Elm Creek Series Results

Conditions: Temperature: 28F, calm, firm and hard-packed trails, crystal granular fast snow in skating lanes, double tracks were set very firm for classic skiers, great racing condition tonight. The race course is 2 laps of 2.5K full Valley Trail loop.

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

Freestyle Race Result
Karl Holmb            12:10 (men freestyle winner)
John Hopkins          12:12
Isaak Ridge           12:44 
Dennis Curran         12:49
Lucas Hieb            12:57
Nathaniel Johnson     13:20
Melinda Silbernick    14:15 (women freestyle winner)
Tim Hieb              14:25
Chris Smith           14:39
 
Classic Race Result:
Karl Holmb            13:53 (men classic winner)
Isaak Ridge           14:30 *
 * skied with a broken pole right at the start and then with a replacement pole

Tonight’s (Feb. 22) race was between the HS stars and the Birkie top wavers – what a great tune-up sprint race for the BIG Kahuna!!! Good luck to all of you. In the freestyle race, John lead the pack until 2/3 in the second lap when Karl put in another gear to win the sprint race. When Karl skied though the finish line, he also knew he wanted to claim tonight’s double titles, i.e. win the classic race which he did only after a very short break. The rest of the field in the freestyle race also posted one of the best skiing times of this season – Congratulations, you are ready for the BIG race. In the classic race, Irondale’s Isaak immediately put the pressure on his teammate Karl. Isaak charged so hard that he snapped his right pole. He got a replacement pole and chased as hard as he could and closed the gap to an impressive 37 seconds behind Karl. Also, congratulations to Nathaniel for a great skiing season -- his only second year of skiing, and also to the Hiebs -- Tim Hieb who raced the entire EC XC Race Series this season, and Lucas Hieb who will be going strong into his Junior year. He and his teammates will be taking on the other teams at the upcoming 23rd POLE PEDAL PANT winter tri in less than three weeks.

Due to the lack of ski races, EC XC ski race series has been extended to run two more weeks (2/29 and 3/7) which will also help skiers to prepare for the upcoming POLE PEDAL PANT winter triathlon (10k ski, 7k mt bike, 7k run) held at Elm Creek on March 10 (check www.polepedalpant.com) for teams or individuals. Hope to see you all next two Wed. nights. If we are lucky enough to get more snow this Sunday/Monday, we may run the course on the Northern Light and Thicket trails which have not been raced on this entire season!!!

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