Skinnyski Race Team Weekend Recap
January 6, 2009
The racing season gathered full steam last weekend as 2009 brought a host of races across the region. We've posted first-hand race stories from the Pre-Loppet, Stormy Kromer and Sawtooth from the team members.

Trail Report Updates
January 6, 2009
A lot of good reports coming in this week as most areas have de-iced and many places up north are reporting their best conditions in decades. Maybe its time to plan a ski vacation? New reports from Manitou Ridge GC, Phalen GC, Hiawatha GC, Cleary Lake(2), Birkie, Troll Hollow, Vadnais/Sucker Lakes, Lodi(2), Lester, Battle Creek - Winthrop Street(2), Mille Lacs Kathio SP, Fit Strip, Uller, Maplelag, Lake Valentine, Willow River SP, Camp Forest Springs, Sand Dunes SF, Carey Lake, Pine Valley, Hixon Forest, Big Aspen, Nose Lake, City of Lakes Loppet, Nordic(3), Mirror Lake SP, Sibley SP, Lebanon Hills, Lindenwood, Hyland Lake, Mt. Ashwabay, Fox Hill, Theodore Wirth, Columbia GC, William O'Brien SP(2), Hiram, Cottage Grove Ravine, Cherry Hills, French Rapids X-C, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve(2), After Hours, Magney-Snively, Lake Minnewashta, Warner Lake, Jay Cooke SP, Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County, Quarry Nature Preserve, Piedmont, Como GC(2), Evergreen/Maywood, Tamarack Nature, Peninsula SP, Baker, Odana Hills GC, ABR, Pincushion Mtn, Lakewood XC, Nerstrand-Big Woods SP, Sakatah Lake SP, and recent reports from Riverside(2), Graystone(2), Terrace Oaks, Odana Hills GC, Willow River SP(3), Phalen GC(2), Quarry Nature Preserve, Cleary Lake, Battle Creek - Winthrop Street, Hickory Ridge(2), Reforestation Camp, City of Lakes Loppet(2), Carey Lake(2), ABR, Lake Maria SP, Carver, Northland Arboretum, Two Harbors, Tower Ridge, Como GC, Maple Lane, Mirror Lake SP, Gooseberry Falls SP, Coulee Experimental SF, Saint Mary's Univ, Wolverine, Miljes, French, Andes Tower Hill, Theodore Wirth, Greenbush, Bunker Hills, Whitefish Dunes SP(2), Lower Noquemanon, Peninsula SP, Beaver Brook, Pine Point, Lake Elmo, Pattison SP, Highland 9-hole GC, Upper Gunflint, Governor Thompson SP, Wild River SP, Fox Hill, Edgewood GC, Timberland Hills, North Arm , Montreal, Lester, Boulder Lake, Murphy-Hanrehan, Vasaloppet, Giants Ridge, Irondale, Michigan Tech Univ, The Listening, Battle Creek - Upper Afton, Banadad, Spirit Mtn.

Tour de Ski Video Recap
January 6, 2009
Universal Sports has a full recap of the entire Tour de Ski series streaming online now.
Related:
Rossignol Newsletter: Victories on the Tour de Ski

Ski Hut HotBoxing
January 6, 2009
Ski Hut has added hot box service for optimal wax coatings. Plus, a waxing clinic coming up on January 19th.

CCSA: Ocariz And Coulter Lead At Nationals Opener
January 6, 2009
In some surprising results, UWGB's Santi Ocariz and Gustavus' Jens Brabbitt, both Midwest skiers, topped the CCSA field at the first race of US Nationals. Anna Coulter, UAF, was the leading CCSA female. Full report from Matias Saari.

Dakota Parks Now Require Ski Pass
January 6, 2009
Beginning this season, a Dakota County Cross-Country Ski Pass is required for all skiers ages 18 or older for cross-country skiing trails in Dakota County Parks.

US Nationals: Cold Weather Cancellations Again
January 6, 2009
US Nationals was foiled yet again by cold weather as organizers had to cancel the classical races on Tuesday. No word yet on the scheduling now for the rest of the week, although the sprint events had been rescheduled to Wednesday.
Update: As of Tuesday evening, the new schedule called for classic sprints on Wednesday and classical distance races on Thursday, leaving the team sprints off the schedule.

