Cover photo: At Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, instructor Ian teaches students how to get the most out of their skate skis.
Story and photos by Stewart A. McFerran
It’s time for winter sports, and as the Olympics kick off near the Great Wall of China, students in area public schools will be practicing Nordic (aka cross-country) skiing on the playground and the snow-covered football field.
Ken Blakey-Shell has been grooming trails on Manistee school grounds and assisting with the “Winter White Out” program. An avid skier himself, Blakey-Shell trains at the Manistee Non-motorized Trail Park. The trail is about three miles east of U.S. Highway 31 on the north side of M-55 and groomed for classic and skate skiing as well as snowshoeing. There are four miles of trail free to use.
“It’s very flat; it’s very beginner friendly,” Blakey-Shell said. “It’s a great place to go skate ski. It’s pretty twisty. It’s real fun to be able to rip around out there.”
He explained they used to bus students to Big M (ski trail) for “Winter White Out.” Due to COVID, he said they now bring equipment to the Manistee Middle/High School and groom trails for students to use.
The Nordic Rocks program for fifth-grade students provides ski equipment and ski instructors during the four-week winter program. Blakey-Shell said students ski on the football field beside Kennedy Elementary School in Manistee. A grant from the Manistee County Community Foundation provided the funds for cross-country skis.
“The kids get stoked on it,” he said. “It’s a great way to build enthusiasm for skiing locally.”
Crystal Community Ski Club
The Crystal Community Ski Club operates out of a tent at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. Students from Benzie Central, Frankfort and Manistee high schools meet there with the coaches before practice. The CCSC is supported by local donors as well as a three-year grant from the Share Winter Foundation. They offer cross-country ski programs at seven elementary schools in Manistee and Benzie counties.
Beth Major, Assistant Program Director for the Crystal Community Ski Club, is a PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) level 1 instructor.6336
“We are a non-profit community outreach program launched in 2018 to remove barriers to kids being involved in snow sports,” Major explained.
She said their season began Jan. 9 for the middle school and high school teams, and she is one of five coaches. The program attracted 55 young skiers this year, a new record for participation.
“It’s very exciting but also challenging to get all these skiers fitted with equipment, as you can imagine,” Major said, adding that Nordic Rocks Skis are strapped to the kids’ boots.
Referring to the seven elementary schools, she stated: “We send an instructor, and the kids are able to get their first experience skiing on their playground. That’s really built our program.”
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