Weekend Racing
March 20, 2019
Season isn't quite over yet...
Mar 23 Last Chance Ski Race - Vasaloppet crew hosts one last race on their snowmaking course.
And the Nordic Cross National Championships are Saturday in Duluth as well!
Related:

Waxing Recommendations

World Cup Quebec Weekend Series
March 20, 2019
The World Cup travels across the pond to wrap up the racing season in North America with three days of skiing in Quebec City. Friday features freestyle sprints, Saturday classic mass start races, and Sunday concludes with freestyle pursuit start races. Friday's sprint heats begin at 12:20 pm CDT.
Related:
World Cup Quebec Website

The Curious Case of the Boulder Mountain Tour
March 19, 2019
Last February, Matt Liebsch had an epic race at the famed Boulder Mountain Tour in Sun Valley, Idaho, which came down to a photo finish. But the story didn't end that day and has taken an unusual twist.

Trail Report Updates
March 19, 2019
Temperatures have provided some very good skiing still, especially if you time it right. Note: ABR will be closing after this weekend. New reports from Theodore Wirth North(2), Korkki, Sugarbush, Lincoln Drive(2), Hyland Lake(2), Superior MF, Flathorn-Gegoka, Grand Avenue, Madeline Lake, Balsam Branch, and recent reports from Drummond, Birkie, Lakewood XC, Valley Spur, Hyland Lake(2), Mt. Valhalla, After Hours, Blue Hills, Theodore Wirth North(3), Banadad, Elm Creek, Howard Wagoner, Univ of Minnesota GC, Graystone, Balsam Branch.

CXC Congress Scheduled for Late April in Eau Claire
March 19, 2019
Cross country club leaders from around the Central Region will have an opportunity to play a role in the future of the sport during Central Cross Country Skiing's annual CXC Congress. The event features three days of workshops and meetings set for April 26-28 in Eau Claire, WI, and is free and open to all interested parties.

Last Chance Ski Race Announced
March 19, 2019
The Vasaloppet crew has announced their final race of the season, the Last Chance Ski Race this Saturday, March 23rd. Exact distances will depend on the final grooming, but organizers hope to pull of a 5-10K loop with the option to race 1-3 laps.

Web Roundup
March 18, 2019
Seefeld Revisited - Jessie Diggins looks back on the week of the World Championships, including the doping scandal.
Birkie 2019 - Elspeth Ronnander shares her 2019 Birkie story, skiing out of the Birkie elite skate wave for the first time.  You can also catch her recap on the Finlandia.
Birkie 2019 - Craig Cardinal posts his Birkie story, switching to classic this year and surprising himself in the process.
Glide Factors - Gear West has a post on the factors that go into having a fast pair of skis.
Big Fat - New Moon has a short summary and big photo montage from the Fat Bike Birkie.
350 Mile Winner - Rob Henderson of Minneapolis won the 350 mile Iditarod Trail run, completing it in just over five days!
Vasaloppet Climate - New Yorker Magazine had an extensive article on racing the famed Swedish Vasaloppet and the impact of climate change.
Chamberlain - Former biathlete BethAnn Chamberlain has been making a huge impact in the world of adaptive skiing.
SMF Groomers - Duluth public TV has a video profile on the groomers at Superior Municipal Forest.
Pablo 360 - KARE11 talks with Pablo Urriche of the Loppet Foundation, a native of Chile, who has come to love skiing.
Cold Shoulder - The government's new weather forecast model has been off, forcing many to resort to models from Europe.
Exercise Before Sleep? - New study finds exercising in the evening doesn't negatively impact sleep patterns.
Big Apple - The crazy guys from NRK, Helt Ramm, took their skiing antics to the streets of New York City.  And catch all their coverage from the World Championships.

Blue Mound State Park Planning Survey
March 17, 2019
MadNorSki is asking all skiers to provide input on the Blue Mound State Park master plan via an online survey. There is some concern over part of the plan that might impact the current ski trail layout.

Victor C. Dunder Award Nominations Sought
March 17, 2019
Nominations for Victor C. Dunder awards are due by March 31st. The Victor C. Dunder award is designed to get quality equipment to first year skiers in financial need.

Salomon Nordic Team USA 2019-2020
March 17, 2019
Salomon Nordic has announced details on their 2019-2020 Nordic Team program, including benefits and requirements.

