The Nordic News | Alley Loop Edition

Alley Loop Week!

After months of planning and weeks of intensive prep, the Alley Loop, our favorite mix of wild costumes and serious competition, is finally here! Get ready to bridge the gap between elite athleticism and pure mountain town revelry as we take to the streets and trails.

Have you signed up to race yet? While day-of registration is open until 30 minutes before each race, save yourself the stress and register here.

We need a few more volunteer heroes to help make Alley Loop weekend possible. We are looking for course marshals, start-line help, and town clean-up. 

Sign up to volunteer here!

If you’re not participating in the parade of spandexed skiers flying through town, here are some tips to avoid the crowds this weekend.

• Head to Ruthie’s Run or the East Side trails on Saturday.

• There’s a Pinnacle Orthopedics Community Series Race on Ruthie’s Run on Sunday morning. Head out to the East or West Side trails for that.

• Don’t forget to join us for the Sunday Yurt Bistro.

Check out the Alley Loop page and Racer Manual for all the details.

See you on the trails (or in the alleys)!

Parking Restrictions

Thursday Night

Fri., January 30 at 12:01 a.m. - Sat., January 31 at 6:00 p.m.

Full Closure: No Driving, No Parking

• Elk Avenue: from the West End (Old Kebler) to 3rd St.

• Elk / Maroon ALLEY: between 1st St. and 2nd St.

• EAST side of 3rd Street: between Totem Pole Park and Butte Ave.

• Sopris / Whiterock ALLEY: between 1st St. and 3rd St.

Friday Night

Sat., January 31 at 12:01 a.m. - Sat., January 31 at 6:00 p.m.

Full Closure: No Driving, No Parking

• 1st  Street: West side of street from Whiterock Ave. to Maroon Ave.

• 2nd Street: NORTH of Elk Ave. to Alleys

• 3rd Street: SOUTH side of intersection at 3rd and Elk Ave.

General Town of Crested Butte parking restrictions apply throughout Alley Loop weekend. Please ensure you are following these regulations via the link below.

Thank you for your support and accommodation as we put on the most unique ski race in the country!

The Nordic Village

Bib Pick-Up and Alley Loop Expo

Bib pick-up will be hosted at the Center for the Arts, conveniently located within walking distance of the Four Way bus stop and ample public parking. While you’re there, explore and shop with brands like Fischer, Skida, Maloja, and Intrepid Campers.

Families can decorate ski poles at the Trailhead Children's Museum table, connect with other local non-profits from across the valley, and take part in other hands-on experiences throughout the expo. Demo skis and try your hand at biathlon rifles with Fischer, then warm up and recharge in the Norra Dalen Nordic Sauna.

Fischer Equipment and Biathlon

Swing by the Fischer booth and try out demo equipment. We’ll be grooming a loop in the Town Park next to the Center for the Arts, so you can head right out the doors to get a feel for their boots and skis.

On Friday, January 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Fischer will be hosting a Biathlon Try-It afternoon! Use Fischer equipment and infrared rifles to get a feel for this growing sport. This demo will be lead by Team USA member Amanda Kautzer.

You can also catch Amanda signing autographs at the Expo from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.!

Alley Loop Wax Service

Reservations Required / Drop Off by Friday Morning

Limited quantity of Wax Service Reservations are offered by Crested Butte Nordic with support from Boulder Nordic Sport. Reservations can be made on Ski Sign Up, where you registered.

Non-Fluoro Race Wax – $75
Application of base layer glide wax + liquid race glide wax (non-fluoro).

 *Kick wax will not be applied to classic skis.

Skis should be dropped off at the CB Nordic Center Front Desk during Alley Loop week between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The deadline to drop skis for service is Friday (1/30) at 8 a.m.

Finished skis will be available for pick-up on Saturday, January 31 from 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. in the CB Nordic Outpost.

Yurt Bistro

Sunday, February 1

Just because we’re Ally Looping doesn’t mean we’re not Bistroing either. Stop by the Magic Meadows Yurt this Sunday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. We’re serving up a la carte brunch items, including pastries, soup, and hot beverages. Grab your friends and family and come celebrate the start of February.

