Can’t link arms for blob tag during a pandemic?  No problem, let’s whack each other (from a distance) with foam noodles instead!   RXCSF youth skiers found plenty of ways to have fun in the snow this winter while adapting to COVID rules.  75 kids, with volunteer help from several high-school skiing program alums, explored new techniques and terrain in small groups through activities like a skiing playground at Mendon Ponds (jumps! bumps! Slalom! snowmen!), Ski Bingo at Bristol, and a photo scavenger hunt at Cumming Nature Center.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our post-season survey! The survey was sent to current and past RXCSF supporters on our contact list and 340 of you responded. Here are some of the key takeaways:

This past season we welcomed two new volunteers to the RXCSF Board, Darren Leach who joined us in December as our Grooming Coordinator and Jaclyn Masci who joined us at the end March as our Vice President and will be key in coordinating RXCSF’s public outreach activities including reviving this newsletter.  Please read brief bios about both Darren and Jaclyn below.  The RXCSF Board welcomes them and greatly appreciates their efforts.

Ski orienteering combines the map-based navigation sport of orienteering with cross-country skiing. Participants use a detailed topographic map showing ski trails, water features (streams, marshes, ponds), clearings, buildings, and other landmarks in order to navigate to a series of checkpoints. Unlike summer forms of orienteering, all of the checkpoints are on trails – if you can use a trail map, you can do ski orienteering! It’s a great way to explore new areas, or to see familiar places with a different perspective.

The Rochester Orienteering Club has a series of “sol-o” ski orienteering courses available at local parks this winter. All you need are your skis and a map – you can try these courses at any time! Difficulties range from beginner to advanced – more advanced courses are longer, have more complex navigation choices, and use more difficult ski trails.

Click here to know more about ski orienteering? (what you need, how it works, tips) <Ski_Orienteering pdf>

Visit the ROC website (https://roc.us.orienteering.org) for maps and information about the available courses.

Join the RXCSF Facebook group to share information within the Rochester area Nordic ski community. Swap gear, report on local ski conditions, ask about conditions, seek technical information on gear, … https://www.facebook.com/groups/RXCSF.org/

This season had many days of great skiing – but also days when conditions weren’t as good as we’d hope to be able to provide. We were challenged by difficult snow conditions in yo-yo-ing temperatures (50° rain followed by a foot-plus of snow – twice!), equipment breakdowns, and competing demands for the time and effort of our volunteer and not-paid-as-much-as-a-real-job groomers. Thank you to Continue reading →

If you’ve skied at Durand Eastman Park in the RXCSF era, you have Bill Salminen to thank for your tracks. A longtime advocate for North-side skiing and one of our most dedicated volunteers, Continue reading →