Jim Owens Passes Away
January 6, 2009
Jim Owens passed away Sunday, January 4th. Owens was well known in the skiing and cycling community for his strong fight against cancer which included a Tour of Hope Team cross-country ride with Lance Armstrong and spokeman/lobbyist at the state and federal levels. Visitation Thursday evening, funeral and reception on Friday.
Related:
Online Guestbook
Normandale Luthernan Church Map/Directions
Jim Owens Skis the Birkie 2003
Jim's Journey Website

Skinnyski.com Racing Team 2008-2009
January 5, 2009
We are proud to introduce the 2008-2009 Skinnyski.com Race Team! There are a number of shake-ups this season: Maria Stewart ships out to Hawaii, Josie Nelson is on maternity leave (Margie returns!), and we've added three new faces to the team. Michelle Flanagan-Haag, Chip Tabor, and Elaine Nelson will all be racing under the Skinnyski banner this season.

Racing Outlook
January 5, 2009
Racing updates include: Boulder field will be big, St. Johns and Gear West announce short-notice races, MYSL Team Sprints start Wednesday, Elm Creek series returns to normal schedule, Lapham Peak series off this week.

US Nationals: Short Distance Freestyle Races
January 5, 2009
An amazing day at US Nationals Monday -- first, because it was actually warm enough to race (-4F), but more important, CXC scored well with Caitlin Compton repeating as National Champion and Matt Liebsch skiing the best race of his life to finish on the podium in third! Kris Freeman won the mens title with Leif Zimmerman second; Kikkan Randall was second and Liz Stephens third. Other top Midwest results: Lindsey Dehlin 8th, Kristina Owen 17th, Johanna Winters 18th, Maria Stuber 20th, Jessie Diggins 21st; Garrott Kuzzy 8th, Bryan Cook 14th.
Related:
Results: Womens 5K freestyle (unofficial), Mens 10K freestyle (unofficial)
Swix Shines at US Nationals 5/10K Freestyle
CXC Report from Garrott Kuzzy
Salomon Athletes Continue Winning Ways at US Nationals

World Cup: Babikov Wins Final Tour de Ski Stage
January 5, 2009
Candian Ivan Babikov won the final stage of the 2008-2009 Tour de Ski. Babikov completed the 11km freestyle event in a time of 33:51.2, 1.5 seconds faster than German Tom Reichelt.

Minnesota High School Rankings Posted
January 5, 2009
The Minnesota high school rankings for the first week in January have been posted.

One Way Racing News: Tour de Ski
January 6, 2009
Virpi Kuitunen takes victory of the this year's Tour de Ski.

Minnesota Skinnyski Series Team Competition
January 4, 2009
David Christopherson takes a look at the history of the Minnesota Skinnyski Series Team Competition. The team competition has become rather heated rivalry, with more teams entering the battle this season.
Related:
Minnesota Skinnyski Series Team Registration

Continental Wax Clinic
January 4, 2009
Does kick wax and klister confuse you? Come find out the correct process for preparing your skis, selecting the correct wax, application process and removal, presented by Siiri Morse. Tuesday, January 6th at 6 pm.

Hoigaard's X-C Lessons
January 4, 2009
Hoigaard's is offering basic cross-country ski classes, Mondays Jan 12 and 19th at Elm Creek. Class size is limited, register soon.

Rainbow JOQ Freestyle Coverage
January 4, 2009
Cold weather delayed the start of the second day of racing at Rainbow Resort as morning temperatures reached double digits below zero. However, organizers reported near zero temperatures in the afternoon as juniors hit the trails for the 5K and 10K freestyle races. Top times of the day went to Lynn Duijndam and Dylan McGarthwaite in the 5K, and Joe Dubay in the 10K. Photos added from Rainbow Resort.
Related:
Rainbow JOQ Recap Press Release

US Nationals: Sunday Sprints Cancelled
January 4, 2009
The sprint races at US Nationals, originally scheduled for Saturday and postponed to Sunday due to cold weather, were cancelled on Sunday, again, due to cold weather. They are hoping to reschedule the sprints, but no decision has been made yet. Monday's freestyle races have been shortened.

