ORDA’s Senior Manager of Sport Strategy and Engagement Kris Cheney-Seymour, middle, smiles with a group of young skiers at Mount Van Hoevenberg. (Provided photo — ORDA)

LAKE PLACID — The state Olympic Regional Development Authority recently announced an expanded slate of community cross-country skiing programs and events for the 2025-26 winter season at Mount Van Hoevenberg. These feature new offerings and returning favorites; the lineup is designed to make Nordic skiing more accessible for participants of all ages and abilities while complementing the venue’s daily skiing and year-round activities.

These community programs and events are available in addition to daily skiing and other activities available to all visitors:

Youth Skiing Programs are offered for two different age groups to provide area youth with safe opportunities to discover cross-country skiing as a healthy and fun recreational alternative.

¯ Wee Ski — for youth ages 3 to 6 (with an adult), this 11-week program provides a playful setting for youth to take their first strides on cross-country skis. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from Saturday through Feb. 21. Single-day options are also available.

¯ Pathfinders — for youth ages 7 to 12, this 12-week program offers dynamic opportunities for more independent skiers to develop skills and discover more. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday through Feb. 28.

¯ Through a collaboration with the New York Ski Educational Foundation and other partner organizations, MVH also offers additional skiing opportunities.

Snowboomers is a weekly guided ski session that provides camaraderie, coaching and fun for active adults aged 50 and older. From 1 to 3 p.m. each Thursday from Thursday through March 12. Free for season pass holders, while the $28 non-passholder drop-in fee includes a trail pass as well as equipment rental if needed.

ADK Tour De Ski is a citizen race series offering both youth and adults a chance to explore six different cross-country ski venues across the North Country with events of multiple distances throughout the winter months. The series begins on Sunday.

Full Moon Parties are guided group ski adventures for all ages that explore the MVH trails at night while allowing everyone to ski their preferred distance at their own pace. Includes bonfires and an apres ski party with live music inside the Mountain Pass Lodge. Tickets are $6 per person with parties on Saturday, Jan. 3, Jan. 31, Feb. 28 and March 28.

Lake Placid Loppet is a long-standing traditional celebration of Nordic skiing that provides events for all ages and abilities. The event’s signature 50K and 25K races are on challenging courses, while a Citizen’s Series provides three shorter distance events (2, 7.5 and 13K) on relatively flat terrain for those newer to the sport or looking for a simpler experience. All races can be skied using either the classic or skate technique. Start times vary from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 25.

In addition to youth-skiing classes, MVH will offer cross-country ski lessons for all ages and abilities through Discover Cross-Country Skiing, as well as a biathlon experience combining Nordic skiing with marksmanship. For visitors interested in the venue’s Olympic heritage, guided Legacy Tours are also available and the Mountain Pass Lodge features an indoor climbing center for year-round adventure.

Cross-country skiing at MVH officially opened for season pass-holders Nov. 15 and for the general public on Nov. 28. Season passes for the 2025-26 winter are available now and can be purchased online through the MVH website or in person at the Mountain Pass Lodge. Daily conditions reports for the Nordic ski trails at MVH are available on the venue’s website.

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Spectate and Recreate

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In addition to community skiing and lessons, MVH will host several elite international events this winter.

The venue will welcome the International Biathlon Union Cup from Feb. 26 to March 1 and March 4 to 7, featuring sprint, pursuit, individual and mixed relay races at the recently upgraded biathlon stadium. From March 19 to 22, the Lake Placid Finals, the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup, will bring the world’s fastest Nordic skiers to the venue for the season’s culminating cross-country ski event — the first time the U.S. will host the World Cup Finals since 2001. These marquee competitions complement MVH’s full winter calendar of youth programs, recreational skiing, lessons and guided tours, with full event schedules and ticket information available on the venue’s events page.