After successful alpine experiences with Andrew Weibrecht last season, Nordic skiers can also join Andrea Henkel Burke this winter on local cross-country trails
Last winter, the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid successfully debuted Ski With Andrew, an exclusive opportunity for hotel guests to cruise the trails of nearby Whiteface Mountain with Andrew Weibrecht, Olympic silver and bronze medalist in Super G, and son of resort owners Ed and Lisa Weibrecht. Andrew Weibrecht was inducted last spring into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum.
“Last season, after I retired, it was great to be able to ski with our guests and their families,” said Andrew Weibrecht. “This season, we’ll do it again on Whiteface Mountain, which hosted the alpine events in 1980. Now, we’ll mark the 40th anniversary of those Games and I’m looking forward to showing our skiers the trails and all the history and legacy from those ski events in 1980.”
Now there’s more, however, with a comparable Nordic skiing component. After the Ski With Andrew launch, the Inn has expanded its offering to cross-country skiers with its Ski With Andrea opportunity. Cross-country skiers will stride local trails with Andrea Henkel Burke, the owner of four Olympic medals in biathlon (two gold, one silver, one bronze) as well as eight World Championship titles. The sport of biathlon combines 22-calibre shooting with cross country skiing.
A native of Germany, Henkel Burke is the wife of local athlete Tim Burke, in his own right a four-time U.S. Olympian in biathlon, five-time World Cup medalist and World Championship silver medal winner. Burke’s career grew from his training at the Lake Placid Olympic venues. The couple make their home in Lake Placid.
“I am very excited to meet with the cross-country ski fans from the Mirror Lake Inn,” said Henkel Burke. “Cross-country skiing is such a fun, healthy sport for all levels. Workouts can be as hard or as easy as wanted, skating or classic. I am excited to meet guests, who have never been on skis before, as well as athletes, who are looking for a technique session or a training partner for some good intervals.”
The Mirror Lake Inn is the only Lake Placid property offering athletes of such pedigree to its guests in two different disciplines of skiing.
Ski With Andrew, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, is priced at $120 per hour for the first person in the party, and $40 per hour for each additional skier. There is a maximum group size of 5 guests.
Ski With Andrea, is priced at $120 per hour for the first person, and $20 per hour for each additional skier.
“This is like skating with Scott Hamilton or playing tennis with the Williams sisters,” said Chris Jarvis, Mirror Lake Inn marketing manager. “We are fortunate to connect some of the ski world’s most successful Olympic athletes with our Mirror Lake Inn guests. Ride the Whiteface Mountain gondola and ski Excelsior with Andrew, or double-pole your way out of the cross-country stadium alongside Andrea. These are dreams elsewhere that we can turn into reality here.”
The respective skiing excursions do not include lift tickets or trail passes. For the best pricing, Whiteface Mountain skiers are encouraged to purchase online at www.whiteface.com.
About the Mirror Lake Inn
The AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is a luxury lakefront resort offering an authentic Adirondack experience. The Inn, rated Four Diamond for 35 consecutive years, offers both Four Diamond world-class cuisine and casual dining options, with impeccable service amid awe-inspiring views. Only one other property in New York State (located in Manhattan), has maintained the Four Diamond designation longer than Mirror Lake Inn. It is the only property in Lake Placid that combines Four Diamond lodging and dining. The Inn’s renowned Lake Placid spa pampers the body and refreshes the mind with a comprehensive menu of services. The Inn is conveniently located one block from the restaurants and shops on Main Street in Lake Placid.
