Winter in Central Oregon offers no shortage of outdoor activities, from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to snowboarding and fat biking. Among these seasonal traditions, one event invites athletes to test their skills on the snow: The Great Nordeen Cross-Country Ski and Fat Bike Race, a cherished winter tradition that returns to bend this February.
The Great Nordeen honors Emil Nordeen, a Nordic skiing pioneer from Central Oregon. For Nordeen, cross-country skiing was more than a sport — it was a way of life. A skilled racer and adventurer, he played a pivotal role in forming the Skyliners Ski Club, which later became the nonprofit Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF). The race celebrates his enduring impact on the region’s skiing and outdoor culture.
MBSEF hosts the 22nd annual Great Nordeen race on Sunday, Feb. 9, with races beginning at 7:30am. Today’s Great Nordeen offers a gentler challenge compared to the grueling races Emil Nordeen conquered in the 1930s. Courses are groomed specifically for the event, giving participants a once-a-year opportunity to ski or bike through forests and around buttes in the Deschutes National Forest before finishing at Wanoga Sno-Park.
“The Great Nordeen is one of the longest-standing Nordic races in Central Oregon,” says Sydney Powell, manager of the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center. “It links up several different ski areas, so there are various ski clubs and grooming organizations involved in preparing the course. It’s a great tradition that brings everyone together. We don’t have many point-to-point races, and this one’s a fun one.”
The event features two divisions: Nordic skiing and fat biking. Skiers can choose between a 30K or 18K freestyle course, both starting at 7:30am at Bachelor’s West Village Lodge. Fat bikers will race a 15K course, starting at 8:30am near the base of the Rainbow Chair below Sunrise Lodge. All courses finish at Wanoga Sno-Park.
“We have a great snow pack this year and the conditions are looking fantastic,” Powell adds. “With a little more snow expected before race day, racers should have an excellent experience.”
Participants can pick up their race packets on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Latitude 44 Sports. The event provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the course, ask questions and get your skis waxed by MBSEF athletes and coaches. After Sunday’s race, participants are invited to an awards ceremony at MBSEF at 4pm, where food and beverages will be available.
The Great Nordeen XC Ski
and Fat Bike Race
Sun., Feb., 9, 7:30am
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort
13000 SW Century Dr., Bend
mbsef.org/great-nordeen-nordic-and-fatbike-race
$60
This article appears in The Source Weekly January 30, 2025.
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