Sandpoint Nordic Club grooming local 4K trail

SANDPOINT — How does a small section of University of Idaho land transform itself into a Nordic Center?

Add together a group of passionate and dedicated Nordic skiers, a good snow base, cold temperatures, access to loaned grooming equipment, and some flat land, and what do you get? You get a 4-kilometer trail system right in the middle of Sandpoint.

On any given day you will see volunteers of the Sandpoint Nordic Club in the early hours and late evenings grooming a track for both skate and classic skiing.

“While weather in the valley doesn’t always cooperate with enough snow and cold temperatures, when it does, we load up our grooming equipment and bring it down to the University of Idaho Extension property and start packing the snow for a ski trail,” says Vicki Longhini, President of the Sandpoint Nordic Club. “One of our volunteers worked hard this fall smoothing out and marking a trail so that when it did snow, it would be easier to start grooming the ski trails.”

The Nordic Club is grateful to the University of Idaho for allowing them to groom trails on the land, making it easy for local skiers to get to access the trail and providing great beginner terrain for new skiers.

“It is a perfect location and terrain for running our kids ski program,” says Longhini

The other benefit to the location is the ease of use for people during the work day.

“I often stop for a quick ski after work, it’s a great way to end my day,” says avid classic skier, Coral France.

While the benefits to grooming near town are obvious, there are the challenges of warm temperatures and rain that can turn the snow to mush and make it impossible to groom. Walkers and bikers can also really damage the trail for skiing. They’re free to use the property, but the Nordic Club asks them to avoid using the ski trail.

Alpine skiing is an important activity in Sandpoint, but members of the Nordic club believe that there is a Nordic culture primed for growth here as well. Nordic skiing, whether you prefer both classic or skating, is a tremendous workout and keeps you fit and outdoors during the winter.

The Sandpoint Nordic Club runs a youth program which includes more than 30 area skiers.

So, will the grooming at U of I continue? With the growing enthusiasm for the sport within Sandpoint and heavy use on the local in-town trail system, the Nordic Club has proven there is a demand for the club to have its own equipment. This year will be last year the club will be able to use the current grooming equipment, and they’ll be running a campaign to raise money to purchase a system for the club.

“Having these trails is such a blessing for our town, it makes me so happy to drive by at all hours and see our community out here using the trails,” says club member Katie Cox. “I’d love to see our trail system grow as well as our Nnordic culture.”

For now, the snow base is good and the grooming continues. The daily use trail fee is $3 and Sandpoint Nordic Club members ski free. So get out there, put your skis on, pay your trail fee and enjoy the beautiful winter.