Sandpoint becoming hotbed for Nordic skiing

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — If it seems like there are more cross country skiers than ever around Sandpoint, it’s not your imagination.

Buoyed by the Sandpoint Nordic Club, and provided a spark by Ross and Vicki Longhini, the Nordic sport is thriving like never before in the area.

The club, more than 200 members strong, recently raised a whopping $40,000 and was able to purchase new grooming equipment, a necessity for skate and classic skiing. It now grooms a daily 4K track around the University of Idaho property on Boyer, which is getting a tremendous amount of use these days.

Nathan Kanning, president of the Sandpoint Nordic Club, said the board of directors set a goal of raising $40,000, with a vision of the winter sport taking off in Sandpoint. Boy has it.

“Our board worked really hard, it came together, and that’s huge for our community,” says Kanning. “For a long time we’ve been slowly, gradually building this. We’re very proud of what we’ve done.”

Spurred by grants from the Equinox Foundation and William Wishnick Foundation, a generous donation from Bonner General Health and scores of donations from community members, enough money was raised to buy a Bearcat Groomer Special, with some left over in the coffers for myriad expenses.

Grooming equipment can weigh close to 1,000 pounds, so it takes a special snowmobile to pull it, ultimately leaving a smooth skate and classic (where skis stay in two tracks) course in its wake.

Ross and Vicki Longhini have been a driving force behind the sport’s growth in Sandpoint, bringing a passion for Nordic skiing when they moved to Sandpoint from Minnesota in 2012. They soon realized the only Nordic trails were at Schweitzer, and those could be tough for beginners to learn.

They saw a niche that needed filling, and set about making it happen.

“This community really embraces the outdoors. There was alpine skiing, and back-country skiing. Other than Schweitzer, there were no other trails,” remembers Longhini, who soon-after started grooming the flat track on Boyer. “The first year we groomed it was like people came out of the woodwork. There was a realization that there is a Nordic community here, and we made a place that people can ski without feeling intimidated or scared by the hill.”

Vicki Longhini recalls a funny story about the recent purchase of the new Bearcat groomer, which became necessary when they lost access to the old one.

The William Wishnick Foundation had donated $10,000 for the fundraising campaign, a foundation named after a man who loved to race both cars and boats and earned the nickname “Bearcat” in the process. His wife Lisa Wishnick was behind the donation to the Nordic club, and daughter Kendall Wishnick-Adams is a painter and artist in Sandpoint.

“When we bought our sled Lisa Wishnick and her daughter Kendall were so excited. Kendall said ‘you named your sled after my father.’ I said ‘that’s what it’s named,’” recalls Vicki Longhini, calling it both cute and ironic. “It must have been good karma. We were meant to have that Bear Cat.”

Groomers don’t run themselves, however, and the daily endeavor takes a couple of hours on average. Ross Longhini is the director of grooming for the club, one of six people who are trained to groom the 4K track, which is usually done at night. Other volunteer groomers are Erik Olson, Christy Eddy, Sharbel Dussault, Dave Reseska and Jared France.

Their handiwork is currently being enjoyed by scores of skiers of all levels, from those looking for a quick workout at lunch to families enjoying an outing to the occasional night skiers.

Because walking on the course can ruin it for the skiers, the club has also groomed a separate 3K track for walkers, snow-bikers, snows-shoers and those with dogs, making for a true multi-use facility.

The U of I property, Schweitzer’s rolling course, and the 18K of trails at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch give local Nordic enthusiasts three places to cross country ski.

“Skiing around here is so beautiful,” claims Longhini, who like many enjoy all three venues. “You look around, and it’s just gorgeous.”

Kanning wished to express thanks to the U of I for allowing them use of the property, and to Mike Murray, who played a huge role in securing the grants.

Five years ago Kanning and his family had never tried cross country skiing. They saw a flyer at a local school that said the Longhinis were going to be teaching the sport. Their kids quickly became interested and now the family are avid Nordic skiers and racers.

“It’s because we were introduced to it by Vicki,” admits Kanning, noting the club was already in existence when the Longhinis joined and starting playing a big role. “When you add new energy to something, it builds on itself, a lot of good ideas. We put Vicki out there on the front lines for us because she’s willing to do that. The club wouldn’t be where it is without Ross and Vicki.”

More than 40 kids enjoy the Youth Ski League, many of whom race for the Sandpoint Nordic Club, and the club hosts a popular free learn to XC ski day each year, which draws more than 150 people. One of club’s objectives is to turn new skiers into 10- and 20-year members, as the lifetime sport can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.

“We’re putting a product out there for the public to utilize,” says Kanning, noting they only ask for a $3 trail maintenance donation. “A cost efficient way for the public to use the outdoors.”

And isn’t that the beauty of cross country skiing, being outdoors in the winter time?

Vicki Longhini admits winter is her favorite season, and she loves endurance sports. A runner during the summer, skiing affords a way to get her fix without having to go indoors like so many others when the temperature drops.

“I love winter time, and skiing is something that I can do in the winter,” she says. “It’s a perfect sport. It allows me to do a sport outdoors.”

For more information, visit www.sandpointnordic.com.