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. We have several events where volunteers are needed – look for VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. If you are interested in volunteering, please email us at nordicskiclubofcentralmn@gmail.com.
Below our club activities you will find a list of ski swaps and 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 14, 2026
Stearns County Volunteer Ski Patrol registration begins. Volunteer for and complete two two-hour shifts at Quarry, Warner Lake, Kraemer-Lake Wildwood or Mississippi River County Park between 12/1/26-2/28/27 and get a FREE Stearns County parking permit after submitting your reports within 24 hours of each shift! You know you’re going to hike or ski it anyway, might as well get a free park pass!
October 17, 2026 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Trail cleanup at North Loop and 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; 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 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Trail cleanup and trail marker installation at Graystone trails; also a tree down at North Loop. 2 – 4 PM meet at the new Graystone parking lot on south side of Hwy 301(Minnesota Boulevard). Bring water, wear bright colors for safety, wear sturdy footwear, gloves. Bring pruners, loppers if you have them.
Late November/Early December 2026
Snow making begins at Sartell Middle School ski trails
January 3, 2027 (through February 26) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Central Minnesota Youth Ski (SkiSparks) Club at Riverside Park, St. Cloud, MN. Eight Sundays of fun while learning a new sport and making great friends! Ages 4-14, six different skill levels, run by trained volunteer coaches. 1:45 – 4:00 pm SUNDAYS
Our Ski Sparks leaders are Isaac Olson and Carina Petron – email them at StCloud@MYSL.org if you are interested in helping out as a volunteer coach. Coaches go through a short online training prep and all of the lessons are already prepared – you just need to show up and have fun! This is a great opportunity for high school skiers to share their love of the sport while racking up some great volunteer hours – looks great on a college application!
January 8, 2027 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Moonlight Ski (or hike) at Quarry Park, Waite Park, MN, in partnership with Stearns County Parks.
This is our most popular FREE event of the winter, usually drawing around 1,000 people! Don’t worry if you don’t have skis or have never been on them…that’s what we’re here for! Skis provided by the club and Stearns County Parks onsite; you can also rent some for free at Fitzharris and Revolution on January 8. S’mores, cookies, hot chocolate, bonfires, fun! AND a prize drawing! Event will be cancelled if windchill hits -15. 5:00-8:00pm
Volunteers are needed to assist with parking, ski fitting, beginner lessons in the parking lot, bonfire management, cookie and hot chocolate distribution.
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 30, 2027 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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 and lessons provided! Also sledding and snowshoeing!
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.”
Volunteers are needed to assist with boot and ski fitting, ski lessons, smores construction and roasting.
January 31, 2027 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet, a fun youth ski race for ages 3-13
Free youth skis, boots, and pole rentals are provided by the Minnesota Youth Ski League
11:30am Registration
1:00pm Youth Races begin
Volunteers are needed to assist with boot and ski fitting, course cheering, smores construction and roasting, cleanup and repacking the ski trailer after the event.
February – mid-March, 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!
REGIONAL NORDIC SKI SWAPS
October 31, 2026
Brainerd Ski Club Ski Swap at Forestview Middle School, 9:00 AM – noon
November 14-15, 2026
Pioneer Midwest 22nd Annual Ski Swap. 415 County Rd 81, Osseo, MN 55369. This year’s annual ski swap admission will be based on a time slot system for Saturday, 11/14, and on a first-come, first-served basis for Sunday, 11/15. Sign-ups for time slots will open on 11/2 at 12 p.m.
November 21, 2026
MYSL (MyXC) Ski Swap and Expo at Northern Star Council Base Camp, Fort Snelling, MN. The Best and Biggest Swap for Used and New, Youth, Junior and Adult Cross-country Ski Equipment!
The Minnesota Youth Ski League (MyXC) is pleased to host this big event, open to the entire public. The sale is being held as a fundraiser and provides skiers, of all sizes and ages, the opportunity to sell outgrown and little used equipment and clothing, while finding some of the best deals around on new and used equipment.
November 22, 2026
Mora Ski Club Ski Swap and Sale at the Vasaloppet Center, Mora, MN. This event is a great opportunity to get some new or used ski equipment is hosted each year by the Mora Ski Club. Several local vendors will bring in a wide selection of new equipment, be on hand to give some excellent advice. There will also be a wild rice soup served over in the Nordic Center so get some great food as well!
HIGH SCHOOL NORDIC SKI SCHEDULE
The Central Lakes Conference (CLC) currently includes the school districts of Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, St. Cloud, Rocori, Sartell-St. Stephen, Sauk Rapids-Rice, and Willmar.
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 3, 2026
Moorhead/Detroit Lake Sprints at Detroit Mountain Recreation Area. 10 AM
29409 170th St, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
December 5, 2026
Bemidji Invite at Bemidji High School and City ski trails (Lumberjack trails), 10 AM
2900 Division St W, Bemidji, MN 56601
December 9, 2026
Alexandria Invite at Andes Tower Hills. 10 AM
4505 Andes Rd SW, Kensington, MN 56343
December 15, 2026
Detroit Lakes Invite at Maplelag Resort. 10 AM
30501 Maplelag Rd, Callaway, MN 56521
December 29, 2026
Brainerd Invite at Northland Arboretum. 10 AM
14250 Conservation Dr, Baxter, MN 56425
January 5, 2027
Moorhead JH/JV Invite at Maplelag Resort. 10 AM
30501 Maplelag Rd, Callaway, MN 56521
January 9, 2027
Mesabi Invite at Giant’s Ridge. 10 AM
6329 Wynne Creek Dr, Biwabik, MN 55708
January 12, 2027
Fergus Falls Invite at Spidahl Skigaard. 10 AM
26002 Co Hwy 22, Erhard, MN 56534
January 16, 2027 (NORTH)
Bemidji Invite at Buena Vista Ski Area. 10 AM
19600 Irvine Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
January 16, 2026 (SOUTH)
Willmar Invite at Eagle Creek Golf Course.
1000 26th Ave NE #2179, Willmar, MN 56201
January 21, 2027
Little Falls Invite at Camp Ripley. 10 AM
15000 MN-115, Little Falls, MN 56345
January 28, 2027
CLC Championship. Willmar hosts – time and location TBD
February 1-3, 2027
State Section Championships at Maplelag Resort and Theodore Wirth Park 9 AM on 2nd and 3rd.
Skiinyski.com is a great resource for High School Racing News.
Section 5 (at Theo Wirth Feb 3) includes Sauk-Rapids Rice and St Cloud Crush
Section 8 (at Maplelag Feb 2) includes Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, Sartell-Cathedral, St John’s Prep
February 10-11, 2027
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 10, Pursuit on February 11, 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.