Fall Dryland Training Classes 2012
10-week classes offered by Winthrop Fitness, starting the week of September 10.

Monday Killer Strength with Laura: 8:30-9:45 am or 10-11:15 am. Weight training, plyometrics, and calisthenics to improve your strength and balance in skiing. At Winthrop Fitness gym.

Ski Walking: Wednesdays 9-10:30 Level 1 with Lotty or Thursdays 9-10:30 Level 2 with Laura. Ski walking uphill with poles to simulate the diagonal stride movement. Great aerobic conditioning that will really help your skiing! At various Valley locations.

Methow Valley Nordic Team 2012 Ski Ball   Saturday, November 3, 2012.
Plan now to attend and support the junior race team! Winthrop Barn. For more info, please contact Emily Post, 509-997-2251. Note: the MVSTA Sports Swap is no longer happening and the MVNT Ski Ball is taking its date in November.

Winthrop Mountain Sports sale for MVNC members   Saturday and Sunday, November 3-4, 2012.
WMS is offering a discount to all members of Methow Valley Nordic Club on these two days only. You will receive a 25% discount on skis, boots, and poles. You will receive the same discount on bindings if purchased with skis. WMS is also offering 20% discount on ski wax and ski tools. You must be a current member (dues paid, on the list). The equipment is for personal use only. WMS reserves the right to refuse this offering to anyone that is not on the members list and anyone purchasing it for someone else or for resale. Winthrop Mountain Sports, downtown Winthrop.

18th Annual Methow Valley Nordic Ski Camp    Thursday-Sunday, December 13-16, 2012.
This 3 day Nordic camp is held at spectacular Sun Mountain Lodge and offers something for every level of skier, in both classic and skate techniques, and includes expert instruction with low skier to instructor ratios on some of the finest groomed trails in North America. The camp will run from Thursday evening, December 13th through Sunday afternoon, December 16th. The Camp has its own website: www.methowskicamp.org. Please visit it for the most complete and up-to-date information.

Vintage Ski Festival   Thursday, December 27, 2012.
Including a promenade tour as well as the Wooden Ski Race, this event is all about the fun of showing and using vintage clothing and gear, including wooden skis. 12-2pm at the Mazama Store Courtyard. Registration is free, compliments of MVNC. Enjoy the festivities and refreshments!

Ski Rodeo   Saturday, December 29, 2012.
10k freestyle race, Mazama Corral, by MVSTA.

Holiday Tour   Sunday, December 30, 2012.
A non-race tour organized by MVSTA. The marked course from the Mazama Corral Trailhead will include the 10 km loop used in the Ski Rodeo, and the 20 km Arrowleaf Loop. Participants can ski as much or as little as they like. Refreshments at the Mazama Community Center.

Race of the Methow   Saturday-Sunday, January 5-6, 2013.
Races for very young skiers on up. A new event (with a familiar name) that will hopefully become a regionally significant youth ski festival, held every year. Racing for Seniors and Masters too. Organized by Methow Valley Nordic Team.

Weekly Ski Classes
Learn to ski, learn to ski efficiently, get fit, have fun with friends, be seen! MVN classes are back in force. All classes start in early January, except for Fitness & Race Training with Laura McCabe, which will start the week after Thanksgiving. You must be a current MVN member to participate. Classes meet at various trailheads. For information and to register, please download the Complete Info Packet and Registration Form (PDF, 74 kB).

MVNC Weekend Clinic   Saturday and Sunday, January 12-13, 2013.
An excellent alternative to the December camp, with one day of skate and one of classic. You must be a current MVN member to participate. Held in Mazama. Please download the Complete Info Packet and Registration Form (PDF, 74 kB).

Time Trials with MVNT   1 or 2 more dates TBD
Come gauge your fitness (and increase it!) at MVNC/MVNT time trials for juniors, seniors, and masters. These training races are interval start, with distances ranging from 1 to 12 km, depending on skier age and preference. Entry is free, timing is provided, and bibs are worn by all. Multiple laps are used for longer distances to provide an opportunity to learn about pacing. It is a fun and low-pressure way to do some fast skiing!

New this year we are doing online pre-registration to make the morning of the race less hectic for the volunteer organizers. Please register at Webscorer (link below) if you intend to participate, even if you might not actually make it that day. We will have one or two more time trials this season; more info to come.

Time Trial #1 was held 12/8/12 at Klipchuck. Technique was classic. Results.

Time Trial #2 was held 12/23/12 at Bob trail and was skate. Results.

Try Biathlon   
December 30, 2012 and January 19, 2013. Methow Valley Biathlon is hosting opportunities this winter to try the Olympic sport of Biathlon. The Methow Valley Biathlon Team will share details on the equipment, history, training and safety of the sport before participants take turns shooting at targets and skiing a short and easy biathlon course. Open to anyone age 9 and older. No previous experience in biathlon required and no advance registration required. First come, first shoot. This is a fundraiser for the Methow Valley Biathlon Team. Location: Mazama Biathlon Range, 1.5 km east of Corral trailhead; participants must ski out to the range. 11am-1pm. Cost: $20 donation to cover cost of ammunition and assist MVB's mission.

