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Snowshoeing! A full season of recreational
or racing fun awaits in Wisconsin
By Mike Svob What a difference a decade makes! Not so long ago, snowshoeing was the ugly duckling of winter sports, and organized events were hard to come by. Since 1990, however, the sport has taken off exponentially. Snowshoe sales have doubled annually for 20-plus manufacturers, resorts have increasingly catered to
snowshoers, and sponsored events have become commonplace.
The reasons for the sport's recent burst of popularity aren't difficult to identify. Unlike skiing and snowboarding, for example, it's easy to learn – "just like walking," say proponents. It's a marvelous way to enjoy wintertime solitude and beauty, and often provides close encounters with wildlife. You don't have to invest a small fortune in equipment: A first-rate pair of modern snowshoes can be purchased for $200 or
less, and no clothing is required that you don't already have. Snowshoeing is possible almost anywhere that snow is found, and provides access to many places that can't otherwise be reached. Moreover, it's one of the best ways to get a good workout, especially for runners.
Demos for Beginners
For those who have never tried on a pair of snowshoes, there are plenty of opportunities to "demo" various types, sizes and brands. During the winter months, many resorts, park districts, sporting-goods stores, and outdoor centers offer demo-days when snowshoes can be tried out on nearby trails and test-tracks. Many demo-days are co-sponsored by prominent snowshoe manufacturers such as Tubbs, Northern Lites,
Redfeather and Atlas. Check in your area for scheduled (or ongoing) demos – they're a great way to be introduced to the sport.
Some snowshoe dealers offer free demos whenever there's snow on the ground. Inexpensive rentals are also widely available, usually accompanied by a quick introduction to the basics.
Here's a partial listing of some of the demo and fun-walk opportunities for the 2000-2001 season:
Jan. and Feb.
Weekend Demos, Onalaska, Gander Mountain; 608/783-2820.
Daily Demos, Spooner, Riverbrook Bike & Ski; 800-/297-7687.
January
13: Snowshoe Rendezvous (guided snowshoe walks), White Lake, Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort; 715/882-3502.
13: Snow-To-Go (snowshoe hikes), Green Bay, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
13: Winter Trails 2001 (demos and hikes), Milwaukee, Wehr Nature Center; 414/425-8550.
19: Demo-Day, River Falls, The Route (bike & winter sports shop); 888/592-7098.
20-21: Winterfest (snowshoe hikes), Sherwood
; 920/989-1106.
21: Tubbs Winter Adventure Days (demos), Kenosha, Ski & Sports Chalet; 262/658-8515.
29-Feb. 5: Take-Your-Daughter-to-the-Slopes Week (includes snowshoe demos), Sparta, Justin Trails B&B Resort; 800/488-4521.
February
2-4: Winter Festival (includes guided snowshoe walks),
Fort Atkinson; 920/563-3210.
3: Snow Moon Festival (guided snowshoe walks), White Lake, Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort; 715/882-3502.
10: Snow-To-Go (snowshoe hikes), Green Bay, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
March
10: Snow-To-Go (snowshoe hikes), Green Bay
, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.
Be sure to keep an eye out for other demo days and fun-walks that become available during the snowshoeing season.
Races
Much of the growth of snowshoeing in recent years has been the result of the burgeoning popularity of racing. Running on packed snow can provide as strenuous a workout as you wish. Any kind of snowshoes
can be used, but small, asymmetrical models produced by several companies are especially suited for racing. Sometimes race organizers provided limited numbers of snowshoes for participants who don't already have their own equipment. Often demo days are combined with racing events.
Some racers are quite serious about the sport, training hard and coming to each event with competitive fire
in their eyes. On the other hand, many race participants approach the events more as relaxed fun-runs and social occasions. A typical race draws a wide variety of entrants.
Whether you're a driven competitor, a slow-paced snow-jogger, or somewhere in between, there's definitely a place for you in snowshoe racing. Some races attract large numbers of entrants; last year's Perkinstown Tramp, for example, drew over 400, and the Luck Snowshoe Races topped 100. Already,
there are plenty of events scheduled for the 2000-2001 season to keep racers busy:
December
30: Winter Biathlon (7K ski race & 2K snowshoe race), Manitowish Waters, North Lakeland Discovery Center; Tracy Hilgendorf 715/543-2085.
