Along the Shore

Nordic skating is essentially cross-country skiing on ice. A typical Nordic skate set-up involves a Nordic boot—either backcountry or skate—attached to a long skate blade via a Nordic binding. | ERIC WEICHT

Nordic skating (wild ice)

By Eric Weicht

NORTH SHORE—With so many hundreds of kilometers of cross-country ski trails along the North Shore, most people who spend time up here in the winter are familiar with, if not full-on passionate about, Nordic skiing. Nordic skating, however, is lesser known but just as fun.

Nordic skating is essentially cross-country skiing on ice. A typical Nordic skate set-up involves a Nordic boot—either backcountry or skate—attached to a long skate blade via a Nordic binding. The heel is free like in Nordic skiing and the technique is similar to the motion used to skate ski on snow.

Nordic skates can be used anywhere that there is ice, but they’re best suited for long stretches of “wild ice” —i.e., frozen lakes and rivers.

While back-country skis are perfect for venturing across snow covered lakes and midwinter forests, Nordic skates are the ideal way to get out and experience the wilderness when the lakes are frozen but void of snow.

Conditions have to be just right to go Nordic skating in the wilderness. If the ice is too thin, then it’s not safe, but wait too long after the lakes freeze and all of the endless wild ice will go dormant beneath the snow.

Skate skiing when theres snow on the ice, nordic skating when there’s not. | ERIC WEICHT

Our “wild ice” season on the North Shore usually runs late November-early December. However, Lake Superior can freeze over at any time during the winter, and when it does it provides some of the best “wild” ice skating in the world.

Skating wild ice is an experience like no other, but given how short and unpredictable the season can be, why invest in a pair of Nordic skates? Why not use a pair of hockey or figure skates?

Hockey and figure skates are designed for human made and maintained ice rinks— compact sections of ice that involve lots of sharp turns and changes in directions.

Nordic skates, on the other hand, are designed with comfort and distance in mind. Nordic boots are warmer and more comfortable than traditional ice skates, ideal for skating miles of lake shore on a zero-degree day.

The blades on Nordic skates are also different than those found on hockey and figure skates. Nordic skate blades tend to be long, wide and stable, which makes them glide smoother and faster than traditional skates.

Making sharp turns may not be as easy on Nordic skates, but the skating motion is just like skate skiing a groomed track—it’s all about finding a steady rhythm and a comfortable pace that can be maintained for kilometers.

The blades on Nordic skates are different from those found on hockey and figure skates. | ERIC WEICHT

Lastly, when out Nordic skating it is important to make safety a priority. Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended (ice is a lot harder than snow), and when dealing with wild ice, proper rescue equipment such as ice picks, rope and ice screws should be on hand at all times. If venturing further out into the wilderness, be prepared to get wet and be out longer than expected—having a change of clothes and fire making supplies are a must.

If interested in getting a pair of Nordic skates, it’s always best to buy local. Not only does shopping local support small businesses in the community, it also gives the buyer access to the shop’s service and expertise.

Local outdoor retailers will be able to help mount bindings to the skates, advise on boot-binding compatibility, help identify the right boot for the type of skating you plan on doing, and give advice on where to go and how to use your new skates. They can also handle warranty issues, should they arise.

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais and Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte are two great options in Cook County. Both businesses have Nordic boots and bindings, but given the limited demand for Nordic skates they will likely need to order skates, so don’t wait until the last minute to get your skates.

In Duluth, Continental Ski & Bike has a few pairs of skates in stock, as well as plenty of boots and bindings to set up the skates to your liking.

North Point strives to foster hope in the young minds of Cook County

By Kalli Hawkins

GRAND MARAIS—The experiences and individuals in our life, particularly at a young age, help shape and mold our future.

Brad and Brooke Shannon, who operate the non-profit North Point in Grand Marais, both have experiences from their upbringing that set them on the life-long path of investing in the young minds of tomorrow.

“I feel like I was given this gift and I want to give it back,” Brooke said.

North Point opened in 2021, shortly after the closure of the American Legion, a long-established bar on 1st Ave W. The Christian non-profit aims to develop relationships, create experiences, and provide a space for kids to feel known and heard in the community.

The day-to-day activities and programming are driven and dictated purely by the wants and needs of the kids.

“It’s all student-led. The kids tell us what programs they want or what they want the space to provide,” says Brooke.

The Shannons said creating a place in Grand Marais for kids to recreate, relax, and gather came with its challenges. Particularly following the purchase of the American Legion building and the significance it had to the veterans and the larger community.

North Point is a non-profit that aims to develop relationships, create experiences, and provide a space for kids to feel known and heard in the community. | NORTH POINT

However, one of the main factors and acceptance of change is time. Time and a little elbow grease are all the Shannons needed to create a place in Grand Marais for 8th through 12th-graders to have a space to enjoy a free lunch, hang out after school and play pool, or grab a free root beer float after a Friday night football game.

In addition to the many free meals they provide for kids, North Point offers free lunches every Wednesday to high school students. Brooke said they have 40 kids who show up weekly for a free lunch.

While the Shannons have received positive feedback from the kids who have participated in the programs or spent an hour hanging out eating pizza, they have also received positive feedback from teachers and community members.

With a strong network of coaches, teachers, parents and influential family members in Cook County, Brad and Brooke want to be an extra voice in the community for young kids to lean on and look up to.

“We want to bring hope to kids,” Brad said. “We hope we’re just one more adult who cares for them and listens, or is just present.”

