Even though we have had skiable snow since Thanksgiving, this past weekend we opened up for the winter season "for real". We had our first of one high school camps. The resort was booked solid with almost 300 high school kids. It is a bit of a opener to go from no one for three weeks to that many people but everything went great and it is fun having all the kids. Super high energy and great coaches that lead the way. The Richards family was scattered across the Midwest with Jake and Jonell in Big Snow Country for the Junior Olympic races (qualifying races for Junior Nationals which are to be held in Minneapolis this year). Jack and Jens with Jonell's parents in the cities getting snowed on nicely at the cousins house and Jon was in Alexandria waving the flag with the Pee Wees.
Jake skating to a solid ninth place finish in the skate race. He was racing in the J1 class which is a very strong and competitive group this year. Jake was 17th in the classic even though he felt good and fast. These races are like the state meet, amped up a bit so getting "the result" takes everything falling in to place with the preparation beforehand. (Check out the team Maplelag Mountain website for other athletes waving the flag nicely over the weekend)
Coach Brad from Wayzata. Wayzata has 156 kids out this year and 100 of them came to Maplelag. High School Nordic coaches do an amazing job. Like I said before, they have to deal with two techniques, trying to explain the technical side of things, "babysitting", and getting kids fired up with cold temps like we had this weekend. Even though were were negative temps in the am, everyone was out and heard of reports from skiers logging in 7 hour skis. A weekend like this brings things up a step for most of these kids.
Kris and Kyia Anderson made their fourth trip to Maplelag this year to help out.Showing off part of their arsenal of Nord boards. Always fun having them around and they do a great job with the kids. Hard not to connect with K2A2 with skiing, biking, freeheeling, grooming, interests. They were the first ones to break in the new "old" sauna proper.
Kris and Kyia watching the kids have fun with hot water and bringing West Yellowstone to Maplelag, Kris said. The most challenging on the weekend was Carlos. Keeping in Carlos inside is tough.
Mattress pad shredded in "cathouse".
Velonews shredded. Guess can let this one go as I feel the same way after reading about another doper.
Jack and Jens shoveling snow with cousins Grant and Garrett during the big snow event in the cities. Jonell and I gave bro in law TJ 40 cases of salsa for 40 years of living and might not of been good timing being snowed in. Guess he only went through 2 jars.
Taking Carlos out at night, bikejoring style, on the goat ranch road. Clipping along 20mph and slams on the brakes to take a leak. Coming back down the hill on the way back, slams again to drop a load in the rear.
The cold temps have been ideal for putting the finishing touches on the ice skating rink. I have probably done 30 floodings the last 2 weeks, trying to get everything even and smooth. Monday afternoon finally got it just about there. Skated with all four boys on Sunday night when temp was -12 but under calm conditions with the stars and moon....nice way to cap the weekend.
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