Above: Will Surbaugh (106) powered to a first-place win againsta strong boys’ field at Giants Ridge. Left: Snapping the gate asshe corners down the slalom ski racecourse is Reilly Wahlers.
On a great day for skiing – partly cloudy with temperatures in the teens – Reilly Wahlers led the Viking girls’ team to a first-place finish at the eight-team Arrowhead Conference ski meet Dec. 15 at Giants Ridge.
Approximately 60 boys and 60 girls competed in the meet.
“Reilly threw down two great runs and won first place overall,” said head coach Charles Lamb.
But one person doesn’t make the team. It takes a group of skiers all performing well on the same day to take the top spot on the podium.
Sela Backstrom also skied two fast runs, said Lamb, with Sela placing third overall.
Halle Lamb, the coach’s daughter, also had a great meet, coming in eighth overall.
“Elsa Lunde,” noted Lamb, “is constantly improving and finished in 18th place.”
In the junior high race Kylie Viren had a decent first run but blew out on her second attempt, Lamb said.
“It was really a close race and when the snow dust settled Cook County girls won first place by a narrow margin,” said coach Lamb.
“We lack depth in our boys’ and girls’ teams this year, but the kids are making up for it with great individual performances which led to a girls’ team victory,” he said.
Surbaugh wins
Head coach Charles Lamb said Will Surbaugh had a remarkable ski meet.
“Will stepped up and put together two awesome runs and won first place overall,” Lamb said.
Masen McKeever skied two clean runs and finished in seventh place, said Lamb.
“Kevin Viren suffered a miscue in his first run and finished the day at the back of the pack. Elijah Blank skied tough and completed both of his runs, and Ben Obinger continued to improve but blew out on the icy patch in his first run.”
The boys’ team finished the day in third place with the Brainerd boys taking the team title.
The Viking girls’ team won the Arrowhead Conference ski meet over a large talented field of skiers. Team members from L-R: Sela Backstrom, Hallie Lamb, Elsa Lunde, and Reilly Wahlers.
Training through the holiday break was challenging, said Lamb. “We had some good practices but had to cancel two sessions due to the extreme cold and high winds.”
Due to the extreme cold covering the region, it is unknown when the Hibbing Invitation will be held. That’s the next meet for the boys and girls. Go Vikings!
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