The Bethel Nordic Ski Center is a classic New England cross-country ski area in the village of Bethel, Maine. 30km of classic and skate tracks wind though forests and fields, past stonewalls and old mill dams under the shadow of the Mahoosuc Mountains.
The Ski Center is located in the village center, with many options for coffee, a healthy lunch, and dinner, as well as perusing galleries, local bookstores, and boutiques, all within walking distance of the ski trails.
EVENTS
Full Moon Relay, January 30, 2010
This fun filled, fast paced, classic technique event offers a great opportunity to ski too fast after dark and consume many good desserts. This exciting mass start race begins after sunset under the light of the full moon and a few other visual aids.
Flying Moose Classic, February 21, 2010
Sponsored by the Bethel Outing Club and the Bethel Nordic Ski Center on Gould Academy's and the Bethel Nordic Ski Center's trail system. This is a classic technique, mass start, point to point ski race that has 20 km or 10km distance choices. There are timed and non-timed options as well as youth events including a 200 meter lollipop course for toddlers and 6 km non-timed classic race for young children.
WinterFest • January 23-31, 2010
Join us in celebrating winter in this event filled week. The week offers Learn-to-Ski sessions, a fun ski obstacle course, biathlon clinic and race , guided snowshoe tours, horse drawn sleigh rides and K's-for-Kid's prize week. In addition, Fischer ski equipment will be available to try.
Corkscrew Chase, March 14, 2009
Corkscrew Chase is a 15 kilometer mass start, pursuit race -- 7.5 km classic technique race in the morning followed by a 7.5 km skate technique race in the afternoon. The course offers a thrilling jaunt over terrain that undulates, twists and twirls through hemlock and hardwood groves, past stone dams, and across fields. The race starts at the Bethel Nordic Ski Center and the route includes the Corkscrew Trail, a local favorite, and a trail that earns its name honestly.
Spring Ahead Series,
Wednesdays in March, 4:30pm
To celebrate the rising sun, a scored series of seven kilometer time trials that start at 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The trials will alternate between classic and freestyle technique. Scored by finish order as points to an individual’s series score. The person with the lowest score for the series will win a really big, fare trade certified, 70% dark chocolate bar with the words, "heavenly and divine", printed in deep gold, right on it. This Spring Ahead Series is a fun and easy going event that allows participants to start on a rolling basis.
Troll Trolling, Everyday
Troll trolling is an on-going activity that entices children to ski in search of “Trolls”. The "Trolls" are handmade wooded figures placed along the ski trails. A map that shows the Trolls current location (they move around) is posted in the ski shop. Children must use their map to find each troll. When all Trolls are found, the child can then return a completed card to the ski shop in exchange for a really big and very tasty cookie.
Guided Snowshoe Tours,
Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30-3:30
Join our experienced snowshoeing staff for a gentle hour-long tour on our snowshoe trails. This tour will take you on trails that cross open fields and wind through wooded groves. You will have the opportunity to identify animal tracks, trees, and shrubs, and perhaps spot local wildlife, including the infamous Ski Shop grouse. The snowshoe tour will allow you to experience and appreciate the quiet winter beauty of the Maine woods.
Women’s Ski Group, Fridays, 2:30-3:30
A gently-paced guided ski tour with a female instructor, this group is designed for skiers of any ability level. Try new trails, learn technique tips, and enjoy the company of other women who love to ski.
K's-for-Kids • Anyday
A child oriented program where kids are encouraged to be outside skiing. Children record how much they ski each time they ski over the winter. When the child reports their progress the ski shop staff will award a gold star for every 3 kilometers they ski on the chart in the ski shop. Special prizes are awarded for 24 kilometers, 45 kilometers and 150 kilometers.