World Cup Falun: Freestyle Races
March 17, 2019
Another warm day of racing in Europe as the World Cup skiers competed in 10K and 15K freestyle races in Falun, Sweden. Jessie Diggins had one of her best races of the season, finishing on the podium in third place as Norway's Therese Johaug won yet race, Sweden's Ebba Andersson second. Sadie Bjornsen and Julia Kern both placed in the top 25, Bjornsen 12th, Kern 25th. And Midwest native Rosie Frankowski was 35th. Alexander Bolshunov, Russia, won the men's 15K with Norway's Martin Sundby and Didrik Toenseth finishing second and third. David Norris led for the US men, finishing 16th. Midwest native Kevin Bolger notched 45th.
Related:
Results: 10K, 15K Freestyle

Loppet Winter Triathlon Coverage
March 17, 2019
Fast conditions Sunday morning for the Loppet Winter Triathlon, held on the snowmaking trails at Theodore Wirth. Joel Lafrance posted the top ski leg and second fastest bike leg to rocket to a big lead heading in the running portion, and came in first by just over three minutes as Jacob Keehan used the fastest running leg to power up to second place, Somer Shrock finishing third. Jan Guenther won the women's title convincingly with Andrea Tremaine and Tara Makinen rounding on the podium. Top relay team was the Skier Chicks - Brandy Stewart, Laura Bednarski and Mary McKelvey. Results linked in, along with photos.

Junior Nationals: Team Relays Results
March 16, 2019
Saturday was the final competition of the 2019 Junior Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska, featuring the 3x3K team relays. Midwest finished strong with the U16 boys team of Victor Sparks, Drew Sampon and Adrik Kraftson claiming victory as well as a second MU16 team taking third place and the U20 girls taking third place.
Related:
Press Release: Alaskans Kramer, Schumacher finish four-race sweeps with relay victories at Junior Nationals

World Cup Falun: Freestyle Sprints
March 16, 2019
A crazy day of racing in Falun, Sweden, in freestyle sprint World Cup competition on Saturday. Warm weather and a technical course resulted in a number of crashes, including Jessie Diggins and Sophie Caldwell. The women's final came down to a battle between favorites Stina Nilsson, Sweden, and Maiken Caspersen Falla, Norway, with Nilsson pulling ahead in the final stretch to take the win with Maja Dahlqvist third. The men's final was an intense battle as Norway's golden boy Johannes Klaebo barely survived the semifinals then squeaked out a tight victory over teammates Emil Iverson and Sindre Skar. Sadie Bjornsen and Sophie Caldwell both made the semifinals, finishing 10th and 11th. Simi Hamilton was the top American male, at 22nd, with Midwest's own Kevin Bolger 27th. Sunday is a pair of freestyle races, women's 10K starting at 5:30 am CDT, and men's 15K at 8:30 am.
Related:
Results: Freestyle Sprints

Junior Nationals: Classic Coverage
March 15, 2019
Friday was the big mass start classic races at Junior Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska. Leading the day for the Midwest again was the U20 girls, as Hannah Bettendorf took second place in the 10K event. The U16 boys really shined as well with Caden Albrecht taking 2nd and Jasper Johnston 3rd (and six in the top 10)! Other top 20 results: FU20 - Luci Anderson 6th, Regan Duffy 8th, Mae Barnes 14th, Cece Boyle 15th; MU20 - Anders Sonnesyn 13th, Luke Mackinnon 16th, Jackson Adler 17th; FU18 - Emma Albrecht 5th, Libby Tuttle 6th, Sarah Olson 9th; MU18 - Henry Snider 12th, Cooper Lennonx 13th, Matt Bourne 14th, James Schneider 19th, Eli Gore 20th; FU16 - Molly Moening 4th, Lauren McCollor 7th; MU16 - Isak Nightingale 5th, Victor Sparks 6th, Adrik Kraftson 8th, Drew Sampson 10th, Owen Williams 13th, Noah Erickson 17th, Stas Bednarski 18th. Results linked in along with photos from Jackie Schneider.
Related:
Press Release: Alaska's Kramer, Schumacher complete race sweeps with classic mass start wins

World Cup Falun Weekend Series
March 14, 2019
The World Cup shifts to Sweden this weekend for a pair of races in Falun. Saturday is freestyle sprints, Sunday is freestyle distance races. Saturday's sprint heats will be aired live beginning at 8:30 am CDT on Olympic Channel and NBC Sports Snowpass.
Related:
World Cup Falun Website

CXC Marathon Cup Closes Season at Great Bear Chase
March 14, 2019
CXC Marathon Cup wrapped up last weekend with the Great Bear Chase. Read a full recap on the race, plus review the final standings.
Related:
CXC Youth Cup Wraps Up With Midwest Championships

Endurance United Junior Programs Info Session
March 14, 2019
Endurance United Junior Seasonal Training and Development Teams start as soon as April 15th. Interested skiers and parents are invited to informational presentation by Head Coach/Program Director Liz Peterson at Endurance United office March 27th.
Related:
Endurance United Junior Programs

