Jay Richards

Hard to believe it is the last week of school for this year for the kids. After tomorrow, no more school til January 4th. Will be nice Jake can ski during the day instead in the dark. He hasn't been using any headlamp which is good for balance, I always thought. The last 3 years Jake has skied all the trails, 3 times, 4 times etc. and this year it is 5 times. He has already knocked off Sap Run five times. Over break will be some big time skiing. Hopefully he/we can connect with Zigs more this year.


All the kindergartners at Jens school did a program. Jens sitting nicely before. It was good, but I still miss the Christmas programs at Callaway.

Wed night we did Jens birthday party at the Community Center. Jonell said we couldn't have handled any more kids. My skin still itches from the pool. Kind of a shock to the body after being outside all day.
Tuesday night in for Varsity hockey game and noticed county has groomed the ditches. I thought if they could, I can. Wed I took out the PB. Borderline for sure but very very little stuff getting turned up. I didn't plow or shovel our little driveway by our house so I just groomed it a couple times and packed the snow down. Just running the c-bar on the trails, no powertilling. I have a feeling it is going to be a PB kind of year and I have a feeling I am not going to ski much this year which is all good. I have been out a few times doing the headlamp thing but 30-40 minutes tops each time. 8-10 hours a day running equipment at -10, numb in the evenings. Don't usually plan on skiing much until after New Years.
Phil Rogoshoke came today for a few nights. After 42 years of coaching HS Nord skiing, he called it a career. He is good friends with Larry Myers. He hadn't talked to Larry about the bus ordeal last weekend but he heard about it. I could talk all day to people like this. He oversees the grooming in St Cloud and people like he that have groomed in all conditions with a variety of equipment, have a lot of stories to tell. Speaking of buses, the bus company bringing one of the teams up for this weekend (different company) called and asked if we had a place to park the bus and if they could plug it in. I said I would pay them to plug it in and stay. I mentioned last weekend and they had heard about it as well. Could be another interesting weekend, weather wise.

Thanks for all the skiers who have been waving the flag this year. Eric LeBow at Pre-Season Physical race.



Sam Oftedahl looking good.


Ari Resnick. Former MPLS SW state skier, now at Brown in to rowing big time. I used to ski with him when he was Jake's age when he would come with his parents. Super nice kid.


MPLS SW coach James Dundon. I have all the respect in the world for hs Nord coaches. It is very encouraging to see the strong numbers in the state. Nord skiing at a hs perspective is incredible when you consider they have to deal with weather, snow, two types of techniques, waxing and a wide range of abilities.

Last, but certainly not least, MR K2A2 doing very nice at ABR back in November.
Jon's team plays Moorhead tomorrow night. A big game. Moorhead has like 5 teams and they are sending their best team. So I can go, Jonell is going to cover for me in the kitchen which is huge considering it is year #16 for us tomorrow!! I am glad we had that week in Mexico.