The Stowe Tour de Snow is designed to showcase the best of what Stowe has to offer winter visitors, locals and neighbors alike. The idea is both simple and genius. On the 5.3 mile Stowe Recreation Path, families and friends ski, walk, snowshoe or run and participate in fun-filled activities grouped into stations each sponsored, organized, and staffed by local and area businesses and organizations.

The seven large stations include a combination of warm up exercises, yoga intro sessions, Nordic terrain park, "Learn to Ski and Snowshoe" clinics, dunk tank, biathlon and laser rifle target shooting, hockey puck shooting, sled-pulling contest, slalom ski course competition, snow disc golf, environmentally friendly winter arts & crafts, winter survival station, food and drinks, family bootcamp, and other games and contests on skis and snowshoes. The Stowe Tour de Snow finishes at the heart of Stowe Village, in the Helen day Art Center on Pond Street where participants are treated to more festivities, prizes, raffles, food and contests.

The Stowe Tour de Snow is a guaranteed success for families and individuals eager to try new snow experiences and enjoy a full day of activities on the Stowe Rec Path. Free Nordic ski equipment and lessons are offered to all registered children, as well as adaptive Nordic equipment for disabled athletes participating in this fun all inclusive accessible event!  All proceeds from the Tour contribute to the enhancement of the winter use of the Stowe Rec Path and the greatly successful S.K.I.S. (Skiing Kids in Schools) program providing cross country ski equipment and professional instructions to Stowe School students grades 3-8.

by Pascale Savard, event creator and organizer

$5 doesn’t buy much in this day in age, but at the Stowe Tour de Snow this past Sunday, that is all one had to spend to enjoy a full day of Nordic skiing, games and food on the Stowe Rec Path.

Stowe, Vt. January 7, 2013 - Add dog sledding and biathlon to your list of “must-do” activities at the Stowe Tour de Snow this year.  October Siberians, a Vermont sled dog team and Siberian Husky kennel is loading up a truck and bringing sleds and a dozen pure-bred Siberian Huskies, ranging from less than a year old to 15 years old.  The outfitter, hired by Friends of Rec Path, will offer short rides to Tour participants.

There may be no free lunch, but the organization “Friends of Rec Path” is planning a series of eight free weekly lunch time Nordic ski clinics on the Rec Path this winter. The clinics are aimed at all levels of skiers, from first timers wishing to gain a little experience and a lot of fresh air, to skiers eager to learn techniques to ski more efficiently. The clinic instructor, Robyn Anderson is from the high performance local ski team, VTXC.

Each weekly clinic will be from 12:30-1:30pm on Mondays beginning January 14th (snow and weather permitting). Local and area businesses are being asked to participate in this healthy community effort by sponsoring one or more of the clinics for $100 each. There will be a possibility of meeting and ending the ski clinic near the sponsoring business (if physically possible), as well an opportunity to offer a store special or coupon to participants.