Weekend Racing
March 10, 2010
Racing season is winding down but still some fun events...
Mar 13 Great Beat Chase - Still holding a good base on all the trails and your last big ski marathon chance.
Mar 13 Wooden Ski Rendezvous - Cancelled! Go old school at Snowflake Nordic Saturday.
Mar 13 Pole Pedal Pant - Ski, bike and run winter triathlon at Elm Creek.
Mar 13 Chili Bowl Equinox - Duathlon format ski race, hill climb race, and post-event chili feed!
And events at Lake Wissota and Elm Creek as well.   The Racing Outlook has our latest updates.
Related:

Waxing Recommendations

Junior Nationals: Classical Races
March 10, 2010
The Midwest division picked up the pace on Wednesday, scoring a couple of podium places at Junior Nationals classical races in Presque Isle, Maine. Annie Hart, J1, was 2nd by 7.8 seconds and Matthew Nichols, J2, finished 3rd, less than 3 seconds out of first. Other top results: Paige Schember 5th J1, Eleanor Magnuson 4th OJ, Corrine Malcolm 6th OJ, Sarah Daniels 10th OJ, Adam Martin 9th J2.
Related:
Results: 5K, 10K, 15K classical

24 Hours of Lappe Ski Relay
March 10, 2010
The last weekend in March holds the big season ending 24 Hours of Lappe event. The race has become a tradition for many skiers and is highlighted by fun relay teams and great food. Form your team and make your plans for Thunder Bay now.

Marshall Nordic Skiers Go the Distance
March 10, 2010
Three Marshall skiers capped a great season by going for an epic 100K classic skiing day at the Korkki Nordic in Duluth.

Wirth Olympic Center in Final Bill March 10, 2010 The Minnesota legislative body has approved a new bonding bill that includes funding for the Wirth Olympic Training Center. The bill will move on now to the governor for final approval. The COLNSF is calling on supporters to contact Gov. Pawlenty today and voice your opinion on this project. Related: HF2700: Omnibus Bonding Bill

Bike Dr: Brick Workout, John Howard, Ladies Night, Last Grind
March 10, 2010
Bicycle Doctor's latest newsletter highlights upcoming Brick session, John Howard FITTE, and last grind call.

Racing Outlook
March 9, 2010
Racing season isn't over yet. Race updates on the Chili Bowl, Midwest Junior Championships, and the Pole Pedal Pant winter triathlon.

Trail Report Updates
March 9, 2010
The warm weather is really starting to take in toll in some locations, while others are hanging on. New reports from Blue Mound SP, Murphy-Hanrehan, ABR(2), Tilson Creek(2), Snowflake, Theodore Wirth, Vasaloppet Public, After Hours, Swedetown, Birkie, Maplelag, Minocqua Winter, Wildcat Mtn SP, and recent reports from Snowflake, Elm Creek(3), Woodland, Graystone, Reforestation Camp, Hiawatha GC, Giants Ridge, Terrace Oaks, Scuppernong, Lester, Maasto Hiihto, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, Governor Thompson SP, Elver, Nordic Heritage(2).

Skinnyski Race Team Weekend Recap
March 9, 2010
The first weekend in March held a dozen races on the calendar. The Skinnyski Race Team hit up two metro events, as well as the Sleeping Giant Loppet in Thunder Bay. Read race stories from Per and Elaine.

ABR Spring Sale
March 9, 2010
ABR is running their Spring Sale with discounts on next season's passes, and big savings in their ski shop including significant savings on rental and demo skis.

Junior Nationals: Sprints
March 9, 2010
Junior Nationals opened Monday in Presque Isle, Maine, with the classical sprint races. The Midwest division had a mixed day with just one podium placing, Corrine Malcolm 3rd (OJ), and two others skiers, Eric Slater (J2), and Summer Ellefson (J1) making it to the finals. The New England division dominated the podium. Corrine Malcolm comments: "I crashed hard in the A final but fought my way back through the field to finish third in the OJ womens race. It was a tough day, you saw anything from slush, to powder, to ice on the trail." Racing continues Wednesday with classical races.
Related:
Results: Classical Sprints

Pioneer Midwest Progressive Sale - Final Week
March 8, 2010
Pioneer Midwest's Annual Progressive Sale is in their final week with savings up to 50%. They still have a limited amount of great Nordic equipment left along with a good selection of alpine skis and boards. Sale ends this Sunday, March 14th!