Junior Nationals: Classic Sprint Coverage
March 13, 2019
Classic sprints were the featured event on Wednesday at Junior Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska. Minnesota native Anja Maijala, racing for Alaska this year, won the U20 title, with Luci Anderson scoring 3rd. Other skiers making the semi-finals: FU20 - Hannah Bettendorf 9th, Cece Boyle 10th; MU20 - Jackson Adler 8th, Luke Mackinnon 10th, Anders Sonnesyn 12th; FU16 - Molly Moening 8th; MU16 - Drew Sampson 7th, Caden Albrecht 10th, Jasper Johnson 12th. Results linked in, along with photos from Jackie Schneider.
Related:
Press Release: Schumacher, Kramer go 2-for-2 in Junior Nationals titles during action-packed, drama-filled classic

New Moon: Post Fat Bike Birkie
March 13, 2019
New Moon's latest newsletter has recaps of the Fat Bike Birkie, one of their picks for spring skiing wax, liquid wax demo, and Lumi Experiences feature.

Trail Work Jobs at Snow Mountain Ranch
March 13, 2019
Spend your summer restoring trails on the Continental Divide in Colorado! Job openings for people with experience in trail maintenance, construction, and outdoor work to work at Snow Mountain Ranch. Application deadline is March 23rd!

Lotsa Snow
March 12, 2019
Mark Lahtinen shares some of his insights on the cold and snow this second half of winter, comparing it to historical data.

Pioneer Midwest: End of Season Sale
March 12, 2019
Pioneer Midwest has everything 20-50% including all skis and boots, as well as 40% off hats and gloves, and more deals.

World Cup Drammen: Classic Sprints
March 12, 2019
Racing on the streets of Drammen, Norway on Tuesday, the World Cup featured classic sprint events. Norway won for both men and women, in convincing fashion. Maiken Caspersen Falla pulled away from the field on the final uphill run to take the win for Norway with teammate Astrid Jacobsen taking a surprising second and Russian Natalia Nepryaeva bumping favorite Stina Nilsson of Sweden out of third. Johannes Klaebo, Norway, showed he has no equal, dominating the men's field by storming ahead on the first climb and never leaving any doubt in his win. Eirik Brandsdal, Norway took second with France's Richard Jouve third. Jessie Diggins had the best performance for the US team, finishing 5th in the women's final.
Related:
Results: Classic Sprints

Skiing Etiquette in Marginal Conditions March 12, 2019 With warm weather and rain on tap for parts of the region, seems like a good time to review proper "etiquette" for skiing.

Junior Nationals: Freestyle Coverage
March 11, 2019
Junior Nationals opened on Monday with warm conditions in Anchorage for the freestyle individual start races. The Midwest came out swinging, scoring a number of podiums! Luci Anderson and Mara McCollor took 1st and 2nd in the FU20; Libby Tuttle scored 3rd in the FU18; Adrik Kraftson was 3rd in the MU16; Molly Moening 3rd in the FU16 division. Other top 20: MU18 - Peter Moore 9th, Alex Nemeth 20th; MU20 - Jackson Adler 10th, Gus Schatzlein 11th, Anders Sonnesyn 12th; FU18 - Emma Albrecht 5th, Sarah Olson 11th, Alice House 17th; FU20 - Hannah Bettendorf 8th, Regan Duffy 10th, Mae Barnes 15th, Cece Boyle 20th; MU16 - Victor Sparks 4th, Jasper Johnston 7th, Stas Bednarski 10th, Drew Sampson 10th, Isak Nightingale 14th, Owen Williams 15th, Caden Albrecht 18; FU16 - Lauren McCollor 17th. Results linked in, along with photos of the Midwest kids from Jackie Schneider.
Related:
Press Release: Schumacher, Kramer continue standout seasons, four other skiers also crowned champions on opening day of U.S.

Three Rivers Parks District Free Play Snow Day this Saturday
March 11, 2019
Since Mother Nature has blessed the Twin Cities with some of the best late season snow conditions in recent memory, Three Rivers Park District has decided to make the most of it by hosting a #FreePlaySnowDay. Enjoy a day of free activities at any of the Three Rivers Parks including free snowshoeing, XC skiing, sledding, kicksledding and more. Plus rentals for those sports are free as well!

Borah Teamwear: Post Season Custom Nordic Program
March 10, 2019
Borah's goal is to make sure all of their customers are kitted out in the best looking and highest performing custom Nordic apparel available before the first snowflake hits the ground. So, for the 2019/2020 season, Borah is offering a 10% discount along with a custom lazer band (one band per race suit or jacket), for all orders placed before the end of the school year.

