Racing Outlook
February 8, 2009Updates on the upcoming events...
- Feb 13 Minnesota State Meet (Biwabik, MN)
- Feb 12 update:
Several inches of snow is expected Thursday evening through possibly noon on Friday. Plan for some travel delays! Forecast and Hourly weather graph for Giants Ridge.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 11 update:
It looks very good for both the relay tomorrow and even better for Friday. We will be grooming tomorrow morning starting at 3AM for course inspection, because it will not cool down till then. It should get down to about 25 degrees and warm slightly during the day with snow flurries, but Thursday night will cool down to 12-15 degrees with more snow flurries and we will groom very early on Friday morning so that we won't have to deal with much snow in the classic tracks.
- John Filander, Giants Ridge
Course maps: Classical and Skate - Feb 10 update:
Course is closed starting Thursday at 4:30 pm (open on Wednesday and most of Thursday). John Filander of Giants Ridge reports they survive the warm weather with plenty of snow.
Charlie Banks Relays on Thursday. Volunteers are still needed!
State Coaches Meeting, 4 pm Thursday, Giants Ridge. Banquet will have limited seating with tickets going on sale 4:30 on Thursday. Banquet starts at 6 pm.
Friday's race schedule is 10 am girls classical, 11 am boys classic, 1:30 pm girls freestyle pursuit, 2:30 pm boys freestyle pursuit. Also note they will be using new courses this year.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 12 update:
- Feb 14 Minnesota Finlandia (Bemidji, MN)
- Feb 13 update:
Hey great news, Mark groomed through the night and the course set up and froze up fantastically. The word is that we are a go and conditions are great! We are getting light snow now, just perfect.
- Michael Huerbin, race director - Feb 12 update:
Organizers will be grooming all day Friday to prepare the course for the big race on Saturday. They posted the trails as closed until race morning. Read the latest trail report.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 11 update:
Right now our entire course is snow covered but the base is still a little soggy and weak, so we've held off on any grooming. However, as I write the temps are dropping and the ski surface is crusting, and we have snow whirling around. The cold overnight temps should facilitate snowmobile grooming and set up well (with perhaps an occasional trouble spot we'll need to work on). Given the tricky wet conditions we are going to be grooming overnight both Thursday and Friday and ask that skiers stay off the race course. The forecast is for dry and steadily cooling temps right on until the starter's gun. Race day temps should be in the teens and firm fast conditions are likely. Classic skiers should consider klister or waxless skis as an option as the track may set hard. I will update again late Thursday. See you at the start line! Additional photos in the trail report.
- Mark Morrissey, race organization - Feb 10 update 2:
At 6 pm, we have 33 degrees and snow coming down as I speak. I'll post again as soon as I get back from a grooming run tomorrow.
- Mark Morrissey, race organization - Feb 10 update:
The first news to report is that the rain we received did not burn through the ski course, and that some snow (1-2") is expected tonight. I am planning to groom tomorrow night as temps cool and the snowpack re-freezes. I will ski the trail tomorrow and report what I find, as well as send pictures from the track so you will all know what you're dealing with for waxing. Right now the storm expected to bring snow is about to arrive and the temps beginning to fall . By tomorrow we'll be back to the teens and no more rain for the week. The sun may make its appearance on raceday if we are lucky, and the temps in the teens. Refreezing temps and an inch of fresh and we are in business -- so fire up people !! The picture is from late Tuesday afternoon.
- Mark Morrissey, race organization - Feb 8 update:
Organizers report plenty of snow and fantastic conditions on the trails for the Minnesota Finlandia next week. Read the full trail report and see a few photos.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 13 update:
- Feb 14 Stump Farm Classic (Green Bay, WI)
- Feb 10 update 2:
Corn and white hard surface, solid thick base. Quite fast as the sun went down and the cold from the ground refroze the trail. We skied some "other trails" to stay off the ski trails and there was limited cars and traffic on the ski trails (so limited damage to deal with). Typical spring conditions. More tomorrow after a complete survey of the race trail. However, The worst is over. We are forecast to freeze tonight and have about 1" of snow tomorrow to freshen things up and then flirt with freezing every day until the race. Cool.
- Scott Putman, race organization - Feb 10 update:
Scott Putman, chief of course, reports the trail system has survived the warm up and that they should be able to run the full 20K course this weekend. Read his full trail report.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 10 update 2:
- Feb 14 Book Across the Bay (Ashland, WI)
- Feb 13 update:
4 pm update: The Book Across the Bay course has been changed. It will be a loop course, starting and ending in Washburn at Thompson's West End Park (the usual site of the finish line).
The ice and snow conditions in Washburn are much better than those in Ashland, and the new loop course will be ski-able for both striders and skaters. The snow will be hard-packed, but we are able to groom it and set at least two lanes of striding track.
