2022 Information

Just add snow

Merry Christmas! (even though it doesn't look like winter yet)  I can't guarantee a really snowy winter, and the NWS outlook is not too promising, either.  Last year we didn't have good conditions until almost February.  

For this winter, I will rent out the Club's gear and offer 3 free clinics throughout the winter; tentatively January 22, February 5 and 19.  I have been working on the trails at Timber Coulee and they should be fun to ski once the white stuff comes.

GEAR PICK-UP: In order to streamline the process of picking up your gear, please take a few measurements for me: 

A) Floor to wrist. Your classical skis should come up to somewhere between your wrist and elbow; shorter for younger and beginning skiers. 

B) Floor to "middle of shoulder". Classical poles should be somewhere between your armpit and top of shoulder. 

C) Euro boot size. Google a conversion chart if that helps. I will have several pairs for your child to try on. 

Text this info to me at 608-632-6272 and let me know when you want to pick it up. $50 per set for the season. Make checks to "Snowflake Junior Nordic Ski Club".

WAXING: I have gone away from grip tape in favor of using traditional hard waxes. It requires a little work on your part, but offers better performance in most conditions. I will send two waxes and a cork home with you. I am applying 4 thin layers of Toko Red to all the skis before they go out. This should be good for the first outing or two, but you will need to apply a little of the appropriate wax (temperatures shown on wax) before subsequent sessions. 

CLASSIC/SKATE GEAR: I am sending out classic gear for starters. If your skier wants to switch over to skating later in the season, I can provide different skis (shorter) and poles (longer). No charge.

CONDITIONS: Skis are made for snow. Do not ever ski across roads, sidewalks, etc. Do not ski when there is not enough snow; if you see grass or dirt in your tracks; there is not enough snow and you will damage the skis.

Get Ready!

I'm hoping we can return to 'normal' this winter and have 8 practices on Mondays in January and February.  We need to line up a few volunteer coaches, so let me know if you'd like to help, or know someone else who might be interested.

I've been working on the trails down in Timber Coulee.  They need a little more work, but should be in great shape once the snow arrives.

Return gear to Dan's house

Well Folks, that's a wrap.  We had a pretty short season of good conditions.  I hope you got out skiing at least a few times this winter.  I'm looking forward to getting back to regular ski practices with everyone next winter.

Please return your gear (and the wax) when it is convenient.  Call/text if you forgot where I live (632-6272).  You can leave the gear on our patio any time... no need to call ahead. 

Thanks and enjoy the Spring weather!

Best conditions of the year

I just groomed at Timber Coulee; the Rod & Gun land and DNR trails.  The conditions this weekend may be the best we get all year... so get out there and enjoy it!  There is not enough snow on the hill road - please do not ski on it because it will damage our skis.

It is going to be hot Monday - Wednesday, and it doesn't take much for our snow to go south in a hurry.  I will wait until it cools down and then assess when I can groom again.

KVR and Viroqua Hills Golf Course (skate only) were groomed recently.  Prairie Wind is a nice option in town.  Lots of local choices this weekend.

Fresh tracks in town! (at Prairie Wind)

Sonya has graciously allowed us to ski at Prairie Wind.  The groomed loop is a little more than one mile long and has a few gentle hills.  There is good snow and the weather is improving, so get out and enjoy it!  Prairie Wind is just south of the cemetery.  Find Prairie Wind Way off Lewison Lane.  You can either park on the east side of Lewison Lane or on the south side of Prairie Wind Way.  There is a residence on the land; be courteous and don't park in their driveway or block any traffic.

I plan to groom at Timber Coulee again soon.  I'll update the blog when I do.

Nice tracks

The trails were re-groomed on Saturday.  They are in the best condition so far this year, and should hold up for a while.

The jumpers had to plow the hill road for the tournament, so there is no snow on it.  Please do not try to ski on the hill road, or over to the jumps.  I will groom there when we get more snow.

Bundle up and enjoy the trails!

Snow for a while...

Good news; I got all the trails groomed after the fresh snow on Thursday, and it won't melt soon.

