A visit to the mountains can always count for a dose of wellness, and Frisco — located less than 90 minutes west of Denver (with no weather or traffic) —  has some great opportunities for wellness this season.   

“I love that this winter there are some new options for tackling health and fitness in Frisco,” shares Vanessa Agee, marketing and communications director for the Town of Frisco. “Whether you are up for racing in the new early morning Nordic series, poll dancing at the new Studio B Dance Center or doing Pilates at the new spot on Main Street, you’ll be able to find your thing in Frisco.” 

Agee adds how now that the eight miles of the recreation path are groomed between Frisco and Breckenridge, she plans to try winter biking and take a women’s skate ski clinic, which are both ideal for the groomed trail.  

“At the end of the day, I am most excited about getting out of my fitness rut by trying some of the new offerings indoors and out in Frisco,” she says.  

Here is a breakdown of a few of Frisco’s winter wellness offerings:  

Nordic skiing — also known as cross country skiing—is a great alternative to traditional skiing and a killer workout to boot. Nordic skiing is a full body workout, enlisting arm, leg and core strength, as well as serious cardiovascular endurance. However, it’s still very low impact and carries little risk of injury. According  to  Outside,  the sport torches more than 900 calories per hour. 

For those who find fitness with friends a major motivation, the  Frisco Nordic Center  offers  Women’s Skate Ski Clinics  in January and February. These clinics are divided into beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced groups and meet for four weeks each session, on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. During the clinics, a local PSIA certified instructor will teach the fundamental techniques of this type of cross country skiing to first-timers or those looking to brush up their skills. Those looking to venture out on their own can enjoy the 27k of picturesque trails the Frisco Nordic Center offers. 

Join other skiers (many for their first race ever) at the Frisco Nordic Center for the new  Up & At ‘Em Ski Race Series, which  will take place at 7 a.m. in the morning with dates in December through February. While mere mortals are still wiping the sleep out of their eyes, get a great workout in, mingle with other racers, and grab a coffee and breakfast snack all before a day’s work or recreation.  

Motivate yourself by signing up for the  The 49th  Annual Gold Rush, taking place on February 9, 2019. This event is the longest running Nordic event in Colorado, and consists of classic and skate races open to skiers of all ages and abilities. The 20k, 7.5k, and 3k races provide distances for beginners to seasoned racers. This is a Frisco and Colorado Nordic tradition, but a race that has always embraced the first timer.   

Vive Float Studio Summit County  specializes in Float Therapy, dedicated to providing simultaneous rest and recovery for the mind and body. Floating in a gravity-free, sensory-free environment, the body is able to allocate its resources toward mental and physical maintenance and healing to find relief from chronic pain, stress-induced illness, sports injuries and more. 

“Need a little mental rest from the everyday stresses of life or some physical recovery from a day on the mountain?  VIVE Float Studio has you covered,” shares Andi Sigler, VIVE Float Studio Founder. Frisco is home to VIVE, a float therapy wellness center dedicated solely to simultaneous mental and physical rest and recovery achieved through a gravity and sensory free environment.” 

VIVE invested in large open float rooms with glass doors, filled with 10 inches of 93.5 degree water and 1,000 pounds of pharmaceutical grade magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt). This form of passive wellness effectively suspends the effects of gravity on the body, joints and central nervous system; as the sensory free environment reduces sensory stimulation.  

“With the effects and stresses of gravity and sensory overload lessened,” explains Sigler, “the body is able to more efficiently allocate its resources toward mental and physical maintenance and healing. This all-natural healing environment is ideal for those in need of rapid athletic recovery, pain relief, stress reduction, improved sleep, mental clarity and over-all health and well-being this winter.” 

The Frisco Nordic Center’s  10k of scenic snowshoe trails provide the perfect place to elevate your heart rate while calming your mind amongst the snowy peaks and serene trails. A great fat-burning workout, snowshoeing burns twice the number of calories as walking at the same speed. The Frisco Nordic Center offers  snowshoe tours  starting in November on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 3:15 p.m.  

“The Frisco Nordic Center has numerous family and dog-friendly human-powered activities,” says Pete Swenson, Nordic Center and trails manager for the Town of Frisco. “Nordic skiers can enjoy 27 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails. Frisco is especially friendly for first-time skiers with a beginner area next to the lodge. Non-skiers can rent snowshoes and follow seven kilometers of marked snowshoe trails.”  

For dog-friendly activities, the Recreation Path (free to all users) runs from the Lodge all the way to Breckenridge and is open to walkers, skiers and snowshoers. The free sledding hill adjacent to the Nordic Center is also a popular family option. The Nordic Center is a perfect place to start and end your relaxing outdoor adventure — it’s a cozy log cabin with comfortable couches and hot chocolate and cookies for sale.”

Photos by Todd Powell and John Birkey.

Based in Vail, Colorado, Kim Fuller is co-owner + editor-in-chief of CO YOGA + Life Magazine. She is also a freelance writer, editor and photojournalist, as well as a yoga teacher, legacy ambassador for Lululemon Athletica Vail, and co-founder of In Your Element, a yoga and outdoor adventure company. When Kim is not diligently writing and editing in her mountain nook, teaching yoga around town or finding a new adventure, find Kim at a local cafe or craft brewery, where she enjoys the more indulgent side of inspiration. Read more at kimfullerink.com.