Race-day registration and bib pickup also will be moved to Washburn, and will take place in the big tent near the start/finish area at Thompson's West End Park.
- Laurence Wiland, race director - Feb 13 update:
10 am report: We had below-freezing temperatures last night, and the slush on the Bay has frozen. Temperatures are forecasted to remain below freezing today and tomorrow--it's safe to say that there will be no slush or water on the course tomorrow at race time.
The course has been shortened to about 7 kilometers. Our course crew is working to "rough up" the patches of slick ice to provide as much traction as possible for participants. Our best projections for participants are as follows:
Skiers: The course will be icy and based on reports from our course crew, we will not be able to set any track. You may choose to ski, but be aware that the conditions will be difficult.
- Laurence Wiland, race director - Feb 12 update:
The temperature has dropped and the slush on the bay is freezing! We can say with certainty that by race time Saturday we will have a firm surface upon which to make your way across Chequamegon Bay. The likely scenario is this: We will spend the day Friday tilling and grooming the trail. The Bay will be icy, but the equipment we are using will grind up the icy surface into a two-inch layer of crunchy snow--about the consistency of a snow cone. Our plan is to set up to six striding tracks and a skating lane up to 18 feet wide. It is likely the course will be shortened to about 7 kilometers. We will post another update Friday morning that will definitively describe the condition of the course.
- Laurence Wiland, race director - Feb 10 update:
After a perfect winter of ice, snow, and cold temperatures, this past week we've seen an unusual warm spell, accompanied by rain, which had melted a lot of snow. Chequamegon Bay is still covered with plenty of ice--more than 30 inches thick in most spots--and that ice has served to refrigerate the snow that sits on top of it. However, there are stretches of the Bay that are covered in slush. If the weather turns cold again through the later part of race week, and the slush freezes, then we will be able to till the course and set track for skiers. We are keeping a close eye on the weather, and will post any changes to race location or scheduling.
- Laurence Wiland, race director
- Feb 13 update:
- Feb 14 Snowflake and Inga-lami Races (Maple Plain, MN)
- Feb 11 update:
The race has been moved to Elm Creek -- all other details (start times, etc), remain the same.
- Bruce Adelsman - Feb 10 update:
Organizers are looking at other venues, including the possibility of Elm Creek for holding the race. Watch for further updates.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 11 update:
- Feb 14 Rib Lake HinderBinder (Rib Lake, WI)
- Feb 12 update:
The snow has 6" base in Rib Lake and the race is still going to take place. There is one rock in the first km that will be painted to be seen and avoided. There are pine needles shed along the first km but the rest will be good snow. See you there.
- Cathy Miller-Temme, race organization - Feb 10 update:
HinderBinder is scheduled for Feb 14th with classic race at 10 AM, freestyle race at 10:15 and middle school as well as high school races after that. We will assess snow conditions on Thur Feb 12 and if conditions are not safe or snow is inadequate, I'll post it on our website and I'll try to email you as well.
- Cathy Miller-Temme, race organization
- Feb 12 update:
- Feb 14-15 Madison Winter Fest (Madison, WI)
- Feb 10 update:
I just came from the Alliant Energy Center (place where we store snow for the event) and it looked still pretty good considering 56 degree weather. We will be posting some photos of the snow piles later today on our web. Today is the warmest day so we will be able to finalize how much snow we have tomorrow at 4pm.
The snow we received in December was preserved and was not plowed until last Thursday, right before I started warming up. In other words, it is pretty clean snow on the inside.
Tyrol Basin Ski Area, Madison Winter Festival's logistical sponsor, is ready to help and can provide us up to 100 dump truck loads of snow if needed.
- Yuriy Gusev, race director
- Feb 10 update:
- Feb 15 Erik Judeen Classic (Duluth, MN)
- Feb 10 update:
I just talked with Mark Helmer, the "Korkki Guy". Mark said that the snow out at Korkki is very saturated with water. It has been raining or misting for most of the past 24 hours. The anticipated ice storm did not develop, so there is only the debris in the snow that was from the last wind storm. The forecast is calling for lower temps and the possibility of snow over the next few days. Once things harden up, Mark and Marty (the other Korkki Guy) will attempt to groom. They will make the call on Thursday or early Friday morning if the Eric Judeen will be held.
- Dave Johnson
- Feb 10 update:
- Feb 15 Skiers vs Cyclist TT (Lake Elmo, MN)
- Feb 11 update:
The event is cancelled. The complete loop would have to be covered and that's not going to happen given the exposed nature of a lot of that trail. So I'm cancelling. Maybe in March if we get a freak snowstorm.
- Steve Thatcher, race director - Feb 10 update:
Organizers are still evaluating the conditions, but there is a very strong possibility the race will be cancelled unless there is new snowfall.
- Bruce Adelsman
- Feb 11 update: