The Munising Valley Spur Taste & Glide is on for March 4.  It has not been held for several years due to COVID.   Lane & Jan Hotchkiss are the trip leaders.

Skiers are going up Thursday and staying the nights of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 2, 3, & 4.  We will XC ski Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, driving back on Sunday afternoon. 

We are staying at the AmericInn in Munising.  The cost for the three nights is regularly $572 but Lane has reserved 10 rooms under the name Lane for $472.  If you make a reservation, ask for the rate for Lane’s group. 

You can reach Lane at lanehotchkiss@hotmail.com or 734-730-7209.

Lane Hotchkiss,

AASC Cross Country Ski Coordinator

For members who are interested in cross country (XC) ski lessons, what follows are several options.

1) The Cross Country Ski Headquarters near Higgin Lake, just south of Grayling, provide XC ski lessons.  They also sell and rent XC skis, equipment, and clothes.  Call them for information on lessons and hours and to sign up for the lessons (800-832-2663). Here is their web site: Cross Country Ski Headquarters | CrossCountrySki.com | XC Skis

    They have a Learn to Ski - MSIA Discover Michigan Event on January 5 and 6.  This is the Thursday and Friday before the Instructional trip.

    The information I have is that for $40 you get a beginner ski lesson, ski equipment rental, and a day pass to ski their trails all day.

    The lesson schedule is for group lessons on both days at 10:30 am, noon, and 3:00 pm.  There is no discount for groups on these days.

    You could go up Thursday and get two days of lessons; or just Friday and take lessons before going over to the Shanty Creek Instructional.

    Here is a web site for motels in the Grayling area in case you plan to stay over-night: grayling michigan motels and hotels - Search (bing.com)

    For information on Learn to Ski - MSIA Discover Michigan events, go to the web site below in number 4).

    In addition to the above, every Saturday they have XC lessons throughout the winter: You searched for lessons - Cross Country Ski Headquarters

2) Greg Robertson has a deal for ski lessons at the Instructional at Shanty Creek:  it is only $27 for a group of four for a three hour lesson.  Equipment is not included.  He already has five signed up.  Anyone interested in these lessons should contact trip leader Greg Robertson at gregaasc@gmail.com or 734-645-0630.

3) Many Michigan ski resorts also offer XC ski lessons.  Shanty Creek, for example, has the same January Learn to Ski - MSIA Discover Michigan program for $45 at:

     Cross Country Skiing – Shanty Creek | MSIA Store (goskimichigan.com)  A calendar of dates available at Shanty Creek areat this web site and include Sunday, January 8.

4) Here is the web site for MSIA Discover Michigan Skiing – Learn to Ski events and their locations throughout Michigan. Learn to Ski - Discover Michigan Skiing (goskimichigan.com)

5) These two instructional videos on YouTube are good for beginners and even frequent XC skiers:

    - Italina Dolomites:  https://youtu.be/mjbuwmUzUhQ

    - Breckenridge: Beginners guide to Cross Country Skiing - YouTube

 

Lane Hotchkiss,

AASC Cross Country Ski Coordinator