Grand Avenue Nordic Center

The Grand Avenue Nordic Center is one of the outdoor recreation projects proposed by the City for revitalization of the St. Louis River Corridor. It will entail 5 kilometers of new ski trails, including 3.3 km of which are snowmaking-enabled, groomed daily, lighted and suitable for use by both recreational and elite skiers. A large portion of this project ($1 million) will be funded through the “half-and-half Tourism Tax” dollars, and the City will pursue additional significant funds ($400k) from state and federal grants. DXC initially committed to raising $500k through individual and corporate donations to help make this vision of high-quality, guaranteed skiing a reality in Duluth, and after successfully reaching that milestone in early 2018, has committed to raising an additional $250k toward GANC.

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Lester-Amity Chalet

The Friends of Lester-Amity Chalet, a subcommittee of DXC, is making great strides to reopen this City-owned facility as a ski chalet. FLAC has leased the Chalet from the City for a minimum of 10 years, and the club is committed to supporting this effort to provide a chalet for skiers using the Lester-Amity ski trails, as well as other community needs. DXC received two $5,000 grants from the City’s Parks & Recreation department to purchase new furnaces and address water abatement issues within the Chalet. New windows have been installed and plumbing has been restored, as well as a great new fireplace. Friends of Lester-Amity Chalet aims to have the Chalet operational and staffed during expanded set hours throughout the 2017-18 winter season. Significant additional funds are needed for building renovations and ongoing operating costs. Volunteer labor and community contributions-in-kind have already been secured, and continuous fundraising will be critical to the success of this project.

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Spirit Mountain Trails

DXC is continuing to invest capital and labor in developing and grooming the trails at Spirit Mountain. These trails are the home to several high school Nordic ski teams, as well as serving the public. This spring DXC purchased additional grooming equipment, and allocated funds to build a structure to store that equipment closer to the ski trails. DXC has received a $2,000 grant funding to install bridges to improve trail stability. This will be matched with club funds and volunteer time. DXC has also applied for a $5,000 grant for a new snowmobile for grooming. If the grant is approved, DXC has pledged up to $10,000 to complete the funding for that purchase.

To make the best use of this equipment, DXC is planning to hire individuals to groom the trails. This will benefit all skiers by reducing the need for city groomers, allowing them to reallocate their time on the remaining trails throughout the city.

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Adult Programming

Fall hill bounding and winter technique courses will continue to be offered, to DXC members and the public.  Additionally, technique and conditioning programs for adults will start in fall and continue through February.

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Youth Programming

DXC continues to provide ski lessons for youth through its KidSki program and training for high school athletes in Summer Juniors. New this year will be two Fall Juniors programs, offering juniors the chance to do structured dryland and rollerski training in preparation for the ski season. These programs are subsidized by DXC to make them affordable for area youth. In addition, scholarships are provided for those who otherwise would not be able to afford it.

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XC Ski Trail Master Plan

DXC has worked closely with the City of Duluth in shaping the Cross-Country Ski Trail Master Plan. The club is firmly committed to taking these plans to the next step, and expects to take a leadership role in moving forward on implementation. Funding for these projects will require extensive fundraising and involvement from the community. DXC is poised to spearhead that effort.

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In addition, the development of new XC ski trails in the St. Louis River corridor in West Duluth has become a high priority. DXC is in on the ground level of developing those plans, and will be on the forefront of a capital campaign, should the plans be adopted. This is a major investment in Duluth’s ski trails, possibly leading to a race venue for high school teams in the future.

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Club Activities

In addition to these major initiatives that support XC skiing in Duluth, DXC has numerous offerings for its members and other skiers.  DXC offers adult training programs, races, fun ski outings and social activities.  More information can be found on this website, and events are listed on our calendar.  For questions, email info@duluthxc.com.