Weekend Trail Reports
March 14, 2010
The ski season is wrapping up fast with just a few locations still reporting skiable snow. New reports from Birkie, Maplelag, Noquemanon, Lester, ABR(2), Zak, Greenbush, Spirit Mtn, Piedmont(2), Giants Ridge, Timberland Hills, Green Acres, Bear Notch Touring, and recent reports from Tower Ridge, ABR, Theodore Wirth(2), Spirit Mtn, Magney-Snively, Lester, Hartley, Chester Bowl, Bagley Nature, Birkie, Banadad, Troll Hollow, Hormel Nature, Lindenwood, Woodland, Swedetown.

NCAA: Freestyle Race
March 14, 2010
Dylan Dethier reports: The Central Collegiate Ski Association wrapped up intercollegiate racing at the final day of the NCAA Championships Saturday. The Steamboat Springs event was 15 kilometers for the women and 20 for the men. Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Santiago Ocariz was the lone All-American finisher among the 15 CCSA racers, taking 10th place in the men’s race, 25 seconds behind the winner — UVM’s Franz Bernstein. Leading for the CCSA women was, Laura DeWitt, NMU, finishing 12th.

US Ski Team: Randall Takes 2nd in Norway March 14, 2010 Kikkan Randall showed the world her skills Sunday, taking second to mark the third podium of her career during a cross country freestyle sprint World Cup at Holmenkollen in Norway.

Junior Nationals: Relays
March 13, 2010
Junior Nationals in Presque Isle, Maine, wrapped up Saturday with the exciting relay races. The high note on a tough day for the Midwest team was the the girls OJ team who delivered on a victory, winning by a full 30 second margin (and posting all three of the fastest splits).
Related:
Results: 3 person relays

Midwest Junior Championships Coverage
March 13, 2010
Theodore Wirth was the site Saturday for the first day of the Midwest Junior Championships. The day started with sprints followed by SkiX-C and Skiball games.
Related:
Photoset: 154 photos
Results: Sprints

Pole Pedal Pant Coverage
March 13, 2010
The warm March weather generated last minute changes at Elm Creek Saturday morning for the Pole Pedal Pant winter triathlon. The bike and run segments were originally planned to use the multi-use trails but were forced into using the ski trail for the bike and run segments as well, resulting is some tough going. Matt Liebsch skated out to an early lead in the opening ski leg but John Kallemeyer overtook him during the biking segment and went on to take the mens victory. Rachel Allyn also used the biking leg to move up, passing ski leader Hannah Sanborn to collect the womens title. Full results and photo sets posted.
Related:
Pole Pedal Pant Winter Triathlon Recap Press Release

US Ski Team: Norway's Women Sweep XC
March 13, 2010
With only two more stops on the World Cup before season's end, Morgan Arritola took the lead for the U.S., finishing 31st during the women's 30K mass start in Norway on Saturday. In the men's 50K, Brian Gregg (Winthrop, WA) led the way for U.S. men, finishing 39th to mark his best World Cup result to date.
Related:
Nordic Combined: Norway Wins Team Event at Home

Great Bear Chase Results
March 13, 2010
The Great Bear Chase managed to pull off the race despite recent warm and wet conditions with over 300 skiers turning out on Saturday. Adam Swank notched another victory in taking the mens 50K skate in a tight race with Karl Walczak and John Bauer. Kristina Owen easily skated to the womens 50K title. The 26K freestyle winners were Joshua Tesch and Joan Rundman. Classical victories went to Tom McFadden and Molly Watkins.

