Minneapolis to Munich and the $100 assumption
Minneapolis to Munich and the $100 assumption

On August 15, the US was added to Germany's list of High Risk Areas. What does this mean?! Considering I had a flight from Minneapolis to Munich on August 16, I was a little apprehensive when I read the news. Fortunately for vaccinated US travelers, the new High Risk Area designation doesn’t mean much. In fact, I found out after getting a $100 Covid test that a negative test isn’t even required to enter Germany. Hopefully, my mistake helps save our travelers on next week’s Lumi trip to Austria and Slovenia.

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Garrott KuzzyTravel Advice
The Current International Flight Experience: Europe to USA
The Current International Flight Experience: Europe to USA

I was practically born in the air. My mom worked for Northwest Airlines and within weeks of my birth, I was on my first flight to visit grandparents.

This week, I took my first flight in over a year -- by far the longest period in my life I’ve gone without flying. What would it be like to fly over the ocean and cross international borders for the first time since early in the Covid pandemic? Based on what I had read in the news, I was expecting hurdles at every step. But in the end, I was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience.

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Garrott KuzzyTrip Leader, Travel Advice
A Case for Spring...
A Case for Spring...

Fall is my favorite season. Hands down. The snow starts to fall, trails begin to reopen, race season is impending and the excitement on the trails is palpable. At the same time, daylight wanes quickly, loops are small and often on artificial snow and there’s a rigid training plan to follow. These are all strong cases for the benefits of spring skiing…

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Garrott KuzzyTrip Leader
Earth Day 2022
Earth Day 2022

In honor of Earth Day, we are taking a look at the sustainability of skiing and ski travel. Like little canaries, Nordic skiers see and feel the impacts of climate change on our sport. What is our impact? How might we ski more sustainably?

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Garrott KuzzyTrip Leader
Video Postcard from Seefeld
Video Postcard from Seefeld

Winter continues in Seefeld, Austria. This week marks 5 months of daily grooming since the trails opened last November. Huge thanks to the grooming team for providing impressive consistency in such an uncertain year. The combination of an extensive snowmaking system and excellent snow conditions have made for a great base that has lasted to (and through!) April 15.

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AustriaGarrott KuzzyTrip Leader
Firn Gleiten aka Figln!
Firn Gleiten aka Figln!

From the “Wait, that’s a sport?!” desk, we bring you … Figln.

That’s right, folks: Firn Gleiten. Firn describes snow as it transforms from early morning crust (harsch) into wet, sugary afternoon Firn, warmed by the sun. Gleiten is the German word for “gliding.”

The sport of Firn Gleiten, or Figln, evolved in Tyrol from spring hikers putting very short skis in their backpacks, then strapping the skis onto hiking boots in order to glide back down the mountain on the firn snow.

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AustriaGarrott KuzzyTrip Leader, Culture
Crust Cruising & the Icarus Rule
Crust Cruising & the Icarus Rule

Sunny spring days and cold, clear nights. Assuming there’s still snow on the ground, this is the perfect season for crust cruising. Pack your skate skis and arrive at the trail shortly before sunrise. If the groomer made it out last night, you may find some icy corduroy on the trail. Today though, you’re heading away from the groomed trails to explore the snow-covered landscape.

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Garrott KuzzyTrip Leader
Planica, Slovenia
Planica, Slovenia

Planica is a place you want to learn to pronounce. You’ll be hearing it a lot in the lead-up to the 2023 Nordic World Championships in Planica, Slovenia. Planica isn’t a village. Technically, it’s the name of a valley in the northwestern corner of Slovenia, less than 10km from the 3-country border with Italy and Austria. For all intents and purposes, Planica is a Nordic ski venue. Specifically, a ski jumping venue, best known as host of the final ski flying World Cup of the year, the last weekend in March. That’s this weekend.

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SloveniaGarrott KuzzyWorld Cup
Holmenkollen, Norway
Holmenkollen, Norway

The Holmenkollen Ski Stadium in Norway was quiet last weekend, with no final World Cup of the season. No fans camped out for days to cheer on racers. No ski jumpers flying over Oslo. Still, like the rest of the ski world, they are already preparing for events to return next winter.

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NorwayGarrott KuzzyWorld Cup