Alpine thriller at Lutsen

The junior racers of Team Lutsen had a great weekend in week seven of the Northland Junior Race Series at home at Lutsen. Will Lamb charges towards victory, finishing first in the 10-11-year-old division.

Lutsen Mountains—red and blue gate panels dotted the north side of Eagle Mountain as race number seven of the Northland Junior Race Series commenced under sunny skies and perfect weather on Sunday, February 28. Thirtyfive eager racers from Team Lutsen competed in a field of 98 talented athletes from Northland area ski clubs skiing two runs of giant slalom on Koo-Koo.

Course setters from Arrowhead Alpine Club and Lutsen utilized the steep start on upper Koo-Koo for racers eight and up, dropping skiers into rolling terrain features and icy fall-away turns, leading to an exciting finish sequence at the bottom.

A spectator was heard to say, “This is full on adult giant slalom.”

Approaching the end of the season, our Lutsen racers stepped up their game, collecting their share of medals with 11 top-three finishes and nine fourth and fifth places.

The fun started with girls five-and-under skiing wonder Molly LaVigne winning first place. Team newcomer Cayden Zimmer finished third in five-and-under boys. Halle Lamb fell near the finish in her first attempt, was granted a re-run due to a timing issue and cruised into first place among six-and-seven girls. Masen McKeever had first place by half a second among six-and-seven boys after his first run, but could not hold on in his second and finished with a silver medal. In eight-and-nine girls, Sela Backstrom (out with a non-serious leg injury) watched teammate Reilly Wahlers blast through the course, close to crashing, barely holding first place after her first run. She strained her knee in the process and had to sit out her second run. Claire LaVigne charged out of the start gate, picked up a good rhythm and broke into third for a bronze.

Claire LaVigne charged out of the start gate, picked up a good rhythm and broke into third for a bronze medal.

Lynden Blomberg skied into the top three and took home a bronze medal among eight-and-nine boys followed by Caleb Phillips, fourth, and Noah Works, fifth.

Among 10-11 girls, Ski Gull/ USSA star Alex Stone crashed near the top, causing a hold on the course and putting tensions on high as she was taken down by the ski patrol.

First year racer Jack Viren powers past a gate.

Morgan Weyrens-Welch stepped up and showed everyone she has what it takes, propelling herself into second place with Madysen McKeever a close twotenths behind her with third.

The action continued among 10-11 boys with all eyes on the course as Team Duluth star Wyatt Obey roared out of the start gate looking as smooth as ever only to crash in the fourth turn.

Will Lamb pushed himself to the max in both runs winning gold by 3.5 seconds with the third fastest time of the day topped only by two boys 16-and-over. Damian Zimmer powered his way into second place with a stellar first run but ended up finishing fourth behind tough Team Duluth talent Austin Danelski, second, and Tyler Winberg, third. Logan Backstrom was in third after his first run but slipped out at the start, losing precious time but still finishing in fifth place.

After a couple of tough races and some falls, this race belonged to Ava McMillan, who defended home snow and rocketed her way to the podium winning girls twelve-and-thirteen by almost a second. She was followed by top Arrowhead Alpine rivals Sarah Severson, second, and Darian Bergerson, third. Haley Yoki glided into fifth with two great trips through the course. Alpine standout Megan Lehto combined two actionpacked runs for another first place victory in girls 14-and-15.

Lynden Blomberg enjoys a great run and earns third place in the 8-9- year-old division.

Luke Fenwick went all out putting on a good show for the crowd, but faltered on the verge of disaster, bled off precious time and finished fifth in 14-and-15 boys.

Coach Jim Hutchinson from Ski Gull Alpine Club said, “Our kids love to race at Lutsen and we wish they had more races.”

Our Lutsen racers have worked hard all season, toughing out some bitter cold training days, and deserve the winning results they posted on this day. All the racers, coaches and fans had a great time at another successful Lutsen Alpine Ski Race.

Damian Zimmer shows perfect form on Koo- Koo.

The next race for the Junior Ski Team will be the Championship at Ski Gull in Brainerd on Sunday, March 7th.

Race Results