News & Stories

Edison Outdoor Club Swaps Mountain Biking for Skinny Skiing

On a chilly, windy Friday evening, 15 skiers from Edison High School — and two super volunteer teachers — warmed up to their first ski outing of the winter season.

Edison High School — whose Outdoor Club has exposed students to rock climbing, camping, and hiking, and, with the Loppet Foundation this fall, mountain biking — is excited to bring Northeast Minneapolitans to the trails of Theo Wirth.

Rallying the crew pre-ski, English teacher John Strand (who also moonlights as a TRAIL KIDS coach!) said:

“For some kinds of people, cross country skiing is more than just a sport. For some kinds of people, this thing is something closer to a religion. And I hope that you all become that kind of people.”

Armed with these rousing words and rental skis — and trail passes, of course! — the Edison Outdoor Club took to the snowmaking loop for their first strides.

Edison students received coaching from a Loppet Foundation ski instructor, focusing primarily on the fundamentals of cross country skiing: starting and stopping, step-turning, snowplowing and herringboning — although a few Junior Loppet alums were quick to relearn these and moved on to double-pole relays!

The group then went out for a ski on the lit manmade loop, which was full of falls and nervousness; but also grit and resilience! The crew definitely earned their granola bars and hot cocoa!

Be sure to catch the Edison Outdoors Club on their next outing — second out of four! — on January 12th.