Our club’s current season’s activities are listed below, as well as some regional races that our members may want to train for. If you are interested in connecting with other skiers training for these races, or just wanting to keep up-to-date you can join our Strava group and follow our facebook page.
Below our club activities you will find a list of upcoming Central Lakes Conference (CLC) high school races. We’d love to increase spectator attendance supporting our young skiers!
2026-27
Upcoming events will include:
“Learn the Loop” fall hikes at North Loop, the re-routed Graystone ski trails (after November 1), and Kraemer Lake- Wildwood. Meet up with some fellow skiers and walk the trails before the snow falls so you know where you’re going! Especially at Graystone- there’s a new parking lot, new trail start/end points, Balto’s runs backwards now (some say like it should have been from the start) – it’s nuts! Stay posted for dates and times.
Learn to Ski Clinics/Refresher Courses at various parks throughout the winter…THINK SNOW! Stay posted for dates and times.
October 17, 2026
Trail cleanup at North Loop and Graystone trails. Work begins at 10 AM – meet at the North Loop/Jail Trail trailhead. Shifts run from 10AM-12PM, 12PM-2PM; you are welcome to stay the whole time! Bring water, wear bright colors for safety, wear sturdy footwear, gloves. Bring pruners, loppers, chainsaws if you have them; tools not necessary to be helpful!
October 25, 2026, doors open 6 PM
Annual Meeting and Deb Diggins Presentation Sartell Middle School Auditorium, 748 7th Street N, Sartell, MN 56377 Membership Registration and Reception 6 PM (Membership not required to attend!) Opening Remarks and Deb’s Presentation 6:30 PM Brief Ski Club meeting following talk
Come join us for our annual meeting! You can learn about what the Nordic Ski Club is up to in and out of snow season, and get involved with fun outdoor activities for the whole family! This year we are very excited to have Deb Diggins as our Guest Speaker: “Big Dreams on Skinny Skis! A Parent’s Story of Raising an Olympian” Deb Diggins, the mother of Jessie Diggins, the most decorated athlete in U.S. Cross-Country Skiing history, will share tales of their family’s journey from high school racing in Minnesota, to touring Europe on the World Cup circuit, to the Olympic Games – four times! What’s it like to raise an elite athlete? Come find out!
November 1, 2026
Trail cleanup and trail construction at Graystone trails. Work begins at 10 AM – meet at the NEW GRAYSTONE PARKING LOT on Hwy 301(Minnesota Boulevard. Shifts run from 10AM-12PM, 12PM-2PM; you are welcome to stay the whole time! Bring water, wear bright colors for safety, wear sturdy footwear, gloves. Bring pruners, loppers, chainsaws, if you have them.
January #, 2027
Moonlight Hike or Ski at Quarry Park, Waite Park, MN, in partnership with Stearns County Parks.
Free event, skis provided by the club onsite; you can also rent some for free at Fitzharris and Revolution on January #. S’mores, cookies, hot chocolate, bonfires, fun! AND a prize drawing! Event will be cancelled if windchill hits -15.
5:00-8:00pm
January ##, 2027 (through February ##)
Central Minnesota Youth Ski (SkiSparks) Club at Riverside Park, St. Cloud, MN
1:45-3:30pm SUNDAYS
January ##, 2027
51st Annual Lumberjack Jaunt, hosted by our friends to the north, the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club!
The Lumberjack Jaunt is a family oriented ski race that takes place at the Northland Arboretum. Ski distances of 6km or 16 km, skate or classic techniques. Free short races for kids 12 and under. If you are interested in training for this event with other members check out our Strava group or email us!
January 25-27, 2027
The Arrowhead Ultra 135 begins at 7 AM in International Falls on January 25! As stated on their website, train hard or not at all! If you are interested in training for this event with other members check out our Strava group or email us.
“The course covers 135 miles across Northern Minnesota on rugged, scenic Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail from International Falls to Tower, MN Fortune Bay Casino. Pick your mode of transport at start: bicycle, ski or foot. This is our 21st year of Arrowhead Ultra- we attract some of the best winter ultra-athletes in the world. The Arrowhead 135 is recognized in the book “The World’s Toughest Endurance Challenges” by Richard Hoad and Paul Moore as one of the 50 toughest races in the world. It is a human powered Ultra Marathon taking place in the coldest part of winter in the coldest city in the lower 48 states.”
January ##, 2027
St. Cloud Winter Chill at Riverside Park, St. Cloud, MN, Co-Sponsor with St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Department.
Afternoon of free outside winter activities, ski equipment provided!
