Chicks on Sticks March 13th at Nordic Center

Check out Chicks on Sticks at the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center coming up on March 13th. It’s  a great opportunity to enjoy spring skating, skiing and snowshoeing.

Here’s the beta:

Fun Skate, Stride, or Shoe Event to raise money for the Breast Cancer Fund and the Mt Shasta Nordic Center.

8km rolling course in the stunning scenery of the Nordic Center. Fast or slow, old or young, pro or novice, all are encouraged!

Prizes for best costume and most stylish snow sliders!

$20 Nordic Members
$25 Non Members
$5 Kids

The Nordic Center has 25k of groomed trails for classic Nordic skiing and skate skiing. On weekends you can get lessons if you’re new to the sport.

Mt. Shasta Nordic Center will open Sat, Dec 18th!

This just in…

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center Opens December 18th

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center will open Saturday, December 18th. The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center will be open every day through the New Year, and open every day except Tuesdays after the New Year. Operating hours are 9am until 4pm.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center offers rentals, lessons, a warming hut, and 20km of groomed winter trails. At the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center, skiers can enjoy groomed trails for both types of Nordic skiing: skate skiing and classic skiing. Snowshoes are permitted to share the groomed trails, snowshoers are asked to stay to the edge of the trail. The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center trails offer a variety of terrain suitable for skiers of all ages and abilities. “A limited number of trails will be groomed for the opening, while we wait for better snow coverage to open the remainder of the trails,” states Laurel Harkness of Mt. Shasta Nordic. For current trail conditions and the latest grooming report, check the website at www.mtshastanordic.org or call (530)926-2142.

The community trails are open to all, however trail users are asked become members of Mt. Shasta Nordic or make a daily trail use donation of $10 per adult or $5 per youth/senior. Donations are needed and much appreciated, as all costs of operation and improvements are made possible by donations from members and users of the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center.

Nordic ski equipment, both skate and classic, is available for rental in all sizes. Snowshoes are also available for rental, including a higher performance “trail running” type. Pulk sleds for small children are available for use. Members receive a 20% discount on all rentals.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center now offers the option of an “Unlimited Use, Season Rental Pass”. For one fee, renters can have access to all equipment at the Nordic Center whenever they visit the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center. Equipment includes skate skis, classic skis, or snowshoes. Equipment must stay on-site, and is first-come first-serve.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center offers lessons for both classic and skate skiing.  Group lessons are scheduled as follows: Beginning Classic at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm, Beginning Skate at 11:30 am. Lessons are offered on weekends and holidays, and on weekdays as staff availability allows. Private lessons are also available.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center will host several events and programs this season, including:

January 7  – Intermediate Skate Ski Clinic

January 30 – Mt. Shasta Snowshoe Race and Demo Day

February 5 –Shasta Disabled Sports,  Adaptive Nordic Day

February 19 – Full Moon Ski / Snowshoe

March 13 – “Chicks On Sticks” – womens-only ski and snowshoe event

March 19 – Full Moon Ski / Snowshoe

Updated event and program information can be found at the Mt. Shasta Nordic website.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center is operated by Mt. Shasta Nordic under a special use permit from the USFS. Mt. Shasta Nordic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2006, with the intent to create, enhance, and preserve Nordic skiing opportunities for all ages and abilities.

The Mount Shasta Nordic Center is located approximately 10 miles off of Interstate 5 near Mount Shasta City. From Interstate 5, exit onto Highway 89 South which is marked as the exit to McCloud. After 6.5 miles on Highway 89, turn left (north) on Ski Park Hwy. After 3.5 miles look for the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center parking lot on the left (one mile before the Mt. Shasta Ski Park).

For more information about the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center or to become a member of Mt. Shasta Nordic, visit www.mtshastanordic.org or call (530)926-3935.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park has something for everyone

Looking for more adventure during your visit to Mt. Shasta? There are many other activities to partake in during your stay and visit to Mt. Shasta Ski Park in the nearby area!

This year the Mt. Shasta Ski Park has built incredible Terrain Park unique features including the Monster Tire, Mini Battleship, Wave Box, the Wallaphant, The Battleship and the Dragon. Come check out their ever growing and super impressive Terrain Park.

Event coming up:

• BIG-AIR COMPETITION – Saturday, February 20, 2010

• NIGHT RAIL JAM – Friday, March 26th, 2010

Mt. Shasta Nordic Center – a 30K network of trails winding through deep forest, and open meadows are available nearby for those looking for a picturesque and peaceful Nordic experience!

