The Volks Ski Fest, Jan. 23 -31, kicks off in Cook County on Saturday, Jan. 23 with the Volks Ski 400, a non-competitive Nordic ski event. Inspired by the European tradition of Volksmarching, which literally translated means “a sport of the people,” the Volksmarch is a vigorous walk or hike designed for first-timers or seasoned veterans. In an interesting twist on the European tradition, the opening day goal is to have a skier on every kilometer of the county’s 400 kilometers of trails. Cook County is home to the nation’s longest system of professionally groomed cross-country ski trails, and the Volks Ski Fest is a celebration of those trails!
For visitors interested in non-skiing activities, the festival, hosted by the Cook County Events and Visitor Bureau, also boasts a full calendar of family-friendly winter events. Throughout the week, guided snowshoe hikes, horse drawn sleigh rides, dog sledding, bonfires, s’more parties and other winter-themed events will be available all over the county. Venues throughout the county will offer guided cross-country tours and candlelit skiing on trails ranging from beginner to advanced. Local cross-country ski experts will lead skijoring (skiers pulled by dogs) and waxing clinics.
Event spokesperson Andrew Slade, ski trail expert and author of Skiing the North
Shore,
said, “Flexibility and diversity are the selling points of trails found in Cook County.”
According to Slade, the event will offer cross-country enthusiasts the opportunity to come together with friends and family to gain a sense of accomplishment, no matter age or ability, while viewing wildlife and scenery along North Shore trails like none other in Minnesota.
To meet the goal of a skier on every kilometer, participants are encouraged to pre-register online at www.volksskifest. A $10 on-line pre-registration fee gets entrants a long-sleeve Volks Ski Fest t-shirt and the chance to win a ride with a trail groomer. Register by January 20 to be eligible.
With the exception of the Volks Ski 400, sleigh rides and dogsled rides, all activities and workshops are free of charge. Participants are encouraged to reserve a spot for clinics, guided hikes and tours by going online to the event website, where maps and a schedule of events can be found.
“For families, the Volks Ski Fest offers adult skiing with the opportunity to spend quality time with your kids, enjoying s’mores and sleigh rides and the beauty of nature,” said Slade. “You’ll get the full winter destination experience from the county that does winter best.”
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