NORDIC
Why Sun Valley is a natural fit for nordic
National Championship By Tim Reynolds
Photos by David Glasscock
Skinny Ski Genes
Kikkan Randall, Maria Graefnings and
SUN VALLEY — With superb snow and hundreds of kilome-
ters of trails winding through town and up into the foothills,
it’s no wonder that this place is called “Nordic Town USA,”
and boasts one of the strongest club programs in the coun-
try. The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) is
one of only a few American programs that offer seamless
development opportunities from fledgling skiers to the upper
echelons of the sport. The annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival
brings thousands of visitors to the Wood River Valley in early
February for a week of nordic skiing events. The festival cul-
minates with the Boulder Mountain Tour, a four-decade old
race that attracts almost 1,000 participants. And this season
also means the long-distance U.S. Championships and the
SuperTour Finals at the cross country Mecca.
SkiRacing.com APRIL 7, 2011 | 41
