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Hello 2026 - After a series of hurricane-force windstorms, Mother Nature finally accepted all your snow dances and hit “reply all.” The result? Record-breaking snowfall and a full-on winter reboot.. and there’s more on the way! Dust off those skis—epic conditions have arrived. We won’t soon forget the winds that slammed the door on 2025, only to be followed by a snowy mic drop. Just another reminder that living in Alaska is never boring!

The Tree Tour that Wouldn’t Quit!

Visitors braved the blustery winds to take part in our annual Holiday Tree Tour—proof that a little weather won’t stop a good tradition. While hurricane-force winds forced a postponement, our Plan B was not to be thwarted. A hearty crew showed up for some much-needed outdoor time, and the trees along Pioneer Loop did their part by offering a bit of wind cover and a whole lot of sparkle. The result? A cozy, memorable evening among the lights.

We’re incredibly grateful to the sponsors who showed up en force and helped make this year’s event shine: Pioneer Peak Orthopedics, Matt Lemons Realty, AKTive Soles, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, Healthy Futures, Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, Farm Loop Christian Center, Friends Wishing Tree, and the Yerbich Family.

A huge thank-you goes out to our volunteer crew, led by the ever-steadfast Stephanie LaRousse, whose dedication and good spirits kept everything running smoothly despite the wild conditions. And a special shout-out to our past decoration winners who returned to light up the trail once again—Backcountry Bike & Ski / Now Health and Skeetawk / Pioneer Ski Patrol. Your creativity, resilience, and community spirit are what make the Tree Tour a beloved tradition, wind and all.

Adult Ski Lessons – Sign Up Today!

Bookings are open for Adult Ski Lessons in January and February! This member benefit offers small classes—capped at 5 participants—with the flexibility to move between GPRA and Archangel Road depending on conditions.

• Classic Ski Lessons: Tuesdays 12:00–1:00 PM & Saturdays 12:30–1:30 PM

• Skate Technique Lessons: Wednesdays 12:00–1:00 PM & Saturdays 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

Snow is here, trails are fantastic… grab your skis and sign up today! Hit the trails, improve your technique, and glide into an amazing cross-country season!

Wondering how to book your lessons?

If you're already a member, head to your Member Dashboard at www.matsuski.org and scroll down to the "Adult Ski Lessons" button. If you're not a member yet.... what are you waiting for?! Head over and become a member now: MSSC Membership

Gabe Black had a standout performance at the National Championships, finishing as the 2nd U18 American and earning his spot on the 2026 U18 Scandinavian Competition Trip to Trondheim, Norway, and Ulricehamn, Sweden.

After setting this goal at the end of last season, Gabe has worked extremely hard and prepared diligently throughout the year. We’re thrilled to see that dedication pay off and couldn’t be happier for his success!

Despite adverse ski conditions, I am warmed by our ski community's love to ski and adventure.  Apparently, skiing isn't just something to do when it's nice and easy, but something in our nature.

We took advantage of the flat skiing at Mud Lake to improve our "V2", the most beautiful and balanced yet most difficult to master technique.

Eric Strabel, Mat-Su Nordic Head Coach

We’re so excited to kick off another great year of Junior Nordics, and we’re starting up this week!

Clear and timely communication is key, especially when it comes to weather, venue changes, or schedule adjustments. Families, please be sure to check your email regularly for important updates—especially the email linked to your MSSC membership. Signing up for the Remind app is also highly recommended, as it’s the fastest way to receive timely notifications, including Wax of the Day (WOD) and last-minute venue or weather updates.

We’re incredibly grateful to be partnering with Skeetawk, which gives us a fantastic alternative location for new terrain and when conditions aren’t favorable at GPRA. This flexibility helps keep our kids on snow and smiling!

If you have any questions, please visit our Junior Nordics page or email juniornordics@matsuski.org. Thank you all for being part of our Junior Nordics community—we can’t wait for a fun season ahead!

Let’s go ski! Stephanie LaRousse, Junior Nordics Program Manager

It’s not too late to grab your Membership! Join today!

Friendly reminder: We moved to a new website platform this year, which means your old login credentials won’t work—even if your browser autofills them. After you select your membership, the site will prompt you to create a new account. Thank you for taking this extra step. Your membership truly fuels our mission, and we couldn’t do this work without you!

GPRA News!

There’s a new vendor—and new hours—at the GPRA Chalet for January and February! NerdBox will be serving drinks and food in the Chalet, with January/February hours of 12:30–7:00pm, Monday–Thursday, featuring soups and paninis. Be sure to stop by and check it out!

Whether you’re heading up to Hatcher Pass, GPRA, the Moose Range, or the Mud Lake area, be sure to stop by our one-stop reporting hub to know before you go!

All of these trails are groomed by our incredible volunteer Snow Crew—some of the most selfless folks around—who donate their time (often late at night or in the early hours) to give back to our community and keep our trails in great shape.

Want to say thanks? Consider making a donation or grabbing a membership to show your appreciation. And if you have a kind word or trail feedback, send it to info@matsuski.org and we’ll happily pass it along to the team! ❄️

Welcome OPA to the Trails at GPRA

We’re excited to welcome our new partner, Orthopedic Physicians of Alaska, to the trails at GPRA! OPA is our newest Bridge Sponsor, with plans to call the bottom of Waterfall Hill their new home—keep an eye out for signage coming soon.

They’ve also shared an incredible opportunity that’s free for everyone to join, and we’re happy to help spread the word!

On behalf of the Mat-Su Ski Club staff and Board of Directors, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during the slow start to the season and those who continue to stand by us as the snowpack builds. We can’t do it without you and your support means the world! We are charged for an epic season of skiing, memories, and connections with all of you. We remain snow excited!