“Not only are kids finding hope, but there’s a community that finds hope. Because when kids start to believe what’s true about themselves and about the world, it impacts a community. It impacts a generation,” Brad added.

As the Shannons continue to develop the programs, plan retreats, and host high school sports team dinners, they have their eyes set on the future. They envision hiring more staff and improving the programs with the help and participation of the kids.

“The need will always be greater than the resources or time you have,” Brad said. However, he added, “We’re just a small non-profit trying to be a part of the puzzle.”

In addition to being supported by individual donors, North Point partners with Treehouse, a Minnesota-based organization, to serve teens through mentorships, retreats and activities that build relationships and foster hope.

Each weekday, North Point offers drop-in opportunities or scheduled events for high school students to enjoy. Most importantly, North Point wants to be a safe space where teens can share and receive support from peers and adult leaders.

Brad said, “We know who we are. We’ve chosen to say we’re going to try and make a difference in the lives of high school kids.”

Bowling along the North Shore

By Eric Weicht

NORTH SHORE—There is a lot to love about spending time outdoors in the winter—a lot of ways to find joy in the 100 inches of snow that the North Shore typically gets each year. However, sometimes, when it’s cold and dark and strapping on a pair of cross-country skis sounds more like a chore than a pastime, it can be nice to find fun indoors, like at your local bowling alley.

In the Twin Ports area, Skyline Social and Games has been in the business of entertaining Duluthians since the mid-1950s.

Located up the hill from downtown Duluth and just south of the airport, Skyline is home to 22 lanes of bowling, seven lanes of “duckpin,” an updated arcade that offers a virtual reality experience called “Hologate,” a restaurant and bar that serves lanes as well as tables, and numerous leagues in everything from duckpin to cribbage. They even host outdoor Volleyball leagues in the summer and fall when their courts aren’t covered in snow.

“I think the fact that we’ve been around since 1956 is kind of crazy,” says Megan Bell, marketing manager at Skyline. “We’ve been around a long time, and in that time, as you can imagine, there have been a lot of changes, a lot of iterations of Skyline.”

Bell has been with Skyline since 2019, and during her four years as marketing manager she saw the company undergo a major, multi-million-dollar remodel to improve the space and “really work with everyone who wants to come to Skyline and have fun.”

“With the remodel,” says Bell, “we realized that while kids will be happy to bowl anywhere, adults tend to value the atmosphere and socializing component of bowling as much as the game itself.”

“So,” continues Bell, “we ‘refreshed’ our bowling during the remodel, in terms of look and feel, and went with a more industrial concept. We actually decreased the number of lanes from 24 to 22, but expanded the arcade and added seven lanes of duckpin.”

Duckpin, for those who don’t know, is essentially miniature bowling. The lanes are shorter, the pins are small and on strings, bowlers get three chances per frame instead of two, and the ball doesn’t have holes and is the approximate size of a bocce ball.

According to Bell, duckpin has been a huge hit since the remodel and reservations are strongly recommended.

Try playing duckpin at Skyline Social and Games in Duluth. | SUBMITTED

“We get some creative duckpin team names in the leagues,” says Bell, “and it’s really great to see all of the different types of people participating each week.”

“Bowling is fun,” continues Bell, “but I actually prefer duckpin. It’s more casual, there’s more socializing, and it’s easier than traditional 10-pin.”

There is always a lot going on at Skyline Social and Games, and the best way to stay up to date on leagues, events, and everything else that they do is by checking out their website.

Further up the North Shore in Silver Bay, Silver Bowl is another bowling alley that has been in operation since the 1950s.

“My wife and I bought the alley in June of 2014,” says Logan Fischer,” and replaced all of the pinsetters, and remodeled the interior over that summer. Today, we have eight lanes and plenty of room for birthday parties and company get-togethers.”

Silver Bowl is a traditional bowling alley, with an aesthetic that lends itself wonderfully to the community that it serves. The Fischers are passionate about the game of bowling and work hard to bring it to as many people within the community as they can.

According to Fischer, there are currently five bowling leagues running out of Silver Bowl—three adult and two junior. When there is enough interest locally, Silver Bowl will also host a high school team that travels around the state competing with teams from different lanes.

“Leagues have been running at Silver Bowl, from what I have understood, since the alley was built in 1955,” says Fischer. “Each league meets once a week and all our current leagues are handicapped, which helps level the playing field for all types of bowlers.”

Silver Bowl is open the first weekend of October through May 1 each year, closing during the summer for family vacations and because, according to Fischer, “people in the area prefer to be outside when it’s warm.”

Silver Bowl’s typical hours in the winter are 4 p.m.-close (closing time varies, call if it is after 7:30 p.m.) Wednesday-Saturday, and open by appointment Sunday-Tuesday. They recommend calling ahead (218-226-4479) or sending a message on Facebook for accurate hours, to make appointments, and book the space for events.

Across the border in Thunder Bay, there are also a number of great options to escape the winter cold for some bowling.

Mario’s Bowl is right in the heart of downtown Thunder Bay. It is a modern bowling alley and full restaurant with all sorts of fun leagues in both 10-pin and five-pin bowling. Further information can be found on their website at: mariosbowl.com.

A little further out of town, Galaxy Lanes is another great Thunder Bay bowling alley and restaurant, with galactic “Glow and Bowl” bowling every Friday and Saturday 7 p.m.–1 a.m. Find more online at: galaxylanes.ca.