Latest news with #Grider
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Saddle up for SnirtFest this Sunday
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — This weekend is the season finale at a popular winter recreation spot in Sioux Falls. Great Bear is hosting its annual SnirtFest Sunday, an event marking the end of ski season. Snow and dirt add up to fun at Great Bear Ski Valley. This year's SnirtFest will include the traditional pond skimming, where skiers and snowboarders try to glide across water. 'Some make it, some don't, but it's a good time,' Great Bear Director of Communications Alexa Jerstad said. The bash marks the end of what General Manager Dan Grider calls an odd year. DOGE announces first real estate closure in South Dakota 'It was just so unusual with no natural snow until a couple of weeks ago,' Grider said. That meant hard work for the Great Bear crew who had to make a lot of snow. 'And actually it was one of the better snow-making seasons we've had. The temperatures were right for it. The winds were calm, so that was pretty good, but it does take a lot of work. Our crew did a great job,' Grider said. Despite the not-so-snowy winter, Great Brear staff is pleased with the season that will end with over 70 operational days. 'We had over 40,000 visits for the year,' Grider said. And now, it's time to saddle up for SnirtFest. This year's theme is Wild West. 'Get your cowboy hat on and your boots and come on out,' Grider said. 'It's always sad to say goodbye to the winter season, so it's bittersweet, but it's a really fun way to say goodbye,' Jerstad said. Other events on Sunday include an invitational race and a Zipfy sled race. Great Bear will also be open for regular skiing and snowboarding. For a closer look at the schedule, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Great Bear hosts race supporting Special Olympics skier
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — With temperatures rising, skiers and snowboarders have been able to enjoy a couple of beautiful days at Great Bear, and Sunday afternoon, they hit the slopes while also supporting a worthy cause. Trophies were up for grabs at Great Bear. The ski valley has been holding weekly races throughout the season to give back to the community. This week, they're raising money for Nick Mills' trip to Turin, Italy, where he'll be participating in alpine skiing during the Special Olympics Winter World Games. 'It shows how much people can show support for what I'm doing,' Mills said. Mills even joined in on the race himself. Great Bear is a place he's all too familiar with. 'Nick has been here for around ten years or so. Great kid, great skier,' Great Bear general manager Dan Grider said. To be able to perform on the international stage, he spent countless hours perfecting his craft. 'To get to that level, we're talking world-class. That takes a lot of hard work, and it's not just on the snow. There's training in the gym and things like that. You really have to dedicate yourself. We're very proud of him. Proud that he's a Great Bear homer,' Grider said. 1 dead in equipment collapse Mills says his favorite thing about skiing has been meeting new people and coaches from all over the world. Now, with his trip to Italy about two weeks away, he's ready to make more memories. 'I'm looking forward to just meeting new people and making more friends,' Mills said. And everybody at Great Bear will be cheering him on. 'We're going to make sure he's got some Great Bear swag in Italy,' Grider said. The opening ceremony for the Winter Games is set for March 8. Mills will be competing from March 10-15. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
