SODA SPRINGS, Calif. — ASC Training Center has long been a leader in promoting skiing and snow sports in the Tahoe area.

From its origins in the 1920s and leading a push for Old Highway 40 to be plowed in order to access the slopes and trails in the 1930s, to present times of forging some of the nation’s top Nordic athletes, ASC has become one of the region’s leaders when it comes to winter activities.

The nonprofit training center is now undergoing the next step in its evolution with work being done to light up roughly 1.5 kilometers of trails. Currently, ASC is in the process of installing 26 light poles that will allow for competitions, training, and recreational cross-country skiing to take place after hours.

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“It opens up a lot of doors — night races, clinics, a place for people to ski after work,” said Bill Clark, ASC Training Center Executive Director. “We think there’s a lot of possibilities with it.”

In past years, ASC has brought in portable lights for events, but with the installation of energy efficient, LED lights, a loop from the stadium area and back will open new avenues for training and competition for the roughly 800 athletes that call the trails and slopes around Soda Spring home.

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“It creates those opportunities for families and athletes to get more involved in snow sports,” said Clark. “Our big mission, for a long time, has been to create barrier-free, affordable programs. It doesn’t take a lot to sign up, and participate and use our facilities.”

ASC Training Center offers programs and coaching in alpine, biathlon, Nordic, and snowboarding. More than 800 athletes are involved across ASC’s various snow sports disciplines, many of which are currently involved in summer programs, including ASC’s alpine and snowboard teams that recently finished training at Mount Hood.

“It’s part of what ASC does,” added Clark. “We try to be at the forefront of helping promote snowsports.”

Clark said plans are in place to light up more trails in the coming years. For more information on ASC Training Center’s programs, visit http://www.asctrainingcenter.org.

“The future of nordic skiing in the region is bright,” said Gus Johnson, Nordic Sports Director. “Both local athletes, who will be able to squeak in a few more kilometers of training. and skiers further afield will benefit from the expanded access at our facility.”