Junior Nationals: Freestyle Race
March 12, 2010
The individual races concluded on Friday in Presque Isle, Maine, with the freestyle events. The womens OJ team had a great performance taking down places 2nd Corrine Malcolm, 3rd Eleanor Magnuson, and 4th Lynn Duijndam, and should be in strong position for the relay Saturday. Annie Hart finished 3rd, less than five seconds back from victory, in the womens J1. Other results: Matthew Nichols 11th (J2), Jen Rolfes 11th (J1), Elizabeth Simak 14th (J1), Andy Dodds 12th (J1), Sarah Daniels 12th (OJ), Libby Ellis 14th (OJ), Matt Dugan 12th (OJ).
Related:
Results: 5K, 10K freestyle

NCAA: Classic Race
March 11, 2010
NCAA Nationals are running this week out in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Thursday was the classical races. Three CCSA women finished in the top 15 with NMU's Laura DeWitt leading the way for 8th place. Santiago Ocariz, UW-Green Bay, was the fastest CCSA male skier finishing 13th. Racing wraps up Saturday with the freestyle format events.
Related:
Results: 5K, 10K classical

US Ski Team: Newell on Classic Sprint Podium March 11, 2010 Andy Newell sprinted to his first World Cup podium in two years, finishing third in a classic sprint Thursday in front of thousands on the streets of Drammen, Norway.

Junior Nationals: Classical Races
March 10, 2010
The Midwest division picked up the pace on Wednesday, scoring a couple of podium places at Junior Nationals classical races in Presque Isle, Maine. Annie Hart, J1, was 2nd by 7.8 seconds and Matthew Nichols, J2, finished 3rd, less than 3 seconds out of first. Other top results: Paige Schember 5th J1, Eleanor Magnuson 4th OJ, Corrine Malcolm 6th OJ, Sarah Daniels 10th OJ, Adam Martin 9th J2.
Related:
Results: 5K, 10K, 15K classical

24 Hours of Lappe Ski Relay
March 10, 2010
The last weekend in March holds the big season ending 24 Hours of Lappe event. The race has become a tradition for many skiers and is highlighted by fun relay teams and great food. Form your team and make your plans for Thunder Bay now.

Marshall Nordic Skiers Go the Distance
March 10, 2010
Three Marshall skiers capped a great season by going for an epic 100K classic skiing day at the Korkki Nordic in Duluth.

Wirth Olympic Center in Final Bill March 10, 2010 The Minnesota legislative body has approved a new bonding bill that includes funding for the Wirth Olympic Training Center. The bill will move on now to the governor for final approval. The COLNSF is calling on supporters to contact Gov. Pawlenty today and voice your opinion on this project. Related: HF2700: Omnibus Bonding Bill

Bike Dr: Brick Workout, John Howard, Ladies Night, Last Grind
March 10, 2010
Bicycle Doctor's latest newsletter highlights upcoming Brick session, John Howard FITTE, and last grind call.

Skinnyski Race Team Weekend Recap
March 9, 2010
The first weekend in March held a dozen races on the calendar. The Skinnyski Race Team hit up two metro events, as well as the Sleeping Giant Loppet in Thunder Bay. Read race stories from Per and Elaine.

ABR Spring Sale
March 9, 2010
ABR is running their Spring Sale with discounts on next season's passes, and big savings in their ski shop including significant savings on rental and demo skis.

Junior Nationals: Sprints
March 9, 2010
Junior Nationals opened Monday in Presque Isle, Maine, with the classical sprint races. The Midwest division had a mixed day with just one podium placing, Corrine Malcolm 3rd (OJ), and two others skiers, Eric Slater (J2), and Summer Ellefson (J1) making it to the finals. The New England division dominated the podium. Corrine Malcolm comments: "I crashed hard in the A final but fought my way back through the field to finish third in the OJ womens race. It was a tough day, you saw anything from slush, to powder, to ice on the trail." Racing continues Wednesday with classical races.
Related:
Results: Classical Sprints

Pioneer Midwest Progressive Sale - Final Week
March 8, 2010
Pioneer Midwest's Annual Progressive Sale is in their final week with savings up to 50%. They still have a limited amount of great Nordic equipment left along with a good selection of alpine skis and boards. Sale ends this Sunday, March 14th!

