FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MNSA Awards Program

The Minnesota Nordic Ski Association (MNSA) will honor Bonnie Fuller-Kask and Larry Myers with the 2017 Minnesota Nordic Skiing Lifetime Achievement Award during the MNSA Lifetime Achievement Awards Program on Sunday afternoon, April 9th at the Mora Vasaloppet Nordic Center in Mora, MN. The Minnesota Nordic Skiing Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to an individual who has contributed significantly to the advancement of Nordic skiing in Minnesota. Both Bonnie and Larry have extensive histories as Nordic competitors and coaches as well as other involvements with Nordic skiing. Bonnie has been coaching high school skiers since 1978 and is the current head Nordic ski coach at Duluth East High School. Larry has been the Co-coach of the Wayzata High School Nordic Ski Team for the past 19 years.

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Awards presentations, other highlights of the banquet include a keynote slideshow presentation by Chad Salmela, former St. Scholastica Nordic Ski Coach and Olympic biathlon and cross country events television commentator and recognition of top performing female and male Minnesota high school, collegiate, biathlon, and master skiers. MNSA will also be recognizing all past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients who are able to attend the Program. The individuals receiving top performer recognitions include:

High School - 2017 Minnesota State High School Nordic Individual Pursuit Champions
Erin Bianco - Ely High School
Xavier Mansfield - Spring Lake Park / St. Anthony High School

Collegiate - 2017 Top Minnesota Based Minnesota Collegiate Nordic Skiers
Ellie Evans - St. Scholastica (Robbinsdale Cooper High School)
Isaac Wieber - St. Scholastica (St. Cloud Tech High School)

Biathlon
Siena Ellingson - Minnetonka (Hopkins High School)
Isaac Ellingson - Minnetonka (Hopkins High School)

Master Skiers
Wanda Arenz - Cass Lake
Roy Carlsted - St. Paul

The Minnesota Nordic Skiing Lifetime Achievement Awards Program will begin at 1:30 p.m. with a social hour; the Program will start at 2:30 pm with Chad Salema’s keynote presentation followed by recognitions and Lifetime Achievement Award presentations. The Mora Vasaloppet Nordic Center is located just north of Mora off of Highway #65.
There is no charge to attend the Lifetime Awards Program. However, RSVP’s are requested for planning purposes. Please contact MNSA board member Bob O’Hara via e-mail at [email protected] or phone (952) 927-0874 by April 4th.