Bad news; it is windy and some of the tracks are already drifted over.  It is very cold.

We will probably hold off on the next outing until it warms up a bit.  But, you are welcome to brave the weather and get out and ski on your own.  I will try to touch up the trails next week.

Golf Course skiing

It was great to see some familiar faces and ski with everyone on Monday!  I was pretty impressed with the kid's skills.  Hopefully we can get out again next Monday, if it's not too cold.

Viroqua Hills Golf Course has been groomed for skating (no tracks set).  It is a fun place to ski with some nice hills.  You can go through the tunnel under the highway and ski on the 'Back 9' also.  Do not ski through the tunnel!  Please take your skis off and walk through.

Enjoy Winter.  I'll update later this week.

Outting Monday!

Sorry for the short notice.  I went down and groomed the new snow Sunday evening.  It looks better than I expected, and should set up pretty nicely.  So, I will be down there Monday from 4:00 - 5:30 for a little ski session.  All are welcome to join.  I can give some lessons to kids and parents, or we can just ski around.  I set track on Rod & Gun and also up on DNR.  The DNR trails are still a little thin, with some ant hills, brush, etc.  But, it is ski-able.

See you tomorrow (Monday)! 

Grooming Update

Pretty much the same as last week; I set some tracks on the Rod & Gun land and packed the DNR trails.  It is still very thin... use caution if you go up on DNR.  There are some tracks along the stream.  On the side by CTH P there are bare spots, ant hills and brush.

The Jumping Club will have a Junior Tournament on Feb 5 and 6, using the 65m jump.  They will be actively grooming the landings and out-runs and driving on the hill road until then.  After the tournament, I will start grooming down there again.  In the mean time, please stay away from the jump area as they prepare the hills.

If you are up for a drive, Blue Mound and Mirror Lake SP should be good.  I saw a report that Levis Mound is also in decent shape.  Sounds like Hixon Forest and Coulee Experimental both could use more snow in order to set decent tracks.

Finally, a little snow!

We got just enough snow to set some tracks on the Rod & Gun land.  They should set up pretty nice tonight.  It is a short loop, on both sides of the stream.  Not enough snow to ski across the bridges, so carry your skis over.  I packed the trails on the DNR land, but there is still not enough to ski on up there. Hopefully we'll get more this weekend.  Get out and enjoy what we have.

More snow, please!

I tried to set some tracks at the Rod & Gun Club this morning.  The snow is incredibly thin and transformed, so the tracks are shallow and they will be rock hard and icy when they set up tonight.  In other words, it is very poor conditions.  There is no snow on the bridges, and the jumpers took a lot of the snow from the field.  You are welcome to give it a shot, just be careful where you ski and watch out for dirt and rocks.  Don't expect to get much kick in these icy conditions... you would need klister and that stuff is no fun to deal with.

There is almost no snow on the DNR trails, so please do not try to ski up there.  

Winter will come.  In the mean time, I hope you have a nice patch of snow in your back yard, or access to some grassy field with good snow cover.  Please be extra careful with the skis when the snow cover is so thin.

Where can I ski?

Skinny Ski Trail Reports

Skinny Ski has the best collection of first hand trail reports in the Mid West.  Select "SW WI" for the region, and check out conditions of local trails.  Blue Mound State Park is listed under "SE WI".

Finally some snow!

The new snow looks wonderful.  It is a bit wet and heavy, which can make grooming troublesome.  Sometimes wet snow can pack up in sheets and get pushed off the trail, or even worse, it can turn to slush under the weight of the snowmobile.  I may have to wait a day or two before grooming at Timber Coulee.  I will update the blog after I get out.

In the meantime, please get out and ski!  Some folks had skied-in their own tracks at Viroqua Hills Golf Course earlier, and it looked pretty good.  Just be really carefully about the paved cart paths... one wrong move can easily damage the bases of our skis. Do not ski where there is not snow (parking lots, the tunnel under the road, etc).   Also, please stay off the greens and tee boxes so we don't damage the turf.

Enjoy the snow and stay tuned for updates.