Rikert Outdoor Center

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This image contains 3 skiers skiing through a field in front of the yellow buildings at Rikert Outdoor Center
Skiers at Rikert Outdoor Center

Rikert Outdoor Center, formerly known as Rikert Nordic Center, is located in Ripton, Vermont. It is a Cross-country Skiing, Snowshoeing and FatBiking area.[1] It is located 20 minutes southeast of Middlebury, Vermont.[2] Rikert Outdoor Center is owned and operated by Middlebury College[3] and is home to the Middlebury College Nordic Ski Team.[4] It is located on Middlebury College's Breadloaf Campus.

History[edit]

Ski touring at the Breadloaf Mountain Camus began in 1975[5] with 4 trails. At that time there was no dedicated ski lodge, so a barn was used as the lodge.

By 2012, the number of groomed trails had grown to 25. In 2012, the Tormondsen Family Race Course was built. It is a 5km FIS certified homologated course designed by John Morton.[6]

In 2013, 5km of snowmaking was installed (on the Tormondsen Family Race Course).[3]

By 2015, the trails grew to 55km in total length.[7]

Facilities[edit]

This is the logo for Rikert Outdoor Center
Rikert Outdoor Center Logo

As of 2023, Rikert Outdoor Center offers 55km of groomed cross-country and skate ski trails.[7][8] It also offers dedicated snowshoeing trails, and FatBiking is allowed on Ski and Snowshoe trails. The trails wind through fields, forests and along stone walls and streams.[9] The Outdoor Center is also fully ADA accessible and includes a full-service rental and retail shop[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rikert Outdoor Center". Cross Country Skiing. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  2. ^ "Rikert Nordic Center". Indy Pass. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  3. ^ a b "Ripton's Rikert Nordic Center Welcomes Wintertime Athletes - Stories from VT | Vermont Vacation - The Official Vermont Tourism Website - VermontVacation.com". www.vermontvacation.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  4. ^ "Nordic Skiing". Middlebury College. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  5. ^ "Time Capsule – Winter at your pace". www.rikertoutdoor.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  6. ^ Minde, Peter (2023-02-16). "The Wandering Skier, Part 3: Rikert Nordic". NYSkiBlog. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  7. ^ a b "Winter at your pace". www.rikertoutdoor.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  8. ^ "Rikert Nordic Center". VMBA. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  9. ^ "Business Directory". Cross Country Ski Areas Association. 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  10. ^ "Rikert Nordic Center". www.addisoncounty.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.