Just Ski

 Despite not having enough snow to ski on the trails proper, we had the St Paul Highland Park Nordic ski team over the weekend for a training camp. Most of the skiing was on the lake under challenging conditions but the coaches and kids rose to the challenge and got the workouts in. It was great to have some action at the resort.

Sunday morning I went out on the trails to see if things had frozen down and if skiing would be possible with a solid crust after the rain and dusting of new. Did a full lap and came back and grabbed a few of the kids and a coach. One of the skiers had a pair of old Kniessels Super Star VM. Paid $10 at a garage sale. Even though they were classic skis, he was skating and "just skiing"! Fun skiing with them. Always enjoy having the teams, kids are great, super friendly. If you don't have a pair of rock skis, get a pair because if you don't you'll mist out on a lot of skiing. Wouldn't spend more than 25 for a pair. Usually putting compatible bindings on is what makes it cost more than anything.

 Saturday when the weather was in transition and it looked like the snow was done, I started shoveling the slush off in front of our house. Best move on the weekend as the next morning lake skate was perfect and the rest of the lake was crusted over with strange ruts.

When I was content with the size of the area I shoveled off, one of the neighbors, who was out ice fishing, came rolling by with his OHV with blade in front and said, "want it bigger?" Uh, sure, So he made it larger and I cleared the thin layer of slush and dribble off for an hour so it would be as smooth as possible when the temp dropped.

 Jake kicked off the ski season, racing in Wausau at the first Jr Olympic qualifier, waving the flag for St Scholastica for the first time. This is Jake's last year to race OJ. Both Saturday and Sunday were sprints. Jake made the A final on Saturday, taking fifth and than the B final on Sunday (classic) taking 4th. Great start to the season and filling fit.

 Sunday both Jens and Jon had games in Fergus Falls. The first time and probably the only time that will happen this year. Jens' team had a nice win after losing to FF earlier in the year and Jon's team just came up short in championship game of FF Bantam tourney. The arena is attached to the high school and two years old. The old concessions had the largest tea selection I have ever seen at any concession stand arena and good to see they carried it over to the new one. During a game, I will probably drink 4-6 glasses of tea.

I'll probably get crap from fellow parents for posting a picture of Fergus jerseys but I appreciate the little display they have of the old jerseys. I remember playing Bantams vs FF and wondering why they had blue jerseys. VFW sponsorship would be the reason. Plus, any display that has a wooden stick and Jofa helmet needs credit. The highlight of the game was seeing Jon go up to the Northfield goalie after the game. It happened fast I couldn't catch a picture. Jon said it was one of the best goalies he had seen and Jon showed good form giving the netminder credit for a job well done. Having played hockey for 12 years than switching to ski and bike racing the last 20, the sportsmanship among bikers and skiers is like no other sport and nice to see in team sports because it doesn't happen as much. Everyone is mostly friends in biking and skiing but super competitive at the same time, pushing each other.

Jonell trimming pine tree for decorating. Today a guest called to confirm dates and asked how the lodge decorating was going. Every year the guest said it gets better and better. Jonell can take something labeled "free" at a garage sale and turn it in to something awesome looking blended in with something else.
Nicely done Jonell.
Pretty much certain there is no other place in the world that has three "p" rocks at the entrance (since this blog is labeled PG13, lets just say perpendicular to the ground rocks) When you pull in they stick out nicely. Rocks from Oregon my dad hauled back one summer and welder Arne made stands to keep upright.

The frost the past three days has been incredible. Sign of a split flow, meaning a more active storm tracking to the north in Canada and south. Needs to change quickly.