Winter in the South Bend area: Adaptive skiing, Mushing 101 and more winter sports
A newly built ice skating ribbon, a mind-blowing ski film, a ski program for all abilities and DIY dog mushing lessons are all just weeks away. Flurries may come and go. But if winter sports were a steam locomotive, the engineers are stocking the engine with coal as we read.
Adaptive skiing
If you love skiing, why not share it? The all-volunteer adaptive ski program Special Outdoor Leisure Opportunities, or SOLO, now seeks both skiing volunteers and kids and adults with special needs who want to learn how to ski, either downhill or cross country.
SOLO invites anyone interested in the program to learn more on a hike with volunteers, students and families at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 on the wooded, dirt trails at Rum Village Park’s nature center, 2626 S. Gertrude St., South Bend. You’ll find me there, because — full disclosure — I’m a volunteer and serve on its board.
Insiders' look at SOLO in 2017:Adaptive ski program seeks volunteers and learners with special needs
When SOLO’s season begins in early January, the group uses Rum Village's snow-covered lawns on Saturday mornings for nordic ski lessons or snowshoeing (the nature center makes a great warm-up chalet for hot cocoa). Downhill lessons on Monday nights are at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones. SOLO provides bus transportation from Granger, if needed.
All of this, including ski rentals at Swiss, cost volunteers nothing — except for patience, high fives and laughs. Ski students pay just $10 for the cross-country program (skis and boots are provided) and $50 for downhill, including ski rentals. “Skier-ships” are available if you can’t afford it.
Orientation will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 virtually and at the Logan Center, 2505 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend. Find more details at skisolomichiana.org.
Warren Miller film
The annual touring Warren Miller film, in its 73rd year of providing fresh documentary footage of extreme snow sports, will be shown Nov. 17 at the Riviera Theatre, 48 N. Main St., in downtown Three Rivers, Mich. That’ll be the closest showing to the South Bend area.
This year’s film, titled “Daymaker,” follows athletes chasing mountain powder in Greece, Switzerland, British Columbia and Alaska, including adaptive backcountry snowboard riding and summertime skiing by cows on Swiss grass.
SOLO, including me, will be among the vendor tables for ski resorts and outfitters. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. for schmoozing. The film will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15, which typically includes swag like resort discounts and a raffle. Order them at warrenmiller.blogspot.com.
Mushing 101
Does your dog have what it takes to mush — that is, to pull you while you’re riding a sled, mountain bike, specially designed wheeled cart or skis? Or even canicross, where you run behind your harnessed dog via a line fixed to your waist?
On Nov. 19, Elkhart County Parks brings back a class that it’s held for a few years, where members of the Heartland Mushers Association teach and let you try out the basics of the sport. Snow or no snow, it will happen from 1 to 3 p.m. at Benton Dam in River Preserve County Park, which is on County Road 31 south of U.S. 33 in New Paris.
No one expects you and Fluffy to enter the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. Or Midwest races.
Just bring your dog, though the instructors typically have some of their own seasoned mushing dogs for you to observe and help you experience it. They’ll also have bikes, wheeled carts and other gear needed. It may help to bring a mountain bike that you eventually would want to use.
I wrote a column after attending the 2020 workshop with tips and insight, including gear and mushing organizations in Indiana and Michigan, linked in this column online.
November 2020:Will Fluffy mush with bike, sled or skis? Experts teach beginners at park near Goshen.
Cost is $10 per person, open to ages 12 and older. Dogs must be at least 15 pounds to participate and on a six-foot leash. One dog per person or family.Register by Nov. 16 at elkhartcountyparks.org.
More to watch
∎ Ski fence: It’s possible that managers at Madeline Bertrand County Park in Niles will once again erect a fence this winter to keep skiers and hikers from crossing in from the neighboring St. Patrick’s County Park in South Bend. Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams has said that last year’s fence worked well to protect Bertrand’s groomed trails from being walked over and being used by non-paying skiers. Bertrand Manager Derek Tyler told the Berrien County Parks Commission this fall that he’d planned to meet with St. Pat’s staff in October or November about the season’s ski policies. That has yet to happen. I know several of you paying skiers didn’t like losing the ability to ski back and forth between the two parks.
∎ Mishawaka ice: The city is steaming ahead with plans to open its newly built ice ribbon and rink at Beutter Park in downtown on Dec. 3, where it will host its free Winter Fest from 5 to 10 p.m. with skating, Santa, tree lighting, a lighted parade and a lot more. This facility replaces the old rink at Merrifield Park.
Also in this column:Free parks for veterans, Turkey Trot and park closures for deer hunts
∎ Howard Park in South Bend plans to open its ice ribbon Nov. 25 with all-day “Winter Open” activities.
∎ Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones seeks on-slope instructors and will host a meet-and-greet with snow-sports staff from 9 to 10 a.m. Nov. 12. For pay, perks or questions, email snowsports@skiswissvalley.com.
Find columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Winter things to do: Ice skating, dog mushing and Warren Miller film
