Good conditions, weather and nice crowds for the annual backwards ski day, in memory of Greg Marr. Overall the trails were in good shape today with some icy or bare spots in the exposed fields loop, but they are easily skied around. Similar bare spots in the tracks. The green and blue loops have the best snow cover. I even got a picture of Phil doing his grooming magic.

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(Scott Frazier)

Good skating conditions on Thursday after several inches of fresh snow and grooming throughout the day. Joanie and I skated almost all of the trails. There were a few thin spots by the pines and, by the end of the day, some ice was emerging from the moisture under the trail. Track was set on some of the trail and was overall good.

(Darren Blankenship)

Got out to the hill about 1:30. Phil had the skate lanes in great shape, and was just heading out to set tracks. The tracks are in great shape too! Thanks to Phil. See you tomorrow!

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(Mark Dostal)

Phil was just coming in from grooming with PB, skating was excellent, fast as expected. Tracks are shallow but defined and skiable. Talked with Phil regarding weekend plans. He said they had a board meeting and it was decided to keep the trails open for as long as possible and not worry about trying to save them. This could be last hurrah. He couldn't say definitively what he was going to do for grooming Friday night or Saturday morning till he sees what temps do today. Today should be very good based on our last ski. Saturday we plan to get there early. I would expect it to be busy, the youth program ski's Saturday mornings and they are having a party for the kids after.

(Tracy Piontkowski)

Very good skiing still at Iola. Crusty in a few spots, but Phil was tilling up with the Piston Bully, so the trail was fast with excellent control. Thursday could be the last excellent day.

(Charlie Dee)

Skate conditions good: icy throughout but mostly edgeable. Got mushier as the day went on, but when I left at 2pm most of the trail was still hard. Classic would be fair based on very debris-filled, though no ground showing through. Of course new snow is needed!

(Dave Minden)

Skied from noon to 2:30 today so it was slow due to the warmer temperatures. Well worth the drive from SE WI as there was great coverage throughout and all the trails were nicely groomed. I didn't classic ski but the track looked to be in very good condition. Tomorrow should be great too but I would recommend getting out early.

(David Schauer)

Skated black and blue loops Wednesday afternoon. Both had been freshly groomed that day. Both skate lane and classic tracks set up well in falling temps. Good control on both downhills and uphills. Most connecting trails had not been groomed at that time and were quite icy from warmer temps and mist on Tuesday. Might have been open by end of the week.

(Dave Hammer)

I had been nervous that the skate deck would be too hard. It obviously gets a lot of traffic, but was in marvelous shape, fast, edgeable. Hills are great. I hopped in tracks for some 'resting' double-poling and they were smooth and steady. They may even have survived well with temps forecast just below freezing. Phil and crew will undoubtedly do all they can to groom it into condition.

(Dave Minden)

Skied under the lights of Iola. Skate lanes were perfect. Jumped in the tracks and they were rocket fast. This weekend is winter carnival. There will be ski jumping Saturday and Sunday, xc ski trails are open both days. Expect the clubhouse to be busy. Come out enjoy the trails and go check out the jumping, you don't get to see the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat everyday.

(Tracy Piontkowski)