Last week, a huge snowstorm covered the Tri-County with nearly a foot of snow.
While many Peorians shuttered themselves indoors, Brett Beachler had other ideas.
Once Donovan Park had at least 6 inches of snow cover, he fired up his snowmobile and began a three-hour process of grooming four kilometers worth of cross-country ski trails.
“I like the fact that it's a way of connecting the seasons,” Beachler said of the sport. “The winters around here are tougher than the winters up north, because they have snow for three months of the year and they get to play in it … So it's always fun when we get snow here. My wife laughs at me. I'm like a little kid out there.”
Beachler owns Beachlers Vehicle Care and Repair. About eight years ago, he teamed up with Rich Pestien, owner of Bushwacker, on the effort to groom the park's trails.
“I bought the snowmobile and he bought the grooming equipment. It was about the same expense either way,” Beachler said. “And I told him, ‘I'll be the one that maintains it.’ And part of it, the main part of it, is selfishness. Because it really brings a lot of joy to me. Around here … I grew up skiing with my dad. He taught me. I'm probably a little bit freakish about it.”
Beachler and Pestien’s volunteer efforts are appreciated by many.
The Peoria Cross Country Ski Organization Facebook page has nearly 200 followers, many of whom post pictures of themselves skiing once trails are groomed.
"I do truly enjoy seeing people out there enjoying the tracks," Beachler said. "They're so thankful. I had a guy come in, he donated money toward the 'gas fund.' ... He goes, 'I just think it's so cool what you're doing. I lived in Norway for 13 years and ... this is comparable ... It's a really cool service you do.' Well, it's my pleasure."
Another grateful Peoria skier is Ken Beckler, a semi-retired health care professional.
Beckler grew up all over the world because his father was in the U.S. Air Force. When he was a teenager, his family moved from West Germany to the town of Gwinn, Mich. in the state’s Upper Peninsula. There, Beckler fell in love with cross-country skiing.
“When I went to high school, we had a downhill team, we had a cross-country ski team, we had a ski jumping team, hockey … and so I learned to cross-country ski up there,” he said. “And we'd actually ski to school sometimes because it was about seven or eight miles, and everything was groomed in the winter, and we’d get 20 feet of snow. … And so when I moved down to Illinois, it's like, ‘Okay, this is kind of like living in Arizona.’”
After moving to Peoria, Beckler was glad to find the city embraced cross-country skiing. He remembered golf courses regularly grooming trails and renting out skis in the winter as a way to make extra money.
But that was back in the 1970s and 1980s, when Beckler said winters in central Illinois were much snowier in general. As the season warmed over recent decades, fervor for the sport waned.
Until recently.
“Brett and Rich, they’ve put their money where their mouth is,” he said. “It's kind of like Peoria’s big secret.”
There are two types of cross-country ski trails you’ll see at Donovan Park.
On the right, there's a parallel set of tracks about shoulder length apart. Here, skiers practice classic skiing, in which their skis remain parallel and stay in the tracks.
To the left, there's a wider stretch of packed snow where skiers can widen their stance, point their feet outwards, and speed or freestyle skate.
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At Donovan Park, skiers can try their hand — or feet, rather — at whatever style they’d like.
Beachler is partial to speed skating.
“I don't know if you've ever heard of the race, the American Birkebeiner. It's basically the Boston Marathon of cross-country ski racing in Northern America," he said. "There's like 10,000 people who do the ski race up in the little, tiny town of Hayward, Wis. … I've done it 26 times.”
But for beginners, Beachler recommends starting out with classic skiing.
“The classic is like walking on snow,” he said. “Do you know how you hike with hiking poles? … Skiing is the same way. Opposite hand, opposite foot. … You just put one foot in front of the other and you stay in the track and you're fine. And that's what's so neat about the classic skiing part of the sport … it's really a low-entry level.”
Tri-County skiers have options besides Donovan Park. Many travel outside the city to Jubilee College State Park, where you can ski on snow-covered horseback riding trails.
The nice thing about Donovan, Beachler said, is that it’s easy to get to — and a friendly place for beginners.
There is an upfront cost associated with cross-country skiing. The skis, specialized boots and poles aren’t inexpensive.
But Beachler and Beckler say it's worth the investment. Both are still using skis they bought 20 to 30 years.
“One (of) my pairs of skate skis, I mean, they're pretty good skate skis,” Beachler said. “I bought these things 19 years ago, and I still race the Birkie on these on certain conditions. … So they will last you as long as you live, as long as you take care of them.”
While YouTube is full of great video demonstrations, Beckler said Peoria skiers are always looking to expand their tight-knit and welcoming community.
“Don't be intimidated ... just show up at Donovan and just ask questions there," he said. "We all have taught each other how to ski, so everybody's approachable. It's not the solitary sport that everybody thinks it is. Don't be intimidated by anything. It's what you can make it, whatever you want. The sky's the limit. There's room for everybody.”
To connect with local skiers and and to check trail conditions, follow the Peoria Cross Country Ski Organization on Facebook.
Those interested in buying cross-country skis or other outdoors equipment can learn more at Bushwacker’s website.
