The Skinnyski.com Race Team is composed of top Midwest skiers with the goal to be competitive both as individuals as well as a team, while still remaining integrated with the skiing community. Team members are heavily involved in setting the direction, composition, and concept of the organization. Sponsors  Hidden Bay Sports is the primary sponsor of the 2008-2009 Skinnyski Race Team. Hidden Bay designed and produced the new Skinnyski race kit including ski suits, warm up jacket, vest, and ski hat. Hidden Bay Sports is a family owned and operated business located in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Kyia Anderson is the Midwest Sales Rep, 320-310-2686, [email protected] |
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Race Team Members  Home Store
 | Per Nelson -- Woodbury, MN
Per Nelson works as a Chemist at 3M/Dyneon. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 19th Elk River Race
- 15th Pre-Loppet
- 9th Seeley Hills 22K
- 16th Boulder Lake Ski Race
- 11th Governors Cup
- 36th City of Lakes Loppet
- 255th American Birkebeiner
During the summer, Per has enjoyed coaching the Finn Sisu Juniors evening group for about 9 years. The last three 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 -- Woodbury, MN
Margie Nelson works at Orthopedic Sports Inc. as a physical therapist. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 18th Preseason Physical
- 23rd Pre-Loppet
- 22nd Inga-lami
- 14th Mora Vasaloppet 13K
Margie had most of the season off last year as she and Per were expecting their first child.
Margie been racing since 8th grade for St. Louis Park, St Olaf, and now Skinnyski. She hopes to be able to train again soon with her Vakava Racing friends and can't wait to get her son George on his first pair of skis. |
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Endurance Athlete | Benjamin Popp -- St. Paul, MN
Ben runs a endurance training program, Endurance Athlete, out of St. Paul MN. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 3rd Pre-Loppet
- 31st American Birkebeiner
Ben is a stay-at-home dad, raising 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). Ben is currently training for the 2009 RAAM solo division race.
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 | John Munger -- Minneapolis, MN
John Munger is an attorney and the executive director of the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation. He is married to Diana Liu Munger. They have two children: Ellie, age 7, and Lauren, age 4. 2007-2008 Race Results: -
- 7th Boulder Lake Ski Race
- 286th American Birkebeiner
John claims a dismal 2007-2008 ski season (too much work, illness, etc.) but plans to be back in force this year.
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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). 2007-2008 Race Results: - 10th Seeley Hills 42K
- 3rd City of Lakes Loppet 25km classic
- 1st Marine/O'Brien 20K classic
- 11th Mora Vasaloppet 35K
- 44th American Birkebeiner
- 7th Sibley Ski Tour 50K
David is coming into the season with a good fall training base. He roller skied with dedication every day to and from work whether it was raining, dark or snowy. His secret to winter training is his ski route to work. Not to take anything away from the Loppet motto, it takes him under 2 bridges, through two cattail swamps, along a creek, across a state highway, by a church, under a volleyball net right to the front door at Honeywell. David is taking a wait and see approach to the racing calendar but he is hopeful that he will be able to attend some of his favorite events with support from Josie and their new baby. |
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| Josie Nelson -- Medicine Lake, MN
Josie Nelson is a physical therapist who is currently transitioning into the role of a full time mother. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 4th Seeley Hills 42K
- 6th City of Lakes Loppet 25K classic
- 2nd Mora Vasaloppet 35K classic
- 1st Marine/O'Brien 20K classic
- 3rd American Birkebeiner classic
Josie and David are expecting their first baby in late January. Josie will not be racing this year, but she hopes to attend some races as a spectator before and maybe even after the baby comes.
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." |
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| Grant Nelson -- Duluth, MN
Grant Nelson is a partner in a growing general dentist practice in downtown Duluth. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 9th Seeley Hills
- 4th Nordic Spirit 25k
- 26th City of Lakes 35k
- 6th Book Across the Bay
- 6th Mora Vasaloppet 35K classic
- 3rd American Birkebeiner classic
Grant signficantly changed his training plan & regimen during the 2008 off-season. He started running more, rollerskiing less & doing activities he normally wouldn't do. Three new women entered his life & it has almost been like he joined his own personal running team. Last December, he picked up his eight week old female yellow labrador puppy, Nika, on the same weekend, he also met his future wife, Elaine & her dog, Xena. His new favorite off-season activity is going pole-running with his three girls.
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| Elaine Nelson -- Duluth, MN
Elaine Nelson (formerly Eggleston) is an associate veterinarian at a compassionate small animal practice in downtown Cloquet.
