North Superior Ski and Run Club receives grant

Cross country skiers use the summer months to crosstrain by running and roller skiing to stay in shape for the winter ski season. The recent grant from the North Star Ski Club will allow the North Superior Ski & Run Club to purchase roller skis the kids can use for summer training. Photos courtesy of Jeanne Wright

Glide, push, glide. We slice through the cool morning air. Smooth – almost like we are skiing on snow. Almost. Roller skiing is just one way a motivated group of athletes, part of Superior Edge, are keeping in shape and having fun together this summer thanks to a grant from Twin Cities skiers to Cook County skiers.

North Superior Ski & Run Club (NSSRC), a Cook County non profit, is excited to announce that they are a grant recipient of $4250 from the North Star Ski Club (based out of Twin Cities). This grant allows NSSRC to purchase equipment for the Cook County High School nordic (cross country) ski team, including equipment for both summer and winter training. In addition, funds will be used to purchase equipment for hosting events and races at Pincushion Trails.

The first purchase of roller skis & poles was for the summer junior high/ high school training group, Superior Edge. Our Cook County athletes now have the opportunity to ski in the summer! Superior Edge, coordinated by Jeanne Wright, is a summer immersion program, one of the year-round training elements that young athletes can use to build their skills. They are running trails, biking the back roads, playing ultimate frisbee and, of course, roller skiing.

Cook County High School Nordic Ski team members get together to ride the back roads on mountain bikes. Biking is another way to cross-train for cross country skiing.

The other half of the North Star Ski Club grant will allow Cook County’s nordic ski team to purchase additional winter ski equipment. An important goal of the ski team is to make sure that there is equipment available for any Cook County youth who wants to ski on the Junior High, Junior Varsity and Varsity nordic ski team.

Now, you might be wondering why a nordic ski club from the Twin Cities would fund programs for youth in Cook County. First, they believe in the importance of encouraging this life long sport; it is a great way to stay fit no matter your age! But they also have ties to Cook County as their founder, Norm Oakvik – a talented skier and coach from Minneapolis, helped plan the development of the Pincushion Ski Trail system and assisted with training years ago.

Cross country skiing has a long history in Cook County both as a recreational/ life-long sport and as a competitive high school/club team. Margaret Rasmussen, Jan Horak, Dick Swanson and other mentors coached the young skiers and drove them to meets across northern Minnesota in the 1970’s and ‘80s. Over the years Cook County has had a number of skiers that skied at the national and international level.

So keep an eye out for the athletes participating in NSSRC’s summer program. Look for them skiing on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail as they learn the sport of roller skiing, and then watch for them this winter as they continue Cook County’s strong tradition of nordic skiing.

The NSSRC is a nonprofit with volunteers working hard in our community to promote physical fitness and athletic ability through such activities as cross-country skiing, running, and bicycling by providing facilities, trail maintenance, training and instruction, organized competition and races, and encouragement and support for individuals in amateur competition. Consider becoming a member!