Mt. Shasta Snowmen (& Women) Hill Group – Not only can the young adults and youth go and carve the slopes, but so can the senior community. The Snowman Hill Group is a senior citizen activity group dedicated to the promotion of extended skiing, ski safety, and the well being of all skiers. Open to Men and Women of age 55 plus!

Spring days at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park

The Mt. Shasta Ski Park recently got a nice review on Best Ski Resorts. We’ve had some fine spring skiing at the Ski Park lately, with lots of blue bird days. The Revolution Terrain Park is hosting the night Rail Jam Friday, March 20th (registration 2:30-4:30, event starts at 5pm). Coming up on the race hill through March: The Over the Hill Classic is Saturday, March 28th and the Gene Landsmann “Super Slalom” is Sunday, March 29th. You can find more info about these gentle, friendly races at the Mt. Shasta Ski Team website. Keep an eye out for demo days at the Ski Park as well – you can try out some new skis or a snappy new board, thanks to local shops The Fifth Season and Shasta Basecamp.

While you’re in the area, stop by the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center where conditions have been great lately for skate skiing. The locals have been out enjoying the trails, and new comers can sign up for lessons on the weekends. Coming up on March 21st the Nordic center will celebrate at the Ernie Woodfield Party Tour, a tribute to a long-time skier and teacher that includes poker on skis and fun and games for all ages.

If you’re coming up for spring skiing, Dunsmuir is a great place to stay. You can enjoy beautiful days on the slopes, and then come back to this Sacramento River town that is the first to show signs of spring. Cave Springs Motel offers rooms, rustic cabins and vacation rentals not far from the river and the Dusnmuir Botanical Gardens. At the other end of town, the Dunsmuir Lodge boasts four acres of beautiful land that comes alive in the spring. As an added bonus, Dusnmuir has the best dining in the county: Cafe Maddalena’s, Sengthong’s and the Cornerstone Cafe. Also see the recent post on new comer, A Wild Thyme Cafe.

Come on up for spring skiing and a nice stay in Dunsmuir. It’s a great place to get away without having to spend a great deal of money. Keep an eye out for the dogwood and red bud – they’re usually the first trees to bloom, bringing white and pink flowers to the canyon.

Spring skiing – live it up!

So far we’ve enjoyed bright blue skies in the early days of March, and these blue bird days make for great spring skiing. Here in the North State snow enthusiasts benefit from both the Mt. Shasta Ski Park and the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center.

Downhill skiers and riders can enjoy the slopes at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, where March offers that last dazzling period of winter fun. It’s a great time to continue to build your skills and to bask in the sunlight while getting your kicks on the snow. A number of competitions and demos planned in March can introduce folks to new equipment as well as the community atmosphere of ski racing.

• The Fifth Season and Shasta BaseCamp will be hosting demos throughout March, so you can try out new gear.
• The Paul Gianera Memorial Race (March 8th & 9th), the Coyote Classic (March 14th, 15th & 16th) and the Over the Hill Classic (March 22nd) are all friendly events for kids, adults and seniors who want to try ski racing.
• Those who are at home in the terrain park, or excited to watch the feats of those who are, can check out the Rail Jam on March 21st.

Spring skiing and riding is great – remember to bring your ballcap and sunscreen and be prepared to catch some rays as you slide the slopes. The Ski Park’s final day of operation will be April 13th. To learn more about the Mt. Shasta Ski Park and its events, visit the website at www.skipark.com or call guest services at 530.926.8610.

If ski touring is more your style, head on up to the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center where you can click into cross country skis to tour the beautiful forest setting. The Nordic Center offers classic, skate, children’s skis and snowshoe rentals, as well as lessons on the weekends. The trails provide tantalizing glimpses of soaring Mount Shasta as you leave the base area, and as you ski on you’ll come upon striking full views of the mountain.

In March, the Nordic Center will host an Adaptive Ski Weekend on Saturday, March 8th for those with disabilities. Then coming up on March 22nd, the Nordic community will celebrate with the Ernie Woodfield Memorial Party Tour, described as “a party on (and off!) skis”, with food, entertainment, and raffle prizes.

To learn more about the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center, located on Ski Park Highway, visit their website at www.mtshastanordic.org.