| The Skinnyski.com Race Team is composed of top Midwest skiers with the goal to be competitive both as individuals as well as a team, while still remaining integrated with the entire skiing community. Team members are heavily involved in setting the direction, composition, and concept of the organization. If you'd like more information, or to become part of this racing team, as a racer, sponsor, or support person, we'd love to hear from you! E-mail us at [email protected] Sponsors  Podiumwear is the official clothing provider for the Skinnyski.com Racing Team. | Fast Wax is suppling the Skinnyski.com Racing Team with a full waxing lineup. | Rudy Project is the official eyewear of the Skinnyski.com Racing Team. | | Race Team Members  Home Store
| Per Nelson -- St. Paul, MN
Per Nelson works as a Chemist at 3M/Dyneon. 2006-2007 Race Results: - 10th Stormy Kromer Pursuit
- 4th City of Lakes Loppet classical
- 9th Pepsi Challenge 50k classical
- 60th American Birkebeiner
- 7th Slush Rush
- 12th Winter Solstice Pursuit
During the summer, Per has enjoyed coaching the Finn Sisu Juniors evening group for about 8 years. The last three years he has benefited greatly from working with the Finn Sisu Vakava Racing group. He feels that the group has brought focus, camaraderie and a lot of fun to year round training. |  Home Store
| Margaret Nelson -- St. Paul, MN
Margie Nelson works at Orthopedic Sports Inc. as a physical therapist. 2006-2007 Race Results: - 3rd Stormy Kromer Pursuit
- 5th Pepsi Challenge 50k Classic
- 1st City of Lakes Loppet Classic (tie)
- 25th American Birkebeiner
- 3rd Slush Rush
- 1st Winter Solstice Pursuit
Margie been racing since 8th grade for St. Louis Park, St Olaf, and now Skinnyski. She currently trains with Vakava Racing, and enjoys coaching Juniors in the summertime. |  Home Store
Other Sponsors
Endurance Athlete | Benjamin Popp -- St. Paul, MN
Ben runs a endurance training program out of St. Paul MN. 2005-2006 Race Results: Ben is a stay-at-home dad, rising his two young sons with his wife, Megan. Along with teammate Dana Olson, Ben won the two-man division of the 2002 Race Across America (RAAM) |  | John Munger -- Minneapolis, MN
John Munger is an attorney and manages the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation. 2006-2007 Race Results: - 7th Pre-Birkie
- 40th American Birkebeiner
John is the Race Director for the City of Lakes Loppet. | | 
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| David Nelson -- Medicine Lake, MN
David Nelson is a circuit designer of radiation hardened satellite ASICs designer (a rocket scientist of sorts). 2006-2007 Race Results: - 15th Pepsi Challenge 35km classic
- 9th City of Lakes Loppet 25km classic
- 90th American Birkebeiner
- Raced in HolmenkollenMarsjen 42km classic
David is coming into the season with his most solid base of training in recent years. After returning from his month long arctic canoe trip with Grant, Josie and a Norwegian skiing friend, David has been rock solid in his training regimen. In addition to his rollerski training David has added some special secrets he learned in the arctic. David learned that daily swims in the frigid arctic water was "invigorating and intimidating". He has been continuing the morning swims in Medicine Lake through fall and into November. Be sure to ask him how that is continuing now that we are close to freeze up. | | 
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| Josie Nelson -- Medicine Lake, MN
Josie Nelson is a physical therapist at Life Rehab in Minnetonka and Methodist Hospital in St Louis Park. 2006-2007 Race Results: - 1st Pepsi Challenge 48km classic
- 1st City of Lakes 25km classic (tie)
- 26th American Birkebeiner
- Raced in HolmenkollenMarsjen 42km classic
If you have met Josie on the ski trails, you will probably agree that
she is one of the friendliest, most exuberant skiers you'll find. If you
haven't met her, listen for her chatting, encouraging others, or just
singing as she skis. Josie prefers the classical technique, because she
finds it "easier to ski next to someone." | | 
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| Grant Nelson -- Duluth, MN
Grant Nelson is a partner in a growing general dentist practice in downtown Duluth. 2006-2007 Race Results: - 3rd Pepsi Challenge 50k classic
- 30th City of Lakes 35k freestyle
- 1st Wilderness Trek 15k duathlon
- 1st North End Classic
- 8th Book Across the Bay
- 125th American Birkebeiner
- 2nd Erik Judeen Classic
This summer, Grant & his brother, Dave & sister-in-law, Josie decided to work on improving their upper body ski strength through a three week canoe trip in the arctic. Suprisingly, they spent much of the first week portaging, dragging & a little canoeing around over & through some ice covered lakes in July. In addition to canoeing, Grant's summer training consists of just about any activity that involves being outside. Even though Grant generally tries to compete pretty evenly between classic & skate races, his favorite is definitely classic skiing, especially if it's an Extra-Blue day.
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| Maria Stewart -- St. Paul, MN
Maria Stewart is working on her Ph D in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota.
2006-2007 Race Results: - 4th Pepsi Challenge 25K freestyle
- 2nd Noquemanon 20K freestyle
- 3rd City of Lakes Loppet classic
- 2nd Mora Vasaloppet 30k freestyle
- 1st Minnesota Finlandia 25K freestyle
Maria coaches with Wayzata HS Nordic Team. Maria plans to graduate this spring with her PhD in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. Post-graduation plans include a trip to Colorado and Utah to ride Kokopelli's trail (140 mile mountain bike trail).
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Other Sponsors
Maplelag Resort
| Jay Richards -- Callaway, MN
Jay Richards is one of the owners/operators and head groomer at Maplelag Resort. 2005-2006 Race Results: - 3rd Lumberjack Jaunt 16K freestyle
- 33rd Mora Vasaloppet 35k
Jay is an elite level Mountain Bike racer, taking 4th overall in the expert class and age class champion (35 and over) of the 2006 MNSCS series, as well a mixed tandem victory with his wife, Jonell, in the Short and Fat MTB race. Jay volunteers time to help area high school skiers with their training and was named MSHSNCA Volunteer of the Year in 2003. | | 
Other Sponsors
 | Paulette Niemi -- Ironwood, MI
Paulette is the Transition Services Coordinator for the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermed. School District.
2006-2007 Race Results: - 2nd Stormy Kromer Pursuit
- 2nd Noquemanon 47K Freestyle
- 1st Pre-Birkie 27K Freestyle
- 1st Lakeland Loppet 25K Freestyle
- 7th ABR Spring Race 19K Freestyle
Paulette loves x-c skiing and racing and along with her husband, Ray, is teaching her two sons, Nick (7) and Anthony (5) to x-c ski. Nick will do his 4th Barnebirkie this year. In the off-season, Paulette competes in 10K road races and enjoys swimming, waterskiing, surfboarding, biking, & hiking with family. | 
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 | Mark Parman -- Wausau, WI
Mark Parman teaches English and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon Center in Wausau, Wisconsin. 2006-2007 Race Results: - 5th Stormy Kromer Pursiot
- 5th Seeley Cheap Skate
- 20th Noquemanon 45K classic
- 1st Badger State Games 21K classic
- 4th North End Classic
- 1st Hinder Binder 22K classic
- 105th American Birkebeiner
- 5th Lakeland Loppet
Although cross country skiing is his favorite winter activity, Mark indulges in many winter sports: skijoring, snowshoeing, Telemarking and ice blading. In the brown months, he also believes in a well-rounded program of cycling, trail running, canoeing, fire wooding and upland hunting. | The Skinnyski.com Race Team is also indebted to the support of past team members Brian May, Abbi May, Jill Troutner, and Siiri Morse. |
