Christmas Day came with wonderful skiing at Battle Creek. The groomers did an excellent job giving us a good skate deck and classic tracks on the Pond, Prairie, and South Tree loops. My 8-year old and 6-year old granddaughters had a lot of fun on snow that allowed them to practice their classic technique and successfully negotiate the hills. It was a very nice Christmas gift for us all.

(David Sonnenberg)

Thank you Santa Claus. You did delivere the most beautifull classic and skate skiing conditions yet this season at BC. Before 7am ski most enjoyable. Natural snow trails are in need of good snow storm?!

(Ahvo Taipale, Finn Sisu)

I took my granddaughters (ages 8, 6, and 3) out on the Pond and Prairie loops, and found the conditions very good. The skate deck was solid with good coverage, and although the corduroy was gone, it was very nice skiing. The classic tracks were also in good shape - my granddaughters got good kick with their skin skis and had good control on the descents. There were a lot more skiers than when I previously skied on Wednesday, but everyone was very careful and considerate of the little ones with me. It was a very pleasant morning at Battle Creek.

(David Sonnenberg)

Skied the Ski Games Trail at noon today. There was plenty of snow, very surprising. It has been groomed but was soft and choppy from skiers and lots of walker tracks. I used my good skis but was very careful.

(Bill Stuber)

Skied the manmade trails, which were in excellent condition. Skate deck was firm and very skiable, climbs were really good all morning, not chewed up at all even with the warmer temperatures. Tracks were fast from my small sample. Did not go on the natural trails. Let's do it again tomorrow! :).

(Craig Woodley)

What a joy to ski at Battle Creek at night when the the temperature is mild. Skied all the man made trails. Tracks were firm all around the course. Some leaf litter in the tracks up on the hill. Groomers were out sprucing up the skate lanes.

(Rick Vatsaas)

Natural snow trail coverage is okay with thin spots and dirt mixed in here and there. I do not recommend skiing on the first downhill under the jack pines as it is very thin and I picked up a new gouge. Ski Games was good besides vegetation poking through in spots and deep footprints. The big southwest facing climb was in better shape than I expected. The last uphill next to the prairie has exposed gravel. I didn't go back for a second lap but if you are careful and determined you could manage just fine on rock skis (walking around the two bad segments).

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(Karen Katz)

I skied the classic tracks and conditions were ideal. Even with a good crowd enjoying the whole area, the tracks were deep and consistent even on all the hills, and the skate deck looked perfectly firm.

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(Glenn Hansen)

A perfect day to get in some training for the big 50K ski race that everyone is getting ready for (the Battle Creek 50K of course!). I checked out the World Cup natural snow loop (the outer loop) and it was super fun. After removing about 30 large branch chunks and big rocks, it's in pretty good shape, although you will still need rock skis because there are still a bunch of small rocks especially on the final climb out of the woods. The cold snow helps make the descents a little slower than usual so they are manageable. The Enchanted Forest natural snow trail is in excellent shape - you can use good skis with caution. Of course the whole man-made snow loop is in perfect shape and all of the loops are open. Overall fantastic conditions for early season.

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(Bill Oyler)

All natural snow trails were combed Friday night. This was our second time on the trails and considering our first snow fall it is ok skiing. Attempted to set classic tracks but the snow is just to thin. The big machine was out working on the man made snow trail as I left, it will be good skiing Saturday!

(Bill Stuber)