Korkki Nordic Ski Center is to many folks the perfect nordic ski center.
The single track classic trail winding through the woods seems to transport skiers back to another place and time.  Adding to the ambiance is the rustic chalet, well stocked woodsheds, and other small buildings that evoke a feeling of coming home.  For many members of the Marshall Nordic Ski Team, Korkki Nordic has also come to symbolize a place to challenge yourself. The trails can be difficult and they demand your best skiing to navigate them safely.  There is another challenge that speaks to the skiers.

This challenge is represented by two small plaques in the chalet, the Errki Harju 100 k Club and the Korkki Nordic 50 Kilometer Club.  To have your name added to either plaque a skier needs to ski 5 or 10 full loops of the Korkki trail, including the big hill (aka..Iso Maki).  To accomplish this in a day is a difficult task in even the best conditions.  Until Thursday, March 4th only 18 skier’s names graced the 100 Kilometer Plaque.

That list of names grew to 21 after three Marshall Nordic skiers completed 100 kilometers of skiing around 6:00 pm on Thursday March 4th 2010.  Starting at 5:15 am using headlamps to guide their way, Sam Johnson, Joe Fairbanks and Cody Johnson began skiing on the expertly groomed trails.  Their first goal was to reach 60 kilometers of skiing before noon.  Skiing quickly and taking just short breaks for food and water between loops the three 15 year old boys reached 60 kilometers just before noon and 70 kilometers of skiing at 1:00pm.  At this point they took a longer lunch break and transitioned from hard wax to klister for the final 30 kilometers of skiing.  With the snow transitioning with the warmer mid-day temperatures; the remaining loops extracted a greater toll on the young skiers minds and bodies.  Every muscle in their bodies was making it known to their owner that they were tired, sore and ready for a break.  Still Sam, Joe and Cody pushed on, their goal becoming closer with each kilometer skied.

At some point in the day Cody had taken a longer break between loops and he found himself skiing alone on his 8th loop.  He was tired and spent and just about ready to call it a day when he found himself in the company of Leo Babeu.  Leo, a Korkki neighbor and frequent Korkki skier, took Cody “under his wing” and offered to ski the remaining kilometers with him.  Sam and Joe finished up their final lap just before dark while Cody with his guardian angel Leo, finished his final lap after the sun had set.

Also skiing on Thursday and Friday to land their names on the 50 kilometer plaque were Marshall skiers, Ethan Fairbanks, Chris Lucca, Tony Lucca, Brandon Channel, Joe Hodge, Sylvie Weintraub, Lee Weintraub, Sydney Adams, and Mitch Campbell.

The skiers on the Marshall Nordic Ski team would like to thank Mark Helmer for his loving care of Korkki Nordic, and to Marty Heimer and Don Mitchell for their expert grooming of the trail.  Dave Johnson, the author of this post and father of Cody Johnson, would also like to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to Leo Babeu for his care of a young man who until that day Leo had never met.  Leo’s gift of time and care will long be remembered.

Dave Johnson

HighSchool-SeasonII-Period4-Sample

Week three is from Feb 15-21 and week four is for next week, Feb 22-28

Saturday, Feb 20, 2010  Book Across the Bay, a great 10k race across the ice from Ashland to Washburn, Wisconsin.  Coach bus transportation is available as well. Link for more information

Sunday, Feb 21, 2010 Eric Judeen Classic Ski Race at Korkki Nordic Ski Center.  Ten kilometers of racing in Minnesota’s oldest XC Ski Race. 11:00 am Start

Thursday, Feb 25, 2010 St. Scholastica Ski Team Fund Raiser Pasta Feed at Somers Hall.  6-8 pm cost $9 Great food, lots of it and super door prizes.  Birkie waxing service also available.

Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 The Birkie! and on the Marshall Campus your help is needed for Mush For Kids.  Mush for Kids is a family friendly event where kids and their parents can ski, snowshoe, sled dog or ride in a horse drawn sleigh.  High school skiers are needed as helpers/instructors for the kids trying out skiing.

Sunday, Feb 28, 2010 The Marshall Nordic Desert Banquet at Marshall School from 6-7:30 pm in the Cafeteria.  Bring a desert to share.  More info to follow in later post and email.

Boys and Girls

MSHSL State Nordic Ski Meet

Guidelines for Team and Individual Qualifiers

Boys Pursuit Results

The following guidelines have been established for the 2010 MSHSL Nordic Ski Racing Meet.  The tournament will be held at Giants Ridge, Biwabik, MN on Thursday, February 11, 2010.  PLEASE NOTE:  Review this information with your coaching staff and athletes.

RACE SCHEDULE.  Approximate start times

10:00 a.m. Boys’ 5K Freestyle

11:00 a.m. Girls’ 5K Freestyle

(The interval time for the freestyle race is 15 seconds per skier)

1:30 p.m.   Boys’ 5K Classical

2:30 p.m.   Girls’ 5K Classical

REGISTRATION. Coaches may pick up their registration packets in the Chalet between 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10. A coach or faculty representative MUST pick up registration materials.  Teams or individuals WILL NOT be permitted to compete unless a COACH OR FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE is present.

