Elm Creek Series Results

Conditions: Temperature: 28F, very light wind; very nice skiing condition. The race course was set on the full 5K loop including Valley, Thicket and Northern Light trails, Valley trails being mostly natural soft snow from the last couple of days with hard-packed base underneath; classic tracks set very well, classic skiers reported good glide but a bit difficult kicking up the "big" hill. The pursuit races of 5K freestyle and 5K classic were popular tonight.

Race distance: 5K, both classic and freestyle, mass start.

Freestyle(F)/Classic(C) 
Anders Bowman                            12:01 (F)/14:44 (C) - men's freestyle winner and classic winner
Gordon Vermeer                           12:08 (F)           -- with a broken pole
Peter Larsen                             12:23 (F)/15:10 (C)
Hans Nygren                              12:25 (F)/14:52 (C)
Ryan Skinner                             12:54 (F)
Kory Freeberg                            13:23 (F)/15:07 (C)
Robert Edman                             13:50 (F)/18:13 (C)
Lindsey Marshall                         13:52 (F)           -- women's freestyle winner
Robert Hest                              14:24 (F)
Jenny Beckman                            14:40 (F)
Kenny Gilkerson                          15:05 (F)
Kate Wold                                15:24 (F)
Annika Ferber                            15:30 (F)
Odd Osland                               15:53 (F)
Danielle Burgmeier                       15:59 (F)
Tim Hieb                                 17:02 (F)
Don Callander                            17:03 (F)            -- no poles
Mark Winholtz                            18:16 (F)/23:50 (C)
Mark Hesser                              23:04 (F)            -- first race ever (CONGRATULATIONS!!!); missed the turn into Thicket trails and climbed the extra donut hill 
Jim Smith                                         /19:13(C)

A good group of college skiers raced this Wednesday night's race series during their holiday break. Welcome back and great effort tonight!!! Two packs of 4 skiers got ahead of the rest after the first "big" hill in 3:50 minutes. While Gordon had a story to tell how his pole was broken, he finished the near 2nd behind the winner of the night, Anders Bowman, in both freestyle and classic races. The classic race was much closer among the racers and fun to watch, according to the race director, Melinda Silbernick. The master skiers kept improving their time week after week -- nice work!!!

Don Callander is tonight's winner for the drawing ($25 gift certificate) -- please come and claim it next week.

--Amy Xu (Timer) reporting for Race Director, Melinda Silbernick