The Wisconsin Nordic Ski League State Championships are returning to Northwood Ski Trails just west of Rhinelander.  The trailhead is located at the Northwood Golf Club driving range.  The Northwoods Nordic Ski Club hosted the event for the first time in 2007 with great reviews from the coaches and skiers. The club has been busy widening and improving the trails, local businesses and organizations have offered their support, and we have a great group of volunteers lined up to conduct and host an even better event this year. 

 The Northwood Ski Trails have been acclaimed to be the best trails on the circuit according to some of the high school athletes who have participated in the Hodag Nordic Challenge in recent years.  The trails include challenging hills and turns as those found on Chutes-n-Ladders and parts of Cook’s Run. There are also stretches of gentle slopes and turns where skiers can catch their breath or break out to take the lead.

 The “Big Event” is scheduled for February 9-10, 2013. The race is setup as a pursuit-style race. The Saturday Classic race will have an interval start with a skier leaving every 15 seconds.  On Sunday, skiers will change their skis and boots for the Freestyle race.  The skiers will start in the order they finished on Saturday with the fastest skier going first.  Remaining skiers will leave based on their time back from the leader. The first skier across the line will be the overall champion for the two-race event. 

The race course will be open for inspection/pre-ski on Friday, February 8 from 10:00 to 3:00 and the 2000 sq ft maintenance building will be available for waxing throughout the weekend.  The registration fee is $30 for both days payable to NORTHWOODS NORDIC SKI CLUB. See the Schedule of Events for a full listing of race times and all activities.  So grab your cameras and cowbells and head to some of the best Nordic ski trails in the area.  No, it’s not quite like the Birkie, but quite a few of these young athletes would qualify for Wave One at the Birkie if they were only old enough.

Hope to see you there,

Ron Teclaw
Race Director

See Ken's State Meet Preview on Skinny Ski

High School Champs
Nichole Bathe, Vernona, and Adam Martin, Wausau East /West - Classic, Freestyle and Pursuit Champions

Middle School Champs
Daniel Pederson, Spooner - Classic, Alyssa Niggemann, Central Nordic - Classic and Freestyle, and Mackinley FitzPatrick, Lakeland - Freestyle
Pictures courtesy of Steve Hoffman

  Team Champions:  Hayward Boys and Girls