Preseason Discount Trail Passes Available for Yellowstone Ski Festival
October 17, 2017
Snow has been flying out west and plans are underway for the big Thanksgiving week Yellowstone Ski Festival. Save some cash by purchasing your ski passes before the end of October!

Wisconsin DNR Silent Sport Survey
October 17, 2017
The Wisconsin DNR is conducting a survey on recreational use of public lands up thru Nov 17th. New regions to be studied are Lake Winnebago Waters, the Mississippi River Corridor and Western Sands Region. Submit your comments, suggestions online.

Sisu Ski Fest Registration Open
October 17, 2017
Sisu Ski Fest, a full weekend of events in Ironwood, Michigan, Jan 5-7th, has announced their registration is open. The fest centers around the SISU 31K and Heikki Lunta 15K point-to-point ski races originating at ABR Trails and terminating in downtown Ironwood on SISU Saturday. First price hike comes at the end of this month!

Web Roundup
October 16, 2017
Dauwalter - Former Minnesota state champ Courtney Dauwalter recently won the 240 mile Moab ultrarunning race.
MTB Boom - Minnesota high school MTB is booming, featured recently on Minnesota Public Radio.
Watch Out - La Nina conditions are brewing for this winter, increasing the chances of some good snowfall.
Ninja Almost - Swiss skier Jovian Hediger has developed his own Ninja Warrior cross-training circuit.
Snow Circuit - Snow courses are being set up in Europe using base saved from last season, like this one in Livigno, Italy.
Evil Suspension - Outside Magazine has an article railing against mountain bike suspension.
Year Round Out - Star Tribune ran a major feature on the push for youth to participate in year-round sports and the subsequent burnout.
Deerfly Recap - Aaron Swanson posts one last MTB report, this one on the Deerfly Chase event held at the end of September.

CXC: Kent Eriksen Bike Drawing Ends Soon
October 16, 2017
Support CXC's Adaptive Program by purchasing a ticket in a drawing for a Kent Eriksen Bike Drawing. This year the winner can choose from road, mountain or cyclocross bike.

More Job Postings
October 16, 2017
A number of coaching opportunities are available on the jobs board, as well as a Data and Events Registration Manager for the Loppet Foundation.

Collegiate Racing: Midwest Skiers Summer Training
October 15, 2017
Highlighting the wide range of summer training options for Midwest collegiate skiers, Mary Kozloski interviews skiers Alayna Sonnesyn, Hannah Rudd and Caroline Brisbois about their unique experiences.

Minnesota Fall Coaches Association Meeting Recap
October 14, 2017
A brief recap on the Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing Coaches Association Meeting held Saturday at the Vasaloppet Center in Mora. Big topics on the day included waxing restrictions, rule book development, and future state meet venues.
Related:
Nov 5 U.S. Paralympics Nordic Coaches Education Clinic (Bloomington, MN)

BNS Midwest Fall Sale
October 12, 2017
BNS is running their fall sale this weekend, Oct 14-15: Two days to get their best prices on skis, boots, and poles before the snow flies. Up to 50% off closeout equipment and last season's apparel. 10% off new skis, boots, and poles this weekend only.

Weekend Ski Swaps
October 12, 2017
The fall ski swaps are starting to fire up. This weekend you'll find events at Hyland and Afton downhill areas, Rochester, Traverse City and Thunder Bay.

Vasaloppet Unveils Two Race Plans, New Names
October 10, 2017
Vasaloppet organizers have moved to ensure the future of their event by developing two separate race plans, and matching names, for the annual ski races in February. The original Vasaloppet, running from Warman to downtown Mora will now be known as the Legacy course, while the newer roughly 14K loop course (with snowmaking option) will be known as The Mora. They've also coined new names for the race divisions.

Tour de Essex Trail Run Oct 21st
October 10, 2017
The Rochester Active Sports Club (RASC) is hosting a fall trail running event at Essex Park, Oct 21st. The day-of-race registration of $5 helps fund trail maintenance.

