Tim Kennedy chats with another skier at the Pincushion Mountain Family Ski Festival. Tim, who is gearing up to ski the Birkebeiner, placed 13th in the 30 km race. Photo courtesy of Jane Shinners
Amazing weather greeted a large field of cross country skiers at the Feb. 17, 2019 Pincushion Mountain Ski Festival.
“We were very pleased with the turnout – more than double the number of registrations from last year,” said Chris O’Brien, one of the event organizers.
“The weather was spectacular, the trails were in great condition, and there were smiles everywhere we looked. We’ve gotten very positive feedback from participants, and we were pleased that everything worked smoothly,” said O’Brien.
This year 74 adults participated in either the 10 km classic race, 10 km skate race or the 30 km classic event. Last year a total of 24 adults skied in these events. A total of 41 kids took part in the kids’ races, up from 31 in 2018, and there were 15 participants in the skijor races this year while there were only two entrants last year.
Race results
The top three men in the 10 km classic were Jonathan Rova, Michael Crook and Dylan Dragswiek of Grand Marais. Tamali Claire of St. Paul won the 10 km classic with April Wahlstrom (3rd), Rebecca Wiinanen (4th) and Kathy Horak (5th) the top local placers in a field loaded with locals.
Derek Wallen of Victoria, Minnesota won the men’s 10 km freestyle. Top local finishers included Lance Bartol (4th), Jay Arrowsmith Decoux (5th), Paavo Rova (6th), Peter Henrickson (7th), and Kurt Farchmin (8th).
The top four places in the women’s 10 km freestyle were from Grand Marais. Taking first was Ariana Amini, second was Kelly Summer, third Robin Henrickson and fourth Maggie Farchmin.
David Anderson of Plymouth, Minn. won the 30 km men’s event with local finishers in the following order: Tim Lederle (3rd), Michael Costello (4th), Chris Hegg (8th), Braidy Powers (10th), Chris O’Brien (11th), Tim Nelson (12th), Tim Kennedy (13th), and Jan Horak (14th).
Nancy Rova (Duluth and Grand Marais) won the women’s 30 km. There were only three women finishers in the race.
First through seventh in the 1.5 boys’ 1.5 km classic were Ennis Decoux, Monty Law, Winston Mattan, Clive Mattan, Trygve King, Rolan King and Reuben Pazwaro.
Top three girls in the 1.5 km were Ezme Mundell, Natalie Smith and Everle Schueller.
Results for the boys’ 3 km 1st through 9th are: Kaleb Berka, Jessen Conlan, August Gulstrand, Eliss Pszwaro, Toby Law, Leif Lindstrom, Jack Dragsweik, Sidney Letterst, and Ero Moody.
Girls’ 3 km finishers in order are: Mattea Hakanen and Kaia Hakanen from Gorman, Ontario, with the rest local skiers as follows: Ruby Law, Sophie Lindstrom, Claire Lindstrom, Naomi Tracy-Hegg, Zoe Kacures and Hiver Moody.
Skijoring results for 7 km and 3 km
Seija Grant from Thunder Bay took first in the 7 km race. Top local finishers were Matt Nesheim in 4th, Michael Monroe in 5th, and Marco Good in 6th.
Kayla Schoales placed first in the 3 km skijor event. Chris O’Brien placed second and Patricia Johnson took 4th, Todd Miller 5th, and Trish Francis 5th.
Proceeds made from this fundraiser will be used to support the North Superior Ski and Run Club. Some of the money will be used for maintaining and grooming the trail network at Pincushion, and for sponsoring youth skiing and running programs in Cook County, including the Y-Ski program. This year 66 kids participated, including the CCHS Nordic ski team.
O’Brien said the festival couldn’t have been done without the help of “dozens of volunteers who helped organize and stage the event. Many thanks also to GMATA for a grant to support marketing expenses and to our NSSRC sponsors.”
For a complete listing of finishers in the 10 km races, Google the North Shore Ski and Run Club webpage.
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