Here's the latest from the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation:
We talked to the groomer guru tonight and decided we will groom on Friday morning...If we do not receive any new snow, the South Plateau will be groomed...If we do receive enough snow, Yellowstone Track Systems will groom...Rendezvous Trails...Consequently, November trail passes will be required starting Friday morning.
Here's the latest conditions report from Rendezvous Ski Trail:
Several inches of new snow in the last 24 hours, this is on top of the older snow from a week ago. Close to town is too thin and soft for good skiing, but on top of hill 191 the base is about four inches, very wet but very solid. Packed Rendezvous loop this morning and it is certainly skiable with rock skis. A lot will depend on temperature and additional snowfall. I would suggest skiing from the jack rail fence on the Plateau road for now, this could change by tomorrow morning.
Nordic skiers, mark your calendars for the Sterling Pursuit to be held at Mt. Spokane, Washington on January 10-11, 2009. For more information, download the race brochure.
The 2008/2009 Program Menu and Handbook contains program descriptions, dates and prices; contact information; and important policies. Every participant in BSSEF's Alpine, Nordic, and Freeride programs must submit a Membership Application along with full payment. Both can be viewed at, and printed from, the Program Menu page.
Here are two facts:
Parents of Nordic team members should contact Tom Owen at Gallatin Alpine Sports in Big Sky in order to get your kids outfitted for the upcoming season. Be prepared with the following information about your child:
Tom will use the information to a) help you figure out what your child needs and b) match those needs with appropriate used and new clothing and equipment options.
Tom can be reached by e-mail and by phone at 406-995-2313.
Here are photos and Melissa Cronin's report from last Saturday's Gallatin Glissade at Big Sky:
Complete results for the 18K and 2K races can be downloaded here.
This past weekend was a busy one for the kids and parents of BSSEF nordic. March 15th started early with sign up for the Gallatin Glissade at 7:30 AM. The 18 KM and 2 KM nordic races, The Gallatin Glissade, put on by Tom Owen and crew at Gallatin Alpine Sports and Herb Davis and Crew from Lone Mountain Sports was a gliding success with over 40 participants. The race started with a resounding ring of a bell at Lone Moose Meadows and finished near The Big Sky Community Park. The proceeds of the races will benefit the young BSSEF Nordic team.
Here is the latest on the Nordic Team from Melissa Cronin:
BSSEF Nordic team attended the final Spam Cup race in West Yellowstone on March 8, this was a classic event. The team had a great time with some great finishes. Ambrose Locker, Howie Robin and Jackson Wade competed for the first time this season. All did exceptionally well, especially Ambrose with a boys first place finish in the 2 KM, not too shabby for his first nordic race ever! Louisa Locker, Ambrose sister, lead the whole BSSEF team in the 2 KM and finished 3rd in the girls followed by Frances Cronin in 4th and Juliana Greene in 5th. Ambrose was followed by Ethan Greene and Micah Robin. (Coach Kelli will hopefully be able to post more accurate results.)
Frances Cronin and West Yellowstone competitor Sam took home the spam trophies for best costumes, yes nordic skiers do have a sense of humor. This year the West Yellowstone Team and race organizers had a dinner party equipped with ample libation and cans of Spam to create their Spam Cup Trophy masterpieces. Along with the amazingly creative trophies race organizers supplied racers with flower lies, bountiful smiles and encouragement .
The race was started by a adult man dressed as a giant can of spam, it was a great and fun day. Many things made the gorgeous sunny day even better. One of the nicest, however, was Alexandra Greenes beaming smile as she passed her parents and the cheering section on her way to a 1st place finish in the 5 KM and a can of "glam" spam.
Special thanks go to the West Yellowstone Nordic Team, parents, Spam Cup race organizers, the girls at Free Heal and Wheel and race competitors.
Also, special thanks to coach Kelli, Tom Owen at Gallatin Alpine Sports and Herb Davis at Lone Mountain Ranch with your help and generosity our season has been great.
From Melissa Cronin:
This is your official call to arms! We need 12 fabulous and wonderful people to volunteer for the Gallatin Glissade on March 15.
There will be three road crossing that will need to be prepped, manned and maintained for the race. We need four people at each crossing to watch for traffic, fill in snow after a car passes, act as check point for racers and a final individual for comic relief and bell ringing (just kidding...). The volunteer commitment would be from about 8:30AM to 12:30PM.
We will also need help with the kids race at the end of the 18 km.
If you are interested, please contact Melissa Cronin.
Just a note to acknowledge that the folks at Lone Mountain Ranch are co-sponsors and co-organizers of the upcoming Gallatin Glide. LMR has been an extremely generous and valued supporter of the BSSEF Nordic Team. Thank you!
Thanks to Melissa Cronin for the following report and photos from the Yellowstone Rendezvous Nordic races today:
The BSSEF Nordic team members Lousia Locker, Micah Robin, Frances and Garrett Cronin, Ethan and Julianna Greene and friends Tom Owen, Hans Schernthaler and Alexandra Greene traveled to West Yellowstone this morning to compete in the 29th annual Rendezvous Race. This year saw around 475 competitors, down from past years by about 200. Organizers believed this was because of the earlier than usual date and conflicts with other major races such as the Birkibiener.
This race has become famous all over the west for it's grueling, but fun, 25 and 50 km categories. Shorter races of 2, 5, 10 and 15 km are also offered for the younger and older competitors. Today we saw competitors from 3 to 85 years old, this doesn't happens at very many events and it was very inspiring to see. Many of the racers falling between 13 and 50 are national class athletes that are considered at the top of their game. All the races started with a bang, literally, with the firing of a reproduction brass cannon (pictured) lit and loaded by a motley crew of explosive experts/mountain men.
Thank you to the organizers, participants, families and coach Kelli for a great Rendezvous Race!
Our team and friends did very well with the following results:
