Work Off the Turkey at Nordic Thanksgiving Training Camp in Crested Butte, Colo.

Work off turkey dinner and start the Nordic season off right with fun, informative cross-country ski clinics and activities at the Crested Butte Nordic Council’s annual Thanksgiving Training Camp on Nov. 26 – 27.  Skate and classic Nordic skiing and racing clinics for various levels will be offered by professional instructors, including three-time Olympian Ingrid Butts, Masters Nordic World Champion Murray Banks, and Ross Matlock, a PSIA Nordic and Telemark examiner.

With all clinics held at elevations in excess of 8,800 feet, camp participants of all levels are sure to get a jump on conditioning for a successful season of competitive racing, recreational touring or fun winter exercise.  A silent auction/gourmet dinner, wax clinic, active isolated stretching class, and movie night featuring the film “Fire on the Mountain” that tells the story of America’s 10th Mountain Division also are part of the fun.

Beginner clinics are $40 and intermediate and advanced clinics are $50.  Clinics are designed to enhance and improve skills and are limited to approximately 12 people in each, so register early. For more information or to sign up, call Crested Butte Nordic Center at (970) 349-1707 or visit www.cbnordic.org. A more detailed schedule will be available closer to the event.

Crested Butte Nordic Center Facts

The Crested Butte Nordic Center is a full-service cross-country ski center providing lessons and complete rental packages for skate and classical skiing, as well as ice skating, snowshoeing and sledding. The Nordic Center maintains more than 50 kilometers of groomed trails that meander around the outskirts Crested Butte and offers backcountry and moonlight tours and Nordic events and ski programs (e.g., Master Skiers, Gray Hares and Junior Nordic Team).

Located in the heart of town at Second Street and Whiterock, the Nordic Center will open for the season from Nov. 20, 2010 – April 3, 2011, and is connected to Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area and various stops in Crested Butte by a free shuttle bus.  For more information about the Crested Butte Nordic Center and its winter 20010/2011 calendar of events, visit www.cbnordic.org.

LODGING & CAMP DEALS

Elk Mountain Lodge is within walking distance to the Nordic Center and is offering lodging, breakfast and two clinics for $115 per person, per night. King rooms also are available for $135 per person per night. These rates are based on double occupancy; call (800) 374-6521 for single rates and visit www.elkmountainlodge.com.

Spend Thanksgiving Training Camp weekend at The Ruby of Crested Butte bed and breakfast, where you start the day with a gourmet breakfast and end it relaxing in the hot tub or by the fire. This package is available Nov. 25 – 28, 2011, with rates starting at $109 per person per night (including lodging, breakfast and one clinic per day). Call The Ruby at (800) 390-1338 or visit www.therubyofcrestedbutte.com.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages

To find out more about Gunnison County or to book personalized vacation packages, call (800) 814-8893, or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com. Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta.

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United and during the winter season by American Airlines and Continental Airlines.