Wood N Ski Rendezvous
March 8, 2010
The Tenth Annual Wood N Ski Rendezvous will take place at Snowflake Nordic Center in Duluth, MN this Saturday, March 13th. The event celebrates the culture and traditions of early cross country skiing on wooden skis with a 5K race and prizes for best vintage apparel.

Birkie Flick
March 8, 2010
Catch Scott Brown's perspective on the 2010 Birkie with a special movie showing this Friday, March 12th in Hayward.

Elk River Biathlon Results
March 8, 2010
Over 100 skiers turned out Sunday for the biathlon race at Woodland trails in Elk River. State Champion Raleigh Goessling, already a top biathlete, held off Olympian Garrott Kuzzy and Matt Liebsch by mere seconds to take the experienced category division. In the novice long course races, Emily Goetsche and Nick Pauley won the junior division, Rich and Molly Hoeg topped the masters field.
Related:
Rich Hoeg's Blog Entry with Photos and Video

Re-Loppet Photos
March 8, 2010
The City of Lakes Loppet Nordic Ski Foundation celebrated another great winter on the Wirth trails with the Re-Loppet, a fun, friendly ski from Wirth Chalet down to Uptown, finishing with pizza at Old Chicago.
Related:
Photoset from Dave Rhude: 10 photos
Mar 13-14 Midwest Junior Championships

Lotvola Cup Coverage
March 7, 2010
Warm weather and slushy snow resulted in some very slow conditions for the annual Lotvola Cup race at Maplelag Sunday. Jake Richards completed the weekend 'Resort sweep' taking the victory Sunday to complement his win Saturday at Rainbow Resort. The race was a tight battle of roughly ten skiers in the lead pack right up the final kilometer. Johanna Winters was the top woman finishing fifth overall, less than 30 seconds back. Full results plus photos online now.

Telemark Owners Approve Resort Sale Agreement
March 6, 2010
At their March 6 special meeting, the members of the Telemark Interval Owners Association (TIOA) voted to approve the purchase agreement crafted by the association’s Board of Directors with Telemark Partners, LLC. The overwhelming approval vote completes one more step in the Telemark Partner’s acquisition of Telemark Lodge and nearly 1000 acres of recreational land.

US Ski Team: Randall Leads U.S. in Finland
March 6, 2010
World Championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall got back into the World Cup season Saturday, leading the U.S. in 24th during the women's 15K and men's 30K pursuits in Finland.

Sleeping Giant Loppet Results
March 6, 2010
Beautiful conditions Saturday for the Sleeping Giant Loppet in Thunder Bay. Andre Watt pulled away from Nikolai Anikin and Jeffery Cameron to take the premiere 50K freestyle race. Karla Bailey topped two Skinnyski race team members, Paulette Niemi and Elaine Nelson, in a close pack finish for the womens division. Mason Bacso and Kerrie Fabius collected the 50K classical titles. 35K victories went to Don Sisson and Jiska Westbroek. In the 20K event, Ross Chuchman and Anna Crawford posted top times. Full results linked in.
Related:
Lakeland Loppet Results

Rainbow Rendezvous Results
March 6, 2010
Amy Xu reports: 29 skiers from Twin Cities, Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, Fargo-Moore/ND-MN, Ames/IA, and Norway hit the race courses in Saturday morning. Course records were broken by our local rising star skier, Jake Richards, and Birkie veteran skier, Craig Stolen. The fast icy condition made the 10k, 16k, and 6k courses fun yet challenging.
Related:
Riverview Loppet Results
Spring Fling Coverage

Hoigaards Slush Rush Results
March 6, 2010
The Hoigaards Slush Rush race hit the trails of Elm Creek Saturday morning some for fast racing. Nathan Porath and Kathleen Dewahl won the 12K masters race, Nate Brown and Kathryn Keller-Miller the high school division (Brown also posted the 2nd fastest time in the masters race!).
Related:
Snowjourn Results

Midwest Mountaineering March Newsletter
March 4, 2010
Midwest Mountaineering's March newsletter features their final winter clearance sale, the upcoming Spring Outdoor Adventure Expo, and a large list of March clinics and seminars.

