The Lutsen Junior Alpine Club: (L-R, front) Claire LaVigne, Cayden Zimmer, Bianca Zimmer, Elsa Lunde, Halle Lamb. (L-R, second row) Sela Backstrom, Katie Peck, Isaac Terrill, Lucas Sheils, Kevin Viren, Riley Tarver, Masen McKeever, Ian Kurschner, Ole Sorensen. (L-R, third row) Ezra Lunde, Madysen McKeever, Lauren Thompson, Hanna Borson, Santina McMillan, Alyssa Martinson, Jack Viren, Damian Zimmer, Chase Jasperson, Lane Greer. (Not pictured: Kalina Dimitrova, Genevieve Silence, Weston Heeren, Sol Nies, Arlo Christensen, Noah Haussner, Molly LaVigne, Anna Heeren, Ella Sporn, RaeAnne Silence, True Nies, Kyle Martinson.
The Lutsen Junior Alpine Club traveled to Mont Du Lac on January 6 for Race No.1 of the Northland Junior Race Series. Clear skies, light and variable winds and temperatures in the 20s made for a great day on the slopes for both skiers and spectators. Thirty-six Lutsen racers skied two runs of Giant Slalom, competing in a field of 132.
There were a number of top finishes for our Lutsen team at Race No. 1. In the 8-9 boys division, Kevin Viren was 5th and Riley Tarver claimed 1st place.
Lutsen had a clean sweep in 10-11 girls with Elsa Lunde 4th, Halle Lamb 3rd, Sela Backstrom 2nd, and Claire LaVigne 1st. In 10-11 boys Masen McKeever took 3rd.
The 12-13 girls’ top finishers were Alyssa Martinson, 3rd, and Madysen McKeever, 2nd. Finishing well were 12-13 boys Damian Zimmer, 2nd, Ezra Lunde, 4th, and Jack Viren, 5th.
In the race for 16 and older Kyle Martinson took 2nd place.
Competing in their first race of hopefully long skiing careers and looking good were Katie Peck, Kalina Dimitrova, Arlo Christensen, Noah Haussner, RaeAnne Silence, Lucas Sheils, Chase Jasperson and Lane Greer.
There are 67 kids registered in our local, grassroots ski club this season with 25-50 skiers training with us on a regular basis since early December. Coaches returning this year are Rick Backstrom, Wade Engrenn, and Cook County High School Alpine alumni Molly Wickwire, Megan O’Neill and myself, Charles Lamb.
New to coaching our club but not to ski racing is CCHS Alpine alumni/former USSA and professional ski racer Jim Kalb.
The goals of the Lutsen Junior Alpine Club are to continue a long tradition of Lutsen ski racing and teach the lifetime sport of Alpine skiing which includes a love of the outdoors, safety, courage, speed, good sportsmanship and fun!
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