We had another successful Championships Weekend at Giants Ridge March 2-4.  The weather was fabulous and the conditions were awesome!  We had a total of 511 racer starts during the three days.  The Ski Challenge OPEN Team Race was held on Friday.  Divisional Team Racing was held on Saturday and Sunday.  And, the “King & Queen of the Hel” race was held on Saturday afternoon.  Scroll down to see more about each race.

Ski Challenge Friday OPEN Team Race on Innsbruck

“NoWax” team was the winner out of 17 teams again for the fourth year in a row!  The team included Scott Malmsten, Ken McAdam, Kristina Ammon, Pat Hiller,  Doug Nordmeyer, and Terry Lutz.  We had 96 participants in the race.  An awards ceremony was held Friday night at the new chalet next to the Burnt Onion Bar.

To see all results click here:

• OVERALL RESULTS
• TEAM RESULTS

TEAM RACING

Team racing took place on Saturday and Sunday of the Championships Weekend.  Divisions 2, 4 and 6 were on Saturday and Divisions 1, 3 and 5 were on Sunday.

Winning Teams: ALL RESULTS

Division 1:

1. RE/WAX – Buck Hill Wednesday DAY
2. Bud Bunch – Wild Mountain Sunday DAY
3. Shotskis – Wild Mountain Sunday DAY

Division 2:

1. RUdoneW/that? – Buck Hill Friday
2. The Karma Terrain – Buck Hill Wednesday DAY
3. The Gate Commandos – Buck Hill Sunday AM

Division 3:

1. Musskis – Buck Hill Monday
2. Buhler Blizzard – Buck Hill Sunday AM
3. The Naski Boyz – Buck Hill Wednesday PM

Division 4:

1.  The High Lifers – Buck Hill Thursday
2.  Jesters – Buck Hill Wednesday PM
3. The Cruzin Wild Bunch – Wild Mountain Sunday DAY

Division 5:

1. Bucket Boys – Buck Hill Sunday PM
2. Sitting Ducks – Buck Hill Wednesday PM
3. Rail Riders – Buck Hill Saturday

Division 6

1. The Rookies – Buck Hill Thursday
2. Ancient Ninjas – Buck Hill Thursday
3. Rock it Dawgs – Buck Hill Saturday

To see all results CLICK HERE

KING & QUEEN OF THE HEL RACE

This was the second year of the King and Queen of the Hel Race.  This race was open to all Ski Challenge members and non Ski Challenge members and is held on Helsinki.  We had 54 participants.  If you were a Ski Challenge member, we took your “rated Handicap” going into the race and compared what your earned handicap was in the race.  We then determined a % improvement (or un-improvement).  We crowned a King and a Queen of the Hel based on the best % of improvement.  We also gave prizes to the fastest racers in various age groups.

An awards ceremony was held on Saturday night in the new Chalet next to the Burnt Onion Bar.  Anika Hager was crowned Queen of the Hel.  Eddie Overholt was crowned King (for the second year in a row).  To see all the results for this race follow these links:

• OVERALL RESULTS BY %
• AGE GROUP RESULTS
• OVERALL BY HANDICAP EARNED

PHOTOS

To see photos from the weekend you can find links on our website here: PHOTOS.  Or you can find the photos on our facebook page here:  PHOTOS

Thanks to everyone for a great season!  It takes a lot of people, places, and moving parts to make everything work!  Mother Nature finally agreed with us this year by giving us Winter!  The conditions were good and the temps rarely went above 32 or below 0!  The on hill crews and Ski Challenge staff at Buck Hill and Wild Mountain worked hard to bring everyone a quality program for all abilities and race levels.

2017-18 By the Numbers

For the 2017 Preseason season we ended up with 218 racers starts.  We tried something different this past preseason by cutting back to two weeks of racing.  This avoided having to cancel the first week due to lack of winter weather and snow cover.  Cancelling the first week has been a trend for the last few years.  Starting the second week in December gave the ski areas time to get a good base and be ready for racing.  Unfortunately, we were unable to have a Wild Mountain preseason league.  There just was not enough participation to warrant the Ski Challenge Team format.  Wild Mountain did offer practice gates each Wednesday night in December for Ski Challenge racers.  Hopefully we can try again to have a pre-season league at Wild in December of 2018.

The total number of racer starts for our regular, seven week league series was 6,615.  This was number was up about 1% from the year before.

Ski Challenge helped put on the Padraig’s Place Ski Race benefit at Buck Hill on Saturday, February 10.  A total of 82 racers participated.

