Family ski draws crowd to trails at Rocky Inlet

The Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club got far more people out than it expected for its family ski day on Sunday at its Rocky Inlet trails.
Drawing more than 100 people of all ages and experience levels, club president Jim Krag said Monday he was overwhelmed with the response.
“It was so busy, it was hard to keep track of who was coming, who was going,” he admitted, adding that he personally had his hands full giving tips to first-timers for much of the afternoon.
“It was great. We had a great day,” he enthused.
“Anytime you put a hotdog and a campfire in front of a kid, you have a recipe for success,” chuckled Krag, adding recent publicity from the Times also was a likely reason for so many people coming out Sunday.
And in fact, the event may end up boosting the ski club’s membership or, at the very least, getting more people active on area ski trails—fulfilling its objective to showcase the club’s 11-km trail network and introduce people to the recreational activity.
After meeting some interested new skiers on Sunday, Krag said he’s already agreed to take out several groups of newcomers in the near future to show them some tips and foster their interest in cross-country skiing.
“Particularly with the skate skiing, people don’t know what to do there,” he noted. “It doesn’t come all that intuitively and they get frustrated if they don’t have a little instruction to go along with it.
“And then the waxing is a whole other area,” Krag said. “Some people really don’t have a clue what to do, so we’d like to be able to help people so they have a good experience.”
Krag said the best way for people to get involved with the ski club is to check out its website at www.rlnordic.org
“There’s an e-mail forum there if people want to ask questions. It pretty much tells you about membership fees and daily user fees, that sort of thing,” he explained.
“And certainly, club members are available to help out if some people are looking for instruction or help,” Krag added. “They can contact me and I can point them in the right direction.
“We’ve got several club members that are willing to help people, coach them a bit, and that kind of thing.”
The website also includes information on trail conditions, which is updated regularly, along with postings of news and other developments with the club.
Sunday’s family ski day, which ran from 1-3 p.m., was open to everyone. Extra skis and poles were available for those without their own equipment to use.
There also was food, hot beverages, a campfire, and the club’s new chalet for skiers to warm their bones in after trying out the trails.
For those looking for another chance to ski again soon, the Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club’s social committee is planning a candlelight ski for Saturday, Jan. 12.
Skiers will meet at the chalet at 6 p.m., have a short candlelight ski at 6:30, and then congregate back in the chalet for hors d’oeuvres and an evening of live music thanks to the Mud Lake City Boys.
Tickets for this event cost $8 each, which can be purchased by calling Maria Sanders at 274-5642 (because of the limited space in the chalet, tickets will be limited to the first 50 paid guests).
The club also is gearing up for its first race, which is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2.
Krag noted race committee chair Megan Ross still is working out the details, but the event likely will be “kept on a small, informal scale, with the focus on fun for all ages and skill levels.”
Cross-country skiers can watch for updates on race plans by checking out the club’s website.