January
6: Olde Towne Snowshoe Race, Greenwood, Olde Towne Pub; Dar Vollrath 715/267-6266.
6: Glacier Cup Snowshoe Race (1-, 3- & 6-mile races), New London, Mosquito Hill Nature Center; Dennis Raymark 262/252-3128 or Mosquito Hill Nature Center 920/779-6433.
13: Country Market Hodag Chase (5K),
Rhinelander; Bruce Mickelson 800/303-2195.
4: Bear Paw Snowshoe Rendezvous Snowshoe Race, White Lake, Bear Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort; Eliot Treichel 715/882-3502.
20: Perkinstown Tramp (3- & 6-mile races, mountaineer race, kids' fun-run), Perkinstown (near Medford); Ken Kraft 715/785-7189.
20: Hoffman Classic Snowshoe Race (5K & 10K), River Falls; Adam Schmidt at The Route 888/592-7098 or www.theroute.net.
21: Snowflake Chase (2- and 4-mile), Merrill; Don Chilson 715/536-7313.
22: Candlelight Snowshoe Walk (2-3 miles), New London, Mosquito Hill Nature Center; Mosquito Hill Nature Center 920/779-6433.
27: Snowshoe at Mead (2 or 5 miles), Stevens Point; Dennis Dieringer or Sue Adams, 715/387-4651 or 715/387-8055.
February
3: Asaph Whittlesey Snowshoe Race (5K, 10K & junior race), Bayfield; Brooke Hansen 800/447-4094.
3-4: Badger State Games Snowshoe Races (1- & 5-mile, 5K, mountaineer race, relays), Wausau; 608/226-4780, 888/948-4748, or www.badgerstategames.org.
10: New World Championship Snowshoe Races (5K, 10K, 2-mile, half-marathon), Luck; Larry Lindner 715/472-8231.
17: 16th Annual Mosquito Hill Snowshoe Race (1-, 4-, & 8-mile races), New London; Dennis Raymark 262/252-3128.
Added Value: The Midwest Championship Series
Beginning its third season, the Midwest Snowshoe Championship Series provides serious racers the opportunity to accumulate points for awards at the end of the season, in addition to the awards that are presented to top finishers in each scheduled racing event. Series awards are presented in age and sex categories (male and female 13 and under, every 5-year group from 14 through 65, and 66+), based upon
over-all points accumulated in the entrants' best 3 finishes in Series races.
The six events in which Series entrants can compete for points are the races at Greenwood (Jan.6), Rhinelander (Jan.13), White Lake (Jan.14), Perkinstown (Jan.20), Bayfield (Feb.3), and Luck (Feb.10). Like all of the other races listed above, these six events are open to everyone – whether signed up for the Championship Series or not.
To register as a participant in the Series, contact Series director Dar Vollrath, 403 E. Begley St., Greenwood, WI 54437. The Series membership fee (which entitles the member to a weekly newsletter and year-end award celebration) is $10 ($15 after December 30) or $30 for a family.
Making Your Own Shoes
It's only natural that the boom in the sport has led to a demand for classes that teach the technique of lacing your own pair of traditional snowshoes. A few years ago, a few classes were available here and there, but nowadays you can find them in many locations. Typically, classes last one or two days and provide participants with all the materials necessary. Last month's issue of Silent Sports, incidentally, included an
excellent piece on "Weaving Your Own Snowshoes." For a selection of snowshoe-lacing classes, check the Calendar of Events at the end of this issue.
For More Information
There are a number of sources of information to keep you abreast of snowshoeing events, including (a) the Calendar of Events and ads in the latest issue of Silent Sports magazine, (b) the Wisconsin Department of
Tourism calendar at www.travelwisconsin.com, (c) bulletin boards at your local sporting goods dealer, (d) the websites for Snowlink www.snowlink.com, and the American Hiking Society www.americanhiking.org, and (e) the websites of snowshoe manufacturers that often sponsor demos and races (e.g., Tubbs at www.tubbssnowshoes.com, Atlas at www.atlassnowshoe.com, Iverson at www.iversonsnowshoes.com and Northern Lites at www.northernlites.com.
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