Giants Ridge hosted our end of the year Championships.  We had 361 racer starts in our Team Events.  96 participated in the Friday Ski Challenge Open race and 54 racers competed in the King & Queen of the Hel race.

Overall, the Ski Challenge submitted 7,276 results into NASTAR during the 2017-18 seasons.

What is Padraig’s Place?

Padraig’s Place is an adaptive ski program at Buck Hill.  It’s a local, non-profit organization that has come together with Buck Hill Ski and Snowboard School to provide a fun experience for skiers and snowboarders with both physical and cognitive disabilities.  Padraig’s Place provides an opportunity to experience winter fun in a safe, family friendly atmosphere. They are focused on having fun and giving all guests the opportunity to enjoy winter recreation.   Padraig’s Place tailors their lessons to suit the individual needs, creating the best memories again and again.

How Padraig’s Place began

Padraig is a young man from the Twin Cities whose family loves to ski.  A number of people believed that because of Padraig’s disabilities that he would not tolerate ski equipment or enjoy skiing.  His family believed he could and this year Padraig begins his 9th season of skiing.  For us “this is a family activity.  We couldn’t imagine not sharing the sport we love with both of our children, despite the challenges that we might face,” says Brian and Eileen Foley, founders of Padraig’s Place.  The success in getting Padraig on the snow was in large part due to the support and encouragement that the Foley’s received from the  Buck Hill Ski School.  They are thrilled to now be able to share this great winter activity with other families through the collaborative efforts of Padraig’s Place, a non-profit organization, and Buck Hill Ski and Snowboard Area.

Ski Race Benefit

Padraig’s Place is hosting the 10th Annual Ski Race Benefit on Saturday, Feb 10, 2018 at Buck Hill Ski Area of Burnsville, MN. Skiers and non-skiers are welcome to join in for a fun evening of ski racing along with a chance to honor Padraig’s Place’s participants, donors and supporters.

A Special Après Ski Party will follow with awards, special recognition, and a presentation on Padraig’s Place. This is a fun evening to give support to Adaptive Skiing at Buck Hill.

Go to padraigsplace.org/Ski-Race-Benefit or the Ski Challenge Website for more information.

Ski Challenge welcomes Walser Nissan as the new Vehicle Sponsor for our Buck Hill Leagues for the 2018 season!  Located just minutes from Buck Hill north on Buck Hill Road in Burnsville, Walser Nissan offers our Buck Hill racers a convenient location to shop for a vehicle.

When you stop by Walser Nissan Burnsville in Burnsville, you are treated to a new way of car-buying. The sales team is determined to pair you with the perfect new Nissan, or help you to browse the selection of used and Certified Pre-Owned Nissan models. Thanks to Walser’s Best Price upfront, you can spend less time haggling and more time test-driving the new or used sedan, SUV, truck or minivan that’s best suited for you.

If you’d like to keep your Nissan running well for years to come, stop by the Burnsville Nissan service center for routine maintenance like oil changes, brake inspections and other types of service. If you require more serious Nissan repairs, their factory-trained technicians can take care of that, too. They stock a variety of OEM Nissan parts to ensure that repairs to your vehicle are made in a timely manner. Walser Nissan is also well-equipped to service models of other makes, so you can be confident visiting us no matter what you drive.

Look for the Ski Challenge Nissan Rogue parked at Buck Hill (and at Wild Mountain) throughout the season!

For anyone interested in scoping out the new training facility, we will offer an Open House on Saturday 12/23 from 9:30am – 12ish.  Feel free to swing over and get a feel for the new location and new environment.

Also, on December 23rd we will have a Christmas Challenge posted on the white board.  Athletes will compete to finish the challenge in the fastest time.  Prizes will be given out to fastest times in each category.

NOTE:  You do not need to do the workout to attend the open house!

Saturday December 23rd
9:30am-12:00
1353 Larc Industrial Blvd, Burnsville, MN 55337

Whats happening?

After four years of growth Primal Power is moving facilities! The new facility is located less than one mile away at “The Cages” Facility. They have partnered with Northstar Baseball Club and will be leading the club’s sports performance and training program called Northstar Performance. This move will bring Primal Power a bigger space, a larger, more updated weight room, a more private atmosphere, and greater community outreach. The move is effective January 1, 2018. Primal Power is working diligently to make this transition as smooth as possible. For the near future prices and session times will be the same, as well as the online scheduling and payment. And of course, Jeff Meland will still be personally coaching every session! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Jeff Meland
Phone: 763-516-2823
Email: jeffmeland@primalpowertraining.com

GS & Slalom training will happen on Monday, December 11th and Wednesday, December 13th at Buck Hill. Registration will be from 6 – 7pm (look for the Masters sign) and training will start at 7 pm and end at 9 pm. ONLY $10 for two hours of training!