Toko e-Blast: Cook Sprinting
March 3, 2010
Toko's latest e-newsletter features comments from Chris Cook on sprinting.

Go!Training Summer Programs
March 3, 2010
Go!Training has announced their summer training programs. They have multiple program options available along with a large coaching staff. And new this year, they will be working with Gene Kay and the Baker rollerski program.

Sisu Junior Programs Announced
March 1, 2010
The Sisu Nordic Ski Foundation has announced their summer programs for aspiring junior/collegiate skiers. This season they will offer two different morning programs, as well as an afternoon strength session. Sign up before April 1st and save $50.

Minneapolis Ski Club Summer Juniors
March 1, 2010
The Minneapolis Summer Junior programs are now open for signup. Kevin Brochman leads the groups along with a staff of top skiers. East and West side programs available. Discount if registered by March 31st.

Olympics: Kershaw Fifth in Mens 50K Classic February 28, 2010 Canada's Devon Kershaw and George Grey did their country proud skiing with the lead pack for nearly the entire race and in the end, Kershaw sprinted with the medal contenders just missing the podium by less than a second and finishing fifth by a hair. Petter Northug, Norway, took the gold in a final stretch sprint. James Southam was the top American finishing 28th. Related: Olympics: Northug Wraps Up With 50K Gold

Olympics: KIkkan Randall Personal Best at 30K
February 27, 2010
Kikkan Randall had her best-ever distance finish in the women's 30K mass start classic on Saturday. Known primarily as a sprinter, Randall finished 24th, while Holly Brooks also had a strong showing for the U.S. in 36th. Poland's Justyna Kowalcyzk won gold.

American Birkebeiner Coverage
February 27, 2010
If there was ever a perfect Birkie, this year may have been it. Skiers were treated to sunshine, temperatures in the teens rising to the 20s and fast, firm trails. How fast? Italian Fabio Santus won the mens 50K freestyle race sprinting ahead of Tad Elliot and setting a new course record of 1:56:58. Chris Cook rounded out the podium leading out a big field sprint. Rebecca Dussault cruised to repeat as the womens Birkie champion, Taz Mannix and Brooke Gosling finished second and third. Classical titles went to Juergen Uhl and Audrey Weber. Results linked in and photosets posted. Photosets added from Julie Joy Wenner, David Owen, Dick Anderson and Rich Hoeg, along with video clips from Scott Brown.
Related:
Press Release: Birkie Champions Take To The Podium
Press Release: Kortie Winners

Birkie Elite Sprints
February 26, 2010
The big Birkie weekend warmed up Thursday with the elite sprints on Main Street Hayward on Thursday. Norwegian Morten Eide Pedersen took the mens sprint over Kevin Hochtl. Audrey Weber defeated Maria Stuber in the womens final.
Related:
Photoset from Mark Milford: Elite Sprints, Barnebirkie
Results: Mens Sprints, Womens Sprints

Olympics: Demong Gold, Spillane Silver in Nordic Combined February 25, 2010 Overcoming at 46 second deficit, Billy Demong joined with teammate Johnny Spillane to catch leader Bernhard Gruber in the cross-country portion of the large hill nordic combined. On the final hill, Demong put down a monster effort, dropping Gruber, followed by Spillane sprinting past Gruber as well, as the pair skied into the finish to seize gold and silver medals for the US team! It marks the first gold medal by an American in any Nordic sport. The incredible performance was shown tape-delayed in a premium position primetime on NBC TV. Related: Video: Demong's push to the finish, Event Recap NBC Summary: Demong wins Nordic combined gold Olympics: Randall Leads U.S. in Womens Relay Olympics: Demong named U.S. flagbearer for closing ceremonies