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WISCONSIN STATE HIGH SCHOOL & MIDDLE SCHOOL NORDIC SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS

9 Mile Recreation Area, Wausau

Saturday, February 12^th, 2011

www.winordicski.org

 (Always subject to change based on snow conditions – Coaches will have most updated info including times)

WHSNSL ~ Wisconsin High School Nordic Ski League www.WHSNSL.Org

Wausau has the great opportunity to host the Junior Olympic Qualifiers 1k sprints for 2009-2013. This event is one of four qualifying races held in the Midwest for skiers who wish to qualify for the Midwest Junior National Ski Team. Top skiers from a six state region ages 14-19 compete to make the team. Other sites for the JOQs include Minneapolis, Houghton, and Ironwood.

John Hugus and his JOQ committee, including many Wausau Nordic Ski Club members, have been the impetus for the event coming to Wausau. They have been able to coordinate the services of the American Birkebeiner Foundation, Marathon County Park Department, and Greenwood Hills Country Club to make the Junior Olympic Qualifiers happen here in Wausau. The American Birkebeiner Foundation has provided a piston bully groomer and Bill Pierce, head groomer for the Birkie course, to assist in grooming for this specialized event, and, in return, Marathon County has provided their piston bully groomer for the American Birkebeiner in February. The quality of the grooming for each event is very professional. This is a great example of communities working together to make both these races happen without excess cost, using each other’s equipment and manpower, in difficult financial times. Greenwood Hills has provided their facilities, their water source for the snow making, and meals for the volunteers. Skiers were able to utilize their locker rooms, utilize the cart building for waxing skis, and purchase food in the clubhouse. Skiers and spectators utilized the golf course during the races, and there were many ski families who spent both Saturday and Sunday in the Wausau area for the races. High school and college students and teams from several states competed in both skate and classic races, in quarter finals, semi finals and finals.

Many of the Junior Olympic Qualifiers volunteers are club members who spend all or most of the two day event working on the course or in other capacities. There are many requirements that must be fulfilled to have these races be official qualifiers, and the volunteers are able to run a very professional event. I have been a runner for the past two years, running finish cards from the finish judges to the timers, posting results and heat orders, and running the heat orders to the starters and announcers. Being a small part of the team effort to make the JOQs happen has been a very rewarding experience, and I urge club members to volunteer their services for these races in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Watch for information on the Junior Olympic Qualifiers in December 2011!

Jeanne Alexejun

 if you are interesting in following the results, you can access through www.cxcskiing.org

Midwest Wax Recommendations