Junior Nationals Opens in Anchorage March 10, 2019 Junior Nationals held their opening ceremonies on Sunday in Anchorage, Alaska, with racing action scheduled to begin on Monday starting with freestyle distance events. CXC will be carrying livestreaming, Superior Timing will have live results, and we'll be posting photos each night from the days events. Related: CXC Names Championship Teams Video: Livestream Junior Nationals Official Program Start Lists, Results CXC: Juniors Ready for Junior Nationals in Anchorage

World Cup Drammen on Tuesday
March 10, 2019
The World Cup starts ramping up towards its finale, and with that brings one of the most iconic races of the season: classic sprints, including a brutal uphill finish, on the streets of Drammen, Norway. Jessie Diggins, Sophie Caldwell and Sadie Bjornsen should all be back in action, as well as Midwest's own Kevin Bolger and Bex Saxton. The sprint heats will be broadcast starting at 7:15 am CDT on the Olympic Channel and NBC Sports Snowpass.
Related:
World Cup Drammen Website

World Cup Oslo: Women's 30K Classic
March 10, 2019
Norway's Therese Johaug continued to steamroll the World Cup scene, striding away from the field early on to win the women's 30K classic race at the famed Holmenkollen venue in Oslo, Norway on Sunday. Russian Natalia Nepryaeva briefly stayed with Johaug in the early kilometers, and was able to maintain her lead on the rest of the field to finish second. Sweden's rising superstar Ebba Andersson outsprinted Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, Norway, for third. Rosie Brennan was the top America, finishing 33rd, followed by Midwest's own Rosie Frankowski 34th.
Related:
Results: 30K Classic

24 Hours of Wirth Updates
March 9, 2019
The new 24 Hours of Wirth season finale event at the Trailhead in late March will feature 12 and 24 hours of racing.  A couple of updates on the event:
- Expanded race loop
- Free beer for going the distance

Fat Bike Birkie Results
March 9, 2019
Over 1100 riders had the rare opportunity to race on the Birkie trail Saturday for the annual Fat Bike Birkie races. Corey Stelljes, who won the Chequamegon 40 in 2016, now adds another major victory in taking the Big Fat 47K title. Sonia Pond was the women's champion. Jack Branvold and Kristina Morse won The Chico 21K races.
Related:
Press Release: Pond and Stelljes Top the Podium at 2019 Fat Bike Birkie 47K

Great Bear Chase Results
March 9, 2019
Great conditions Saturday for the Great Bear Chase races on the Swedetown trails, just north of Houghton. Brian Gregg took the victory in premiere 50K skiathlon race, dropping Daniel Streinz in skate portion to take the win, Streinz second with Xavier Mansfield third. Deedra Irwin took a strong lead in the classic leg and then extended it in the freestyle to win by over four minutes, Felicia Gesior second, and Erica Wagner scored third. In the 59K freestyle, Nikolai Anikin and Ali Towle were victorious, Elspeth Ronnander and David Chamberlain earned the 50K classic titles. Freestyle 25K champions were Olivia Dreger and Drake Hacker (both high school stars from Wisconsin) while Jane Straka and Lars Dewell collected the 25K classic crowns.
Related:
Slush Rush Coverage
Record Numbers Highlight 39th annual UP Health System Great Bear Chase Ski Marathon

World Cup Oslo: Men's 50K Classic
March 9, 2019
Another enormous crowd at the famed Holmenkollen venue in Oslo, Norway, as the men raced in a 50K classic event. For quite a while, it looked like Norway was going to dominate the event, but in the final kilometers Russia moved to the front, ripping the lead pack up and going on to easily take the top four places. Canada's Alex Harvey was the first non-Russian, taking 5th with Norway's Martin Sundby and Simen Krueger 6th and 7th. The US men had some strong results as Scott Patterson was 19th and David Norris 24th.
Related:
Results: 50K Classic

NCAA Championships Classic Recap
March 8, 2019
NCAA Championships wrapped up the Nordic portion of the competition with classic mass start races on Friday. NMU's Ian Torchia and Zak Ketterson lead the way for the Midwest, finishing 6th and 7th. Margie Freed, UVM, had an incredible race, falling at the start then skiing back up through the field to post the top Midwest women's result in 11th! Mary Kozloski has all the details and quotes from the Midwest crew. And check out photos from Jackie Schneider.
Related:
NCAA Championships Results and Photos

Snowmaking Plans at Lake Elmo
March 7, 2019
In February, a snowmaking feasibility study for a 2.5 km ski trail and sledding hill at Lake Elmo Park Reserve was presented to the Washington County Board. While the board supports the concept, avenues for funding the project are being explored.