Troll Trolling
K's for Kids
Full Moon Relay
Corkscrew Chase
Woman's Ski Group
Flying Moose
Snow Conditions
Date: Monday, March 8, 2010
Trail Conditions:
Ski Trails Open: 0
Kilometers of Trails Open: 0 km
Skate Lanes Groomed: 0 km
Classical Tracks Set: 0 km
Snowshoe Trails Open: 0 km
Skijoring Trail Open: 0 km
Surface Conditions:
Trail Surface: Granular, grass, water, ice
Average Snow Depth: 0"-8"
Last New Snow: 5" 2/28/10
Expected Kick Wax: -------
Expected Glide Wax: -------
We do our best to give an honest account of snow conditions, as well as our grooming plans. Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are outdoor activities, so changes of weather, environmental changes, and unforeseen circumstances can lead to changes and deviations from our plans, and from our last posted observations. Early season and spring season conditions include the possibility of variable snow, thin spots, subsurface obstacles, and open water.
For the latest and most accurate information call us at 207-824-6276
Weather Conditions:
Winds: 0-5mph
General Sky Conditions: Sunny
Temperature at Observation: 31°F
Predicted High Temperature: 46°F
Relative Humidity: 50%
Comments:
Coming soon-- page under construction
Rates
Trail Tickets
Full Day: $18
Afternoon (after 1:00PM): $14
Student (w/ student ID): $14
Senior: $14
Child (under 15): $14
Children (under five): Free
Ski/Swim/Sauna: $24
Cross Country Ski Rental
Afternoon (after 1:00 PM): $14
Skate/Performance Skis $20
Afternoon Skate/Perf.Skis: $18
Student w/ID and Senior $14
Pulk Sled: $5/hour
Snowshoe Rental
Full Day: $15
Afternoon (after 1:00): $12
Student (w/ student ID): $10
Senior: $10
Links
* The Bethel Inn Resort
* Cross Country Ski Areas Association
* New England Nordic Ski Association
* Faster Skier
* Local Weather
* Bethel Chamber of Commerce
* Snocountry.com
* National Weather Service
* Swix Wax Wizard
* Ski Maine
* The Master Skier
* American Cross Country Skiers
Photos
Find Us
Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions or comments you may have about our events, services, or hours.
Bethel Nordic Ski Center
PO Box 355
21 Broad Street
Bethel, Maine 04217
Phone: 207-824-6276
E-mail: skishop_caribourecreation.com
Facebook: Bethel Nordic Ski Center
Hours
Sunday- Saturday 9- 4:30
Directions
Portland, ME:
Take Maine Turnpike to Exit 63 (formerly exit 11) then Route 26 North to Bethel.
Boston, MA:
Take I-95 North to the Maine Turnpike. Exit 63 (formerly exit 11) to 26 North to Bethel.
Manchester, NH:
Take I-93 North to exit 35. Route 3 North to Twin Mountain. Route 115 North to Jefferson to Route 2, East to Bethel.
New York City, Hartford, CT & Springfield,:
Take I-84 North to I-90 East to I-495 North to I-95 North (follow above directions).
From the West, arriving to Bethel on Route 2, turn right at the Bethel exit. At the bottom of the ramp take an immediate right on to Church Street. Follow Broad Street for less than a mile. The Inn is on your right after the Village Common.
From the South, on Route 26, follow signs to the historic district and cross the train tracks on to Main Street. Continue straight up Main Street to 4-way intersection at top, then turn left on Broad Street. The Inn is on your right, just beyond the Village Common.A list of Airport Shuttle Services is available upon request.
# Major Airports
Troll trolling is an ongoing activity that entices children to ski in search of Trolls. Trolls are handmade wooded figures that are placed on the ski trails. The Trolls are moved to new locations once a week and a map that shows where the Trolls are located is posted in the Ski Shop. Using a map, children must ski through the trail system to each of the Trollls.
Mission
Five trolls are hidden along the ski trails. Each troll is in a different place and each Troll carries a unique card punch. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to:
Reward
All persons bearing a Trolling Card with all five unique holes punched will be awarded a really big and very tasty cookie.
Background
The Forrest Troll
(Scand. Skovtrold, Skogstroll)
Sometimes mistaken for a gnome or a dwarf, the forest troll lives in remote Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish forests and seems to be very close to extinction or perhaps really good at hiding. According to some experts, the forest troll is attracted to its mirror image. Trolls main source of food is mushrooms, including some that are poisonous to humans. This unhealthy habit could explain its legendary unpredictable temper.