Web Roundup
October 9, 2017
Winter is Coming - Ben Saxton checks in from Park City as he ponders the upcoming season.
Marquette - Felicia Gesior posts an update on her training as she is back in Marquette and training with the NMU girls.
Injuries - Sam Elfstrom contemplates the wear and tear of Nordic ski training.
Outlook - Accuweather has posted their winter outlook, calling for a colder, snowier winter.
Irish Runnings - Ireland is quickly developing their cross-country skiing program.
Carskijor - Setting a new ski speed record for being towed by a car.
Oops - A timing error in the TC10 mile race changes the outcome for the winner in their equalizer format.
Free Madison - Madison may soon open a $1M bike cycle run by Freewheel.

Masters World Cup Registration Opens!
October 9, 2017
Registration for the highly anticipated Masters World Cup races is now open! The world is coming to Theodore Wirth this January for a week of racing, and anyone ages 30 and above can compete. Sign up now.

Pioneer Midwest: Oktoberfest Sale
October 8, 2017
Pioneer Midwest is ramping up for winter with their Oktoberfest Sale this week, Oct 12-15th. Find savings on this year's and previous year's XC ski gear and apparel, 10% to 50% off. And stop in Thursday for their Rossignol Launch party with National Champion Kyle Bratrud.
Related:
Pioneer Midwest: Rossignol Launch Party with Kyle Bratrud

LNR Time Trial Coverage
October 8, 2017
After a rain delay Saturday, Loppet Nordic Racing hosted a warm October Sunday afternoon rollerski time trial on the backroads north of Afton. Posting top times in the 7.5K freestyle race were Henry Hall and Sarah olson. Results posted along with photos.

Swedish Mile Results
October 8, 2017
Jon Larson reports: Sunday saw the inaugural running of the Swedish Mile, a fundraising event supporting the Vasalopppet Nordic Center complex, Snow making and Trail development. The course utilized many of the Vasaloppet traditional ski trail as well as some less traveled loops and included newly developed single track sections. With 5 inches of rain in the week prior to the race, there was a few water hazards and plenty of mud for everyone. Spencer Davis and Stephanie Sathre took the titles in the first year event.
Related:
Results: Swedish Mile

Endurance United 55K Rollerski Coverage
October 8, 2017
A good turnout with some wonderful weather the Endurance United 55K rollerski on Sunday morning. The event started at Desnoyer Park on the east bank of the Mississippi and rolled on trails down to downtown St. Paul, up past Lake Phalen and onto the Gateway trail before finishing on the newer Brown Creek trail right into downtown Stillwater on the banks of the St. Croix River.
Related:
Photoset: 231 photos
Photoset: Top Picks (high res)

Loppet Trail Kids Adventure Race Finale
October 7, 2017
The Loppet Foundation's Trail Kids program held their final event of the Fall Adventure race series on Thursday at Wirth. Nearly 100 kids participated, with top finishers receiving pumpkin prizes.
Related:
Photoset: Adventure Race #4
Results: Adventure Race #4, Adventure Series Standings

World Cup Returns to Quebec in 2019, 2020
October 6, 2017
With the annual FIS Technical Committee and FIS Cross-Country Committee meetings still underway in Zurich, it has been confirmed that the FIS Cross-Country World Cup Finals will be coming back to Canada in March 2019 and 2020.

Riverbrook: December Womens XC Clinic
October 5, 2017
Riverbrook along with Gear West will be hosting a women's XC ski clinic on the Birkie trail, the weekend of December 9-10th.
Related:
Riverbrook Seeley Building For Sale

CXC: Kent Eriksen Bike Drawing Final Weeks
October 4, 2017
Less than three weeks left to enter into CXC's Eriksen Bike Drawing and show your support for CXC as well. There are only 250 tickets being sold, so the odds are quite good! Deadline is Oct 24th.