Pre-Loppet Coverage
January 4, 2009
With fresh snow greatly improving course conditions and some bright sunshine making it feel warmer than the near zero temperatures, over 130 skiers skied the City of Lakes Loppet front half in reverse for the annual Pre-Loppet event Sunday morning. The lead skiers held together in a pack of seven skiers held together until second to last big climb on the front 9 when Eric Carter and Nathan Porath broke it apart. Carter and Porath skied the final kilometer the finish together with Carter taking the victory. Kim Rudd reeled in teammate Carolyn Bramante and held her off on the final downhill to take the womens title.
Related:
Sawtooth Results Posted

Marshall Sprints Coverage
January 3, 2009
Nearly 300 skiers hit the trails at Marshall School in Duluth for their annual sprint and junior high races. The varsity boys final featured an exciting match up of CEC's Raleigh Goessling and the UP's Jay Woodbeck as the pair came down to the wire with Goessling winning by 3/10s of a second. Duluth East's Alena Tofte got a good jump on the field in the girls finals, winning by nearly a 10 second margin.

Stormy Kromer Classical Coverage
January 3, 2009
Kenneth Statz topped Jonathon Rulseh by a narrow 18 second margin in the opening day of the Stormy Kromer Pursuit. More than 150 skiers participated in the 10K classical race that wound through the Montreal trails in far northern Wisconsin. Paulette Niemi posted the fastest womens time. Photos from Scott Nesvold, plus full results.

Rainbow JOQ Classic Sprints Coverage
January 3, 2009
Saturday featured classical sprint races on a 1.5K course at Rainbow Resort near Waubun, MN. Top qualifying times of the day went to vacationing Joe Dubay and Minneapolis Southwest's Rosie Frankowski.
Related:
Rainbow JOQ Sunday Race Delayed

Marshall Holiday Ski Camp Coverage
January 2, 2009
The 6th Annual Marshall Holiday Ski Camp was held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday December 29-31, 2008 at the Snowflake Nordic Ski Center. The camp was supervised by the Marshall Nordic Ski Team Coaching Staff and instruction was provided by the members of Marshall Nordic. Over 85 children from the local community ages 5-12 attended this year’s camp.
Related:
Photoset: Day 1, 2, Day 3

PowerFIX Cycling Classes
January 2, 2009
The Fix Studio is offering a series of cycling specific training classes throughout the winter. Utilizing power metered training, big screen projector and more. Classes will focus on endurance, power development, pedaling efficiency and technique.

XC U.S. Champs Start Saturday in Anchorage
January 2, 2009
The nation's premier cross country athletes are set to compete for the title of best in the U.S. as the 2009 ConocoPhillips U.S. Cross Country Championships heads to Anchorage's Kincaid Park Jan. 3-8.
Related:
National Championships Sprints Postponed to Sunday

Browns Creek Kids Race Coverage
January 1, 2009
Nearly 50 kids competed in the Brown's Creek Kids XC race and Family Fun ski on New Years Day in Stillwater. The annual event is hosted by the St. Croix Valley Youth Ski Club.
Related:
Photoset from Everett Myers: 23 photos
Results: Browns Creek Kids Race

Irondale Rice Creek Classic Coverage
January 1, 2009
Nearly perfect weather for the Irondale Rice Creek Classic Thursday morning, New Years Day, in New Brighton as temperatures soared into the mid 20s under a hazy sky. Over 20 skiers raced through the Rice Creek woods behind Irondale in a multi-lap skate race. Andy Schakel took control of the mens race and solo'd through the third lap for the victory. Carolyn Bramante post the top womens time, racing with a lead pack of four men for much of the event. Full results and photos online now.

Biathlon: Youth/Junior World Championships
December 31, 2008
More updates from the Youth/Junior World Championships in Anchorage, Alaska:
• Day 2 Recap
• Day 3 Recap
• Youth/Junior World Championship Teams Named

Bike Dr: Where's the Snow, Gigs, Wilderness Skiing
December 31, 2008
Bicycle Doctor's newsletter features information on local skiing, upcoming gigs, race cancellation, New Year hours, and Wilderness skiing video.