According to one recent theory, trolls of Scandinavia are descendants of a small group of Neanderthals that became isolated between ice masses at the end of the last ice age. Gradually these animals developed very special characteristics, abilities and hats.
However convincing this theory sounds, there is simply no evidence to prove Trolls existence, nor any indicating that Trolls are related to Homo Sapiens Ferus (forest Man) i.e. Big Foot in North America and Yeti in the Himalayas. This complete lack of evidence or reasonable scientific explanation only leaves two possibilities:
1) Either Trolls are a mere figment of our collective imagination with roots in a remote past representing a complex and poetic expression of our basic fears and longings, or
2) this race of creatures has simply chosen not to be discovered by humans
Until now, Trolls have managed to do this with great success.
What it is:
A child oriented program where children are encouraged to ski and record how much they ski over the winter. The child reports their progress to the skishop staff and we will place a gold star for every 3 kilometers they ski on the chart in the ski shop.
Children who reach 24 kilometers and 45 kilometers will be awarded a really big and very tasty cookie. Once the child reaches the 75 kilometer mark, they will be given a water bottle (BPA-free), and a the first child to reach the 150 kilometer mark will be allowed to pick a hat from the skishop of their choice. Others who make 150 kilometers will win a cup of hot chocolate, a cookie and the awesome ski related "swag bag".
Who its for:
Any and all children who are game and willing.
Note: Kilometers skied during Troll Trolling do count for K's-for-Kids.
When it is:
Anytime and all the time. Our goal is to keep kids moving around on skis, we will gleefully chart any and all skiing the children report, even if they ski elsewhere or forget to report one week and want to get their chart brought up to date the following week.
How to sign kids up:
Come in and we'll put the childs name on the K's for Kids chart, it cost nothing. Our hope is to encourage children to mess around outside and on skis.
Classic/Skate Technique
15 KM Cross Country Pursuit Ski Race
Youth: Ski Orienteering Race
Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:30 AM
Event Description:
Corkscrew Chase is a 15 kilometer mass start, pursuit race offering a thrilling jaunt over terrain that undulates, twists and twirls through hemlock and hardwood groves, past stone dams, and across fields. The race starts at Bethel Nordic Ski Center in Bethel and the route includes our Corkscrew Trail, a local favorite, and a trail that earns its name honestly. Awards and refreshments, will take place at the Ski Center after the last finisher.
A classic technique 7.5 km race will start at 10:30 and after a short break a second freestyle race will start. Start times for the freestyle event are based on the interval of the finish times in the classic race and winners of the pursuit will cross the finish line first.
The Youth Ski Orienteering Race will be an individual OR a team event, starting at noon.
Start Times:
Adult Classic 7.5 Km: 10:30 a.m.
Adult Freestyle 7.5 Km: 12:00pm
Youth Event: 12:00pm
Registration:
* Race Day sign-in and registrations: 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. 3/14/10
* Registrar desks will be at the: Bethel Nordic Ski Center, On the common, Bethel, Maine, or register at skireg.com
* Send Registrations to: Race Secretary, P.O. Box 355, Bethel, Maine 04217
Price:
Entries received on or before 3/10/10 are $25.00 adult, $6 youth.
Entries received after 3/10/10 are $30.00 per person, $6 youth.
Please make checks payable to Caribou Recreation Development.
Awards:
An awards ceremony with snacks, drinks and general good cheer will be held at Bethel Nordic Ski Center after the last finisher.
Contact:
Bethel Inn Nordic Ski Center, phone: 207-824-6276, e-mail: skishop_caribourecreation.com, www.caribourecreation.com
Womens Ski Group
Every Friday at 3pm
The Women's Ski Group is an informal gathering of women who like to ski in a social setting. Some members of the group have been skiing for many years, some have skied a couple of times, and still others are new to the sport.
The group typically gathers in the ski shop at 3pm, introductions are made for newcomers, and the group discusses the trails to explore, style of skiing (classic or skate), a topic for a mini-lesson, and whether or not to break up into smaller groups.
