Sections

We were host to the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships this year at Maplelag, after being asked the first part of January. The scheduled venue, Camp Ripley near Little Falls, did not have adequate snow the time decisions needed to be made so we agreed to host. We have hosted Sections 5 other times, 4 for lack of snow at Ripley and last year because of a scheduling conflict. We hosted the DL Invite on January 15th, running just a skate race with not enough snow to run a classic race. With the base we had, just a couple inches would allow for a different classic course and figured we would have to get that much in a 3 week span. Didn't happen.

 Between January 15th and Sections on February 3rd, we had maybe 1" of snow. With no new snow, a lot of shoveling and snow transporting was on order. With 6 days above freezing, keeping the deck from getting rock hard icy, daily grooming was required, 2-3 passes each day. The end result was some super fast and fun skate skiing. Springlike conditions for over 2 weeks! Personally the best skate skiing you can have. 

 With not enough new snow to run a separate classic course, we ran the classic race on the same loop as the skate course.

To set a full depth track, had to shovel about 60% of the course on the side to set that track.

 Jack raced for Detroit Lakes. Getting last minute encouragement from mom.

 Jens and Jon watched the morning race cheering on their brother.

Leading a group up Suicide Hill. Jack had his best race of the year, having a solid classic race.

 Jon with his buddy Austin who qualified as an individual from DL.

 Pursuit start. The day went great. Fun to host the event and the energy, enthusiasm is inspiring.

 I did all the shoveling solo other than Cade Benson helping out Super Bowl Sunday afternoon for 4 hours. He worked the day shift in the kitchen and I asked him if he wanted to shovel in the afternoon and he said "sure, I don't really have anything else to do". Cade has been a great worker at Maplelag, complete pleasure to have on staff. He plays high school hockey. All in all I figured I shoveled about 30-35 hours on the course.

 Jack coming down Kamikaze hill. I put a couple pickup loads of snow on Kamikaze when the snow was damp and it set up like concrete. It got a bit icy and the only section of course I didn't feel real good about as too many people went down on the sharp corner. Looking back, I should of put another load of drier granulated snow so it would of been more forgiving.

 We had a number of teams come out before Sections to ski the course. All the skiers were most appreciative and friendly, going out of their way to say thanks. It was motivating and made all the work the worth the while.

 The Alex skier on the left, can't remember his name really went out of his way and took pride being one of the skiers that skied on only two courses in the state that competed on natural snow.

The St Cloud and Mora schools came up the day before with the long drive. Great seeing the smiles and again, most appreciative.

Local skier Berit back out after Sections putting in training. Berit has logged a ton of k's at Maplelag, skiing the entire trail system at Maplelag the end of the hs season. 

I put about 50 pickup loads of snow on the course over 5 weeks. Worth every dollar. 

Just Ski.