Jay Richards

Tuesday Jonell and I went down to greater Erhard area to watch the Ottertail Invite at Spidahls. Like I said before, this is my favorite meet of the season to watch and ski around before and afterward. I probably will repeat things I have said before but always a treat to be able to sneak away and take in the racing action and knock out a few k's. Jim was covering back at the lodge.


The chalet is tucked in to the open hillside which is buried nicely in snow right now. Jotul stove inside burning the deadfall cleared from the trails.
The start area is a big open area near the top of the big hillside. The racers head up the hill than do a 180. About as good of a start for a race possible. I'm at the top of the hill shooting video which didn't turn out like I wanted. After they come by they head along the woods up to the high point of the property than drop back down and go in to the woods. From where I was standing, I could see them climb to the high point than I could ski from where I was to the point they went in to the woods. When Jake went down I was keeping pace on my descent which was very cool.


After a loop in the woods, they come back down a ridge line to do a loop, two times, in mostly open that is visible to spectators. The open area is buried in about 3 feet of snow. All the shrubbery and what not is covered. It reminded me of skiing around treeline in the highcountry at Vangsaasen which is outside of Hamar, Norway.

Jake climbing up the last hill. The girls started five minutes after the boys so there was some intersecting traffic which made for extra excitement and action you don't see at other races. Nice job Ottertail Central. To me, this would be the ideal ski area to have state. Parking would be a issue but the county roads don't see much traffic so it would work.
After the race Jake and I skied the lap in the woods.The downhills invite the turns to be burned.
Post race discussion.
After the race Jonell and I stopped in Pelican Rapids for lunch.
The Pelican is raging for this time of year. The cafe we were at sits across from these buildings. I don't know how that corner can by dry inside. Guess the owner is in Florida which is the only state not covered in snow right now.

Stop at the local Mexican store to resupply for another 6 months.

If you look at the satellite snow maps and what not, you will see this area of the state and Midwest has the most snow. There are some beautiful snow drifts and you can see layering. Where Jonell is standing is top of the ditch. The area around Erhard has some great hills and open and if the melt freeze cycle is proper in the Spring, we are going back here to crust cruise with the jibskates.