Set out around 9 am on a skate deck that had been recently groomed. It was a little firm for my skills (or lack thereof) but good skiers would probably rate it good and fast. The minor undulations, imperfections and "rumble strips" continue to give me trouble, as they have more input over where my skis go that I do, but better skiers probably won't notice. l stepped into the classic tracks here and there. They are present all around but a little thin, I came out of them inadvertently a few times when coasting downhill.

(Leif Irgens)

The classic tracks had fresh snow in the bottom of previously set tracks which made for good skiing. We did all the hill loops a couple times west of the visitor center. Our daughter, who visits from Manhattan, always enjoys skiing French because of the solitude. Only saw a few skiers out on the trails today!

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(Bill Lundberg)

Skied Lagoon and the conditions were decent. There's evidently been a lot of traffic, so many of the hills and intersections have no/partial tracks. Saw a few folks going the wrong way, but it is the beginner loop.

(Joseph Mueller)

Skied mid-afternoon, found the trails holding up well even with a fair amount of use. Skate deck was firm but not hard packed, and still glad good glide as the temps were above freezing. Classic looked good, though a little slow when I tried it. A lot of skiers out! Surprised by how many groups of skiers I ran into going the wrong direction on the lower Lakeview trail, haven't seen that before at French.

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(Bruce Adelsman)

The skate deck was nicely groomed with about an inch of softer snow on top of a hard base. The causeway, the section of Meadow along Northwest Boulevard, and the section of Skyline along the wetlands area was starting to get windblown by the time I was finishing. Quite a bit of leaf litter and seeds on the trails but nothing of concern.

(Steve Hum)

Nice snow pack, good classic tracks set. Twigs and seeds on trails. I used red fastwax. Looked like the groomers had been out earlier today.

(Scott Kee)

Skied all the trails a couple of times and the snow was very fast even with waxless skis. Tracks were very wind-blown in the open but usually enough to get a grip. Outside the tracks the snow was very firm. Lots of debris in wooded areas (especially coming down lakeside trail from the chalet) so I was glad I used waxless.

(Dan Zenk)

Even though it was windy and cold, it seemed better today with the bright sunshine and blue sky. Well set tracks and the skate deck was good but once again the wind drifted in the tracks in the open areas while the tracks in the woods were good. Debris in the trail here and there, but not too bad. Overall, a nice Christmas Eve ski.

(Kathleen Miller)

Freshly rolled corduroy and new tracks. The wind starting to pick up at 4:00 so some debris in the tracks. We only skied the beach loop to stay protected in the woods and remain close to the car to warm up our fingers. A deer ran across the trail into the woods searching for food.

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(Karla Anderson)

Classic skied over the lunch hour on newly laid classic tracks. The tracks are a little broken up in select places, maybe because the snow is so light and dry - I'm not sure. Some wind blown tracks in the prairie and light debris in the wooded areas but easy to avoid. Overall the trail is in great shape and appreciate groomers getting out in these frigid conditions.

(Nils Wahlander)