A trail pass and nordic skis/snowshoes are required. Please remember, no dogs at the yurt.

If you can’t make it this Sunday, the Bistro will be back weekly through March 22, with the exception of February 15 for the Gothic Mountain Tour.

February Masters

Sessions start next week.

It’s here. We're knocking on February's door, which means our last Masters session is here. The Alley Loop may be over, but we’ve got two months of skiing ahead of us. Make the most of it.

Sessions start Tuesday, February 3. Sign up for Skate and Classic Technique, Power Hour, Adult Biathlon, Performance, or Performance Lite. 

Registration closes Friday, January 30, at 5 p.m.

If committing to a whole Masters session is too big a bite, we’ll be hosting seven individual skills clinics in March. Topics will be announced in February.

Kilometer Krush

Compete for nordic glory!

February offers the finest nordic skiing of the season, and in Crested Butte, we want to celebrate it with a healthy dose of competition.

So, for all of you secretly (or not so secretly) competitive nordic skiers, we’re putting on the Kilometer Krush once again.

Between February 1 and March 8, get out there and ski as many kilometers on the CB Nordic Trails as you can. Similar to last year, we’ll have you submit your tracks via a form linked on the Kilometer Krush page.

We’ll crown the Overall Kilometer King and Queen for Classic and Skate, West Side, East Side, and Ruthie’s Run Champions.

Son of an Alley Loop Skiathon

Pinnacle Orthopedics Community Race Series #4 - 2/1/26

Double your racing fun on Alley Loop weekend with the Son of an Alley Loop Skiathon on Sunday, February 1 at 10 a.m. on the Ruthie’s Run trails. This hybrid race will feature one lap of skate and one lap of classic in 10, 6, or 2 k.m. distances.

Register online now, or day-of at the Nordic Center front desk. Remember to bring both pairs of skis up to the race venue!

Gothic Mountain Tour

Prices Increase February 1

Cure your Singles Awareness Day blues with a lap around Gothic Mountain on February 15. If you’re in a happy relationship, you can also use it to commemorate the USS Maine or Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan; we won’t judge.

All jokes aside, we still have space in both the Recreational and Competitive courses, and prices for both increase on Sunday, February 1. Don’t let this year’s snowfall get you down either - Pittsburg picked up nearly 2’ of snow out of the latest storm, and Gothic picked up around a foot. Come get your skimo on!

Sponsor of the Week:

Enjoy Winter and Mande Sauna & Hot Tub

EnjoyWinter, the brands of Nordic, is pleased to be an Alley Loop and CB Nordic partner. We are America's largest independent distributor of cross-country ski equipment. Each of the 20+ brands we import specializes in but one product category. Get gloves from a company that only makes gloves, get poles from the pole maker, get nordic skis from a Nordic ski maker.... Get products from a product specialist and not from brand extensions.

Without skis, snow is something you shovel. Let us help you glide through winter!

EnjoyWinter is pleased to introduce you to their latest brand, Mande Saunas from Lithuania. Step into serenity at Mande Sauna, where modern wellness meets ancient tradition. Designed to rejuvenate your body and calm your mind, Mande Sauna offers a luxurious escape from the everyday, perfect for your apres ski routine. Whether you’re trying to recover after a workout, reconnect with yourself, or simply unwind in pure comfort, Mande Sauna is your at-home sanctuary for relaxation and renewal.

EnjoyWinter is pleased to offer CB Nordic members and Alley Loop racers 10% off our saunas.

Simply shop at www.EnjoyWinter.com and use code CBMande at checkout.

You Make All the Difference

Be Part of Our Community

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Crested Butte Nordic depends on your support to keep our trails world-class and our programs top-notch. Please consider making a gift to help us get more people outside, having life-changing experiences in the outdoors, all year long.

Interested in making a legacy gift to CB Nordic? Contact Executive Director Hedda Peterson, hedda@cbnordic.org, to learn more about how to make a gift that sustains CB Nordic so that future generations can experience the beauty and wonder of winter.