2023-2024 Annual Report
Reviewing Fiscal Year 2024: May 2023-April 2024
Our vision is to empower healthy community by connecting people and nature
Dear Crosscut Community,
As we pause to reflect on another remarkable year, my heart swells with gratitude for our vibrant and supportive community. With each new person that chooses to call Montana home, we find ourselves navigating both exciting opportunities and complex challenges.
Growth is not just a challenge, it is an opportunity to focus on what our community means to us. It invites us to be intentional with our resources, actions, and planning, ensuring our valley thrives because of this growth, not despite it.
Over the past year, Crosscut has been listening—to our guests, partners, donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and community members. Together, we can play an active role in fostering a more vibrant, healthy, and inclusive community, while also creating concentrated areas for recreation that allow our wild spaces to flourish. As conservationists have explained to me, concentrated recreation is more predictable for wildlife and not only enhances our experience with amenities and safety protocols, but also safeguards our more wild and fragile ecosystems.
Looking ahead, let’s invest in shared resources — parks, community centers, and recreational facilities. These spaces foster connection and camaraderie,
while encouraging the outdoor activities that are vital for our mental health and overall well-being. Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, or crosscountry skiing, engaging with nature instills a profound sense of peace and joy, a vital antidote to the fast-paced world around us.
Let’s embrace this growth as a powerful opportunity to enhance our shared spaces and cultivate a culture that honors both the breathtaking beauty of our surroundings and the strength of our connections.
Crosscut is grateful to play a small yet meaningful role in planning for a future where everyone can savor the splendor of this beautiful place we call home.
Thank you for your unwavering support. I invite you to read about the life-changing impact our team, along with all of our volunteers and partners, delivered this past year to our neighbors.
Jen Beaston Chief Executive Officer
Crosscut’s Guiding Principles
Stewardship + Vision
Inclusivity + Education
We provide an accessible, affordable means for enjoyment in the outdoors. We also support relevant and diverse programming through our team and partner organizations to encourage confident recreation and healthy lifestyles. From sports education to science and creative pursuits, we seek to help people of all ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds to grow their knowledge and skills, while learning about the natural world and deepening their sense of place and community.
Community + Solitude
We offer community connection, from familiar faces to new friends and provide opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in peaceful solitude. In both, we can enjoy a healthy break from hurried modern life. Crosscut’s pristine surroundings offer visitors the opportunity to disconnect from everyday distractions and reconnect with the simple pleasures of nature.
With respect for the Indigenous peoples who have called and continue to call these lands home, we strive to proactively conserve and protect the landscapes around us, carrying forward the stories of these places, the legacies of interconnection, and a light human touch. We work to create and maintain comfortable yet exceptional facilities with high levels of sustainability, in harmony with our responsibilities to current and future generations.
Achievement + Play
Whether someone seeks grit or grace, effort or leisure, adventure or comfort, we meet them wherever they are. With Nordic ski heritage as our foundation, we have expanded to support a wide range of recreators and athletes, supporting body and spirit, so they can wholeheartedly and joyfully pursue that which fulfills them. The thrill of high-performance efforts, the personal growth of learning, and the freedom of spontaneous play are each important, and equally boundless in possibility.
Collaboration + Leadership
Crosscut embraces our interdependence — with the land, the community, our visitors, and the greater world. We welcome all voices to the conversation, knowing our best opportunities for learning and growth can come from fresh perspectives. We also stand on what we know to be right, and when needed, provide guidance both inside and outside of our organization.
Wildness + Accessibility
Our locations are accessible from Big Sky and Bozeman and adjacent to undeveloped lands. Surrounded by an abundance of beauty and the rhythms of the natural world, Crosscut offers immersive and meaningful experiences — from a quick afternoon ski to a week-long retreat. We work to preserve the enduring vitality of the landscape while creating welcoming environments for all.
Gratitude + Pride
We teach and practice respect for self, others, and the natural world, recognizing the inherent worth of each. The Crosscut community functions as an extended family — cheering for each other’s wins and sharing the burden in times of struggle. This philosophy is rooted in love, integrity, and authenticity — we lead by example, cultivating opportunities for our team and patrons to become the best possible versions of themselves.
