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Breckenridge Nordic Ski Center celebrates 50 years of business

The Breckenridge Nordic Ski Center has been open for 50 years. To celebrate, they’re offering free ski clinics all winter as a way to bring more people into the sport.

With the new year, there's a big celebration at the Breckenridge Nordic Center that's been 50 years in the making.

“We’re celebrating on the first day of the day of the New Year 2019,” said owner Teresa Dayton. 

Here husband in 1969 opened the family run business located just west of Breckenridge. Fifty years later, it’s still family operated. The owners said more and more people have been trying Nordic skiing due to lighter equipment and boots that are far more comfortable than prior alpine ski boots.

“You could hold all your equipment in your hand and have a 10-minute conversation," said Dayton.  "It’s that light and the boots they are warm and insulated. Most people try to head home with our ski boots.” 

In Nordic skiing, the toe of the ski boot is fixed to the binding in a way that allows the heel to rise off the ski. That's different than Alpine skiing, where the boot is attached to the ski from toe to heel.

In honor of their five decades in Nordic skiing, the Breckenridge Nordic Center is offering free ski clinics all winter. Reservations are required to take advantage of the offer. People who rent Nordic gear will also get free snowshoes so they can try out that winter sport as well.

“We rent out skis poles, boots and bindings and we provide snowshoes for no extra charge,” said Dayton. 

Unlike alpine skiing, where lift tickets can cost more than $150, most Nordic centers charge $18 to $20 for a day on the snow. The gear is also usually far less expensive.


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