May 30, 2019 – Former U.S skier and Olympian Garrott Kuzzy has devoted the last few years of his life building Lumi Experiences, an XC Ski travel company that aims to run unforgettable winter trips around Europe, while simultaneously helping support the US Nordic ski community. Based out of Middlebury, Vermont, “Lumi”, the Finnish word for snow, has run seven winter trips over the past two winters, giving guests a VIP experience at World Cups and European ski destinations alike while raising $16,800 for NNF.

The company has partnered with the National Nordic Foundation, and donates a portion of their profits from each annual NNF trip to the foundation and their initiatives. With the goal being to assist in developing the next generation of U.S junior Nordic skiers, the company has already contributed $16,800 in donations since 2018. A total of $500 – $800 from each NNF trip participant is donated directly to the Foundation while the rest goes back into the company.

Kuzzy commented on the partnership, saying that, “The idea behind it was simply to share the European ski experience that junior racers have with NNF supporters, giving the supporters the opportunity to compete themselves in a Worldloppet, plus cheer on the US Ski Team at a World Cup.”

Kuzzy, a Minneapolis, MN-native, raced professionally for over five years after graduating from Middlebury College where he also competed on their XC ski team. With a career highlight 9th-place result in the Skate Sprint at the 2008 Canmore World Cup, Kuzzy was also one of three U.S XC Team skiers to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and holds a wealth of knowledge of the inner workings of the sport. He retired in 2011 and moved to Innsbruck, Austria in 2016 after his wife, Catherine Collins, accepted a position with an Austrian company.

He launched Lumi Experiences in 2016 between semesters at grad school while he pursued a Masters Business degree. After his retired from racing, Kuzzy cut his teeth in the travel adventure world as a guide for VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations developing cycling and walking tours in German-speaking countries and at US National Parks. He left VBT to work as Nordic Director at GMVS in 2015.

Since then, the company has shared the beauty of skiing in the alps with U.S travelers, and has run some truly unique trips over the last couple of years for NNF supporters.

“The advantage to this partnership is that NNF can help get the word out to their supporters and, as an Austrian local, I can help deliver an excellent experience,” explained Kuzzy.

In the first year, NNF guests were given a tour of the US Team’s new wax truck with Matt Whitcomb, checked out the World Cup races, and got to meet and watch U.S skiers compete among other activities. A similar experience was run this past season at the Nordic World Championships in Seefeld, Austria, as NNF guests were led around by 2x Olympian Holly Brooks.

The company has already laid out numerous trips for the 2020 season, including the Best of Bavaria trip which will run in partnership with the NNF. Guests will get an inside look at the 2020 Oberstdorf World Cup races, along with the opportunity to explore over 200 km of ski trails in Austria, and to participate in the König Ludwig Lauf Worldloppet event in Oberammergau.

The company has also partnered with the Loppet Foundation (organizers for the Minneapolis World Cup, amongst many other things) for the Dresden to the Dolomites trip set to run in January of 2020. Donations will be made to the organization in a similar way as with the NNF.

Full list of trips and destinations can be found here.