Lapland Lake invites community for free day
By KERRY McAVOY, The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
BENSON - Gliding across the snow on thin boards with two poles may not be as easy as it looks, but that didn't stop many new and seasoned cross-country skiers flocking to the Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Resort Saturday.
More than 80 inches of snow made conditions ideal for people to head outside and cure some cabin fever. Not event chilly temperatures could keep groups of adults and children from grouping together to learn how to cross country ski.
The Lapland Lake owners hosted a special free day, where the community could come and learn how to cross country ski.
First-time skiers got to enjoy ski and shoe rentals and an hour-long lesson free on the trails designated "easy."
Lapland Lake is a 70-acre resort that offers both winter and summer activities.
Guests could enjoy night skiing, a lakeside campfire and dinner service during the day.
Lessons could begin at age 5, but there still was plenty for younger children to do. Snow tubing, horse-drawn sleigh rides and even reindeer Talvi and Viima were on hand to entertain younger children. Parents who were feeling adventurous also could pull their toddlers in special carriers called a "pull" and have them follow along behind them.
"We believe in packing it all in," Lapland owner Ann Hirvonen said.
Hirvonen said the resort tries to put on a free event for the community every year to introduce the sport to novices.
"We always have some sort of free ski program," Hirvonen said.
She said the first year, more than 1,000 people came out.
She said about 300 to 400 people were expected to make their way to the resort, including many who had never strapped on a pair of skis before. Even with the temperature in the teens, Hirvonen said the day had been every busy and the center had been bustling with people.
"It's just fun having this many people here," Hirvonen said.
Hirvonen said there would be a special women's program held that was for women by women. Female instructors would take women around the trails and hopefully get them more interested in the sport.
Ski instructor Rich Stone was working with groups of adults for part of the day.
Stone said he enjoyed teaching people how the ski and thought it was nice to see them get better at the sport.
"There've been a lot of beginners today. It's fun to get people up on the skis," Stone said. "It gets people energized and excited too,"
Alice Dean and Gove Effinger drove up from Saratoga for a day of cross country skiing. They have been doing so for many years and try to get up to Lapland Lake a few times a year.
Despite the cold weather the two said they got a good workout on trails.
"It's very well taken care of," Effinger said.
She caught a love of the sport more than 30 years ago, and has been coming back for more ever since.
"It's just a really pleasant place," Dean said.
Hirvonen said for many people, this is the start of a love of the sport. Her love affair with the sport began when she had a good first experience with the sport, and it is something she hopes to share with others.
She said people often form attachments to the first location they learn to cross country ski, and those good memories keep them coming back. They'll go to other locations, but seem to head back to that home base she said.
"If the first place you learn you have a really good time you come back," Hirvonen said.
Kerry McAvoy covers Montgomery County. She can be reached at montco@leaderherald.com.
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Discobulous
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01-11-09 11:10 PM
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Real big help telling us about this the day after.
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