Above: The Lutsen Alpine ski team—“Team Lutsen”— had a great season, finishing with the National Junior Race Series (NJRS) Championship on Koo Koo at Lutsen Mountains on March 1.
The Lutsen Alpine Ski Team recently completed its 2014-15 season hosting the National Junior Race Series (NJRS) Championship Race on Koo Koo at Lutsen Mountains on Sunday, March 1.
Of the 56 kids on the team roster, ranging in ages from 5 to 18 years old, 29 qualified for the championship race. To qualify, racers must compete in at least three additional races throughout the season.
Races prior to the Championship were held at Mont Du Lac, Spirit Mountain, Lutsen, Giants Ridge, and Mount Ski Gull.
Those qualifying from Team Lutsen are AnnaBelle Silence, Goshi Dimitrov, Graham Oberholtzer, Carter Silence, Genevieve Silence, Kylie Viren, Allessandra Duclos, Kalina Dimitrova, Ray Dressely, Cy Oberholtzer, Ben Obinger, Weston Heeren, Cayden Zimmer, Andrew Hallberg, Sol Nies, Riley Goettl, Hazel Oberholtzer, Ella Sporn, Molly LaVigne, Anna Heeren, RaeAnn Silence, Kevin Viren, Riley Tarver, Bianca Zimmer, True Nies, Will Surbaugh, Masen McKeever, Madysen McKeever, and Lauren Thompson.
Far left: Kevin Viren had a great season with Team Lutsen. Left: Riley Tarver skied strong on the NJRS championship course.
Ski practice started back in November 2014, meeting most Tuesday and Friday evenings after school. While Giant Slalom (GS) was the primary alpine event practiced, the racers also practiced the more sharply twisted course known simply as Slalom. With temperatures quite often falling below zero, some kids retreated to the chalet to warm up, but most kids toughed it out, cheerfully skiing under the lights on Ullr, carefully watched by the lift operators, ski patrol and coaches.
The kids gained a real sense of team sportsmanship and camaraderie; this was developed on the chairlift rides, as well as waiting in line at the starting gate listening to tunes. These talented kids have become athletic and coordinated; due in no small part to the dedicated coaches helping them develop balance, rotation, and edging. During practice these kids put the pedal to the metal, flying down the hill in dusky light at high speeds and performed admirably. They all acquired a great foundation of the basic skill of skiing, including the “rules of the road” while on the mountain, otherwise known as the Alpine Responsibility Code, preparing them for a great lifetime sport.
Support for this ski race program not only comes from the dedicated coaches and parents volunteering their time, but also from financial sponsors including Lutsen Mountains, The Mountain Shop, and Swanson and Heeren Law Firm.
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