Awards/Press
March 3, 2009
Gathering of Snowsports Journalists at Lutsen Resort a Boon for Cook County Tourism
LUTSEN, MN – The annual meeting of the North American Snowsports Journalist Association will bring over 125 writers, photographers, broadcasters and snowsports industry professionals to Minnesota to experience the splendor of Lake Superior's North Shore.
At the center of all the activity will be Lutsen Resort, where NASJA members will lodge and hold meetings from March 18 to 22. It's the first time in NASJA's 45-year history that its annual meeting will be held in the Midwest.
"We are pleased to share our historic resort property as well as the great variety of things we do during winter in Cook County," said Lutsen Resort owner Nancy Burns. "At the top of their list will be the amazing downhill skiing at Lutsen Mountains, but it's the overall Lutsen culture and unique winter activities that sold them on coming here."
Mid-March will be prime time for winter sports in Lutsen.
"I expect downhill ski conditions to be at their optimum," said Jim Vick, marketing director for Lutsen Mountains, which is organizing activities for NASJA members. "What we have in the Lutsen area is so much more than a skiing experience, though, and we're building all of these things into their itinerary."
Among the activities will be cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice-climbing, ice fishing and dog sledding. There will also be a tour of Wild Country Maple Syrup's 320-acre sugarbush and opportunities for crafts like wood-oven bread baking at North House Folk School and wood-block printing at Grand Marais Art Colony.
"NASJA's board visited last year for a pre-tour, and they were all impressed," Vick said. "They have been to many, many ski areas, but the allure of Lutsen is the variety of activities we're offering that they haven't seen on some of their other itineraries."
Vick said bringing NASJA to Minnesota is a great opportunity for the entire state. "We're lucky to have a place like Lutsen Resort to serve as headquarters," he said. "It has the convention and meeting facilities that make an event like this first-rate."
