Hope for rising demand, a good winter and higher refinancing

Nature and outdoor activities are still among the most popular leisure and holiday activities. In winter, skiing - whether alpine or Nordic - is at the top of the popularity scale. Those responsible in the Nordicsport Arena Sauerland are hoping that cross-country skiing will gain in popularity against the backdrop of the burden on private households due to rising costs and sustainability awareness. 

A beautiful day in the snow for just 5 euros per person, without traffic jams and waiting times, that is a reality in the cross-country skiing sector. Do something for your own health, enjoy the vastness of winter nature and simply switch off. Sustainable, without long journeys, not far from home. "There are more than enough reasons to strap on your cross-country skis - and all of them are more topical and in demand than ever," emphasises the chairman of the cross-country skiing association, Stephan Küpper - and hopes that this will have an effect on membership figures.

You can treat yourself to this pleasure more often and spontaneously. Simply become a member of the cross-country skiing association for just 30 euros and use the trails throughout the region for the entire season. You can always be sure that you are helping the predominantly voluntary organisations to finance their activities. There are currently 350 permanent members. The declared aim is to increase this to 500. The Nordicsport Arena is working on measures to achieve this as soon as possible. "In a good winter with plenty of snow, good cross-country ski trails and lots of seasonal days, this is definitely possible," says the Chairman optimistically. 

Last winter, 20,800 euros were paid out, which came from membership fees and ticket sales online and on site. This is based on the number of trails groomed. This does not even begin to cover the real costs. A mid-range snow groomer costs well over 100,000 euros. Then there is insurance and fuel. 100 euros can quickly add up on a tour.

The Nordic sports arena is made up of the cross-country ski areas in the Willingen, Winterberg, Schmallenberg, Medebach, Hallenberg, Bad Berleburg, Brilon and Hilchenbach regions. The Wintersport-Arena Sauerland brings together all areas and is the "umbrella", so to speak. Year after year, it makes a decisive contribution to developing, maintaining and publicising the cross-country skiing offers. In the coming winter, for example, benefits in kind totalling around 7,000 are provided for the predominantly voluntary clubs. 

Calendar of events 

11 November WOK WM in Winterberg 

2 and 3 December CONTINENTAL World Cup Youth A in Winterberg 

15 December European Cup Skeleton in Winterberg 

30 December Torchlight hike in the Willingen ski area (Etttelsberg cable car) 

31 December New Year's Eve floodlit skiing in Neuastenberg

6 and 7 January EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup with Team Relay presented by BMW in Winterberg 

12 and 13 January Junior World Cup Luge in Winterberg 

20 January Voswinkel floodlight evening in Neuastenberg 

2-4 February FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Willingen in Winterberg 

10-11 February The Takeover - snowpark event in the Winterberg ski lift carousel on the Kappe 

11-14 January Upland winter hiking day in Willingen 

19 February to 3 March BMW IBSF World Championships Bobsleigh and Skeleton in Winterberg 

9 to 10 March Snowboard World Cup on the Poppenberg in the Winterberg ski lift carousel