Crested Butte, Colorado—October 27, 2011—The Crested Butte Nordic Council is excited to announce that its signature event, the Gunnison Valley Health’s Alley Loop Nordic Marathon, has joined the American Ski Marathon Series (ASM Series), North America’s longest-running and largest citizen’s racing and touring series. With 14 races from Vermont to Alaska, the ASM Series includes such renowned events as the American Birkebeiner, the Yellowstone Rendezvous, and the Tour of Anchorage. The 26th Annual Alley Loop, to be held on February 4, 2012, is one of only four races in the Western United States and the only Colorado event in the Series. “We’ve been wanting to add another western event for a number of years,” said J.D. Downing, director of the American Ski Marathon Series, “and the Alley Loop ended up being the perfect fit.”

What began as a handful of hardy Buttians skiing the alleys of Crested Butte in 1986 is now one of the premier Nordic races in the country. Already an American Birkebeiner qualifier and a Colorado Cup Series race, the Alley Loop drew more than 550 skiers from 17 states in 2011. “This addition to the ASMS will undoubtedly increase our race participants and put Crested Butte on the national Nordic map,” said Nordic Council director, Keith Bauer.

The Alley Loop is distinguished by the unique course through downtown Crested Butte. It starts and finishes on the town’s main street before meandering through snow-lined alleys, behind false-fronted Victorian buildings, over footbridges, and alongside residences. The adult races then head out onto the expertly groomed trails in the pristine outskirts of town. Comprised of races ranging from the 1.5 and 3 kilometer children’s races, all the way up to the half and full marathons, the Alley Loop has a place for both the serious racer and the cross-country enthusiast.

Poised at 8,885 feet and surrounded by the spectacular Elk Mountains, Crested Butte is a small ski town with a big character. It’s known for its warm welcome and wacky spirit, shown in full force during the Alley Loop when costumed locals take to the streets in droves to ski, volunteer, and cheer, making it a true community-wide event. Paired with the nearby Alpine ski area, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, and an average of 300 inches of snow a year, CB is a perfect destination for skiers of all kinds.

“We’re excited to show off our spectacular trails,” said Bauer, “and to introduce a national audience to Crested Butte.” At the center of winter and the CBNC calendar, the Alley Loop is the biggest and most popular of the CBNC’s events and a fitting addition the American Ski Marathon Series calendar. Registration for the 26th Annual Alley Loop Nordic Marathon will begin on October 1, 2011 and the race will take place in downtown Crested Butte on February 4, 2012.

The Crested Butte Nordic Council kicks off winter with its on-snow Thanksgiving Training Camp November 24 – 26, 2011. Their Citizen’s Race Series, held throughout December and January, provides great racing opportunities and a chance to become familiar with the trails prior to the official Alley Loop.

The Crested Butte Nordic Center (CBNC) is a world-class destination Nordic ski area, offering breathtaking views and the best cross-country skiing in Colorado’s high country. The Center offers 55 km of groomed Nordic trails, as well as guided tours, ski lessons, snowshoeing, sledding, a covered ice skating rink, and dining in CBNC’s ski-to backcountry yurt. CBNC is located at the corner of 2nd and Whiterock, in the historic mining town and renowned skiing destination of Crested Butte, CO. For more information, contact Keith Bauer, Executive Director, 970-349-1707, or director@cbnordic.org, or visit CNBC’s website at www.cbnordic.org. Complete information about the ASM Series can be found at www.xcskiworld.com.

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Nordic Skiing with Tip-Skins - Ideal for the More Cautious or First Time Skier

We strongly recommend using X-C Ski Tip-Skins for all first time skiers, especially if conditions are fast and less forgiving. They are to skiing, what training wheels are to a bicycle. You may only need them for a short time or may prefer to keep using them. They provide thirty percent more grip and less glide, providing more control.

Ruth came through the door of the Breckenridge Nordic Center in tears. “That’s it, I just can’t ski anymore. I don’t feel safe because it’s too slippery”. Ruth, a seventy nine year old grandmother of twelve from Cedar Rapids, Iowa had been skiing with us for over three decades. She and her husband whom we called “the invisible man”, was such an avid alpine skier, we rarely saw him at the Nordic Center. With their extended family in the Midwest, they would keep an eye on the weather, and pick the best times to make several two week vacations to Breckenridge, Colorado. Ruth had become a member of the Breckenridge Nordic family. She was so familiar with the operations, that we gave her a name tag and she would frequently answer the phones when we were busy. Her time off trail was spent reading, or enjoying the soup of the day in our cozy lodge, as she rested up for another loop of the her favorite trail “Troll Forest”. Two complete knee replacements did not stop her from enjoying her outings in the mountains. She and her husband chose Breckenridge after an extensive tour of the country’s western ski resorts. “You find a Nordic Center that you like honey and well buy our second home there” said her husband of forty years. So they did, and we have enjoyed her visits. “Ruth’s here, we can start the season now” we’d announce, when she’d arrive for the first of her annual visits.

Now what? Here she is, ready to stop Nordic skiing at seventy nine because she felt “out of control”. Trail conditions vary, even with the best grooming equipment available especially in the spring when the temperature can fluctuate fifty degrees or more and you get freezing and thawing, and hence ice. Scott Yule, local endurance sports hero and Mark Taylor, had the answer for saving skiing for Ruth. Mark made up a couple pairs of what Scott had described as “tip skins”. The “tip-skin” that Mark made up for us consisted of a retired climbing skin cut to reach from the tip of the ski to the tip of the toe of the waxless kick zone of the ski. I went to the wax room and there were the tip skins Mark had given us the previous season. I placed them on Ruth’s favorite waxless cross county skis. Reluctantly, she put them on and returned to the classic set tracks in front of the Nordic lodge. I walked along side, as she made a few timid strides. It seemed at this moment, a whole new era of Nordic ski instruction blossomed. She was astounded at the improved control she experienced, and it gave her a new of level of confidence. “You saved my sport for me, now I can ski my favorite trails and I never have to take my skis off”.

Breckenridge is known for all types innovations in skiing. It was the first Alpine area in the west to embrace Telemark skiing, Freestyle skiing, and Snowboarding. Now the Breckenridge Nordic Center can provide ski tip-skin skiing for those wanting to enjoy the Nordic ski trails, but who are in need of more control and/or are more cautious by nature. They are also ideal for the beginning Nordic skier.

Written by Gene L. Dayton, Professional Ski Instructor Association - Examiner/Member 35 years, and operator of the Breckenridge Nordic Ski Center, Inc. E-mail: PapaNordic@hotmail.com or call 970-453-6855 for more information.

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The Trade-Up Program at Snow Mountain Ranch allows children to be involved in Nordic skiing in a way that's affordable for the family. Call the Nordic Center at 970-887-2152, ext 4173, for more information.

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Trails are in excellent shape this holiday weekend at Snow Mountain Ranch. Skiers can check trail conditions on our brand-new website: http://ymcarockies.org/smrtrails.htm

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