Posted by Garrott Kuzzy, Lumi Experiences on Apr 24th 2025
What does “trip of a lifetime” really mean?
Since their club president reached out in 2023 about raffling a Lumi trip at their annual winter fundraising event, Lumi Experiences has been thrilled to support the Teacup Nordic Ski Club in Mount Hood, Oregon. At their inaugural Aprés ski fundraiser raffle last winter, Teacup skier Emilie won a spot on Lumi’s 2025 France-Transju trip. The proceeds raised from the raffle also helped provide a necessary bridge for the organization to continue its operations when ticket sales were down at the beginning of a low snow season.
Emilie recently sent this recap of her time on skis and at the table in the Jura Mountains on Lumi’s France Jura Trip in February. Highlights and photos below!
Are you part of a ski club? Reach out to learn more about Lumi’s new collaboration with ski clubs (garrott@lumiexperiences.com). We’d love to hear from you and work together to find a way for Lumi to help support your club!
By Emilie Blevins:
As someone with the good fortune to spend most of my ski days at Teacup Lake on Mt. Hood in Oregon, there’s only recently been a pull toward traveling to cross-country ski elsewhere. Like many of us, I’ve been wowed by the beauty of European and Scandinavian ski venues on the World Cup or as seen in Lumi posts. Each of these places, where snow transforms the landscape to a winter wonderland, seems so different and yet so familiar. When Lumi Experiences partnered with Teacup Lake Nordic Club in January 2024 to raffle off a free Lumi trip in support of our venue’s fundraiser, I couldn’t have guessed that I’d be the lucky winner.
Fast forward to January 2025, and I’m in the Geneva airport, joining the Lumi trip leaders and a bus full of other cross-country skiers. We’ve gathered in Switzerland to head just across the border to the Jura mountains in France. Our bus driver Nadine will turn out to be one of the highlights of our trip, as well our two trip leaders, Annette and Adele. Everyone’s enthusiasm is palpable as we climb the steep switchbacks in an oversized bus into the Jura’s mountains and valleys. A quick peek of Mont Blanc in the distance above the clouds reminds me instantly that I’m in a new and stunning place.
The next reminder comes at our first dinner, a cozy restaurant in Les Rousses, where morels, cheese, and wine are on the menu. It’s clearly a locals place, but we’re welcomed with big smiles and second wine pours. The dessert, a mouth-watering chocolate mousse, will be the first of many, often two a day – at lunch and dinner.
The following morning, we venture into the local ski trails, but not before Adele shares some tips for our time in the region. The first – when you see other skiers on the trails or near the maps, a smile and a “bonjour” are a wonderful way to ski like a local. My first bonjour on the trail is instantly returned, and we’re all smiles.
What follows the rest of the week is a whirlwind of skiing each morning, second desserts, a tour and tasting at an actual cheese fort (Comté aged at 12, 18, or 24 months – your choice!), a day learning and practicing biathlon in the French stadium (named for our trip leader Annette’s Olympic ski jumping champion son), and a course preview for the La Transjurassiene Worldloppet race.
We end the week with the victory lap(s), completing loops on the ski trails near Les Rousse, with the classic race on Saturday and skate race on Sunday. We celebrate with nothing less than a three course meal provided by the race: chicken in morel cream sauce, potatoes au gratin, and apple galette.
The people, the place, the food and wine – a ski trip to the Jura region should not be missed. In true fashion, a trip of a lifetime cannot be replicated. But it doesn’t hurt to try. I’m hooked, and while I’m out skiing the trails at Teacup Lake this spring, I know that now it’s time to pick the next trip. Lumi’s Iceland Fossavatn trip looks incredible…
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As we near the end of ski season, it's not too early to start making plans for next year's adventure. Like Teacup skier Emilie, you too can see the world on skis. Where will you explore on skinny skis next winter?
We’re currently offering a $200 / person early booking discount for any 2026 trip reservations made by Wednesday, April 30. Reach out to see a 2026 trip itinerary, ask questions and save your spot. Several 2026 trips are already full, but we do still have space on the France trip and many other popular trips like Marcialonga & König Ludiwg Lauf, Finland & Estonia, Emilie’s 2026 trip pick Iceland-Fossavatn and even the 2026 Olympic Games!
And remember: Are you part of a ski club? Reach out to learn more about Lumi’s new collaboration with ski clubs (garrott@lumiexperiences.com). We’d love to hear from you and work together to find a way for Lumi to help support your club!
See you on the trail,
Garrott Kuzzy