Youth ski programs swell into 2025

The skier's stomach dropped at the sight of the steep line. Their ski tips scraped to the edge of the cat track, and the mind became fuzzy while looking out over the mountainous expanse. But amidst the sweat-inducing self dialogue, giggling children cruised in from above.

“Cool if we drop in?” one asks.

Seconds later, a procession of Crested Butte kids, wearing Kinco mittens and “Knucklehead” stickers, ripped past and plunged into the abyss.

It’s moments like this that have shaped the Gunnison Valley’s reputation as a winter sports nursery. When days get shorter and temperatures plummet, local organizations rally together to keep kids active. This winter, the Crested Butte Nordic Center and the ski program at Gunnison-based Pathways enrolled more little students than ever, and continued to introduce little rippers to the slopes for the first time.

“In a cold climate, it’s so important for kids to get outside, to get energy out of their systems and spend time with friends right after school,” said Nordic Center coach Eleanor Skinner. “I have to remind myself that, even if the kids only want to throw snowballs around, they’re still outside and moving. That’s my basic-level goal.”

The Gunnison Watershed School District’s Pathways Program allows students to pursue classes in nontraditional settings, such as on a powdery ski run at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR). At Gunnison High School, over 30 students have enrolled in the downhill program this year, and will visit the resort throughout the winter to refine their skills on skis and snowboards.

Gunnison kids can work their way up to eventually compete with youth teams at CBMR, and the competitive team at the Nordic Center. But for many, it’s a chance to practice the basics in a positive learning environment.

“I’m most proud of the number of students we have that have never skied before,” said Pathways School Counselor Austin Gibney. “Our program at the high school isn’t just for kids who have grown up skiing, but for newcomers as well.”

At the Nordic Center, almost 50 athletes flooded onto the developmental (devo) team this season, while more train on the competitive teams. After school let out on Tuesday, Dec. 17, North Valley kids traded in their textbooks for skinny skis for weekly practice. The locker room was ablaze with energy as parents ushered their children in and helped strap their boots on. The devo team athletes, aged 10-15, clipped into their bindings in a flash, and lined up outside to begin agility training.

With the sun already on its descent, the skiers raced against each other and the dwindling daylight. They started by skiing laps with poles lifted overhead, a drill that helps them focus solely on their skis, fine-tuning their gliding and movement techniques.

Leading the drills was devo team Head Coach Skinner. As a Western Colorado University graduate and former athlete on the Mountaineer Nordic team, Skinner called out instructions and encouragement as the little ones skated past.

She divided the team into three groups, all named after world cup teams. The youngest group, “Team Norway,” are all under 10 years old and focus on the basics while playing games like “capture the flag” and “sharks and minnows.”

Despite skiing under the Norwegian banner, 9-year-old Addy Cadenhead is a big fan of American Nordic athlete Jessie Diggens. Cadenhead trained with only one pole, due to a pink cast on her wrist. Still, the Team Norway member chased her teammates up the hills, and zipped down to the encouragement of her coaches.

“I like glitter, and I like going really fast, both uphill and downhill,” Cadenhead said. “I’ve written a Google slide presentation about Nordic skiing, and really like my coaches.”

The 10 and 11 year olds also embodied Scandinavian culture, and are named after the technically-advanced Swedish National Team. The “Swedes” work to improve on their step turns, while the older, top dogs “Team Germany” prepare for a future on the Nordic Center competitive team.

The young skiers traversed the expansive trails at the Nordic Center, and dipped in and out of groomed aspen stands. Every few laps, the Western cross country squad whizzed past to the amazement of the younger athletes. As the sun dropped below the West Elk mountains, the kids gathered for a game of “ski ball,” a blend of soccer and Nordic skiing. Then, the coaches illuminated the trail with headlamps, and like a line of ducklings, the groups skidded down the trails and back to the parking lot.

(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)