Adirondack Sports February 2024

ADK Tour de Ski, February 10, 25 and March 10
LAKE PLACID – The new, exciting XC race series has been
a success so far with three venues completed at Mt. Van
Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, Frenette Trails in Tupper
Lake, and Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake. Participants
have raced hard and spend a day or weekend in the spectacular
Adirondacks, covering multiple race distances
and techniques. Upcoming races include Scotts Cobble
Nordic Center in Lake Placid on Saturday, February 10,
ADK Cascade Welcome Center on Sunday, February 25,
and the Paul Smith’s VIC IN Paul Smiths on March 10.
For more details and sign-up, go to: paulsmithsvic.org. ■
Ladies Ski Clinic at Lapland Lake, February 3
NORTHVILLE – Lapland Lake will host their Ladies Skate
Technique Ski Clinic on Saturday, February 3. The morning
sessions begin at 9:30am and wrap-up ends at 3:30pm.
This is a special cross-country ski program for women,
taught by women. Beginner and intermediate level female
skiers age 18+, grouped by ability, will receive instruction
in skate technique in the morning. After a lunch break
(participants are welcome to either bring their own lunch
or purchase) the clinic will meet up for a social group
ski in the afternoon, and enjoy a group skills wrap-up
and snack at the end of the day. The program is led by
Lapland Lake’s PSIA-certified instructors. Cost for the
program includes facility use pass. Equipment rental is
not included, if equipment is needed, purchase the rental
separately. Space is limited so register in advance. Visit:
laplandlake.com. ■
NYSSRA Nordic Women’s Ski Day, February 24
LAKE PLACID – Join the NYSSRA Nordic Women’s Ski
Day on Saturday, February 24 at ADK’S Cascade Welcome
Center in Lake Placid. This event serves to illuminate
female cross-country ski enthusiasts, offering like-minded
souls the opportunity to gather for a day of skiing – with
learning, lunch and revelry! A highlight is the learn-toski
clinics led by female instructors, the emphasis being
on relaxed, fun learning in a supportive and encouraging
environment. All ability, skill, and experience levels are
welcome. NYSSRA Nordic hopes to foster a healthy lifestyle
through the fun and beauty of being outdoors in the
winter on skis.
Clinics include Beginner Classic, Intermediate
Classic, Skate, Guided Classic Tour. Detailed descriptions
and schedule are available online. Activities include an
equipment check, morning instruction, lunch/social, and
afternoon clinics. There will also be Fischer Ski and One
Way pole demos for registrants to try equipment.
The Fundamentals: Designing a Training Approach to
Progress in Sport and Nordic Ski Training Year-Round will
be led by Andrea Henkel Burke. There will be afternoon
guided classic ski and skate clinics. Plus, an informational
session on Expanding Your Regional Ski Trail Knowledge:
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Mid-Winter
Ski Highlights
Local “off-piste” Trail Options in the High Peaks Region by
Bunny Goodwin.
Participants may choose to bring their own equipment
or can rent equipment from the Cascade Ski Center upon
arrival. If interested in the afternoon Skate Clinic, individuals
must provide their own skate equipment for this
session. For food service, a variety of catered food options
for purchase from Green Goddess Market & Café of Lake
Placid, will be available on site.
The guest speaker in the afternoon is Andrea Henkel
Burke, one of the most talented female athletes in
cross-country skiing and biathlon. Her workshop will
delve into ski training year-round, guiding participants
in understanding how to sustain a base fitness level in the
“off season,” building into a recreational or competitive
winter ski season.
