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Per Nelson -- St. Paul, MN Per Nelson works as a Chemist at 3M/Dyneon. 2005-2006 Race Results: 2nd Great Bear Chase 25k skate 7th Lotvola Cup 154th American Birkebeiner 17th Mora Vasaloppet 35k 6th Pepsi Challenge 25k Freestyke 8th Seeley Hills Classic 22k During the summer, Per has enjoyed coaching the Finn Sisu Juniors evening group for about 7 years. The last two years he has benefited greatly from working with the Finn Sisu Vakava Racing group. He feels that the group has brought focus, camaraderie and a lot of fun to year round training.

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Margaret Nelson -- St. Paul, MN Margie Nelson works at Orthopedic Sports Inc. as a physical therapist. 2005-2006 Race Results: 4th Pre Loppet Mayor's Challenge 3rd Seeley Hills Classic 42k 1st Pepsi Challenge 24k Classic 1st City of Lakes Loppet Classic 1st 2nd Mora Vasaloppet 35k 3rd Inga Lami 34th American Birkebeiner 1st Lotvola Cup 2nd Great Bear Chase 25k skate Margie been racing since 8th grade for St. Louis Park, St Olaf, and now Skinnyski. She currently trains with Vakava Racing, and enjoys coaching Juniors in the summertime.

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Benjamin Popp -- St. Paul, MN Ben runs a endurance training program out of St. Paul MN. 2005-2006 Race Results: 1st Mora Vasaloppet 35K Ben is a stay-at-home dad, rising his two young sons with his wife, Megan. Along with teammate Dana Olson, Ben won the two-man division of the 2002 Race Across America (RAAM)

John Munger -- Minneapolis, MN John Munger is an attorney and manages the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation. 2005-2006 Race Results: 5th Governors Cup 3rd Mora Vasaloppet 35k 2nd Minnesota Finlandia 25k 29th American Birkebeiner John is the Race Director for the City of Lakes Loppet.

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David Nelson -- Medicine Lake, MN David Nelson is a circuit designer of radiation hardened satellite ASICs designer (a rocket scientist of sorts). 2005-2006 Race Results: 22nd Seeley Hills Classic 42km 7th Governor's Cup 25km 4th City of Lakes 35km classic 9th Mora Vasaloppet 58km 73rd American Birkebeiner 7th Sibley Ski Tour 50km David Nelson took his non-standard training practices to a new level this summer. In addition to repeatedly climbing the stairs of their new home while working on the interior, he also started doing long-distance, high-speed rollerskiing. After training weekly with Josie, her sister Siri and husband Ben, they all completed the 50 mile bike tour in Mora. Josie was quick to remind Dave that he didn't technically complete the event, since he wasn't on a bike. Dave is confident this will be his best season ever, since their garden produced a record crop of potatoes, his favorite fuel for training and racing.

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Josie Nelson -- Medicine Lake, MN Josie Nelson is a physical therapist at Novacare Rehabilitation in Minnetonka and Methodist Hospital in St Louis Park. 2005-2006 Race Results: 4th Seeley Hills Classic 42km 2nd Governor's Cup 25km 1st City of Lakes 35km classic 13th Mora Vasaloppet 58km 40th American Birkebeiner 3rd Sibley Ski Tour 50km If you have met Josie on the ski trails, you will probably agree that she is one of the friendliest, most exuberant skiers you'll find. If you haven't met her, listen for her chatting, encouraging others, or just singing as she skis. Josie prefers the classical technique, because she finds it "easier to ski next to someone." This year Josie is looking forward to skiing in the HolmenkollenMarsjen classical marathon in Norway, where there will be thousands of new skiers to meet. Hope you're working on your Norwegian, Josie!

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Grant Nelson -- Duluth, MN Grant Nelson is a partner in a growing general dentist practice in downtown Duluth. 2005-2006 Race Results: 4th Seeley Hills Classic 11th Sibley Ski Tour 50k 3rd Mora 42k classic 22nd City of Lakes 35k 3rd Pepsi Challenge 24k freestyle 68th American Birkebeiner Grant Nelson is an athlete & dentist in Duluth, MN. During the non-skiing months, Grant enjoys lots of variety in his training including, canoeing, hiking, running, kayaking, rollerskiing, house-building, ... The house-building activity has been interfering recently with some of his other passions & often times provides very little ski specific training. With winter, however, skiing tends to take priority over most other things. Grant competes in most of the large local ski races, but likes the idea of racing to train, rather than training to race.

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Maria Stewart -- St. Paul, MN Maria Stewart is working on her Ph D in Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. 2005-2006 Race Results: 1st Graystone Challenge 1st Capitol Square Citizen Classic 1st Capitol Square Citizen Skate 2nd City of Lakes Loppet Citizen Sprints Maria coaches with the Gear West Adult Ski Group and the Wayzata HS Nordic Team. When its not snowing, you'll probably find her on her bike.

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Jay Richards -- Callaway, MN Jay Richards is one of the owners/operators and head groomer at Maplelag Resort. 2005-2006 Race Results: 3rd Lumberjack Jaunt 16K freestyle 33rd Mora Vasaloppet 35k Jay is an elite level Mountain Bike racer, taking 5th overall in the expert class and age class champion (35 and over) of the 2005 MNSCS series, as well a mixed tandem victory with his wife, Jonell, in the Short and Fat MTB race. Jay volunteers time to help area high school skiers with their training and was named MSHSNCA Volunteer of the Year in 2003.

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Paulette Niemi -- Ironwood, MI Paulette is the Transition Services Coordinator for the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermed. School District. 2005-2006 Race Results: 2nd Big Snow Country Pursuit 12K Freestyle 1st Stormy Kromer Pursuit 3rd Seeley Hills Classic 22K 3rd Noquemanon 51K Freestyle 1st Pre-Birkie 16th American Birkebeiner 1st Lakeland Loppet 25K Freestyle Paulette loves x-c skiing and racing and along with her husband, Ray, is teaching her two sons, Nick (6) and Anthony (4) to x-c ski. Nick will do his 3rd Barnebirkie this year. In the off-season, Paulette competes in 10K road races and enjoys swimming, biking, & hiking with family.

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Mark Parman -- Wausau, WI Mark Parman teaches English and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon Center in Wausau, Wisconsin. 2005-2006 Race Results: 5th American Birkebeiner Classic 3rd Lakeland Loppet 3rd Badger State Games 42 km freestyle 3rd Snekkevik 4th North End Classic 1st Master Telemark NorAm 10 km classical 2nd Master Telemark NorAm 15 km freestyle 10th Seeley Hills Classic 22 km 11th Stormy Kromer Although cross country skiing is his favorite winter activity, Mark indulges in many winter sports: skijoring, snowshoeing, Telemarking and ice blading. In the brown months, he also believes in a well-rounded program of cycling, trail running, canoeing, fire wooding and upland hunting.