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Join us for Cross Country Skiing and More!

Join us for Cross Country Skiing and More!
  Join us for Cross Country Skiing and More!

 
Join us for Cross Country Skiing and More!

 
Join us for Cross Country Skiing and More!

North Star Ski Touring Club

Cross Country Skiing is our passion,
but we have fun all year!

Join us!   Ski, bike, hike, paddle, dance, socialize, support trailsOur club is the largest ski touring club in the lower 48.  Formed in 1967, our all-volunteer club sponsors day, weekend, week-long trips. We make a difference- through advocacy, trail maintenance and a grant-giving program.  Share your love of the outdoors with friends.

NSSTC COVID-19 Vaccination Policy / Updated: January 28, 2023: Masks are encouraged, but optional.

North Star Grant Program

Shaping the Future of the Club and Cross Country Skiing

Norm Oakvik, a club founder, donated a part of his estate to NSSTC to support the club and to further grow the sport of Nordic Skiing in Minnesota. 

Each year the North Star Grant program seeks, evaluates and funds worthy projects.

Link here for info on grant program policy
Link here for application procedures. 


2022 Grants:   2020 Grant Project Report
We awarded $29,000 to eight organizations to enhance cross-country skiing in Minnesota.  

• Bemidji Area XC Ski Club to help replace an aging snowmobile used for grooming 95K of trails.

• Brainerd Nordic Ski Club to help buy a grooming snowmobile. The county no longer grooms trails.

• Norpine Trail Association in Lutsen to join with others to cover cost of a used piston bully.

• Cloquet Nordic Ski Club to help buy 20 sets of youth ski equipment, lessons for 160 young skiers.

• Lake Country Nordic Ski Club in Hackensack for a weed and brush mower to widen the trails.

• Coon Rapids Nordic Ski Boosters Club to build more trails for grade school and H.S. teams.

• Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club in Grand Rapids for partial funding of trail grooming equipment.

• Bloomington Nordic Ski Team for ski equipment for new members of the high school ski team.

For more info: 2022 Media Release

2021 Awards
In 2021 we provided $25,000 for these projects:  


• Ottertail Nordic Ski Assoc.-skis for youth program

 

• Medicine Lake Ski Club–grooming equipment

• Loppet Foundation–lighting at Theo. Wirth Park

 

• Mt. Ashwabay–construction equipment for trails

 

• North Superior Ski Club–ski equipment & course markers

• Washington Co. Ski Club–ski equipment

 

2020 Awards
In 2020 this program provided $25,000 in funding for the following projects. 
FFI on 2020 projects: Link.

 

• MN Youth Ski League

• Bemidji Area Cross Country Ski Club

• Sugarbush Trail Assoc.

• Rochester Active Sports Club (RASA)

• Banadad Trail Assoc.

• Itasca Ski and Outing Club

• Agassiz Environmental Learning Ctr.




 



Trail Stewardship

Every fall the club schedules trail-clearing trips to several

Minnesota ski areas. Rolling up their
sleeves and brandishing hand tools, rakes and chainsaws, club members clear brush to get cross-country ski trails ready for the winter.

Schedule information is found on the Master Event Calendar. 


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XC ski slide show to get you in the mood for the season
Link to slide show of club activities displayed at North Stars booth at the Midwest Winter Expo

Donate to NSSTC Trail Development Fund

Donations to our Trail Fund are used to maintain and develop ski trails used by North Stars in Minnesota.  Each year teams of North Stars work on trimming, sawing, clearing, filling holes, building bridges, and other tasks to improve trails chosen by the club. Donated funds reimburse volunteers for travel expenses and purchase tools. 


We are glad to add this additional process so that members and other can make donations to the Trail Fund anytime, outside of membership sign-up or renewal transaction.  Donate to Trail Development Fund

Note: The Trail Fund is separate from the North Star Grant Program that funds projects proposed by organizations.

Donations for Maplelag Fire Recovery (click button for link)  Maplelag Donations 

Maplelag Fire 2022
North Stars is collecting donations to help Maplelag Resort recover from a disastrous fire, October 10, 2022. North Star Ski Touring Club has sponsored annual trips to Maplelag for over 35 years.  Hundreds of club members hold dear their experiences at this wonderful destination and want to contribute to the re-building of the property and maintenance of their excellent trails.

Announcements/News


Regular Club Meetings: 6:30pm (Social); 7pm (Program); 8:30 (End)
 > 2nd Tuesday of the Month, October to March
 > Hybrid Meetings:  Attend in person or virtually online.
 > Location: Danish American Ctr., 3030 W. River Rd Pkwy, Mpls
 > Join virtually via Zoom NSSTC Zoom Meeting Link
 > Meetings resume next October
 > Check Master Schedule for details Link to Events Master 
or Download Annual Monthly Meeting Schedule


Video recordings of recent NSSTC meetings


January 11, 2022 Membership Meeting:  Favorite Place to Ski: East, West, Midwest
A presentation by NSSTC member Bruce Nelson of North Stars' favorite places to ski. This includes a presentation by NSSTC member Bruce Nelson of North Stars’ favorite places to ski. This was part of a panel discussion with representatives of four X-country skiing clubs across the U.S.  The presenter from Nooksack Nordic Club in Bellingham, Washington discussed their favorite trails (https://www.nooksacknordicskiclub.org/trails/where-to-ski/if-i-had-three-days/) and
the Capital Area Ski Touring Association in New York discussed their favorite trails (https://www.nordicskiclub.org/ski_trails).  Link to this video: https://youtu.be/vOzaPRRmxeo
 
February 8, 2022 Membership Meeting:  Changing Climate of Minnesota
"Phantom Winters, Unexpected Throwbacks, and New Precipitation Extremes: The Changing Climate of Minnesota" presented by Dr. Kenneth Blumenfeld of the Minnesota State Climatology Office. 
Link to this video:  https://youtu.be/KuTWikTQ7mE


Club Zoom meetings now in Documents Library! 
To see "Trails of the North Shore" (December, 2021 meeting), go to "Resources" on the status line above, then "Document Library", "Folders" and on the bottom of the list click on "Club Zoom Meeting PDF's". 

Announcing Ski Mentoring Program
Our new program for beginning adult classic skiers connects our volunteers with skiers who have completed an organized ski lesson to meet on snow to provide tips and answer questions about how to improve and enjoy the skiing experience.

Link here for info about how the program works, how to request a mentor, practical learning tips such as clothes, safely falling and getting up, waxes, equipment, places to ski, getting into and out of your bindings and just stress-free support. 


 
Upcoming Events
Sept. 14, 2020 North Star "Test Run" Zoom Meeting
Bruce Nelson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: North Star Test Run Zoom Meeting
Time: Sep 14, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97426432976?pwd=bDQzTnlPTDJKZmkyQ09qZmhyWnN6QT09

Meeting ID: 974 2643 2976
Passcode: 284720
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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aT37kvIu


                             North Star Facebook Page

Click on photos below for more information about North Star Ski Touring Club

Membership

 Meet new friends, take advantage of the year-round activities and great ski trips. Join today for as little as $20/year!
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Extended Travel Ski Trips

 Join us in the many exciting ski trips offered each year. Join the club and enjoy the full package of benefits and save.
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Year-round Events

 Our spring, summer and fall events include hiking, cycling, paddling, social activities, volunteering and more.