Andrea is a four-time Olympic athlete, winning two
Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship
titles. As a personal trainer, she has the life-long experience
as a professional athlete as well as certifications in
personal training and nutrition. Since retiring from competition,
Andrea lives in Lake Placid with her husband, US
biathlete Tim Burke, and continues to travel to Europe for
professional activities. Visit: skireg.com. ■
Swix Lake Placid Loppet, February 24
LAKE PLACID – The Swix Lake Placid Loppet, presented
by Ariens at Mt. Van Hoevenberg is set for Saturday,
February 24. This annual event is open to everyone and
has been a beloved tradition for over 30 years at Mt. Van
Hoevenberg. Challenge yourself on a demanding course,
slightly modified from the 1980 Winter Olympics’ 50K
route, making it one of the toughest citizen races globally.
Whether you prefer classic or skate skiing, you can conquer
the full 50K course, or opt for the Kort 25K if you’re
looking for a shorter challenge.
If trying it or speed is your game, join the Citizens
Series in the afternoon, offering races in 12K, 6K or 3K.
FEBRUARY 2024 9
DEC IN THE 3P HOUSE. SIX OFF-DUTY FOREST RANGERS
JOINED IN THE FUN AT THE INAUGURAL SARANAC 3P
RACE IN MARCH 2023. CAPTAIN BURNS SKIED DOWN MT.
PISGAH, RANGER O’CONNOR RODE A FAT BIKE TO DEWEY
MOUNTAIN, RANGER PRACZKAJLO WENT XC SKIING AT
DEWEY, RANGER ADAMS BIKED TO BEAVER PARK, RANGER
LEWIS PADDLED TO THE FISH & GAME CLUB, AND RANGER
DUCHENE RAN IT HOME TO THE FINISH LINE. AT THE
FINISH, THEY HELPED KEEP THE CROWD PUMPED AS THEY
CHEERED ON THE OTHER FINISHERS. SARANAC LAKE 3P
It’s a fun-filled day for the whole family, featuring Mt. Van
Hoevenberg’s scenic trails, entertainment, and food. The
Loppet is a winter season highlight you won’t want to
miss, attracting skiers from near and far, and young and
old, in a welcoming environment.
This is what you’re in for: 50K Loppet is two laps of
the 25K loop, and the 25K Kort Loppet is one-lap on the
25K loop. On the course, the height difference 183 meters
and maximum climb is 69 meters. The Kort includes 560
meters of climbing and the Loppet has 1,120 meters. More
info and to register: skireg.com. ■
Saranac Lake 3P, March 2
SARANAC LAKE – The Saranac Lake 3P is a six-leg multisport
race event organized to showcase the incredible
local recreational venues in and around Saranac Lake.
The event serves as a community celebration of their
unique and diverse frontcountry. It also leverages the
spring shoulder season as participants follow the spring
snowmelt from the area’s mountains to the river all under
their own power on skis, bikes, and in boats. This year, this
second annual charity event will benefit Friends of Mt.
Pisgah / Saranac Lake Ski Club, a group of locals committed
to improving all aspects of the Mt. Pisgah experience
– locals who are making a huge positive impact on the
community.
“The lifestyle up here prepares you for this race. We run,
bike, paddle and ski, so it hits all of the targets.” –Keith
Kogut, winner, 2023 Saranac Lake 3P race.
The race, where contestants compete either individually
or in teams of two to six, consists of an alpine ski/
snowboard leg, a town tour bike leg, a cross-country ski
leg, another quick bicycle leg, a boating leg, and finally a
running segment to bring participants back to the start/
finish line at Mt. Pisgah.
Participants will skin up (ski uphill with climbing
skins attached to the underside of their skis) or snowshoe
up the slope of Mt. Pisgah, alpine ski or snowboard
down Mt. Pisgah, bike to Dewey Mountain where they
will cross-country ski two loops on a set course on the
groomed trails, bike to the Saranac River where they will
paddle down to the Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club,
before finally running back up to the start/finish line at
Mt. Pisgah. An after-party will be hosted at the Mt. Pisgah
Lodge, adjacent to the start/finish line.
See the website and maps page for more details on the
routes, elevation profiles, rules and tidbits. There will be a
new Kids “Pole-Pedal-Play” Race for ages 5-15 to follow.
Register: saranaclake3p.org. ■