Backyard Ski Day   Friday, January 25, 2013.
A chance to ski anywhere in the MVSTA trail system for FREE! Come on out and enjoy yourself. MVSTA.

Methow Valley Pursuit   Saturday and Sunday, January 26-27, 2013.
Two days of racing organized by MVSTA. First day is classic, second day is skate. Do one or both days.

Winthrop Ski Derby   Saturday, February 9, 2013.
A new race organized by MVNC at the Sun Mountain trail system, Chickadee Trailhead. Skiers can choose either 16 or 32 km distance, both classic technique. The 16 km course is rolling and and utilizes most of the lower trails and is similar to the popular course used for the first day of the MV Pursuit. The 32 km course is unique and offers a challenge of skiing in mountainous terrain. The first half of the 32 km race climbs to Thompson Pass via Lower Inside Passage and Meadowlark trails, then descends to near the start before beginning the the second half on the same trails as the 16km race. The significant elevation changes of the 32 km race will give the event a very different flavor from most ski loppets. Come on out and enjoy the wonderfully varied trails of Sun Mountain! Final Results

Tour of the Methow   Saturday, February 16, 2013.
Make it a HUGE day of skiing (with distance options from 5K to 80K) and hearty eating! Choose a distance, location and time that suits your idea of fun. Buses leave Mazama at 7:30 am and the Winthrop town trailhead at 8:00 am. Both these buses will take skiers to the Cub Creek trailhead and allow the skiers to ski point to point from Cub Creek to where they boarded the bus. There will also be a bus leaving the Winthrop town trailhead at 9:30 am taking skiers to Mazama, allowing skiers to ski point to point from Mazama to Winthrop. Registration includes shuttle to trailheads and ALL YOU CAN EAT refueling station at Mazama Community Center. More info and link to registration. For questions: tourofthemethow@gmail.com.

President's Weekend Potluck   Saturday, February 16, 2013.
Recuperate from the Tour of the Methow, eat to your heart's content and be entertained with ski-related films, photos, lore and myth about your day's accomplishments. The Nordic Club provides baked ham and entertainment. You bring the rest. EVERYONE welcome! Including non-skiers! Please bring a dinner or dessert dish to share. There is no charge. 5:30 pm, Winthrop Barn, 51 North HWY 20 (near the 4-way stop in Winthrop).

Doggie Dash   Sunday, February 17, 2013.
Furry. Friendly. Fantastic. This hugely fun, spectator-favorite race involves dog-owner pairs skiing together in costume with a leash around a short loop at the Winthrop Town Trailhead. Prizes for best costume in each heat and the ultimate prize, the coveted Golden Poodle statue goes to the crowd pleaser of the day. Multiple heats of up to a half-dozen pairs each are used. Categories for kids 12 and under, big kids 13-17, adults with dogs under 40 lbs, adults with dogs over 40 lbs, adults with skijoring equipment, and older dogs with no age or size restrictions. All proceeds benefit dogs and cats in need. Winthrop Town Trailhead. Registration is day-of-event only, 9:15 to 9:45 AM. Races start at 10 AM. $12 per racer. Kids 12 & under FREE. Spectators FREE. Pat Leigh, 509-996-3303.

Annual Full Moon Ski and Potluck   Saturday, February 23, 2013.
Bring a dish to share with this fun-loving group and enjoy a moonlight ski around the Mazama Meadow. Everyone is welcome and the event is free. 5:30 pm. Mazama Community Center, 580 Goat Creek Road.

One-Day Clinic with Sam Naney   Saturday, March 2, 2013.
Two 2-hour ski sessions (one skate, one classic) plus classroom time to analyze video, discuss technique, etc. 45 min break for lunch. Emphasis during the clinic will be on increasing efficiency of movement through proven technique methods. By learning to ski faster with less effort, participants will have a higher capability to ski longer, and with more ease. There will also be time available for optional discussion topics such as training methods, strength, nutrition, and equipment.

Coaching will be conducted by Sam Naney, a professional ski racer born and raised in the Methow. In addition to his training and racing with Methow Olympic Development, Sam coaches the Methow Valley Junior team in the summer months and also is co-owner and coach of Methow Endurance, a locally-based endurance events and coaching business run by Sam and his wife Alison.

$25/person. Limited to the first 10 participants. You must be a current MVN member to participate. Held in Mazama. Please download and use the All Classes and Clinics Info Packet and Registration Form (PDF) to register.

Winter Triathlon   Sunday, March 3, 2013.
Organized by P. Smotherman.

End of Season Ski-Off Celebration   Saturday, March 9, 2013. MVSTA.