College Graduate #1

Can't believe we have our first college graduate! Jake graduated from the College of St Scholastica last weekend with a Business/Management/Marketing minor.  Looking back at this blog the other night and reflecting on all the memories.... its crazy how fast time flies. It was a great four years and of course we are very proud of everything Jake accomplished during that time while being a full time athlete and working at the local bike and ski shop, Ski Hut, when he could.

Proud parents. 

With the bros.

Family shot.

Jake with girlfriend Anna and best friend Ethan from high school who also graduated this year from CSS.

Grandma Judy and Grandma Mary.

Getting ready to roll to commencement. Jake and three of his roommates made the trek down the hill.

I found it interesting they had a pow wow band perform at the beginning of the series. It would be like having a white group open the ceremonies at a Pow Wow. Seemed a bit out of place, having witnessed many Native American Indian ceremonial openings personally firsthand.

Trying to act cool I guess.

Nice plaque presented by the ski team at the awards banquet. Jake was captain this year for the team.

Sunday morning before we went home, Jake and hit up the new loop at Brewer park including the sweet new trail called "kissing booth". It was completed late last summer and I hit it up once last fall on a visit to Jake. What a sweet trail!!

With all the new pumpy, flowy, purpose, sustainable built trail being made, it is very refreshing to see a trail like this. Really reminds me of the old "Powder Monkey" Spirit Mountain course. Hand cut singletrack, tight switchbacks and very rocky technical descending.

When doing the trail last year, had to dismount on a few crazy drops but this year I rode everything, keeping on Jake's wheel as he was hitting the jumps like a kangaroo bouncing across the outback.   The new loop is 10-18 minutes and a nice addition off the main Brewer loop which we accessed from the Piedmont trail. The trail growth in Duluth is crazy with the Traverse trail and be interesting to see how things play out the next 5 years if the growth really occurs like they say.

One last family shot before heading home. Fun weekend, well done Jake.