Mountain Services are rooted in a passion for the outdoors and a commitment to providing exceptional experiences for all.
Experience the outdoors
In summer 2023, we expanded our mountain bike program with a new fleet of Rocky Mountain rental bikes, enhancing our ability to provide accessible experiences for new riders in our community. Youth camp participation and private lessons showed steady growth, while adult group clinics and other offerings saw a decrease from the previous year, particularly in multi-day programs. However, one-day and beginner clinics remained popular, continuing to draw a steady attendance.
In winter, we offer daily, high-quality groomed ski, snowshoe, and fatbike trails, group and private ski lessons, skate and classic ski rentals, snowshoe rentals, night skiing, dog days, and private biathlon lessons. This winter we also added a wax service, a public wax bench, and expanded retail offerings.
The winter of 2023-24 brought its challenges, with light snowfall and warmer temperatures creating a thinner snowpack until mid-February. Thanks to our incredible team’s commitment to snow farming, we made the most of each precious snowflake, keeping our trails open for our loyal skiing community. While fewer users visited this winter, those who did enjoyed many great days of corduroy.
YOY = year-over-year change from winter 2023-24 or summer 2023
Adult MTB Clinic, Series, Camps User Days
YOY
YOY
Youth MTB Camp Participants 128 34 595 +13% YOY
Private MTB Lessons
Ski Lessons Participants
3,113 -22% YOY
Day Passes Sold & Redeemed
1,553
Ski & Snowshoe Rentals
Season Pass Holders
1,939 0% YOY Kilometers Groomed
5,339 -30% YOY
42,588
Estimated Year-Round Visits
Youth Teams (U12-U18)
The Youth Biathlon Program continues to be popular. Across all teams there were 47 participants in summer and 45 in winter. Six athletes attended the annual fall rollerski races in Solider Hollow and U18 athlete Brenna Barton achieved two first place finishes in open category races. In winter, Brenna was named to the U.S. Junior IBU Cup Team and competed internationally. Team member Ian Burgess attended Canadian Nationals and two team members, Sorin Huseby and Willett Richey, traveled to Norway for the Liatoppen Junior Biathlon Festival.
Masters Program
The Masters Program welcomed 46 participants to the winter Competition Team and Novice Program. Sixty Open Range sessions were held throughout the year. We are grateful that Masters athletes continue to serve as the bedrock of our biathlon event volunteers.
Elite Team
Nearly every athlete competed internationally during the 2023-24 competitive season. Vincent Bonacci was part of the World Cup Team USA relay team that reached its all-time best result — 4th place. Hometown athlete Michael Kneeland, who started on Crosscut’s Youth Biathlon Team, competed in a Para Nordic World Cup in Italy.
Athletes Competed in Para World Cups and/or Biathlon World Championships
Athletes Named to U.S. Paralympics Nordic Teams
Program Participants
4 Athletes Named to U.S. Biathlon National Teams & National Team Training Groups
Fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of our environment.
Learning from nature
Crosscut’s Outdoor Education Programs offer a unique and immersive learning experience. With a diverse range of activities that include hiking, skiing, wildlife observation, and more, participants gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
Summer 2023 was our third year of Nature Camps for 1st – 6th graders, and we continue to see this program growing. Seventy kids joined us for a safe, fun, and welcoming summer exploring the mountains we call home.
Our Ski Education Program continues to thrive, building on its deep thirty-year history with Bohart Ranch and Montana Outdoor Science School. It’s the only program of its kind in the country where cross-country skiing and standards-based science curriculum are combined along with Indigenous Peoples lessons.
Between all of our Outdoor Education programs, we provided 16 scholarships in FY’24, supporting our mission to make skiing an affordable and accessible activity.