Registration will continue at the Sports Dorm, Thursday, February 11, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. The Sports Dorm will serve as the Tournament Headquarters. The bibs for the classical race will be distributed from this room. The Sports Dorm will also be used to collect the electronic chips.

COACHES MEETING.  The coaches’ meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, from 4:30-6:00pm.  It will be held in the Gold Room (upstairs) of the Chalet.

GIANTS RIDGE PRACTICE FEES. Each school is responsible for purchasing a trail pass for practice on Wednesday. Passes/tickets are available at the Group Sales Office in the Main Chalet.

COURSE. Only coaches and athletes shall be allowed on the ski trail during the race. Racing bibs must be worn and be visible any time contestants and coaches are on the course.  Spectators are allowed to view the races from any vantage point, but they are not allowed on the ski trail.

WAXING. Waxing space is available in the Golf Maintenance Building near the Lodge. Each team is responsible for keeping this area clean and free of litter.

Competition BIBS. Bibs for the freestyle skiers will be included in the school registration packets. Bibs for classical skiers will be distributed on race day in the Sports Dorm prior to the start of the afternoon races.

Electronic Chips. Electronic chips will be used during all races (freestyle/classical). Chips (one for each leg) will be included in the state tournament packet.  Coaches will be required to return the chips to tournament officials in the Sports Dorm at the completion of the meet. Coaches that fail to do so will be chargeD for the cost of the chips ($100 per chip). Tournament officials will provide you with detailed instructions for chip use, distribution and collection at the coaches’ meeting on Wednesday.

UNIFORM REQUIREMENT
All team members and individual skiers shall compete in school-issued uniforms. Coaches are responsible for proper team attire and should encourage uniformity in team dress. Team uniforms should be appropriate to Nordic ski racing and shall not include advertisement of ski products of companies or other ski team names (i.e. U.S. Biathlon, foreign national teams, USSA divisional teams, etc.). All competitors are expected to present a personal appearance that will reflect the highest credit upon the sport and their school. No clothing, hats, or head gear displaying product, slogans, or graphic illustrations that are inappropriate to MSHSL principles will be acceptable

UNIFORM MARKINGS

The only commercial marking on a uniform is a manufacturer’s logo/trademark.  The total surface area of all manufacturers’ logo/trademarks on the clothing of one person shall not exceed 350 cm2.  The maximum surface area for a single marking is 110 cm2.  Manufacturer’s logo/trademarks may not appear above the other or one beside the other.  The MSHSL may decide on the placing of the manufacturer’s logo.

Awards Ceremony. The presentation of awards will follow the final race. The Awards Ceremony will be held outside the Lodge (near the stairway).

Meet Results.  Meet results will be posted at The Lodge (near the Sabin Room), the Giants Ridge Sports Dorm, by the waxing center and on a bulletin board in the stadium.

Team Banquet. The Nordic Skiing Banquet will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, from 6:00-7:30pm.  The location will be The Chalet at Giants Ridge.   Tickets will be sold at the front desk of the Chalet between 4:30-5:30 for qualifying athletes, teams, and coaches.  Remaining tickets will be sold to everyone between 5:30-6:30 pm.  They will not be reserved, but will be sold on a first come basis.

LODGING. Lodging is available at the Lodge @ Giants Ridge and the Country Inn of Hoyt Lakes.  Additional rooms are available at the surrounding hotels.  Go to the League’s Home page, click on the Administration tab, key in your school’s Login I.D. and Password.  On your school’s page under Tournament News, click on Boys or Girls Nordic Ski Racing, then Team Lodging.

Photographic Souvenirs. Follow the above directions to Boys/Girls Nordic Ski Racing, then click on the Souvenir Photos link.

RM:h:ww:ns web state qualifiers info 2010

Nick’s strong individual finish and excellent performances from freshman Joe Fairbanks, senior Mitch Campbell, and sophomore  Sam Johnson placed the Marshall Nordic Boys team in 5th place in a very competitive section of 11 teams.

The girls team was led by senior Lydia Jacobs, 17th place and 7th grader Megan Coughlan the second Marshall girl in 22nd place.  The girls squad placed 5th over all as well out of 11 teams.  Congratulations to the Marshall Nordic Ski Team on and excellent season!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4^TH, 2010

GIANTS RIDGE GOLF & SKI RESORT

Results can be found here

1-800-688-7669 – Deb Maki’s ext 3409

Order of Events:

8:45 am          Volunteer meeting in timing bldg.

9:00 am         Coaches meeting in timing bldg.

10:00 am       Boys Skate Race   Giants Ridge State Freestyle Course

11:00 am       Girls Skate Race

1:30 pm         Boys Classic Pursuit Race Giants Ridge Classic Course

2:30 pm         Girls Classic Pursuit Race

3:45 pm         All Coaches meet to approve results

4:00 pm         Awards Ceremony

Coaches Information

Please fully complete in duplicate the 48 hour section entry card.   Send one copy to Deb Maki, P O Box 505, Biwabik, MN  55708.

