January 6, 2006 – Here is Tamarack Resort’s Nordic News:

We hope your 2006 has started off well! There is a lot happening with Tamarack Resort’s Nordic program and we wanted to touch base with you about the exciting developments. First and foremost, we have a new director of the Tamarack Nordic & Snowshoe Center – Llona Ney Clausen.

New Nordic Director

Who could have guessed that a gal who was raised in Georgia and didn’t see snow until she was in her twenties would end up skiing and teaching in two hemispheres? Well, that’s just one of the interesting twists in Llona Ney Clausen’s life story.

Llona, the new director of the Tamarack Nordic & Snowshoe Center, learned to ski relatively late in life-a fact that only helped make her more determined to excel. Eventually, she became a Level III PSIA Certified Ski Instructor and a USSA Certified Coach. She even won the Midwest Track and Telemark Championship in 1985!

It was Llona’s love of teaching and coaching that took her to the other side of the world. She spent seven summers at the Lake Mountain Ski School in Australia where she helped develop a children’s teaching area, as well as programs for children, juniors and instructors. After that rewarding experience, Llona brought her many talents back to the United States. She spent the next 14 years managing the Minocqua Winter Park Nordic Center, one of the top Nordic facilities in the country. For the past eight years, Llona managed the ski shop at the Minocqua facility. This job gave Llona more time to teach and coach, which are two of the things that she loves most and does best.

Now Llona is putting her exceptional skills to work for us, with the goal of helping the Tamarack Nordic & Snowshoe Center offer the very best programs, lessons and equipment available anywhere in the world.

Upcoming Nordic Events
– Lifestyles: A Weekend for Women / January 20-23
Healthy lifestyle choices this winter is the focus of our weekend clinic. Geared toward women who have not had much exposure to the world of winter activities, we will introduce snowshoeing, followed by flatland skiing, progressing to more hilly Nordic terrain. Mornings will include a spa program and evenings will include relaxing in a sauna or hot tub. Delectable dinners on Friday and Saturday, along with lunches Saturday and Sunday will be healthy with a gourmet touch. This is one example of a push towards lifestyle events that Llona is focusing on, to incorporate Nordic and snowshoeing into

– Annual Idaho Nordic Tamarack Loppet Race / January 14
(Idaho Nordic Point Series Race #2)
Time: Adult races begin at 11:00 a.m. Kids’ races begin at 1:00 p.m.
Distances: 15K, 30K and Kids’ 1K, 3K Races
Fees: $30 until January 7, then $45
Free for Kids’ 1K, $5 for Kids’ 3K (no late fee)
Race fee includes trail pass, race, and raffle ticket.
Registration Online www.Spondoro.com

– Subaru Factory Team Cross-Country Ski Camp / February 9-12
An intensive four day cross-country skiing camp with members of the Subaru Factory Team – America’s premier cross-country ski team. The team is comprised of 13 champion athletes, including two Olympians and four national champions. Winners of the American Ski Marathon Series 12 years in a row, the team’s mission is to use the exposure that its racing success brings to show America’s snowbound populace how cross-country skiing can maximize their enjoyment of winter.
Thursday, February 9
* Check in
* Group session to talk about skiing history-goals etc.
* Gear selection clinic and Salomon demo skis and boots
Friday, February 10
* Skate Waxing lesson
* Skating technique session
* Watch world cup videos over lunch
* Skating technique – take video of skiers technique, evening review video of skiers technique
Saturday, February 11
*Kick waxing clinic
* Classic technique clinic
* Training plan discussion
* Classical technique – Take video of skiers technique
* Classical technique video review of skiers technique
Sunday, February 12
*Entry into the Idaho State Games Nordic Race
All participants get entry, and the Factory Team members will be racing as well
*There will be a pre race warm up and a wrap up after the race.
Cost: $450 for clinic / Cost Includes: Coaching, Equipment Demos, Video analysis, Training Plans and Subaru Factory Team Swag
Please let us know if you need any more information on any of the events, or Tamarack’s Nordic & Snowshoe programming. We’d love to have you visit the resort this winter or spring to meet Llona and learn about the programs. Let us know if your schedule permits a trip to Tamarack!