Southwest Nordic Ski Club kids team parents and volunteers kept things fun with LAlley Floop, a local version of the costumed Alley Loop races in Crested Butte, CO . Pictured are, from left, Madalyn Baily, Samantha Baily, Aida Saleh, Phoebe Reid, Harper Reid and Coach Sanna. Photo by Dina Pesenson
BY DINA PESENSON
Southwest Nordic Ski Club
Last week the volunteers of Southwest Nordic Ski Club marked the end of another ski season by collecting shade fencing and ski-specific trail signs to put away for the summer. A low snow year and COVID-related restrictions as well as nationwide gear shortages made for a season full of creativity and perseverance.
Despite challenges, club volunteers were able to put on some ski clinics for adults as well as practices and small events for kids ski team bubbles. The club saw a big uptick in interest in cross country skiing and a big need for used and rental gear in our area. Below is the season review in captioned photos. To learn more about the club, please visit the club page, club facebook page or email SWNSKIboard@gmail.com with questions.
Volunteers started the season by hanging up several hundred yards of shade fencing in the fall to allow snow to stay on the exposed portions of the trail longer providing both safer skiing and more water absorption for the soil to help renew vegetation post fires. Photo by Dina Pesenson
The Leonard family made new trail sign kiosks to make our signs more visible. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Club member Robi Mulford painted beautiful trail signs complete with an attachment to hold provided bags for dog poop removal. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Club president and volunteer groomer, Clay Moseley, drives the club machine ‘Kermit’ while grooming the trails on an evening in January. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Volunteers Zach Leonard and Travis Gibson, shovel the more sun exposed portions of the trail to keep folks safe while skiing. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Kids team during a practice held on the beautiful trails of Enchanted Forest XC Ski and Snowshoe Area. EFXC is always a favorite place to ski and this season it was a life line for local skiers allowing beautiful skiing without crossing state lines especially in the weeks when our own trails were too low on snow. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Charlie Dixon catches some air during ski kids practice on Camp May Road. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Volunteer Kevin Reid, ready for a long day of tree clearing and grooming after a particularly windy night greatly relieved to find little to no tree fall and trail damage for once! Photo by Dina Pesenson
Liv Niklasson channeling her Scandinavian ancestry while enjoying some downhill runs Birkebeiner-style during a particularly snowy team practice off of Camp May Road. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Diego Leonard, right, skiing to first place in the Under 12 age group stacked with stiff competition of Rocky Mountain Nordic teams at the COVID-modified Mike Elliott U14 Festival. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Olympic biathlete, Laura Spector, who recently moved to the area, giving the kids team some inspiration and tips before their BB Gun biathlon event at the Canada Bonita Meadow. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Hans Gardner shows impressive clustering on his target after team BB gun biathlon. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Leif Neill enjoying the early October snowstorm during ski kids team practice on the Los Alamos County Golf Course. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Adis Bock and Lucy Kelley during ski kids team BB gun biathlon at the Canada Bonita Meadow. Photo by Dina Pesenson
From left, Lucas P, Maren D, Charlie D and Logan P skiing on the lower road of the Canada Bonita Trail. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Full moon view during club’s full moon ski event on the Canada Bonita trail. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Harper Reid showing off her bull’s eye after the team’s BB gun biathlon at the Canada Bonita Meadow. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Skiers enjoying the late spring snowstorm that allowed for another few days of great skiing on Canada Bonita Trail at the very end of the ski season. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Skiers participating in the classic technique clinic taught by club volunteers. Skate technique clinic was offered the next day. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Club volunteer and ski team coach Sanna Sevanto about to send off Luke Gibson on his start of the ski orienteering team practice at Enchanted Forest XC Ski and Snowshoe Area. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Ski orienteering in progress! From left are Aida Saleh, Phoebe Reid, Lucy Kelley, Harper Reid. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Luke Gibson and Ana Saenz during St. Patrick’s Day relays on Camp May Road. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Zach Gibson and Liv Niklasson during St. Patrick’s Day relays on Camp May Road. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Games during ski team practice at Western Area Park. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Zach Gibson coming into the finish of the Under 14 age group race at the COVID-modified Mike Elliott U14 Festival. Southwest Nordic Ski Club team had 6 kids participate in the event. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Quanah Moseley, second from right, and Luke Gibson, far right, at the start of a race. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Oliver Saenz, left, working on his technique with coach Clay Moseley. Photo by Clay Moseley
Club volunteer and owner of CM ArborCare, Chris Michel, smiling after grooming the trails. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Axel Niklasson works on classic technique during team practice on Camp May Road. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Levi Gibson, left, and Diego Leonard, center, starting a race. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Ajla Bock works on her classic technique. Photo by Dina Pesenson
Club volunteers put away shade fencing last weekend marking the end of this season. Photo by Dina Pesenson