EVERYONE IS INVITED EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A REGISTERED MASTERS RACER!

MORE INFO

Race in your Ugly Sweater during Preseason Week 2!

Prizes will be awarded for the best Ugly Sweater!

Week 2 Races:
Buck Tuesday – December 19
Buck Friday – December 22

Did you know if you sign up and pay for two or three preseason leagues by December 1 you get a discount?

Pre-register Savings!  (Register by December 1)

• Join one league – $25 ($12.50 per race)
• Join two leagues – $40 ($10 per race)
• Join three leagues – $55 ($8.33 per race)
• Ski as a Guest Racer – $15 ($15 per race)

Price goes to $25 per league after December 1.

CLICK FOR MORE INFO ON PRESEASON

Ski Coach – Elm Creek Park Reserve
[Three Rivers Park District]

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
To provide District-wide Nordic ski or Alpine ski/snowboard instruction to the public in accordance with established standards by the Professional Ski Instructors of America and Three Rivers Park District in a manner that provides park guests with the highest quality service possible.

• Conducts coaching sessions in accordance with established practice plans and recognized coaching methods and techniques.
• When directed, develops coaching/practice plans in accordance with recognized and established standards.
• Courteously greets park guests and ensures that questions are properly answered or referred.
• Helps maintain racing facility by performing a variety of general maintenance and stocking of supplies and equipment.

Qualifications: Minimum 16 years of age. Ability to ski or snowboard at an intermediate level or higher.

Compensation: $9.50-$16.96/ hour, depending on qualifications and experience.

Position Dates: December 10- March 4

All Elm Creek employees receive a FREE Unlimited Ski Pass. Ski or snowboard anytime during the entire 2017-18 season at no cost!

Visit our website to apply today!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/threeriverspd

Head Alpine Coach – Bloomington Jefferson

Season Dates: Mid November to Mid February

Practices – Monday-Friday

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
General Duties:
1.       Has knowledge of and background in the assigned sport.
2.       Strong communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, parents, community members, and students.
3.       Responsible for all matters pertaining to the organization and administration of coaching an athletic team.
4.       Understanding of and agreement with the Bloomington Public School District’s Student Activity and Athletic Code and the Coaches/Advisors Handbook.
5.       Plan, accompany, and supervise the team to and from all events including practices and competitions.
6.       Enforce discipline and sportsmanlike behavior at all times and establish activity penalties for breach of such standards by individual students.
7.       Enforce all rules of the Minnesota State High School League and Bloomington Public Schools as they pertain to the respective sport.
8.       Perform other duties of a similar nature or level.
Specific Duties:
1.  Work as the head coach for the alpine ski team; qualified candidates are preferred to have prior coaching experience as an alpine ski coach
2. Must has or be willing to obtain credentials to serve as a high school head coach in Minnesota as mandated by Minnesota statute 122A.33

For more info contact:  Coach Virg –  612-799-5455 (Cell)  VirgSenescall@gmail.com

Compensation:
Seasonal stipend

Application Procedure:
Please complete the online application.

Current Employees:
Please complete the online application.

Head Alpine Ski Coach
Chanhassen/Chaska High School

For specific information contact Jon Sumer @ summerj@district112.org

Position Start Date:  November 13, 2017
Salary:  Based on CEA Master Agreement

Duties/Qualifications:

• Provide overall leadership and coaching supervision for the Chaska/Chanhassen Alpine Ski program, consistent with District Mission & Athletics Vision.
• Alpine ski knowledge/experience
• Good communication skills
• Respect/recognition of youth needs
• Minnesota Head Coaching certification/license or willing to obtain

Background check will be conducted.

If recommended for employment, applicant will provide proof of legal right to work in the United States if required.

Application Procedure:  Please apply online at:  http://www.district112.org  (only online applications will be accepted).

*BONUS LEAGUES

Each participant gets to take extra runs (3 or 4 total) in the race.  Only the best time in each run will be used to determine handicaps.  The following are considered bonus leagues for the 2023-24 season*:  Buck Hill Sunday PM (4 RUNS TOTAL),  Buck Hill Monday (3 RUNS TOTAL)  * May Change back to a “normal” league if the league gets too big.