The warm temps and fresh snow created some slick conditions for skating. If you've got the ability to keep you edge you were going to fly. If you're a beginner you were going to struggle. Tracks looked pretty clean for those folks doing classic.

(Michael Tate)

Man-made loop felt great for a couple laps, and then things kicked up a notch as it started snowing! Great gliding through the woods and down the Magic Carpet, too, as the winter wonderland materialized. Little icy on a couple stretches on the back corner of the main flat, and some twigs here and there, but overall very clean and plenty smooth.

Photos:

(Taylor Soderling)

We have a full man made loop! The last of the piles have been spread. The skate deck was tilled and is in great condition. About half of the classic tracks were reset and are full depth and firm. The remaining tracks are in fair to good condition. Grooming plans: The snow off to the side of the start area and in the playground will be spread out sometime in the coming week.

(Mark Janis)

Classic Skied the Manmade Loops 11am - 12:30 pm. Temp rose to the high 20's. Conditions mostly excellent. Skate lane looked like groomed new snow. Tracks last groom was Friday morning. Tracks were very skiable: not glazed or washed out or dirty. Tracks have held up well to Lapham traffic due to recent cold weather.  Blue Extra kick wax worked well. Some of the Woods Loop temporary 2 way tracks were reset to dual tracks on one side instead of single track on each side. This created confusion with classic skiers not always skiing their right hand track of the dual track and not using them on downhill. A friend skied on the natural snow trails and recommended rock skis.

(Michael Graham)

The Piston Bully was out at night tilling the skate deck. It should be in great shape. Level and firm with a nice loose layer on top. The classic tracks were left in place and are in great condition. Alex did a great job running the machine. Grooming plans: Snowmaking has concluded and has left us with some nice piles to push out. We will be doing that during the day tomorrow and should have everything open for skiing on Monday.

(Mark Janis)

Skate skied Saturday afternoon. Snow was still a bit cold and slower. The man-made loop around the shelter prairie is in good shape. If you want to ski the south prairie loop, bring your rock skis. Lots of opportunity for long, not particularly steep hills (except the short hill east of summer stage) on the man-made loops. Tracks are well set on the man-made loops. Tracks not set around the south prairie, as the snow is not deep enough. Should be really good on Sunday.

(Sandie Pendleton)

I did laps on the manmade loop thos morning. The classic tracks were in great shape, getting hit on one side with the new snow being made but that did not prevent skiing any part of the loop.

(Michelle McArdle)

The Piston Bully was out tilling the skate deck of the snowmaking loop. The classic tracks were left in place and are full depth and firm. Snowmaking was in progress to complete the loop and fill in low spots. There will be a few unspread piles to ski on and around tomorrow. The trails off of the snowmaking loop were groomed with the roller yesterday as well. It is fairly thin but skiable. There was not enough depth to set tracks. Good skis on the man-made snow, rock skis on everything else.

(Collin Bergholz, Wisconsin DNR)

The Piston Bully was out tilling the skate deck. The classic tracks were left in place and are full depth and firm. Snowmaking was in progress to complete the loop and fill in low spots. There will be a few unspread piles to ski on and around tomorrow.

(Mark Janis)

The fresh snow and the recent grooming has the man-made ski trail in excellent condition. The Into the Woods section is two way until the Dark Cutoff is completed. Come on out and enjoy some great skiing.

(Will Edwards)