Above: Ella Sporn stands on the top spot of the podium after winning first place in the girls’ 12-13 age group at a Northland Junior Race held at Lutsen Mountains on February 5. Over 140 racers from across the Northland and Canada competed in the day-long races. Above right: Elliott (Zippy) Zimmer flew down the course and took first place in the Boys 5 and under race. Right: Staying in a nice tuck, Gus Hahn speeds around a gate.
The Lutsen Alpine Junior Ski Team has been hard at it again this year! There are some awesome kids and volunteers who gather at Lutsen Mountains to train twice a week after the hill closes to practice our turns on the giant slalom and slalom courses.
As the sun sets orange behind Mystery Mountain, we’ve had some great weather and snow this year. A recent snowy day was good reason to focus on learning how to navigate in fresh powder instead of setting a practice course. Happy faces ripped it up, cutting fresh tracks, and occasionally taking a spill into a plume of the white stuff. There are also those evenings where the plummeting temperature can be a challenge with brisk winds and icy conditions, but these tough kids who stick with it and work so hard even in the toughest conditions continually inspire us coaches!
We recently hosted a race of the Northland Jr. Race Series, our race league that includes teams from Spirit Mountain, Mont du Lac, Giants Ridge, Ski Gull, and Detroit Mountain. On Sunday, Feb. 5 over 140 racers from these teams (as well as their coaches, volunteers and parents) gathered at Lutsen Mountains for the day-long event. Boys and girls ages 4 – 17 competed in their age bracket on two giant salmon courses. Our home race is a great opportunity for our serious racers to have a home field advantage, and for our kids who don’t travel to races an opportunity to try racing on their own turf.
We had almost 40 kids from Cook County and Canada participate on Team Lutsen! Nine made it to the podium including Elliott Zimmer (1st), Georgi Dimitrov (3rd), Reid Jones (1st), Ali Duclos (2nd), Ray Dressely (1st), Ella Sporn (1st), Bianca Zimmer (2nd), Masen McKeever (1st), and Madysen McKeever (2nd). Finishing in the top six were Ella Hallberg, Eloise Silence, Kalina Dimitrova, Hazel Oberholtzer, and Anna Heeren. Other top finishers this season include Graham Oberholtzer, Genevieve Silence, Cy Oberholtzer and Ben Obinger.
Team Lutsen also includes a lot of up-and-comers who have been working hard at practices and making great strides: Weston Heeren, Gus Hahn, Noah Haussner, Isaak Lien, Elijah and Sophia Blanck, Andrew and Ella Hallberg, Annabelle Silence, RaeAnn and Carter Silence, Lexi Plummer, Cayden Zimmer, Molly LaVigne, Wren Ferry, Liv Hedstrom, Ruben and Grete Youngdahl, Kylie Viren, Tristan Surbaugh, Brody Lacina, Sol Nies, Iylla Christiansen, Kallie Anderson and Piper Sporn. We are so proud of everyone on Team Lutsen!
The program is open to all kids who want to alpine ski. Although the focus is on race training, kids do not have to commit to racing to participate in the program, especially while they are learning. We welcome beginners of any age; the philosophy of our program is that while we hope for good race results, we are really looking for kids to progress in their own individual abilities. Most kids join us just barely out of their “snow plow” stance or “pizza wedge” as we call it. After a season or two, they are carving and developing into proficient skiers, likely leading to a lifetime enjoyment of the sport.
It’s a great team with lots of camaraderie and support. Winter in the North has to be embraced and getting out and alpine skiing is the ticket! The program wouldn’t be possible without support from parents, volunteers, coaches, and the local organizations that provide financial sponsorship. Come join us on the slopes – the speed, the fun, and the smiles are contagious!
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