The Park City couple got more than they bargained for - a lifestyle.

"To get them into Nordic skiing was one of the best things we have done," said Andrea Putt. "I'm so glad they grew up to like it so much. It is such a healthy lifestyle that they have learned and hopefully they will be able to carry it throughout their lives."

The Putts, including Andrew, 17, Tanner, 15, Christopher, 14, and Noah, 9, are regulars on the Utah cross country skiing scene since starting in 1995.

"We saw a learn-to-ski flier and we took the two oldest boys to the free clinic and they were hooked," Pat Putt said. "It has become more than a sport for us; it is a lifestyle and a culture we will be able to share with them for the rest of our lives. Our kids have grown up as part of a clan with some great role models and that is important to us."

The Putts are among many in Utah to benefit from cross country skiing. TUNA, a nonprofit club promoting Nordic skiing in northern Utah, reports an increased interest in the sport, citing, for example, the record number of participants last winter in the popular Wasatch Citizens race series.

"We averaged about 250 participants in each event last year," said Dave Hanscom, who has been involved with the group and in Utah cross country circles for 26 years. "That was 20 percent higher than ever before and the year before that we were 10 percent higher. The growth has been phenomenal."

TUNA had 250 family and 130 individual memberships last year, with more than 800 members. Hanscom expects there to be even more this year. More than 500 skiers participated in the Wasatch Citizens Series last winter.

Many things have helped bolster interest in the Nordic sport. The 2002 Winter Olympics gave it new visibility. Cyclists and runners find it's a good way to stay active in the winter. Then there's the bonding and healthy lifestyle the Putts say they have discovered.

"I like that we are all doing the same thing together and that we all like being together on the track or on the mountain," said 14-year-old Christopher Putt. "If it wasn't for skiing we would probably just fight all the time."

Being the third brother means there are plenty of hand-me-downs and ample advice, and Christopher says the latter can get to be a little much.

"Sometimes it kind of gets on my nerves," he said. "Sometimes I just want to ski."

While the entire family competes in local races, the two oldest boys are also involved in an elite competition team through the Park City Nordic Club. Andrew and Tanner have goals of competing in the sport in college.

Competition developed naturally as the boys got older, but they have passed on the importance of having fun and trying your hardest to their youngest brother.

"I started skiing because my brothers do it," said 9-year-old Noah. "They help me with a better technique. They tell me not to worry if I'm doing bad in the beginning, that I can catch up and that I should stay close to the leader and pass him at the end."

A significant amount of the recent growth of TUNA has been from younger skiers.

"Early on we didn't have any race categories for kids," Hanscom said. "Now, about one-third of our racers are in the youth categories. We see an influx of kids when people who grew up with TUNA have kids and we see more growth when those kids bring their friends. The interesting thing is when those kids brought by their friends end up getting their parents involved."

TUNA races are split into age categories based on the United States Ski Association junior age groups, starting with an 8-9 age group. There is also an under-8 category for the youngest skiers. They don't compete on the race course, but a little obstacle course. Skiers as young as 2 have participated.

The older age groups are split into five-year categories. Hanscom said there is almost always at least one skier in the 65-69 age group.

Recognizing that not everybody feels the need to compete, TUNA runs a backcountry yurt in the Uinta Mountains that makes a great cross country overnight destination for families and friends.

TUNA also provides trail grooming for cross country skiing at the popular Mountain Dell golf course in Parleys Canyon. There is a suggested donation for use of the track of $5 per day or $50 for a member's season pass.

The club also holds adult and junior training programs throughout the year and holds free learn-to-ski clinics throughout the winter. A new program through TUNA and the Wild Rose mountain sports store in Salt Lake introduces cross country skiing to city school kids.

The value of cross country skiing to their boys is evident to Pat Putt by a simple statement he has heard them utter.

"All of them say whereever they go for school or ultimately end up living," he said, "that it is beyond their ability to imagine being somewhere that they didn't have access to snow and were not able to ski."

BRETT PRETTYMAN can be contacted at brettp@ sltrib.com or 801-257-8902.