Nordmarka celebrates 41 years of grooming Eagle River ski trails

Nordmarka Cross Country Ski Club is entering its 41st year of grooming and maintaining cross-country ski trails in the heart of Eagle River.
The trails are located on the city’s north side, on the Eagle River Golf Course, off McKinley Blvd., and are open to the public — and supported solely through donations and memberships.
Nordmarka’s trails are designed and groomed for both classic and skate skiing. The trails are also open for snowshoeing. Classic ski tracks are set on one edge, the middle is groomed flat for skate skiing, and snowshoers should use the trail edge opposite the classic tracks.
The open, rolling terrain, along with some wooded sections, provides skiing opportunities for all skill levels from beginners and intermediates to more challenging sections for advanced skiers. White pines flank large trail sections. The convenient location also makes it easy to ski or snowshoe.
The Nordmarka Cross Country Ski Club was formed in 1983 by a group of local cross-country ski enthusiasts, spearheaded by Eagle River native, Jack Godding. The name Nordmarka refers to a large forested region in the northern part of Oslo, Norway. Godding had skied in that prime cross-country ski area and suggested the club name Nordmarka — to associate the North Woods with the Norwegian homeland of cross-country skiing.

In Scandinavian countries, ski clubs were at the core of cross-country skiing, where kids started skiing as soon as they could walk. So, the Eagle River Nordmarka Cross Country Ski Club began developing a system of ski trails for community residents and visitors to enjoy.
Club members also worked hard in those early days organizing ski events, holding club meetings and presenting educational programs for the community. A Bill Koch Ski League was formed to teach kids how to ski and have fun skiing. Many local business owners, along with the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, were involved and gave tremendous support. Trees for Tomorrow Natural Resources Education Center routinely used the trails for ski lessons.
The Club continues to promote the sport of cross-country skiing. Volunteers put in many hours grooming and maintaining the 7 kilometers of ski trails for the Eagle River community and North Wood’s visitors. A section of trail is also groomed right to the back door of the Northland Pines Schools for use of the trails to teach cross-country skiing as part of their physical education program.
Northland Pines students are the largest users of the trail, according to Joe Panci, president of the Eagle River Nordmarka Cross Country Ski Club.
The ski trail groomers work hard to keep the trails in good and safe condition for the skiers and snowshoers throughout the winter, says Panci. Maps are available at the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center.
The club has depended upon donations and memberships from skiers and snowshoers to keep up with the grooming, equipment and maintenance costs. Every penny donated goes directly to fund these costs.
A trailhead sign graces the Nordmarka Ski Trails off the parking lot by the sledding hill, along with maps (designed by the Northland Pines Building Trades Class) at major trail intersections, indicating one’s location.
Membership in Nordmarka XC Ski Club is open to everyone. Join to support these community trails. Annual dues are $25 per couple, $15 for individuals, $35 for families and businesses, $5 for students. Memberships can be sent to P. O. Box 703, Eagle River, WI 54521.
Other donations can be sent to the same address or put in the secure drop-box at the trailhead. For more information about the club or the ski trails, call the club’s president, Joe Panci, at 715-479-2760.