Bianca Zimmer zips down the hills in the 8-9 girls division.
The Lutsen Mountains Junior Ski Team recently completed this season’s alpine races with a second place finish at the Northland Junior Race Series championship held at Lutsen Mountains. The young members of Team Lutsen gave their best and were edged out by Mont Du Lac by a mere one point.
The racers from Lutsen had a great year of training, free skiing and races. Everyone had fun, improved and is well on their way to becoming lifetime skiers.
The most memorable nights of practice were under the lights on Uller during blizzard conditions. Coaches pulled the courses and let the kids ski powder!
The best training took place on Koo Koo and Manitou on Sundays in December, school breaks and evenings during the last half of February (when it is finally light enough) riding the new 10th mountain triple chair. Including the lift ride, the 10th Mountain makes it possible for the kids to do a Giant Slalom lap on Koo-Koo in about six minutes.
On Tuesday, March 1 after practice the team held its annual end of the year party at Papa Charlie’s, which was attended by 39 racers and their families, 85 people total. Many thanks go out to a great group of parents who really stepped up and helped at our practices and home races. A 30-minute slide show featuring pictures furnished by parents and the NJRS photographer were put together and ran continuously on the big screen showing all the kids in action.
Skiing in the USA! Claire LaVigne swooshes down the slope carrying the red, white, and blue!
Awards for most improved skier (never an easy decision) went to 11-year-old Jack Viren and 9-year-old Sela Backstrom. Both are awesome kids to coach, had great seasons and showed tremendous improvement over last year.
Next year’s high school team could see up to 12 new members with a lot of time on snow from their junior team experience. These sixth through eighth graders have learned a love for speed, are fun to coach and will be missed by myself and coach Rick Backstrom.
On behalf of the whole team we would like to thank our sponsor Lutsen Mountains, owners Charles Skinner and Tom Rider for their continued support of a fantastic group of young skiers. We are very thankful for our access to the best alpine terrain in the state, lighted, groomed slopes, new brush grip gates, excellent ski patrols, lift crews, and heated chalets.
to on a great season the Lutsen Congratulations Kevin Junior Ski Team! (L- R, front) Mountains Viren, Cayden Zimmer, Kylie Viren, Elsa Garr y, R, second row) LaVigne. (L- Anna Heeren, Molly Claire LaVigne, Elsa Lunde, Halle Lamb, Bianca Zimmer, Masen McKeever, Lynden Blomberg, row) True Surbaugh, Riley Tar ver. (L- R, third Will Nies, Reilly Wahlers, Sela Backstrom, Ezra Lunde, Lawler, Santina McMillan, Caleb Phillips, Erik Logan Backstrom, Damian Zimmer, Alyssa Martinson, Coordinator Jenny Lamb. (L- R, back) Coach Coach Molly Wickwire, Assistant Assistant Rick Backstrom, Head Coach Charles Lamb, Luke Fenwick, Jack Viren, Charlie Lawler, Lauren Welch, Madysen Thompson, Morgan Weyrens- McKeever, Melanie Stoddard, Will Lamb. (Not pictured: Ava McMillan, Danielle Hansen, Doren Nick Wiegele, Acero, Finn Garry, Kyle Martinson, Kyle Wiegele, Olivia Nesgoda, Megan Lehto, Ole Sorenson, Erica Marxen, Ashley Berglund.)
We are proud of everyone on the team and wish them all the best in other sports and academic endeavors!
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