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Nordic Mountain offers winter fun for all Located in Mt. Morris, Nordic Mountain offers winter fun for the entire family. With all of the changes that have taken place in the last few years, Nordic Mountain is no longer simply a ski hill—it is a winter recreational facility offering skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. If you are the traditional skier or snowboarder, Nordic Mountain has what you are looking for. Fifteen trails ranging from very beginner to expert will amuse the first timer to the accomplished pro. With a wide assortment of gentle terrain, Nordic Mountain has taught tens of thousands of people to ski or snowboard in over 30 years of existence. Nordic Mountain offers a variety of lessons and lesson packages to help first timers, and to assist those looking to make it to the next level. Three terrain parks, with a beginner, intermediate, and expert park offer freestyle skiers and snowboarders everything they would expect in a top notch park. “Undoubtedly, the most popular part of the hill is our three terrain parks,” said Rick Schmitz, owner and general manager of Nordic Mountain. “We will continue to invest in the quality of our parks.” Nordic Mountain’s goal is not only to have some of the best freestyle terrain in Wisconsin, but in all of the Midwest. Two glade runs offer expert skiers and boarders challenging tree skiing on some of the steepest terrain on the hill. With over 100 inches of natural snowfall in recent seasons, the glade runs have become a very popular addition to the hill. Realizing not everyone is willing to try skiing or snowboarding, Nordic Mountain installed the StoneRidge Tubing Park in 2006. The tubing park is over 1,500 ft. long with over 90 ft. of vertical drop. If has five chutes and numerous “rollers” that add lots of thrills for the riders approaching speeds of up to 40 mph. The best part is tubers don’t have to walk back to the top of the hill. There is a specially designed lift that tows riders back to the top of the hill while sitting in their tubes. “In creating the park, we wanted to make it as exciting and safe as possible. From our operation of the park in the last few seasons, I am confident in saying we were very successful in
achieving our goal,” stated Schmitz. With the addition of the park, Nordic Mountain has opened up winter recreation to everyone. “Tubing is a sport everyone can enjoy; from 4 years old to 94, there is no skill or effort in using our park, but there definitely is plenty of thrills,” said Schmitz. In addition to the tubing park, Nordic Mountain continues to undergo many changes and improvements—one of the biggest in snowmaking. Nordic Mountain can make snow on 100 percent of its terrain including the tubing park. With the improvements in snowmaking technology, they can produce higher quality snow and do so in warmer temperatures. In the past few years Nordic Mountain has more than doubled its snowmaking capacity. The goal is to open earlier, close later, and remain open on marginal winter days. One of the biggest projects to improve snowmaking at Nordic Mountain will serve a dual purpose. The 10-million gallon snowmaking pond supplies coldwater for snowmaking and for the wakeboard winch park installed at Nordic in 2009. This was the second wakeboard winch park built in the United States. “Winching,” as it is called, involves getting towed across the water holding on to the end of a specially designed high speed winch. The winch pulls riders over numerous sliders that will be constructed on the pond’s surface. The wakeboard winch pond is wakeboarding’s’ equivalent to snowboarding’s terrain parks. Despite all the exciting changes taking place, Nordic Mountain hasn’t forgotten its place in the winter sports world. Nordic Mountain has always been considered a great place to learn. It is known as a great family hill at a very affordable price. That tradition continues while changes like improved terrain parks and new glade trails help to keep the skiers and snowboarders coming back. Low regular prices as well as numerous specials and special events, such as Customer Appreciation Day, help to make this place affordable for the entire family. For more information on all Nordic Mountain has to offer, as well as on the changes taking place, go online to www. nordicmountain.com or call them directly at 800-253-7266.