The Yellowstone Ski Festival
by Jamie Greene
September 22, 2004
It's late September in West Yellowstone, Montana and the
end of summer is apparently right around the corner. Judging
by the snow on the mountains and the chill in the air, it's
almost time to put away the mountain bike and dig out the
skis. And that means it's time to make your plans to attend
the Yellowstone Ski Festival! You have to love winter to live
in West Yellowstone year-round and our winter begins with
the Yellowstone Ski Festival. This year the Yellowstone Ski
Festival dates are November 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2004.
For over 25 years, cross country skiers from across the country
and around the world have started their ski season in West
Yellowstone. Our location and elevation mean that we usually
have enough snow to start grooming our trails by mid-November.
In the late 1970's, the US Ski Team started to make annual
trips to West Yellowstone. Over the years, Drew Barney and
Dick Hunt added a series of ski clinics during the week of
Thanksgiving. Known as Fall Camp, these clinics drew a few
hundred skiers to West Yellowstone every year. Eventually,
Drew and Dick invited the major ski manufacturers to attend
and allow the public to demo the latest in Nordic equipment.
Today, the Yellowstone Ski Festival includes skate and classic
clinics for skiers of all levels, an On-Snow Equipment Demo,
an Indoor Ski Show and the NorAm XC Supertour.
In my last feature for Skinnyski, I told you about my experiences
in the Fall Camp Clinics two years ago. In this feature, I
want to update you on a couple of new clinics, shuttles from
Bozeman to West Yellowstone and other Ski Festival details.
Please read on and contact me if you have any questions:
Junior Racer's Clinic: The two day Junior Racer's
clinic, for ages 11 to 15, will take place on November 26th
and 27th. The fee is $140. We need a minimum of 8 participants
to conduct this clinic. The clinic is full when we reach 16
participants. This is a terrific opportunity to help your
junior skier improve his or her racing technique.
Adventures in Winter Ecology for Grades 1 - 6: The
Adventures in Winter Ecology clinic, for Grades 1 - 6, will
take place on November 26th and 27th. This clinic is brought
to you by the Montana Outdoor Science School and the fee is
$45 per day or $85 for both days. We need a minimum of 6 participants
to conduct this clinic. The clinic is full when we reach 12
participants. This is not a babysitting service - though that
will be available elsewhere - but a chance to get your young
ones out on the snow to learn and have fun.
Shuttles from Bozeman to West Yellowstone: Karst Stage/4X4
Stage will be providing scheduled shuttles from Bozeman to
West Yellowstone during the Yellowstone Ski Festival. This
means that you don't need to rent a car! Shuttles to West
Yellowstone will depart the Bozeman airport at 2:30pm and
7:00pm on November 22 and 23 and at 2:30pm, 7:00pm and 10:15pm
on the November 24. Shuttles back to the Bozeman airport will
depart West Yellowstone at 3:00am, 5:00am and 9:00am on November
27 and 28. The conference rate for the Yellowstone Ski Festival
is $85.00/person round trip and $45.00/person one way if you
travel to West Yellowstone on November 22, 23 or 24 and to
the airport on November 27 or 28. Reservations are required
by November 17, 2004 and can be made on the Airport Shuttle
page on their web site: www.karststage.com . Their email address
is: airport@karststage.com . To qualify for the festival rate
be sure to enter YSF in the Conference or Group box at the
bottom of the online reservation form.
Yellowstone Tour and Travel Provides Travel Arrangements:
Yellowstone Tour and Travel is standing by to help you
with all of your travel arrangements. They can be reached
at 1-800-221-1151 or online at www.yellowstone-travel.com
.The staff at Yellowstone Tour and Travel can arrange air
fare, shuttles, rental cars and accommodations for the Yellowstone
Ski Festival. Contact them today.
Rendezvous Trailhead Facility: In other Yellowstone
Ski Festival news, construction on the Rendezvous Trailhead
Facility is underway. Construction is scheduled to be finished
before the start of the Ski Festival. The new building will
include bathrooms, changing areas and a moderately sized meeting
room. Anyone who has used the Rendezvous Ski Trails in the
past (and changed out of sweaty ski clothes in a compact car)
will be able to understand what a welcome addition the new
building will be to the West Yellowstone skiing experience.
Trail Passes: Trail pass prices for the Yellowstone
Ski Festival are unchanged from last year: $45.00 for the
month of November, $20.00 for three days and $8.00 for one
day. Passes will be available at Freeheel and Wheel, the Yellowstone
Conference Hotel, the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce
and at the trailhead.
There is a lot going on here in West Yellowstone as we prepare
to welcome skiers from around the country to this little mountain
town. We hope that you will attend the Yellowstone Ski Festival
this year. It's a great place to learn new techniques, refine
your skills and become a better skier. It's a great place
to shop for your next pair of skis. It's a great place to
watch expert skiers in action. And it's a great place to spend
Thanksgiving. Make your plans now!
If you have any questions or if you would like more information
about the Yellowstone Ski Festival, visit www.yellowstoneskifestival.com
, email info@yellowstoneskifestival.com or call 406-646-9427.
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