Sun Valley Nordic Festival

What to Do and Where to Go

Spanning nine days and over 20 events, the 2013 Sun Valley Nordic Festival gets better every year! Anchored, as always, by the prestigious Boulder Mountain Tour, Nordic Fest will be a wild week of parties, lectures, bonspiels, wine tastings, twilight tours and more. Sun Valley, Idaho, with its offering of 200k of groomed trails through a variety of gorgeous networks (Galena, Alturas, Sun Valley Nordic, the new trails at Croy Nordic, etc.), has officially settled into its title of “Nordic Town USA.” The 2013 Nordic Festival has been impeccably scheduled, after two years of practice, ensuring few overlaps and plenty of time to do everything. Scan the calendar, pack the car and stay busy. Nordic Fest is back.

Friday, Jan. 25, 2013

+ The Boise Curling Club Bonspiel— Stanley Ice Rink

Opening 2013’s Sun Valley Nordic Festival: a bonspiel! Before you don the race bib and punish your body, start the week in chill fashion by either playing or spectating in the Boise Curling Club’s inaugural tournament, the Sawtooth Outdoor Bonspiel, appropriately hosted in the remote cold of Stanley, Idaho. For those unsure of their sweeping technique, the three-day event will also include a free “Learn to Curl” session at noon on Saturday, January 26th. To learn more about throwing stones in Stanley, visit the Boise Curling Club’s website (linked above) or send an email to sob@boisecurlingclub.org

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013

+ Ski the Rails/Hailey Downtown Party — Wood River Trail 10:00 a.m.

Ski the Rails on the lively Wood River Trail. Connect with visitors and friends and come home with an ale. Starting at Serenade Lane in Ketchum, the ski tour will hop along aid stations and finish in downtown Hailey, where participants will be rewarded with music and amusement at the Sun Valley Brewery.

+ Après Wine Tasting — Frenchman's Gulch Winery 3:00
p.m.

Like skiing, drinking a glass of wine each day can supplement a healthy lifestyle (if consumed moderately, of course!). Frenchmen’s Gulch Winery proudly supports high altitude wellness and invites you to join them for “music, good cheer and a glass of silky red wine” at their Ketchum establishment at 3pm, January 23rd-26th.

+ Galena and Trails Winter Benefit — Sun Valley Inn’s Limelight Room 5:30 p.m.

The 17th Annual Galena & The Trails Winter Benefit is here! Come celebrate and sustain a Wood River Valley treasure, the historic Galena Lodge and its 50 km of groomed nordic trails. Community-owned and loved, Galena wants to party with you in Sun Valley to kick off the Nordic Festival!

Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013

+ Ski For Air Service Day — Sun Valley Resort 9:00 a.m.

Don’t miss these killer deals at Sun Valley on Sunday the 27th, which support the SKI FOR AIR SERVICE campaign: lift tickets for $40, 50% off demos and rentals and select weekend lodging for also 50% off. Plus an apres party at River with prizes, reggae and a raffle. It’s all happening!

+ Skin It To Win It Ski and Snowboard Race— Dollar Mountain 10:00 a.m.

Think you’re a climbing champ? Complete as many human-powered Forbidden Fruit laps as possible to find out! Proceeds benefit the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center. Energy drinks, food and music will be provided. In other words, even the week’s first “race” is a party!

+ Alturas Ski and Apres Ski — Alturas Trails and Smiley Creek Lodge 3:00 p.m.

Nordic town USA has its share of world-class exurbs, such as the Alturas Lake Ski Trail north of Galena summit. Enjoy a full day in woods, skiing the Alturas trails and winding up for more après ski at the charming Smiley Creek Lodge.

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013

+ Twilight Ski and Dinner — Galena Lodge 6:00 p.m.

What’s more romantic than skating by moonlight? Join friends and family on Tuesday night for an evening of skiing followed by a gourmet meal at Galena Lodge. Don’t miss out on an unforgettable Sun Valley experience!

Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013

+ AXCS National Masters Prologue — Sun Valley Nordic 10:00 a.m.

Wax those skis. Scout the competition. The Nordic Festival heats up midweek with an unscored Masters Prologue.

+ Sun Valley Alpine and Nordic Ski Hall of Fame — NextStage Theater, Ketchum 4:00 p.m.

Sun Valley locals are legendary. On deck to be inducted into the Ketchum/Sun Valley Ski Hall of Fame this year: Bob Smith, Picabo Street, Jack Reddish, Bob Rosso, Muffy Ritz and Rick Kapala, who directs the nordic program for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and has been influential in making this community a cross-country mecca. Tickets for the ceremony are $25 and can purchased the Ski and Heritage Museums. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

+ Perspectives on Nordic Skiing — The Community Library, Ketchum 6:30 p.m.

Immediately following the Ski Hall of Fame, inductee Rick Kapala, will moderate a panel of cross-country experts, who will be discussing the sport and its future.

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013

+ AXCS National Masters 10 km CL — Sun Valley Nordic 10:00 a.m.

The official scored classic event for the 2013 AXCS National Master Championships.

+ Downtown Jam and Sprints — Across from the Ketchum Post Office 4:00 p.m.

Now held as a fixture of the Sun Valley Nordic Festival, the Downtown Jam and Sprints feature sprint races for all ages, hot food and beverage stands, local sponsor booths, snowshoe dance competitions and a stage for Mobile Fidelity, ready to beat the cold with melodic energy. SVM’s favorite event from last year, the Jam is worth checking out.

+ 3rd Annual XC Party at Perry’s — Perry’s Restaurant, Ketchum 5:00 p.m.

Just a block away from the Downtown Jam and Sprints, Perry's will warm you up, feed you (dinner specials, appetizers, premium beers and wines) and donate 15% of the party's sales to Galena & North Valley Trails.

+ Sun Valley Fat Bike Crit Race — Across from the Ketchum Post Office 5:30 p.m.

A newcomer to winter recreation, Fat Bikes make their official debut in the Wood River Valley with a short race after the Downtown Sprints. Don't let winter deter you, grab your fat bike (minimum 3” tires required) and crank to snowy victory.

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013

+ Boulder Mountain Tour Expo — YMCA, Ketchum
10:00 a.m.

All entrants will need to pick up their Race Bibs, Clothing Bags and timing chips along with last minute race information, wave seeding information, souvenirs and promotional materials on Friday February 1st at the Boulder Mountain Tour Expo from 10:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. in Ketchum at the YMCA on the corner of Warm Springs Road
and Saddle Road.

+ Banff Mountain Film Festival — NextStage Theater, Ketchum 6:00 p.m.

An adventurers delight. Make it a memorable Friday or Saturday night and hit up NextStage Theater for Banff Mountain Film madness, where you will find nothing short of inspiration and glory to get you pumped for Saturday's big race.

+ Boulder Mountain Tour — Senate Meadows Start Area 10:00 a.m.

The BMT is big. Big race, big legs, big mountains. Between the world-class competition and the stunning scenery of the Boulder peaks, the BMT is one of country's the most respected ski races for than one reason. Don't miss the big event.

+ 2013 Half Boulder 15k — Start at Baker Creek Halfway Point of the BMT course 12:00 p.m.

Half as big and twice as fun. The Half Boulder is an untimed 15 km event, in which every entrant will get BMT souvenirs, a clothing bag and a raffle ticket for more prizes. What's not to like?

+ Boulder Mountain Tour Awards Ceremony — Sun Valley Inn’s Limelight Room 5:30 p.m.

Awards, awards, awards. Class and wave winners for both the National Masters Championships and the BMT will be announced in, hopefully, rapid succession. Raffle prizes and special awards will also be presented. Show your support!

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013

+ Boulder Mountain Tour Demo — Sun Valley Nordic 10:00 a.m.

Mix it up on Sunday with the latest and greatest cross-country equipment, available for demos all day at Sun Valley Nordic. Don't get left behind next season!

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