All entries should clearly state name, grade, school and gender.

Send your entries to:

Steve Deschene, 170 Linnell Road, Grand Marais, MN   55604

E-mail (preferred method):  timing@boreal.org

or on-line at http://www.boreal.org/~durfee/

Entries are due before 6:00 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, 2010.

You may make changes until 8:30 am on race day.  At 9:30 am race day, a start list will be given to all coaches.

There will be a race jury.   Giants Ridge requires trail passes if you are skiing the day before – $10.00 @ Group Services – Training Center.   Non-participants skiing on race day are also required to have trail passes – $10.00 @Group Services.

All participating schools are asked to bring 1 warmly dressed ADULT Volunteer to help with running the race (bib removal, etc).  They should meet with Deb Maki @ 8:45 am in the timing bldg.    We will also need a few sharp, quick students to help Steve in timing booth.  Sometimes, student managers help with this.    Let me know if you have someone for Timing booth.

Payment -   All checks should be made to:  Region 7A – payment must be made at 9:00 am – before bib pick up at coaches meeting

Price – $50.00 per boy’s team, $50.00 per girl’s team or $10.00 per indiv. skier

Results will be posted at http://www.boreal.org/~durfee/ or http://www.skinnyski.com Meet Manager:  Deb Maki, 1-800-688-7669, ext 3409 or e-mail pepsichallenge@giantsridge.com

Junior High Championships

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Location:

Snowflake Nordic Center
4348 Rice Lake RoadDuluth,
MN  55811

Registration for skiers not on a high school team 1:30-2:00 p.m. (for skiers not registered on Steve’s website below)

Bib Pick-up 2:00 p.m.

Coaches Meeting 2:30 p.m.

Race Start time 3:00 p.m.

Format:

3 km classic race on lighted trails

Order of Start:

7th grade Boys
7th grade Girls
6th grade Boys
6th grade Girls
5th grade Boys
5th grade Girls

Break
9th grade Boys
9th grade Girls
8th grade Boys
8th grade Girls

Awards: Individual – Top 10 ribbons in each grade

Coaches Information:

Cost: $5 per skier.  Make checks payable to Duluth East Nordic Ski Team.

Send to: Duluth East Nordic Ski Team, Duluth East High School, 2900 East 4^th Street, Duluth, MN  55812 or bring to the race.

Entries must be received by Saturday, January 30

Enter on web site www.boreal.org/~durfee or sent to: Steve Deschene timing@boreal.org

Questions call Dave or Bonnie at 218-724-2775 (no phone entries please)

Cook County Invite Notice

Start Lists can be found here

Bus will leave Marshall at 6:30 am and return ~9:00 pm

Here is the team email with details about the day:

Cook County Meet at Pincushion, Grand Marais, MN

Here’s the time-line:

6:30 am Bus leaves from Marshall School

Arrive at Pincushion and warm up

Swim at the Grand Marais municipal pool

Eat at Sven and Ole’s Pizza

~9:00pm Arrive at Marshall

Marshall Nordic Ski Teams Sweep
Lake Superior Conference Titles

Congratulations to both the Marshall Girls and Boys Nordic Ski Teams who skied to victory at the Lake Superior Conference Championships on Monday, January 25, 2010! The freshly fallen snow made for a beautiful evening of racing held on the lit trails at Snowflake Nordic Ski Center.

Scoring 381 points, the girl’s team of Meghan Coughlin, Ana Gabres, Cora Hemmila, Lydia Jacobs, Angela Katoski, Lee Weintraub, and Sylvie Weintraub beat runner-up Duluth Central by 13 points.  In a tie with 365 points, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton earned third place in a tie-breaker over Proctor.  Duluth Denfeld also competed but did not have enough skiers to score in the team competition.  Using a time trial format each skier skied a three kilometer freestyle race, followed by a three kilometer classic race.  Each skier’s times from the two races were then added together to determine their overall place.  The team score was then determined by the places of the top four skiers on each team.  Lee Weintraub (5^th place), Meghan Coughlin (4^th place), and Conference Champion, Lydia Jacobs earned All-Conference honors with their top ten finishes.

The winning boys team of Mitch Campbell, Brandon Channell, Josef Fairbanks, Joe Hodge, Cody Johnson, Sam Johnson, and Nick Power earned 383 points to clinch the boys title over second place Duluth Central (369).  Proctor (364) and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (331) earned third and fourth place, respectively, while Duluth Denfeld did not have a complete team to count in the team scoring. Placing in the top ten, and earning All-Conference from Marshall were Sam Johnson (10^th place), Mitch Campbell (5^th place), Josef Fairbanks (4^th place), and Nick Power (2^nd place), who was edged for first by Duluth Denfeld’s Nate Ward by 4/10 of a second.

The Lake Superior Conference champions are looking forward to the final two meets as they finish off a great Nordic Ski season!

Photos of the day

A link to Kara’s Olympic Resume