The Lutsen Junior Alpine Club traveled to Mont-Du-Lac Recreation area on New Year’s Day 2012 for race No. 1 of the Northland Junior Race Series. The Lutsen skiers competed in a field of 120 area ski racers. Upper left: Newcomer Weston Heeren at his very first race! Upper right: Santina McMillan and Hanna Borson enjoying a great practice on Ullr. Above right: Team veteran Caleb Phillips speeds down the hill. Above left: Will Surbaugh shows off his Alpine skills on the course.
Fueled by success from last season and proud of its new name, the Lutsen Junior Alpine Club traveled to Mont-Du-Lac Recreation area on New Year’s Day 2012 for race No. 1 of the Northland Junior Race Series. Twenty-five racers from Lutsen attended the Giant Slalom event, competing in a field of 120 area ski racers. With no USSA race on this holiday weekend some of the best area Alpine racers were in the lineup. Unlike the bluebird weather we have been training in since early December, New Year’s Day temperatures were in the teens with sustained winds at 25 mph gusting to almost 50 mph and snow flurries. Not being acclimated to the cold there were a few shivers on the start ramp, but that did not prevent our young Lutsen racers from achieving impressive results with seven podiums (top three) and three additional top five finishes.
Competing in the under 8-year-old class Tristan Surbaugh finished in first place followed by Kylie Viren (6th) and Ella Sporn (9th). Cayden Zimmer (DNF) was fouled up in the fluff, crashed and was hauled off the hill by the Ski Patrol (non-serious knee injury), putting a hold on the course. Westen Heeren skied well in his first run but missed a gate (DSQ) in his second.
In the 8-9 girls division, Halle Lamb finished in 2nd place followed by Anna Heeren (6th). In 8-9 boys Masen McKeever stormed off the start ramp, put together two stellar runs, stunned the competition and won first place. Only one 10-11 girl and two 10-11 boys were faster than 9-year-old Masen! Teammate Riley Tarver skied great and earned 2nd place followed by Kevin Viren (6th) and Vaughn Swindlehurst completed his first attempt but fell in his second (DNF).
In 10-11 girls, all eyes were on the start ramp as 2011, J5 USSA Central Division champion Reilly Wahlers rocketed through the course, winning first place. She was followed by strong skiers Clair LaVigne (4th), Sela Backstrom (5th), and Bianca Zimmer (15th) in this highly competitive age group.
In 10-11 boys, with the fun factor on high, Will Surbaugh landed in 4th place followed by team veteran Caleb Phillips (7th).
Madysen McKeever finished in 4th place in 12-13 girls, followed by good friend Alyssa Martinson (8th).
Will Lamb held onto 2nd place in the 12-13 boys’ division with a great second run, followed by Logan Backstrom who put together two solid runs (3rd). Both were defeated by USSA skier Tyler Winberg (1st). Lamb and Backstrom edged out tough competition and USSA talent Wyatt Obey (3rd) and Austin Daneliski (7th) followed by teammates Jack Viren (9th) and Damian Zimmer (10th).
Showing loyalty to his Junior Team heritage, 16-yearold Luke Fenwick smoked both his runs, posting the fastest time of the day and winning first place. There were some awfully long faces on his competitors at the finish line when they announced Luke’s time. He was followed by team veteran and CCHS talent Kyle Martinson in 6th.
Fifty-three kids are registered in the Lutsen Junior Alpine Club and they have been having a blast at our practices, under the lights on Ullr and on Koo-Koo and Moose Mountain. Everyone is more thankful than ever for the ample amount of manmade snow we have been able to train on. Coaches Molly Wickwire, Megan O’Neill, Signe Larson, Jenny Lamb, Wade Ingram, Rick and Jennifer Backstrom and myself are teaching the lifetime sport of Alpine skiing to kids from beginner to expert. With first race jitters behind them, watch for great things from this fantastic group of skiers!
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