Fantastic finish for Team Lutsen

The Lutsen Mountains Junior Ski Team was all smiles as it wrapped up the ski season. (L-R, front) Ole Sorenson, Cayden Zimmer, Riley Tarver, Kevin Viren, Molly LaVigne, Olivia Nesgoda, Caleb Phillips, Ezra Lunde, Danielle Hansen. (L-R, second row) Masen McKeever, Sela Backstrom, Reilly Wahlers, Halle Lamb, Elsa Lunde, Bianca Zimmer, Claire LaVigne, Haley Yoki, Lynden Blomberg, Dylan Works, Will Surbaugh. (L-R, third row) Kyle Wiegele, Madysen McKeever, Alyssa Martinson, Morgan Weyrens-Welch, Coach Rick Backstrom, Damian Zimmer, Jack Viren, Erik Lawler, Charlie Lawler, Logan Backstrom, Luke Fenwick, Will Lamb, Megan Lehto, Ava McMillan, Coach Charles Lamb, Lauren Thompson. (Not pictured – Kyle Martinson, Owen Hoglund, Libby Zafft, Noah Works)

The championship and final race of the Northland Junior Race Series (NJRS) was held at Ski Gull Recreation Area in Brainerd on Sunday, March 7. Racers eight and over skied one run of giant slalom and one run of slalom; racers under eight skied two runs of giant slalom. In order to qualify and score team points for the championship, skiers must have attended three races of the eight-race series.

Race conditions were 40 degrees and overcast for the giant slalom. The weather turned sunny with temperatures topping 50 for the slalom run with wet, slushy snow and deep ruts. There were a lot of falls and missed gates as the afternoon action heated up.

Ski Gull is a small, quaint hill that produced big results for the 25 racers from Team Lutsen who did not fold under championship pressure. They rallied with nine podiums and an additional seven fourth and fifth-place finishes.

Top three finishers in their categories were Cayden Zimmer-3rd; Masen McKeever-1st; Will Lamb-1st; Luke Fenwick-1st; Dexter Yoki-3rd; Halle Lamb-1st; Reilly Wahlers-1st; Madysen McKeever -2nd and Megan Lehto-1st.

Team Lutsen Coach Charles Lamb and Team Duluth coach Dave Zbaracki pose with the championship trophy.

At the end of the awards ceremony the team score was tabulated and for the first time in NJRS history, Team Lutsen tied Team Duluth for first place! The team trophy was awarded to the Lutsen Mountains Junior Ski Team and will be on display in Cook County throughout the spring, rotated between Cook County Schools, Great Expectations and Birch Grove Community School.

The racers, coaches and parents of Team Lutsen would like to thank the owners and employees of Lutsen Mountains for sponsoring another great season of alpine ski racing for a fantastic group of young athletes.

Championship results: