For those of us lucky enough to live in Park City, telling visitors that we are locals often incites looks of admiration and envious sighs. If you’re a Nordic skier, or are looking to become one of “those people” who trek around on skinny skis, then Local’s Day at the White Pine Nordic Center is an even better reason to be a Parkite.
With classic and skate ski lessons, rentals and demo equipment, manufacturer reps on hand to answer questions and an included lunch, this is the event of the ski season. Come out and join us on Sunday, December 15th from 9am-3pm at the Nordic Center, adjacent to Hotel Park City, and find out what makes cross country skiing such an easy sport to love.
How it Works
If you’re a season pass holder with White Pine, everything from lessons to lunch at Local’s Day is free. Non-season pass holders pay a mere $15 which, “is a screaming deal for lessons, equipment, lunch and a track pass,” according to Patrick Coffey, the White Pine Nordic Center Director. To put it in perspective, an adult day track pass usually costs $18 and Nordic rentals can range from $16 -20.
Skate and Classic Lessons
One of the best parts of the White Pine Local’s Day is the opportunity to participate in classic or skate ski lessons with expert instructors. If you’ve never Nordic skied before, this is a great way to experience a new sport with the best chance of success. Too many people make the mistake of stepping into a pair of cross country skis to “just try it” and end up tired and frustrated since they don’t know the basic techniques.
Both classic and skate ski lessons will run on the hour with the first lesson starting at 9:30am and the last lesson at 2:30pm. All lessons last 45 minutes. Plan to arrive a few minutes early and be in your skis prior to the start of the lesson.
And these clinics aren’t just for newbies. Experienced Nordies can benefit as well, by either refining their technique or learning new skills. Advanced skate lessons will be offered at 11:30am and advanced classic lessons will start at 1:30pm. Even if you’re a diehard skate skier, consider taking a classic lesson. Our experts will tell you that classic skiing will help you improve your skate technique.
Nordic Experts & Demos
In addition to lessons and rentals, Nordic vendors will also be at Local’s Day to answer any questions you may have. Many will bring along demo equipment so you can get out and test the latest classic and skate skis. Rossignol, Atomic, Salomon, Fischer and Madshus will all be in attendance. “It’s a great time to get a higher level of information if you’re eyeballing a new pair of skis or boots,” says Patrick. A Toko representative will also be on hand to discuss waxing tips for both classic and skate, along with how to adjust to varying snow and temperature conditions.
Fully Stocked Retail Nordic Shop
From cross country skis, boots, bindings and poles to Nordic specific baselayers, gloves, pants and jackets, the White Pine Nordic Center is fully stocked. “Now that we’ve hit the real deep freeze of winter, people can come in and add a few layers of clothing to their repertoire,” suggests Patrick. Choose from brands like Bjorn Daehlie, Swix, Salomon and Craft for apparel in addition to the ski and boot manufacturers mentioned above. And if you need a snack while you’re out on the track, the Nordic Center has a nutrition section as well.
So why go to all the trouble of creating an event of this magnitude? “To let the local community know that we plan on doing everything we can to give them the best opportunity to enjoy this sport,” says Patrick. “It can take a long time to learn how to Nordic ski, but it takes just a few minutes to fall in love with it.”
Think of it as a holiday gift to the locals from Jans and White Pine Touring.
Liz Yokubison, Senior Editor
