silent auction on Saturday night - that's always fun!
http://www.cbnordic.org/events/thanksgiving-camp/

To see pictures from last year's event (all the really good ones are by Dave Kerr - thanks, Dave! :)
https://picasaweb.google.com/102429734917982531356/CrestedButteThanksgivingSkiCamp2010#

We typically get a few places to stay depending on how many people are coming and how big the places are. A group of us that goes almost every year is already set at a house very near the Nordic Center Wed Nov 23-Sun Nov 27th. We will probably have the group Thanksgiving dinner there. Please email me if you are coming up and want to join us so we can coordinate.

If you are coming up and need a place to stay, I can put people in touch with others interested to make groups (to get in touch about this comment here, post on our facebook page or user Contact Us form on our homepage). I would highly recommend booking through http://www.peakcb.com/

They have quite a few very well located and affordable properties that we've stayed at before. For those places where the high/low season price change happens during the Thanksgiving weekend, they said they will extend the low season rate to us if you call to make a reservation and tell them you are booking from Southwest Nordic in New Mexico for the Thanksgiving camp.
If you are new to staying in CB, make sure your property is down town (not in Mt Crested Butte or '7mi down some road') if you want to be walking distance to the nordic center and most ski trailheads. Nordic center is located at the south end of 2nd St about a block off Whiterock Ave. Google map shows it incorrectly. Just see bottom/south end of 2nd st here where the ice rink (white) is visible:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=219+Whiterock+Avenue,+Crested+Butte,+CO&sll=38.870686,-106.987278&sspn=0.011694,0.019205&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=219+Whiterock+Ave,+Crested+Butte,+Gunnison,+Colorado+81224&ll=38.870587,-106.987288&spn=0.011695,0.019205&z=14
Each property comes with a map showing its location so check it. There are also cheaper condos to rent up in Mt Crested Butte but you will need to drive into town for all camp events and ski trail access.

Free Skate Clinic, Technique and Video Analysis, Sun Jan 9th!

This Sunday, January 9th, Jessica and Ken Kisiel are doing their annual ski clinic club fundraiser at our ski trails. Free to current club members and only $20 for non-members. Details below. Make sure to come and bring friends!

Jessica and Ken are certified level 3 ski instructors and longtime club members, board members, sponsors and more.
This event is also listed on our facebook page if you would like to RSVP there.

When: THIS Sunday, January 9th 10am-noon

Where: Meet as the SWNSC trails (Canada Bonita trailhead) at the Pajarito Mountain

What: Skate clinic including technique drills and video analysis!

Cost: Free to current SWNSC members; $20 for non-members and includes individual membership

Equipment: Participants must have their own ski equipment. Unfortunately, Pajarito Mountain Ski area does NOT rent xc ski gear. Closest rentals to our trails would probably be Santa Fe. My rental info is outdated. If you know where to rent in SF or Albqq or Taos, please comment here to let us know.

More info: Additional donations to SWNSC club accepted and encouraged.

Contact: Jessica Kisiel at jessica@alignedplay.com
If you are interested in more ski lessons from Jessica, check out http://www.alignedplay.com/

FREE Skiing and Posture Workshop

Jessica of Alignedplay.com is a long time SWNSC member and sponsor. Check out this free ski posture/alignment class from her:
Ready for the snow? It's coming...there was at least two inches of hail on the top of the ski hill yesterday. To help you prepare for the cross-country ski season I'm offering a free workshop where you'll learn how being in good posture alignment can improve your skiing performance, lower your chance of injury and alleviate chronic pain.

Monday October 18th

• Time: 5:45-6:45 PM
• Location: Unitarian Church in Los Alamos
• Cost: FREE!
• Reserve Your Spot: contact me

Invite your downhill and snowboarding friends, the discussion will be applicable for all snow sliding enthusiasts!

skate clinic Saturday, 9 January

You've been skating around on the SWNSC trails for a while, and are ready to improve your skills. Here's your chance to jump up to the next level of skating in Ken and Jessica's VIDEO clinic, which they do annually as a benefit for the SWNSC Pajarito X-C Trails and grooming program.

SWNSC and Kisiel Koaching present
a
Ski Skating Clinic
on
Saturday, January 9th, 10AM – Noon
Taught by PSIA Licensed Instructors
Ken and Jessica Kisiel

Skate Video Clinic by KisielKoaching. Located at Camp May Road and the Pajarito Nordic trails

Intermediate to Advanced skill level.

FREE for SWNSKI Members & $20 for non-members, which includes a free SWNSKI membership.

No pre-registration.

Skating equipment is required.

More info at www.kisielkoaching.com

SWNSC Ski Clinic & "Fun" Race Events

The Southwest Nordic Ski Club ( www.swnordicski.org) will be hosting its annual ski instructional clinic on Saturday, January 5th, at 10am at the end of the Ski Pajarito parking lot.

This clinic is also in conjuction with the Mt. Taylor Quadrathlon ( www.mttaylorquad.org) & Chama Chili Classic ( www.chamaski.com) clinics, both sponsored by Sportz Outdoor in Albuquerque.

The clinics will be run by members of the SWNSC, including PSIA-certified instructors Jessica Kisiel (Kisiel Koaching: http://www.kisielkoaching.com/) and Ken Kisiel.

The clinics will be broken into different ski ability levels and disciplines (skate and/or classic styles).

If you're around on Sunday morning, we might be holding a very informal training time trial (a la Tuesday night time trial format) -- freestyle. We’ll start early…meet at 8:30am at the end of the Ski Pajarito parking lot for a group warmup and course inspection. We’ll try to get going around 9:30am.

Help us spread the word.

Time to get those xc skis out and get used to breathing hard again!

Mt. Taylor Quad and wax clinic this Thursday Feb 8th.

This Thursday Feb 8th at 7pm Sportz Outdoor store in Abluquerque is having a Mt. Taylor Quad clinic hosted by store owner and Mt. Taylor Quad veteran Art Gardenswartz. This will be in conjunction with a wax clinic presented by Clay Moseley and sponsored by Fast Wax. Come get tips on the race and on preparing your skis for it!
Get there a little early if you need to do some shopping - the store closes at 7pm right before the clinic!