Season holds promise for cross country skiers

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- After three winters of spotty snow cover, this winter season is holding promise to cross country skiers.

Ski conditions were listed as fair to good Friday at Flandrau State Park, said assistant park manager Tom Schmitz.

He said good business is expected this weekend.

"When snow conditions are good, we are very busy with skiers," Schmitz said. "Especially on weekends, or when kids are out of school."

With its eight miles of groomed trails and rental equipment, Flandrau is a good place for both the beginner and the seasoned skier.

Fifty sets of skis, boots, poles and snowshoes are available for rent.

Schmitz said it's a good way for young skiers to get experience without buying all the equipment.

"Beginners can rent all the gear several times to see how they like it and decide if they want to buy a set of equipment," Schmitz said.

However, get to the park early. When the snow is good, all the equipment, sized for children to adults, goes fast.

Cross country skiing is not hard.

"If you can walk, you can ski. That's our motto," Schmitz said.

He and park manager Lowell Jaeger teach skiing through the New Ulm Community Education Department.

Schmitz said a wide variety of terrain is available for skiing at Flandrau.

Most Flandrau trails are designed for diagonal or traditional parallel skiing. A mile of trails are for the newer style, called skate skiing.

Most skiers at Flandrau come from New Ulm and the local area. But some venture from as far away as the Twin Cities and Iowa.

Dave Leuthe, a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hydrologist in New Ulm, got some cross country skiing in Friday afternoon at Flandrau.

He is an avid skier with about 15 years experience.

Leuthe has often competed in the half (15-mile) or full (33-mile) race in Hayward, Wis.

Leuthe is a little like the meteorologists in the movie "Twister" - with a twist.

The past few years have been so snow-depleted that Leuthe and a skiing friend from the Twin Cities have had to track storms in the midwest, then drive to locations where there was enough to ski.

"We watch for storms, then travel in that direction," Leuthe said.

He said he enjoys skiing at Flandrau as well as Sibley State Park, near New London, and state parks in Southeastern Minnesota.

He has gone as far away as Hayward, Wis. to find enough snow.

Only skiers age 16 and over need ski passes at Minnesota state parks.

They can be purchased at state parks or at sites where hunting and fishing licenses are available.

Minnesota state parks are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for day use activity.

Flandrau's main gate office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

It is recommended that skiers call the office at 359-9800 ahead of time, particularly if they want to rent equipment.

Winter camping is also available at Flandrau. Campground roads are not normally plowed, but campsites can be plowed out upon request.

The beach house is open, acting as a winter warming house. A wood stove is available for heat or for roasting.

Showers and rest rooms do not operate during the winter months but bulk toilets are available in the park.

Drinking water is available from a frost-free faucet in the picnic area.

The DNR information center can be reached at 1-888-MINNDNR or by visiting www.dnr.state.mn.us

Around the clock reservations can be made at 1-800-246-CAMP.