Summer Outdoor Education Program
Nature Camp User Days
350 Program Hours
2,100
Winter Outdoor Education Program
Number of Schools that Visited
33
YOY
Homeschool Program Participants
371 User Days
YOY
2,626
YOY
Remote and immersive experiences in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
A unique opportunity
In summer 2023, our third summer of stewarding the Lightning Creek property, Crosscut invested substantial capital in upgrades to meet the needs of our own programs and in alignment with the feedback we received from potential partners. We completed capital projects including improvements to the Main Lodge, Highlight Cabin, woodshed, solar shed, Lodgepole Cabin bathroom, the South Meadow Trail, and signage at the entry gate, in addition to new mattresses and appliances throughout the cabins. These improvements help make this special property feel like home to everyone who visits.
In Summer 2023, Crosscut piloted its first new programs at this location — Camp Lightning Creek and the Lightning Creek Field Series.
Middle schoolers from the communities of Big Sky, West Yellowstone, and Gallatin Gateway were invited to attend Camp Lightning Creek, thanks to the generosity of the Folley Family Foundation, Moonlight Community Foundation, and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation. Campers learned basic hiking skills, rode with Jake’s Horses, explored the outdoors, cooked meals together, all while unplugging and connecting to nature. Unfortunately, these programs didn’t see the enrollment we anticipated, welcoming just 18 campers from the 45 possible spots, and two families instead of the expected 15 families over multiple weekends.
The Lightning Creek Field Series for adults also saw lower participation, with just one of the three planned programs having enough participates to operate.
We’re grateful for our four partners that joined us and utilized Lightning Creek for their own programs, including Montana Wilderness School and Headwaters Academy. For various reasons, this facility hasn’t always been the right fit for our potential partners for the past two summers.
We will continue to learn, grow, and focus on increasing the experiences of our core guests and offerings at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, while strategizing next steps for Lightning Creek. We look forward to engaging both our core guests and the public as we continue to honor our vision of connecting people with nature.
Lightning Creek Programs User Days Partner Organizations
4
Events in Summer 2023:
June – Cross Cut Trail Race
July – The Hoot, Gallatin Valley Trail Series, The Rut Training Run
September – National Interscholastic Cycling Association Youth Mountain Bike Race double header
October – Bobcat Trail Challenge
Summer Race Participants
1,993
TOTAL USER DAYS FOR ALL SUMMER EVENTS
191 THE HOOT RACERS
The
Hoot
Crosscut hosted the first year of The Hoot on July 29, 2023 and saw 191 total participants in the 20-mile, 10-mile, 5-mile, and kid’s races. The race start/finish area was below the Nordic Center, and the crowd filled the area well with good energy and excitement for this new event at Crosscut.
Events in Winter 2023-24:
January – Ski for Soren
February – Bangtail Biathlon, Crosscut Classic, Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Montana State University Invitational
Winter Race Participants
2,117
TOTAL USER DAYS FOR ALL WINTER EVENTS
153
190
BANGTAIL BIATHLON RACERS CROSSCUT CLASSIC SKIERS
Bangtail Biathlon
Crosscut hosted another first time event, the Bangtail Biathlon on February 3-4, 2024. The weekend featured a community novice race and competition sprint race on Saturday, followed by a competition pursuit race on Sunday.
Crosscut Classic
On February 10, 2024 we welcomed racers for the Crosscut Classic. This event has a longstanding history in Bozeman, starting in 1982, but underwent a name change to align more with our organizational values this year.
Strength in partnership
At Crosscut, the meaning of partnership goes deeper than financial sponsorship. We are dedicated to dynamic relationships which benefit everyone involved. We are proud to collaborate with a network of visionary nonprofits, clubs, and businesses whose shared vision and resources help us create exceptional experiences for our guests. By working together, we can focus on our strengths and support each other to achieve our goals.
A special milestone
Crosscut celebrated the 30th anniversary of our conservation easement with Gallatin Valley Land Trust established by Jean MacInnes for Bohart Ranch in 1994. In celebration of this milestone, we invited conservation professionals to join us for a free day of skiing, snowshoeing, and fatbiking.
A mission and mindset of thoughtful leadership
Board of Directors
In fiscal year 2024 we welcomed Dani Aravich, Cameron Houser, and Will Price to Crosscut’s board, while Randy Elliott and Kari Swenson, concluded their time with the board. We are deeply grateful for the guidance and support all of our board members provide.
