Skiing and Snowboarding
Paul Bystrican Season 2017/18
As we near the start of the 2018/19 ski season, here are some clips of Thunder Bay’s Paul Bystrican in action last year. Several shots are from Spirit Mountain in Duluth.
Grand Avenue Nordic Center trail opening soon
(Photo courtesy of Spirit Mountain)
Eric Chandler reports on his Shmotown blog that Duluth’s first cross-country trail system with snowmaking capability is expected to open in December. (more…)
Bob Dylan: Duluth Ski Bum?
A profile on Roger McGuinn in No Depression, a quarterly roots music journal, opens with an interesting Duluth-related tidbit.
McGuinn says he and Dylan went skiing in Minnesota — near Duluth or Dylan’s hometown of Hibbing — during a Christmas break in Dylan’s historic 1975-76 Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
“He’s fast,” McGuinn recalls. “I was a beginning skier on the intermediate slope going down cautiously. I look to my right, and Bob goes vroom right past me.”
So, was it Spirit Mountain? Chester Bowl? Mont du Lac? Giants Ridge? Lutsen Mountains? Let the speculation begin.
Duluthians go for Gold
UMD Bulldog and Team USA goalie Maddie Rooney sported the Aerial Lift Bridge on the back of her helmet as Team USA took gold last night. There were a total of five UMD Bulldogs in the quest for the gold medal: Rooney and defenseman Sidney Morin for team USA, and forward Haley Irwin, defensemen Jocelyne Larocque and Brigette Lacquette were playing for Canada. Also, the U.S. team was coached by Duluth native Robb Stauber.
HERE COMES DIGGINS!!! Chad Salmela does it again!!!
Above: Duluth’s Chad Salmela delivers another outstanding performance as an announcer at the 2018 Winter Olympics. (more…)
Tearin’ it up at Spirit Mountain
Riders: Eddie Fauth, Dylan Tillemans, Wyatt Hotchkin and Scooter Stanko.
Video Archive: Snowboarding Duluth Backcountry
Ten years ago today — Dec. 29, 2007 — Henry and Sam took to the Duluth backcountry for this video. Henry is telemarking; Sam snowboarding.
Video Archive: Water Skipping at Chester Bowl in 2007
One decade ago the springtime water-skipping action at Chester Bowl in Duluth was excellent. This video depicting the skiing, snowboarding, saucering, couching and so on that took place has gathered more than 32,000 views in the ten years since it first appeared on PDD in 2007.
The Boomchucks – “Birkie Fever”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEbADJDXYC8
A silly little ditty by Duluth band the Boomchucks, all about the North American Birkebeiner.
Tuesday at Lutsen
The days of fresh, fluffy powder seem rarer and rarer. Ben Olson and Barry Buhr took advantage at Lutsen Mountains last week, before the heat wave set in.
Duluth Shred 2015-2016
A somewhat lengthy montage of face-planting, ball-busting, spine-scratching ski and snowboard stunts from the past winter, compiled by Will Smyth.
Chester Bowl scheduled to open Saturday
The weather has finally been cooperating and the two snow guns have been running since last Thursday, so Chester Bowl is planning to open this Saturday, Dec. 26. That will also be the first day of Ski Camp. Chester will also be open New Year’s Eve from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but closed New Year’s Day. The first race is Jan. 3.
Chester Bowl Park Downhill Ski “Fun Slope”
Duluth’s Parks and Recreation Division is preparing Chester Bowl Park for a new “fun slope,” according to a news release issued today.
Crews will be out clearing out a section of the hill within the ski area in preparation for the upcoming winter season. The new “fun slope” with gentle waves of snowy berms for skiing was identified as a desired addition to the park in the Chester Park Mini-Master Plan, approved in November 2014.
Crews will be working this week into next during daytime hours, but the public should not experience any interruption in their use of the park spaces or trails. The area will be covered with wood chips to reduce erosion and smooth out the area winter operations.
Break Shots
Video by James Holak.
Electric Snail: Fake Duluth Tour
Lucas, Andrew, Jack, Barrett and Non-lake-effect Jesse ski Spirit Mountain, Chester Bowl and Mont du Lac.
Coach Cork: Lesson #3
The third installment of valuable cross-country skiing tips from Coach Cork, brought to you by Ski Hut.
See also:
Coach Cork: Lesson #2
Coach Cork dispenses more tips and advice for cross-country skiers in lesson #2.
Thanks to Ski Hut for sponsoring Coach Cork. See also, Coach Cork: Lesson #1
Coach Cork: Lesson #1
Perfect Duluth Day has teamed up with U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Coach Jason Cork to present a three-part instructional series on the magic and thrill of cross-country skiing.
Please enjoy lesson #1, sponsored by Ski Hut.
Mont Du Lac Ski & Recreation Area
Mont Du Lac Ski Area
I learned to ski at Mont Du Lac with my dad back in the early 1980s. I just came across this picture of the new chalet at the top of the hill and wow! This looks stunning. Apparently it is called the Trophy Lodge. Is it open yet? Has anyone been inside? Is the bar/restaurant open? I’m sure this old news but it sure looks nice. I really need to get back out there and make some turns to check it out. Lots of great memories of skiing with my dad, close calls and goofing off with friends. I remember Ridge Run but wasn’t West and East Bowl called something else back in the day? There also used to be a lift and run off the back side of ridge run.
Mont Du Lac Ski Trail Map
Old Seven Bridges Road sled hill
I remember fondly tubing down a hill on Seven Bridges Road. You used to be able to rent tubes from the chalet. They have a nice lighted trail system for cross-country skiing at Lester Park. What would be needed to get the sled hill going again?
Dan Spooner of the Hill City Squad
[This post originally contained an embedded video that is no longer available at its source.]
Video by Hunter Gulan
Duluth Snowboarding Crashes Video
While filming for our last snowboarding video we gathered some great crash footage! Enjoy! Video by Higher Base Media.
Duluth Snowboarding Video
This is a video of Mitch Larson snowboarding all over Duluth and at Mont du Lac. It was created by Higher Base Media. (more…)