After heading outside, most days a "mini-lesson" is available. Each week we come up with some sort of a theme and a few minutes is spent teaching to that theme. Past lessons have included getting more glide out of your stride, poling techniques, hill work, and specific skate-ski techniques. Each of these sessions are broken down to differing levels: a beginner skier will receive beginner technique tips, while a more experienced skier will be offered advanced pointers.
The group then either heads out together or as smaller groups. Usually there are people who are looking to enjoy a leisurely ski, while a few others are up for something more challenging. In this way, we can offer a group that women of all skiing abilities can enjoy.
First Moon Relay
Classic Technique
Cross Country Ski Relay Event & Pot Luck Dessert
1 kilometer X 4 (Adult) and .5 km X 4 (Youth)
Saturday Evening, January 30, 2010 6:00 PM
This fun filled, fast paced, classic technique event offers a great opportunity to ski too fast after dark and consume many good desserts. This exciting mass start race begins after sunset under the light of the full moon and a few other visual aids, at the Bethel Nordic Ski Center at The Bethel Inn. The course snakes over rolling hills and through fields and pine stands. The route offers a gripping downhill, a minor climb, gentle turns, some point to point lighting and lots of great opportunities to pass, hide, or generally keep the competition guessing. After completing the one kilometer course competitors enter a Tag Zone in an open field and must make physical contact with the next of their four registered team members. The first team to successfully complete the tags and cross the finish line wins.
We will put together teams or you can bring your well-oiled squad, contingent, gaggle or what have you but you must bring dessert. A separate childs course (read shorter, lighter and missing the gripping downhill) will allow the kids to join in the raucous festivities as part of a team or compete against Mom and Dad. (Supervision will be available for the very young or competition bashful youths, during the event.)
Adult 1 km & Youth 0.5 km: 6:00 PM
Race Evening sign-in and registrations: 5:00 to 6: 00
Registrar desks and dessert tables will be at Bethel Inn Nordic Ski Center, (on the common) Bethel, ME
Send Registrations to:
Race Secretary, PO Box 355, Bethel Maine, 04217
Entries are $16.00 per team or $4.00 per person plus a dessert.
An awards ceremony with unbelievably delicious desserts will be held at Bethel Nordic Ski Center after the last finisher.
Bethel Inn Nordic Ski Center, phone: 207-824-6276 e-mail: skishop_caribourecreation.com
Flying Moose Classic
Ski School
Lessons
At the Bethel Nordic Ski Center our instructors are lifetime skiers who believe that developing the skill of skiing makes skiing more enjoyable. The instructors adapt programs to meet individual needs. If you wish to learn basic techniques or hone specific skills, our instructors have the ability and experience. We offer several levels of ski instruction as well as clinics designed to teach specific skills. Group lessons are available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers, all taught by experienced staff. We often tailor sessions to meet the individual skiers needs. Please contact us for more information about our ski instruction.
Group Beginner Lessons: $20 Offered daily at 10:30am and 1:30pmIndividual Lessons: $35 Offered Daily by AppointmentLesson Package: $50Includes ski rentals, beginner group lesson, and a trail pass
Group Beginner Lessons: $20
Offered daily at 10:30am and 1:30pm
Individual Lessons: $35
Offered Daily by Appointment
Lesson Package: $50
Includes ski rentals, beginner group lesson, and a trail pass
Click here for more info on lessons
Lesson Details
Beginner Lessons:
Learn the basics of classic cross-country skiing techniques: kick and glide, double poling, slowing down and ski etiquette. You will be able to enjoy an afternoon of skiing on our easier trails after this lesson.
Intermediate Lessons:
We cover a comprehensive set of skills and techniques: you will learn downhill techniques such as snowplowing, the parallel turn, and step turns to help negotiate hills with greater confidence and efficiency. Syncopated poling, kick double pole, and developing powerful double pole technique are often covered in this lesson.
Advanced Lessons:
These are designed and are adapted to meet the individual needs of skiers who wish to refine specific techniques, address problem areas, or develop smoother, more effective movements.
Skate Lessons:
Individual lessons for the skier who wants to learn to skate-ski. This lesson can be taught in beginner and intermediate levels, depending on the ability of the skier.
Bethel, Maine
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