Corrie Crane: When Cross-Country Skiing Becomes Your Coping Mechanism
- Corrie Crane
- Mar 15
- 4 min read
AMBASSADÖRK Corrie shares how Nordic skiing helped her "be" with an unexpected loss and ski with grief.
With that, let's get to it.
ambassadörks
Corrie: When Cross-Country Skiing Becomes Your Coping Mechanism
Cross-Country Skiing....a blend of pristine ski trails amongst trees in nature, throw in a little bit of Colorado sunshine with the beauty of the Gore Mountain Range as your backdrop and waa laa!!, you have your picture-perfect ski day on skinny skis at the Vail Colorado Nordic Center!
I discovered cross-country skiing when I moved to Vail in 2001 after College. Little did I know this sport would ebb and flow in my life and fast forward to 4 years ago, I have found ultimate JOY in skiing on skinny skis, away from the crowds of resort skiing.
While I enjoy all types of Winter sports and also alpine skiing on the resort, I truly enjoy Nordic skiing both on a groomed course with other like-minded talented nordies and also out solo in nature. There is a sense of fitness and peacefulness with gliding on snow.
I recently lost my Father, unexpectedly, one week before Christmas. He and I were two peas in a pod. When I lost my Mother, unexpectedly, when I was 2 years old, he stepped in to the role of solo Dad raising three daughters all while working full time and obtaining his PhD in Electrical Engineering. In the 2 months since his passing, I have been extremely sad and overwhelmed with grief and I have really tried to focus on our cherished memories.
I can recall one winter when he was visiting from my home state of Alabama, I took him cross-country skiing at Vail Nordic Center. He had always wanted to learn to ski, and I thought cross-country skiing would be a tad bit more enjoyable for both of us together. Looking back at our day on skis together, I will always cherish this memory and hopefully fulfilling his wish of learning to ski.
In the past couple of weeks since his passing, I have really leaned into healing my broken heart by doing outdoor activities in nature that fuel my soul....
I have 2 long distance Nordic races on the calendar this '25/'26 Winter season, and I have entered the phase of 'excited for the event, but not trained up for the race'. With that self-acknowledgment and not to stress my body any more than it already has been, I simply want to ski these races with more of a desire to enjoy nature and finish strong vs. have a competitive drive in me, which is usually my forte.
This tsunami of grief I am experiencing day to day, has been a leaning curve for me. I've realized the deeper the love, the harder the grief. Cross-country skiing has allowed me to ‘let it be’ this winter season. Just be with what the grief in me is experiencing at that hour of the day, get outside and move my body in a healthy way.
In my 3rd Birkebeiner, with a dear friend in tow to join me at the start line, I returned to the Northwoods Wisconsin for the 53rd Annual American Birkebeiner, North America’s largest cross country ski race, with Nordic athletes from all over the US and World gathering for this iconic event. Wisconsin is near and dear to my heart, the state where my Dad was born and raised. While my training is not up to par as it should be with my life recently uprooted, My 50k race was fully dedicated to my Dad. He taught me to persevere and that I will, all while remembering the true meaning of why I love this sport….the peacefulness of gliding on snow amongst nature.
In closing, perhaps you have experienced a life quake event as well…an unexpected major disruption of your life that upends your daily existence. If I can be encouragement to you, I hope you will find true meaning in being out in nature moving your body and putting your self-care as a priority. When we take the time daily to focus on our own well-being, we show up as the best version of ourself for our community, our family, our relationships, our job(s).
Some days it takes all you got to put your shoes on and get out the door, I speak from experience these last 8 weeks of grief, but I promise you this….you will never be disappointed in the time you have spent in nature, solo or with someone who supports you. Nature helps calm the mind, reduce stress, improves mood and helps with mental fatigue…it truly is the best place to heal and recharge.
Happy Trails!
Authors Note: A 25 yr resident of the Vail Valley, I discovered Nordic skiing upon moving to the Rocky mountains in 2001. Fast forward 20 years later, the discipline of skate skiing has become a mode of winter training which transforms to summer activities, including mountain biking and ultra trail running, esp the 100 mile distance. Nordic allows for fun in winter to fulfill my soul & over all well-being! Corrie can be found doing the things over on the grid @coloradocorrie
the closer
What We're Thinking About.
That grief is hard. And we wish Corrie all the best as she navigates this next chapter, with skate skis underfoot.
Comments