Advisory Board
In 2023 we launched the Crosscut Mountain Sports Center Advisory Board to provide additional expertise, advice and guidance to our staff. Thank you to our fiscal year 2024 members Peter Ashley, Eileen Carey, Dave Jessen, Cliff Montagne, and Ray Rasker.
Randy Elliott
Kari Swenson
Eric Lammers Treasurer
Dani Aravich Secretary
Chris Plaut Incoming Chair
Will Price Cameron Houser
Jacquie Love
Blue Coat Ambassadors and Key Biathlon & Outdoor Education Volunteers:
PETER ASHLEY
DAVID BAUMBAUER
HILARY BECKER
JIM BECKER
MORGAN BEDELL
KENT BROWN
MAC BURGESS
STUART CHALLENDER
BENJAMIN COLLINS
DEMI FEDER
CHERYL FIMBEL
ROB FIMBEL
LAUREN FOSDAL
JED HUSEBY
BUTCH ITOH
STEVE JANES
DAVE JESSEN
HOLLY JESSEN
KELLY KJORLEIN
JACQUIE LOVE
KYLE MARVINNEY
KRISTINE MCVEY
CLIFF MONTAGNE
JO NEWHALL
ELLIE OAKLEY
JUDY PHILLIPS
VERN PHILLIPS
JODI RASKER
RICH READY
RACHEL RUGGLES
KATHLEEN SHANKWITZ
DAVID THOMPSON
MELINDA THOMPSON
TERRY THOMPSON
BARBARA TURNER-LANTZ
STEFANIE WOODS
Stronger together
Since our beginning, Crosscut has relied on the support and generosity of community members. We count ourselves incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated, talented, kindhearted group of folks who volunteer their time to help us be successful. Volunteers in our affectionately named Blue Coat Ambassadors Program (winter 202324 ambassadors pictured at left) and in our Biathlon and Outdoor Education Programs help us ensure all guests have their best possible experience while at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. The immense value delivered by these committed volunteers is treasured by the entire Crosscut team and community.
Total volunteer hours in fiscal year 2023
2,748
A legacy of gratitude
Community support
As a community nonprofit, Crosscut relies on the generosity of donors. All gifts large and small are meaningful and deeply appreciated. In fiscal year 2024, our primary fundraising campaigns included Give Big, Voluntary Summary Trail Pass, Year-End Appeal, Crosscut Stewards, and Champagne On Snow.
In our inaugural year, Crosscut’s new benefit event, Champagne on Snow, was a resounding success. This evening celebrated the sport of biathlon and introduced numerous new supporters to Crosscut’s invaluable work, laying a strong foundation for future support. A sold out crowd connected with Paralympians, an Olympian, members of Crosscut’s Elite team, and coaches while enjoying an exquisite multicourse meal and live and silent auctions.
Statement of Financial Position
Operating Revenue Trend
Current Assets
Non-Current Assets
TOTAL ASSETS
Liabilities and Net Assets
Current Liabilities
Non-Current Liabilities
Net Assets
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
$1,966,198
$19,645,742
$21,611,940
$1,456,513
$4,575,064
$15,580,363
$21,611,940
$1,799,092
$18,473,249
$20,272,341
$461,880
$4,496,676
$15,313,785
$20,272,341
Statement of Activities
Revenue and Support
Contributions and Grants
Earned Revenue
In-kind Contributions
Other
TOTAL REVENUE AND SUPPORT
Expenses
Program Services
Support Services
TOTAL EXPENSES
$3,145,527
$784,993
$170,343
$1,807,498
$5,908,361 *
$3,037,600
$1,694,885
$4,732,485
$2,341,903
$940,350
$14,556
$245,449
$3,542,258
$2,274,885
$1,533,951
$3,808,836
Crosscut’s Fiscal Year 2024 was May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. FY23 financials represent re-statement based on audit. *Sale of 40 acres APRIL 30, 2024 APRIL 30, 2024 APRIL 30, 2023 APRIL 30, 2023
Thank you for your continued support of Crosscut!