2007-2008 Race Results: - 18th City of Lakes Loppet skijor
- 21st City of Lakes Loppet 35K
- 2nd Mora Vasaloppet 35K
- 8th Sibley Ski Tour 50K
- 1st Rice Street 1 Mile Run
Elaine didn't know what she was getting into when she started dating a wonderful cross-country skier in December 2007! She was mainly a runner who raced collegiately for the U of MN and later for the club Run N Fun. She skied in the winter only to cross-train, to keep in shape for running. However, during the winter of 2007-2008, she rekindled her love for skiing. In September 2008, she and Grant were married and currently live in Duluth with their two dogs, Xena and Nika. Elaine also enjoys doing anything outdoors including camping, canoeing and biking, and she has even started learning the art of rollerskiing. This winter, Elaine is excited to ski the Skinnyski race series and improve her technique in classical.
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| Jay Richards -- Callaway, MN
Jay Richards is one of the owners/operators and head groomer at Maplelag Resort. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 1st Rainbow JOQ 10K freestyle citizen
- 27th City of Lakes Loppet
- 4th Minnesota Finlandia 25K
Jay is an elite level Mountain Bike racer, taking 4th overall in the expert class and age class champion (35 and over) of the 2008 MNSCS series, as well a mixed tandem victory with his wife, Jonell, in the 2007 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 2007. |
(Photo: Scott Nesvold)
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 | Paulette Niemi -- Ironwood, MI
Paulette is the Transition Services Coordinator for the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermed. School District.
2007-2008 Race Results: - 1st Grand View Challenge
- 1st Stormy Kromer Pursuit
- 1st Noquemanon 51K
- 1st ABR Race 23K
- 2nd Pre-Birkie 25K
- 16th American Birkebeiner
- 1st Lakeland Loppet 25K Freestyle
- 1st ABR Spring Race 19K Freestyle
Paulette has been x-c skiing for over 20 years. Cross country skiing and racing is a family affair with boys Nick (8), Anthony (6), and husband, Ray, making tracks at the local trails as well as getting in some racing. For winter fun, when she isn't x-c skiing, Paulette also enjoys downhill skiing with family and snowshoeing.
When the snow goes (April in Big Snow Country), it's on to summer fun with waterskiing, hiking, biking, running in 10K races, camping, gardening and pretty much anything outdoors.
This ski season, Paulette is helping coordinate a new youth ski program for 60 elementary students in their local school system. "I'd love to see more of our kids out enjoying the snow, " she says. |
(Photo: Scott Nesvold)
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| Mark Parman -- Wausau, WI
Mark Parman teaches English and journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon Center in Wausau, Wisconsin. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 2nd Snekkevik classic
- 9th Big Snow Opener
- 9th ABR Spring Race
- 11th Noquemenon 51K classic
- 3rd Stormy Kromer
- 1st Chapinloppet classic
- 1st Badger State Games 21K classic
- 2nd Hinder Binder 22K classic
- 13th American Birkebeiner classic
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. |
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 | Michelle Flanagan-Haag -- Duluth, MN
Michelle works as a CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist) at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 6th Seeley Hills 42K
- 1st Nordic Spirit
- 4th Book Across the Bay
- 26th American Birkebeiner
Michelle's favorite activities are anything that has to do with being outside all day. In the summer months, she loves road biking and explore new places. One of her favorite rides is from Seeley to Duluth (100+ miles). Half marathons, mountain bike racing, kayaking, and camping with her husband, Mike and dog, Teak, are also at the top of her summer list. Michelle loves cross country skiing and chasing races with her husband. Her fondest Birkebeiner was one in which Josie Nelson and I sang throughout most of the race! You'll frequently find her helping with ski clinics for women through Ski Hut or teaching parent-ski through the Duluth X-C Club. This season, she is also working to raise donations for the M.S. Society. |
| Chip Tabor -- Medicine Lake, MN
Chip Tabor is an engineer at Medtronic working on transcatheter valve technologies. 2007-2008 Race Results: - 3rd Boulder Lake Ski Race
- 15th City of Lakes Loppet
- 43rd American Birkebeiner
- 10th Chipaloppet 4.5K
- 6th Sibley Ski Tour 50K
Chip has been skiing since he was 4 and ski racing since 6. Recently becoming a Medicine Lake resident, he enjoys early morning skis out his back door with long-time Skinnyski team member Dave Nelson across the lake and around French park. Besides skiing, he enjoys snowboarding, skate sailing, and directing the Chipaloppet ski event in the winter. This year he hopes to host the Chipaloppet World Championships. Outside of the winter months he enjoys taking bike trips and competing in triathlons. |
The Skinnyski.com Race Team is also indebted to the support of past team members Maria Stewart, Brian May, Abbi May, Jill Troutner, and Siiri Morse. If you'd like more information, or to become part of this racing team, as a racer, sponsor, or support person, we'd love to hear from you! E-mail us at [email protected] |
