Grooming Report
Sunday April 21st, 7:45am
Late April Grooming and Conditions:
Grooming yesterday included Skyway’s Sunset , Winslow, Lions, Vista Ridge, Kannah Crossing and Scale Lake Rd, plus County Line’s Overlook, Tower and Dog Loop. Get out and enjoy the spring sun, snow and great skiing!
Applications are being considered NOW for next season’s GMNC Membership Director postion. Applications are due by May 1, 2013. Click here for full details.
Latest News
Apply NOW for GMNC Membership Director position!
The Grand Mesa Nordic Council is currently taking applications for Membership Director
Overview: The Grand Mesa Nordic Council (“GMNC”) Membership Director is a part-time seasonal position (September-May). The Membership Director reports to the President of the Board of Directors and is responsible for maintaining existing memberships with the GMNC by proactively communicating with members and acquiring new members by engaging in effective marketing.
Responsibilities and expectations:
• Writing the GMNC daily grooming report and positing it to the GMNC website and to members via e-mail each morning before 9:00am; this task involves daily communication with the GMNC groomers during the ski season to obtain trail conditions
• Maintain GMNC’s membership database
• Maintain GMNC’s website
• Account for membership funds received and transfer funds to the Treasurer or deposit funds in the GMNC bank account.
• Communicate with members and the public about volunteer projects
• Prepare and communicate a schedule of GMNC events such as races, fundraising events, lessons, and volunteer activities, to members and public
• Communicate with the President on a weekly or as-needed basis
• Attend two pre-season membership events, one in Mesa County and one in Delta County
• Coordinate volunteer staffing at membership drives at the fall ski swap and at membership tables during the ski season
• Attend two ski-season membership events and staff the membership table
• Edit and distribute to members three issues of the GMNC newsletter
• Provide monthly membership report to President five days in advance of monthly seasonal board meetings
• Write two grants for GMNC projects per year (can be done in the off season) and maintain GMNC grant spreadsheet
Skills needed to perform these duties:
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Familiarity with donor databases
• Adept at WordPress, word processing, database entry and social networking
• Willingness to work with other board members to achieve goals
• Able to respond quickly to last minute requests
• Basic cross country ski skills
Preferred qualifications:
• Experience working with non-profits
• Grant writing
Environmental Factors: The Membership Director will work remotely from their own home office. Attendance at GMNC events can present transportation challenges with snowstorms and winter driving conditions. Most GMNC events take place on Grand Mesa at an elevation of over 10,000 feet often in very cold winter conditions with blowing wind and snow.
Compensation: $10,000.00
Apply by: May 1, 2013
To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to GMNC President via e-mail at grandmesanordic@gmail.com.
The GMNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status
Important March & April Dates
Friday, March 22nd – Last grooming of Ward Trails
Easter weekend – March 30/31 - Grooming at Skyway & County Line
We will continue to do a mid-week groom if the trails have new snow accumulation and as conditions warrant.
April 6/7 – ‘Closing Weekend’. Last weekend of grooming at Skyway & County Line.
GMNC Member Appreciation Shin-dig - Saturday, April 6, 2:00 pm, Skyway - All GMNC Members and volunteers invited! GMNC will supply meats and beverages. Please bring a covered dish to share and celebrate another great season with friends! Please Email to RSVP and let us know you’re coming so we know how much food to purchase.
Skyway Hut take-down - Sunday & Monday, April 7 & 8 -Volunteers needed to help de-construct the Skyway hut and haul it to summer storage in Paonia. Work will start at 9:30 am and ski breaks are part of the plan! Email us if you’re able to join us to help.
Mesa Meltdown Results Posted & CMU Places at Collegiate Nationals
Thirty-three skiers competed in GMNC’s final race of the season.
The Mesa Meltdown wrapped up another fine season of citizen ski racing on Grand Mesa in snowy fashion. 33 hardy skiers fought their way into the marginally plowed parking lot (I think most got back out, too!) and braved the snowstorm for the finale. We had racers ages 6 to 70 led by Zach Heuscher and Lisa Moot in the 20K and Tom Lambert and Michelle Peterson in the 5K. Thanks much to our sponsors Rocky Mountain Orthopaedics, REI, Clif Bar, Justins Nut Butters, Ela Family Farms and those people that keep us happy, Palisade Brewery, Palisade Distillery and Rockslide Brewery. We look forward to seeing eveyone again in December for the WinterStart, stronger, wiser and still with that appetite for ski racing fun! Have a great Summer! RESULTS POSTED
A powdery start to Saturday’s Mesa Meltdown.
Brad Burrit and Dan Shultz-Ela: top 10 finishes and best beards.
- Dave Knutson contemplating 4WD vs shoveling.
Colorado Mesa University captures 3rd at Collegiate Nationals.
In other ski racing news, the Colorado Mesa University Nordic Ski team posted a podium finish at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association National Championships at Sun Valley, Idaho this weekend.
Four CMU skiers earned All-American honors — Brooke Bosman, Kacie McCleary, Mira Hopkins and Duncan Koehn.
The CMU women’s team finished 3rd in the overall team standings, while the men’s team ended up in 5th place. St. Olaf College finished 1st in the women’s team standings, and the University of Wyoming won the men’s team event.
The CMU women’s team of Brooke Bosman, Mira Hopkins and Kacie McClearly ensured the CMU’s podium finish by finishing 3rd in Saturday’s team relay event. St. Olaf college won the race, and CMU came in behind University of Wyoming. On the men’s side the CMU relay team of Tre Anastasia, Duncan Koehn and Dustin Wanstrath finished the relay race in 5th place.
In Friday’s 15km skate race, CMU placed five women in the top-20: Bosman in 8th, Hopkins 10th, McCleary 11th, Tessa Grigsby 19th and Courtney Berg 20th. In the men’s race, CMU placed 16th (Anastasia), 19th (Koehn) and 20th (Wanstrath).
The team is coached by Dave Aschwanden and Christina Stark and the program is made possible by a generous grant from the Jean Thomas Lambert Foundation.
Sun drenched day and smiles at the 11th Annual Barnelopet
This past Saturday was an exceptional day! A handful of enthusiastic volunteer instructors guided more than three dozen young skiers through basic ski technique and fun races at the 11th Annual Barnelopet. Hosted by the Sons of Norway Vestafjell Lodge and Grand Mesa Nordic Council, the 11th Annual Barnelopet introduced some to skiing for the first time and provided other young skiers with a chance to polish their skills with free lessons and short – 1K, 2K and 5 K – races. Sunscreen was slathered, cookies and drinks were snarfed and plenty of fun was dished out. Smiles all around indicated that everyone enjoyed the thrill of Nordic skiing and taking a turn around the race course.
Thanks to Grand Junction photographer Lee Gelatt for sharing photos. Follow this link to view more photos from the day.
Preliminary Race Series Results Posted
The upcoming Mesa Meltdown on March 9 is the culmination of the 4-race 2012-2013 point series. Preliminary results after 3 of the 4 races have now been posted. The women’s series crown is still up for grabs with Christie Aschwanden in her usual leading position but she could be passed if she misses the final race. Even though Tre Anastasia will be racing in Maine at the Collegiate Nationals and will miss the Meltdown, he has created enough of a gap between him and the rest of the field to secure the Series crown anyway. However, there is a very tight race for 2nd place which will make the Meltdown competition exciting! Good luck and ski fast! PRELIM RESULTS