1:00-4:00pm
“Bundle up and enjoy free outdoor winter fun for the whole family at Riverside Park! Winter activities include sledding, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, arts and crafts, making s’mores over the fire, prizes, and much more. Free introductory lessons are provided by the Nordic Ski Club of Central MN. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Bring your own winter activity equipment from home (snowshoes, skis, sleds, etc.). Snowshoes will also be available for use while supplies last. No registration required.”
February #, 2027
Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet, a fun youth ski race for ages 3-13
Free youth ski, boots, and pole rentals are provided by the Minnesota Youth Ski League
11:30am Registration
1:00pm Youth Races begin
February 1-28, 2027
Stearns County Parks Ski Sampler
Stearns County Parks and the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota encourage you to Ski and Sample the trails in four parks: Quarry, Warner Lake, Mississippi River, and Kramer Lake- Wildwood. Check out the trail maps on our Trails page.
For each park you ski, register your name in the prize drawing (one entry per park). Ski all four parks to receive a bonus entry, Join our club to receive another bonus entry! Prizes include Quarry Park Annual Parking Permits, Gift Cards to Revolution Cycle & Ski and Fitzharris Ski & Sport, and delicious Wildwood Ranch Maple Syrup! Given our poor snow conditions, hiking counts for the sampler.
February 2027
Learn to Ski event at ######. The Stearns County Ski trailer will be on-site to provide classic skis, boots and poles for free. Ski Club members will provide basic instruction and lead group skis for those new to Nordic skiing. This counts towards the Ski Sampler!
HIGH SCHOOL NORDIC SKI SCHEDULE – this will be updated when winter schedule is posted (9/10/26)
The Central Lakes Conference (CLC) currently includes the school districts of Alexandria, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, St. Cloud, Rocori, Sartell-St. Stephen, Sauk Rapids-Rice, and Willmar. Bemidji will be joining the CLC in Fall 2026.
As with all scheduled races, before traveling please check to make sure the event hasn’t been cancelled! This happens frequently for December races due to lack of snow.
December 2, 2025 CANCELLED POOR CONDITIONS
Moorhead/Detroit Lake Sprints at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area. 10 AM
29409 170th St, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
December 6, 2025 CANCELLED POOR CONDITIONS
Bemidji Invite at Montebello Cross Country Ski Trail. 10 AM
1224 23rd Street NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
December 11, 2025
Alexandria Invite at Andes Tower Hills. Classic racing! 10 AM
4505 Andes Rd SW, Kensington, MN 56343
December 16, 2025
Detroit Lakes Invite at Maplelag Resort. 10 AM
30501 Maplelag Rd, Callaway, MN 56521
December 30, 2025
Brainerd Invite at Northland Arboretum. 10 AM
14250 Conservation Dr, Baxter, MN 56425
January 6, 2026
Moorhead JH/JV Invite at Maplelag Resort. 10 AM
30501 Maplelag Rd, Callaway, MN 56521
January 10, 2026
St. John’s Prep PBJ Invite at St. John’s University. 2:30 PM
2850 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville, MN
January 10, 2026
Mesabi Invite at Giant’s Ridge. 10 AM
6329 Wynne Creek Dr, Biwabik, MN 55708
January 13, 2026 CANCELLED POOR CONDITIONS
Fergus Falls Invite at Spidahl Skigaard. 10 AM
26002 Co Hwy 22, Erhard, MN 56534
January 17, 2026 (NORTH) CANCELLED POOR CONDITIONS
Bemidji Invite at Buena Vista Ski Area. 10 AM
19600 Irvine Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
January 17, 2026 (SOUTH)
Willmar Invite at Eagle Creek Golf Course.
1000 26th Ave NE #2179, Willmar, MN 56201
January 22, 2026 CANCELLED EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS
Little Falls Invite at Camp Ripley. 10 AM
15000 MN-115, Little Falls, MN 56345
January 27, 2026
CLC Races at Andes Tower Hills. 9 AM
4505 Andes Rd SW, Kensington, MN 56343
January 29, 2026
Junior High Championship at Sartell Middle School. 4 PM
708 7th Street N, Sartell, MN 56377
February 3-6, 2026
State Section Championships at Maplelag Resort and Theodore Wirth Park 9 AM
Skiinyski.com is a great resource for High School Racing News. Section 5 (at Theo Wirth Feb 4) includes Sauk-Rapids Rice and St Cloud Crush Section 8 (at Maplelag Feb 3) includes Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, Sartell-Cathedral, St John’s Prep
February 11-12, 2026
Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL )
High & Middle /Junior School Boys & Girls Nordic Ski Racing State Tournament
Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort ( https://www.giantsridge.com/ )
Sprints on February 11, Pursuit on February 12, 2026.
[Even years: Team Sprint – Classic, Odd years: Team Sprint – Skate]
Boys/Girls will alternate who competes first in the Team Sprint every two years.