Elm Creek Series Results
February 8, 2012Conditions: Temperature: 30F, calm, no wind, firm and hard-packed trails, crystal granular fast snow in skating lanes, double tracks were set very firm for classic skiers, great racing condition tonight. The race course is 2 laps of 2.5K full Valley Trail loop.
Race distance: 5K, both classic and freestyle, mass start.
Freestyle Race Result John Hopkins 12:03 (men freestyle winner) Paul Ellis 12:04 Eric Lindquist 12:04 Ben Lindberg 12:05 Eric Storhoff 14:04 Tom Nowak 14:11 Melinda Silbernick 14:29 (women freestyle winner) Tim Hieb 14:33 Chris Smith 14:35 Classic Race Result: Ben Lindberg 14:50 (men classic winner) Tom Nowak 15:46Tonight’s (Feb. 8) race was a gem! Everyone was smiling afterwards, where PR times of the season were posted for most of the racers. It was a great effort by everyone before the big weekend races, the Pre-Birkie or RAINBOW RESORT (the sponsor of EC XC Ski Wed. night series) hosting the SAVING XC SKIING race (a short notice race in light of Mora Vasaloppet’s cancelation). In the Freestyle race, John Hopkins, Paul Ellis, Eric Lindquist (Team Birkie), and Ben Lindberg went out in the lead pack where John charged and be charged by the other three but finally pulled away by a second ahead of the pack after the last Donut hill climb. Paul and Eric had a photo short finish and followed by Ben within a second behind. Ben then raced the classic event and posted one of the top times at the EC XC Ski classic race. The second pack started with Eric and Tom, but then with the hot pursuit by Melinda, Tim, and Chris, the pack rolled through the finish line quickly. Tom went on for his classic race and posted back-to-back impressive time. Have a great race weekend.--Amy Xu (Timer) reporting for Race Director, Melinda Silbernick