Hard Core 8.5K

Seventeen Hard Cores, plus volunteers, spectators and day skiers filled up the parking lot at Wolverine, all to enjoy one more day of great skiing here in the U.P. The race roster was, as the say, “all the usual suspects” with some new inductees. Like Amy Hollenbeck who just learned to ski this year, in her first ski race. Bob Burchell, a hard core downhill skier who showed up just for grins and stated “this is the farthest I’ve skied in my whole life.” Finally a big hard core welcome to Scott Erickson on skate skis for the second time and running a half marathon yesterday; not sure if that’s hard core or crazy Scott.

The bragging rights went to Paulette Neimi who crossed the finish line first. It was a close race for second with Paul Haltvick edging out Borg Isaksen by two seconds. As for the awards well, that went to everyone. We were all awarded with one more fun effort, one more great day of skiing, and one more chance to ski, laugh and hang out with our fellow hard cores.

Wolverine Ski Trails, Ironwood, MI

1	Paulette Neimi	27:50
2	Paul Haltvick	29:30
3	Borg Isaksen	29:32
4	Ken Hazel	30:50
5	Ben Noren	33:04
6	Molly Burger	34:00
7	Roger Burger	34:01
8	Jackie Powers	35:38
9	Geneva Smiles	36:28
10	Connie Meek	40:47
11	Phil Mahoney	43:08
12	Don Slanzi	43:10
13	Amy Hollenbeck	44:23
14	Bob Burchell	52:50
15	Chris Vizanico	57:29
16	Scott Erickson	1:04:00
17	Dennis Spaete	DNF

Related:
Race Story: Hard Core 10K by Paulette Niemi