WINTER MAGIC IN ACTION: CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY THROUGH NORDIC SKIING

WRITTEN BY JACK CHRISTIANSON | PHOTOS JENNY WHITE

It’s a bright January day at Lindley Park and the air is filled with the sounds of happy voices and skis sliding across fresh snow. But that’s only the start. Listen closer and you’ll hear the happy yells of children playing tag, of coaches leading adventure skis or technique practice, of parents and grandparents learning to ski in groups of their own. And strung through all of it: laughter. Lots and lots of laughter.

This is an average winter afternoon at the Lindley Park Community Nordic Trails and the Bridger Ski Foundation. It is community at its best. It is winter magic in action. And it is open to everyone.

Connecting Through World-Class Opportunity: Trails That Lead Us Back Together.

Whether you’ve witnessed the magic of winter at Lindley Park or not, the opportunities for Nordic skiing in Bozeman are truly world class. Cruising down Main Street, no Bozeman resident is more than a 30-minute drive from 125-plus kilometers of groomed Nordic trails. From the Bridger Ski Foundation’s Bozeman-centered Community Nordic Trail System to Crosscut Mountain Sports Center’s refuge in the Bridgers, the Gallatin Valley’s Nordic trails carry skiers of all ages through snow-filled pine forests, sun-dappled creek bottoms and residential areas alike.

In an era of increasing screen time and competing social commitments, afternoons spent on Nordic skis can be just the salve children and parents alike need to unwind and reconnect – both to the world beyond office or classroom windows and to one another.

Looking for a weekend outing with your kindergartener? Introduce yourselves to the local herd of deer at Bridger Creek Golf Course. If you are looking for an adventure for the whole family, pack some hot cocoa and brave Hyalite Road to explore miles of mountain views from above the reservoir. Looking to get more than a one-word sentence from your tween? Make a goal to ski Moser Creek together. In my years of coaching, I have seen few things light an 11-year-old up like watching the big kids (us!) demonstrate a willingness to learn something new and take a snow-cushioned tumble in the process.

Take a chance on yourself, your family and your community this winter – the skis and trails might just lead you back together in more ways than one.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY TIPS FOR PICKING UP NORDIC SKIING:

As Coordinator of the Bridger Ski Foundation’s Nordic Introductory Programming, I have the privilege of watching some 200 young skiers take to skis each season – many of them for the first-time.

Think your crew might be interested in strapping on the skinny skis? Here are three family-friendly tips to make it happen!

1. Phone a Friend: Gear Up Right the First Time!

The biggest hurdle to clear in the Nordic skiing world is the gear. It could take you years to become an expert in boots, skis, bindings and poles on your own. Fortunately, we live in a community flush with friendly and experienced Nordic skiers.

Maybe it’s a family friend, or a local ski shop, or any one of us at BSF Nordic – whoever you feel most comfortable asking. Get the advice to gear up right the first time, and your chances of success increase exponentially.

2. Find Your Community or Go it Alone: But Start With a Helping Hand.

One of the beauties of Nordic skiing is that it can be enjoyed equally in groups and in solitude. I can, however, recommend beginning with a learning community, and here’s why:

Learning to Nordic ski can be challenging when done alone. Whether you are a child or adult, a knowledgeable coach or mentor can save many hours of shaky knees. Couple this with the bonding experience of learning alongside likeminded peers, and, presto – you’ve suddenly found yourself in a community! Whether in after-school settings like BSF’s Youth Intro or Adult Programs, or simply with a friend who has already covered the basics, seeking out a learning community that will get you excited and out the door makes all the difference.

Once you build the skills, it’s only a small jump to quiet evenings gliding along the trails at Highland Glen, soaking in a sunset all to yourself.

3. Embrace the Learning Curve: Gift Yourself Patience!

If you and your family are looking for a winter activity that requires minimal time learning to move your body in new ways, I would recommend taking up darts. Or maybe checkers. If, however, you are interested in the laughter, the un-balance and the abundant opportunities to take on new challenges in beautiful spaces, perhaps you have found your new favorite pastime.

A final word to the Nordic skiing wise: Be patient and kind with yourself. It’ll take a winter, or maybe two, before it all starts to feel natural. Also, you will be out-skied by small children. I’m sorry, but this is just the way it works. If it makes you feel any better, they’ll be slow and sore someday, too.

Give yourself the grace to stick with it, and you’ll find a family tradition with enough laughter and excitement to last generations.

Happy trails!

Jack Christianson is a Minnesota-born Scandinavian-American raised on a love of exploring winter wonderlands with Nordic skis. He currently serves as the Nordic Introductory Program Coordinator at the Bridger Ski Foundation in Bozeman, MT.