Elk River Biathlon Results
March 8, 2010
Over 100 skiers turned out Sunday for the biathlon race at Woodland trails in Elk River. State Champion Raleigh Goessling, already a top biathlete, held off Olympian Garrott Kuzzy and Matt Liebsch by mere seconds to take the experienced category division. In the novice long course races, Emily Goetsche and Nick Pauley won the junior division, Rich and Molly Hoeg topped the masters field.
Related:
Rich Hoeg's Blog Entry with Photos and Video

Lotvola Cup Coverage
March 7, 2010
Warm weather and slushy snow resulted in some very slow conditions for the annual Lotvola Cup race at Maplelag Sunday. Jake Richards completed the weekend 'Resort sweep' taking the victory Sunday to complement his win Saturday at Rainbow Resort. The race was a tight battle of roughly ten skiers in the lead pack right up the final kilometer. Johanna Winters was the top woman finishing fifth overall, less than 30 seconds back. Full results plus photos online now.

Telemark Owners Approve Resort Sale Agreement
March 6, 2010
At their March 6 special meeting, the members of the Telemark Interval Owners Association (TIOA) voted to approve the purchase agreement crafted by the association’s Board of Directors with Telemark Partners, LLC. The overwhelming approval vote completes one more step in the Telemark Partner’s acquisition of Telemark Lodge and nearly 1000 acres of recreational land.

US Ski Team: Randall Leads U.S. in Finland
March 6, 2010
World Championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall got back into the World Cup season Saturday, leading the U.S. in 24th during the women's 15K and men's 30K pursuits in Finland.

Sleeping Giant Loppet Results
March 6, 2010
Beautiful conditions Saturday for the Sleeping Giant Loppet in Thunder Bay. Andre Watt pulled away from Nikolai Anikin and Jeffery Cameron to take the premiere 50K freestyle race. Karla Bailey topped two Skinnyski race team members, Paulette Niemi and Elaine Nelson, in a close pack finish for the womens division. Mason Bacso and Kerrie Fabius collected the 50K classical titles. 35K victories went to Don Sisson and Jiska Westbroek. In the 20K event, Ross Chuchman and Anna Crawford posted top times. Full results linked in.
Related:
Lakeland Loppet Results

Rainbow Rendezvous Results
March 6, 2010
Amy Xu reports: 29 skiers from Twin Cities, Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, Fargo-Moore/ND-MN, Ames/IA, and Norway hit the race courses in Saturday morning. Course records were broken by our local rising star skier, Jake Richards, and Birkie veteran skier, Craig Stolen. The fast icy condition made the 10k, 16k, and 6k courses fun yet challenging.
Related:
Riverview Loppet Results
Spring Fling Coverage

Hoigaards Slush Rush Results
March 6, 2010
The Hoigaards Slush Rush race hit the trails of Elm Creek Saturday morning some for fast racing. Nathan Porath and Kathleen Dewahl won the 12K masters race, Nate Brown and Kathryn Keller-Miller the high school division (Brown also posted the 2nd fastest time in the masters race!).
Related:
Snowjourn Results

Midwest Mountaineering March Newsletter
March 4, 2010
Midwest Mountaineering's March newsletter features their final winter clearance sale, the upcoming Spring Outdoor Adventure Expo, and a large list of March clinics and seminars.

Go!Training Summer Programs
March 3, 2010
Go!Training has announced their summer training programs. They have multiple program options available along with a large coaching staff. And new this year, they will be working with Gene Kay and the Baker rollerski program.

Sisu Junior Programs Announced
March 1, 2010
The Sisu Nordic Ski Foundation has announced their summer programs for aspiring junior/collegiate skiers. This season they will offer two different morning programs, as well as an afternoon strength session. Sign up before April 1st and save $50.

Minneapolis Ski Club Summer Juniors
March 1, 2010
The Minneapolis Summer Junior programs are now open for signup. Kevin Brochman leads the groups along with a staff of top skiers. East and West side programs available. Discount if registered by March 31st.