Nordic Group International formed a strategic alliance with SE Group, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm specializing in the planning, design, and development of mountain and resort communities throughout the world.

NGI/SE Group’s complementary skills will concentrate initially on winter operations as a way to increase revenue for golf courses in snowbelt/snowmaking areas.

The team’s goals include helping golf courses optimize profitability, staff retention, community service, and real estate sales. Services include feasibility studies, financial modeling, facility/trail design, and marketing.

Nordic Group International’s Jonathan Wiesel authored an article on the benefits of winter operations for golf courses. The article is scheduled to appear in the July, 2009, issue of Golf Course Management.

NGI was selected as lead consultant to develop a Master Plan for upgrades at Blow Me Down Cross Country Ski Park. The venue is in Corner Brook, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Associated consultants are SE Group (Vermont office) and SD Architects (New Hampshire).

The project calls for assessment of existing trails, facilities, and programs; design of a new lodge; and recommendations for conversion into a multi-season operation.

NGI’s Jonathan Wiesel offered his solutions to the cross-country ski world’s financial issues in an article and interview on the Mountain News Industry Report. The article was based on Wiesel’s thoughts on areas as diverse as women’s markets, operational trends, climate, the economy, equipment sales, and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Nordic Group International’s Jonathan Wiesel received media attention across the U.S. and Canada – including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and major-market radio stations – for his new book (Cross-Country Ski Getaways) and web site. Some of the radio interviews Jonathan did in support of his new book and site can be heard at www.crosscountryskifun.com.

The NGI-led trails team for the Greylock Glen Outdoor and Recreation Center project in Adams, Massachusetts assumed additional project responsibility – in this case, for all trails and infrastructure within the "hub" activity zone. NGI’s John Frado contracted to design trails, terrain gardens, snowmaking, lighting and trails center features for this development area.

Trail construction for Phase 1 is expected to begin in summer, 2009. NGI will assist in choosing a contractor for this work and has been retained to supervise construction.

Jonathan Wiesel’s new e-book, Cross-Country Ski Getaways, was called “the best cross country guide ever written” in a review in www.onthesnow.com.

Nordic Group International’s Jonathan Wiesel launched a new web site, www.crosscountryskifun.com. It offers the newest edition of Cross-Country Ski Getaways, which has received a lot of attention from the Nordic ski community and praise from the media. The site also features ski area photos and web site links, a question-and-answer feature, podcasts and interviews about cross-country skiing and ski destinations, and a blog that celebrates the joys of cross-country skiing and passes on new information.

Nordic Group International’s John Frado returned to Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, to evaluate construction progress on state-of-the-art multi-season trails at Menihek Nordic Ski Club.

Nordic Group International’s Jonathan Wiesel was appointed editor of Nordic Network, the monthly trade publication of Cross Country Ski Areas Association. CCSAA is an industry trade group made up of ski areas, resorts, clubs, trail systems, guides and outfitters, specialty retailers, and related ski businesses throughout North America.

Nordic Group International’s John Frado completed initial evaluations of bridging specifications, stream and wetlands crossings, and dog trail needs for the $44-million Greylock Glen Outdoor and Recreation Center project in Adams, Massachusetts.

Nordic Group International’s Jonathan Wiesel and John Frado were featured in an article in The Aurora, a newspaper in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador. The article covered their work designing new trails for Menihek Nordic Ski Club.
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Nordic Group International’s Jonathan Wiesel and John Frado were invited back to Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, for final routing of new trails at the Menihek Nordic Ski Club. At the request of Iron Ore Company of Canada, they were also asked to facilitate a Winter Recreation Vision Workshop in Labrador City. Invitees included recreation groups, government agencies, local businesses, tourism entities, and other community stakeholders.

Nordic Group International’s principals delivered major presentations at Cross Country Ski Areas Association’s convention at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colorado. John Frado covered environmental sustainability in developing and marketing trails and facilities, while Jonathan Wiesel discussed the benefits and structure of marketing plans for any size cross-country operation. Both were selected by participants as some of the most useful and relevant presentations in three intensive days of meetings.

NGI successfully carried out preliminary re-routing of trails at Menihek Nordic Ski Club in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador. NGI also discussed the benefits of state-of-the-art multi-season trails and associated facilities with local stakeholders. Funding was provided by the Iron Ore Company of Canada.

Nordic Group International was selected to evaluate trail re-routing options for Menihek Nordic Ski Club (www.meniheknordicski.ca) near Labrador City, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The existing network may be affected by a proposed conveyor owned by Iron Ore Company of Canada cutting across some trails. Goals include evaluating consequences of conveyor installation and trail redesign alternatives.

Nordic Group International completed a detailed Nordic trails study for Moonlight Basin (www.moonlightbasin.com), a major four-season resort in Montana. The project included siting and services recommendations for a major multi-season Trails Center; Nordic trails layout; anticipated trail specifications, costs, and construction time frame; use/market profile projections; and recommendations for sustainable design and “green” construction and operations.

Nordic Group International’s principals were asked to deliver presentations at Cross Country Ski Areas Association’s Convention in April at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Colorado. John Frado will cover environmental sustainability in developing and marketing trail systems, while Jonathan Wiesel will discuss the benefits and structure of marketing plans for both big and small areas.

Nordic Group International was selected to plan and design a state-of-the-art cross-country trail system, with associated infrastructure, at Moonlight Basin, a new four-season resort in southwest Montana.

NGI completed a feasibility study for a world-class Nordic ski area in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

NGI’s principals were quoted in publications including Spokane Business Catalyst (sbcatalyst.com), crosscountryskier.com, skitrax.com, and xcskiworld.com on how environmentally friendly trails can help developers, resorts, and municipalities.